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Utah Valley University warmly invites faculty, staff, and community partners to attend the opening keynote session of the Faculty Summer Institute on Tuesday May 5th at Utah Valley University. (Must register for location and time).
This open morning keynote brings together nationally recognized leaders in higher education to explore the future of teaching, learning, and institutional leadership. The session will highlight innovation, access, and strategic transformation within a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.
Guests are invited to join us for a morning of insight, inspiration, and big‑picture dialogue as our keynote speakers share perspectives shaping the next generation of learning.
Advance registration is encouraged. Seating is limited. (See registration link below)
Dr. Michelle Singh is one of the most influential voices in higher education transformation today. For over two decades, she has revolutionized how we think about learning, access, and opportunity in higher education. As the first Assistant Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Division of Digital Learning and currently Vice President for Strategic Educational Alliances at the University of North Texas, Dr. Singh architects entire ecosystems of change. Her visionary approach seamlessly integrates digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and open education to create lasting impact. Dr. Singh’s influence extends nationwide through leadership roles with WCET, SREB, and numerous educational technology organizations. She has been inducted into the Texas Digital Learning Association Hall of Fame and received the USDLA International Outstanding Leadership Award, among other prestigious honors. Dr. Singh's unique credentials spanning computer science, counseling, and educational leadership provide an essential skillset for navigating today's rapidly evolving educational landscape. Her work continues to open doors for students and reshape possibilities for institutions ready to shape the future of learning.
Dr. TJ Bliss is the Associate Commissioner of Academics and Chief Academic Officer at the Utah System of Higher Education. He is also a clinical assistant professor in education leadership at the University of Idaho. Through previous senior leadership roles in higher education, philanthropy, and the non-profit sector, he has worked to increase access, affordability, and success for students throughout the world. Bliss is an internationally recognized researcher in open education and currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Western Academic Leadership Forum. Bliss received a Ph.D in education research and B.S in microbiology from BYU and a M.S. in biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Dr. F. Wayne Vaught joined UVU on June 1, 2019 as the Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. Prior to joining us, Dr. Vaught had a 21-year career at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he served as a professor and then dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His Ph.D. in Philosophy, with a concentration in Medical Ethics, is from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Before UMKC, he taught at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences (merged with Drexel University), as well as Georgetown College in Kentucky. Dr. Vaught’s primary research is in biomedical ethics, with a focus on ethical issues in pediatrics. He has published several papers in leading ethics journals includingThe Hastings Center Report, The Journal of Clinical Ethics andTheoretical Medicine and Bioethics. He is co-editor ofEthics Across the Professions, Oxford University Press. Effective May 1, 2026, Dr. Vaught is the acting president of UVU.
For more information on UVU's Faculty Summer Institute please reach out:
In the application, faculty may propose a project in one of the following areas:
Projects may combine multiple focus areas and should align with UVU’s commitment to access, quality, and workforce relevance.
Need some help with your proposal? We have an AI chat bot for that! Click here!