Jessica Sorrells

Dean of the School of Business and Data Science; Associate Professor of Mathematics

Converse University

How do you feel South Carolina colleges and universities are preparing students to meet the state’s future workforce needs?

 I believe institutions of higher education must continually innovate in order to best prepare our students for the workforce. This includes building and strengthening partnerships with industry, integrating inquiry-based and project-based learning experiences into the curriculum, and investing time and resources into career development programs. Eighty percent of Converse’s most recent graduating class participated in a high impact practice, like an internship. These experiences help students develop essential workplace skills like communication, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Converse and other South Carolina institutions are responding to the needs of the region through commitment to these initiatives and the introduction of new majors aligning with talent gaps.

How is your institution preparing for the looming drop in traditional college-age students and the so-called “enrollment cliff?”

 Preparing for a leaner pool of students attending college means clearly demonstrating to prospective students and parents the value of your institution’s educational experience. Converse continues to both diversify and streamline our program offerings in response to student demand and to ensure robust preparation for the current job market. For example, Converse recently launched new majors in Data Science and Communications & Media Studies. We excel in working with students one-on-one with regard to their specific academic and career aspirations, as well with regard to the complexity of their lives outside of our campus walls.

What can be done to counteract government funding cuts and reduced federal research grants?

 Small, private institutions like Converse already make every dollar count. As we see funding cuts come to fruition, it will be more crucial than ever for individuals, communities, and industry to invest in the institutions of higher education that train the next generation of their workforce and help create career pipelines with qualified and skilled talent.

What is your institution’s strategy in addressing the increased integration of artificial intelligence and automation and the expansion of online and hybrid learning models?

 Converse continues to offer faculty development opportunities to explore best practices for promoting authentic learning and assessment in the age of AI. We recognize that these tools are only going to become more prevalent, so we seek to integrate them into our curriculum in ways that maintain academic integrity. We support a variety of modes of instruction to meet student needs, including online and hybrid course offerings alongside our focus on traditional in-person instruction.

What is something people might be surprised to know about you?

 When I initially entered college, I wanted to be an English major. Even though I ended up a card-carrying mathematics nerd, I did work in the on-campus writing center and happily wrote many papers while completing a philosophy minor.