Visions & Ventures Symposium
September 24, 2025
The Forum Committee, in collaboration with the Curtis Lecture Committee, is excited to announce the schedule for the Visions & Ventures Symposium on Wednesday, September 24. This year’s theme is Igniting Innovation!
10 a.m., O’Donnell Auditorium
Senator Carl T. Curtis, ’28 and Mildred M. Curtis Lecture on Public Leadership:
Dr. Beth Simone Noveck
Beth Simone Noveck is a professor at Northeastern University, where she directs the Burnes Center for Social Change and its partner project, The Governance Lab (The GovLab). Her newest book Democracy Rebooted: How AI Can Save Democracy will appear with Yale University Press. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy appointed her as the state’s first Chief AI Strategist in 2024. Previously, she served as the NJ Chief Innovation Officer, founded the White House Open Government Initiative under President Obama, worked for 10 Downing Street, and served on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Digital Council. She leads InnovateUS, which trains public servants in AI, digital, and innovation skills and the AI for Impact Coop Program, where students build AI for social good. She blogs at RebootDemocracy.ai. .
Innovation Expo
11:30 a.m.
Visit departments across campus for hands-on activities and demonstrations that showcase innovation by faculty and students.
“Oops! A Celebration of Glorious Failures”
2 p.m., O’Donnell Auditorium
Join a panel of local innovators as they share their biggest flops and failures. Learn how failure is an important part of the innovation process and why it should be celebrated!
TEDxƵ: “A Community of eXcellence”
7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.), O’Donnell Auditorium
An event dreamed up by Ƶ students, this will feature several TEDx talks that reflect on the power of collaboration, innovation, and integrity across various fields – from education to entrepreneurship, science, art, and social impact. Find more TEDxƵ details.