Expert sense-making, storytelling and facilitation on all things learning.

Elliot is an expert on the college student experience, the role that the campus, student support services, and technology play, and how these are all changing – and what this means for the future of education and the future of work. 

 
 

From his consulting work with more than a 100 colleges and universities, he understands the issues, and he engages audiences not only with stories and stats but with activities, exercises, and questions that make for interactive experiences that help audiences learn.

These can range from a group of counselors, parents, or students who want to make informed choices and make the most of the college experience to higher education leaders in academic affairs, student affairs, libraries, facilities, or technology who want to know what’s next. Contact Elliot about speaking at your event.

 
 

Designing Your College Experience

How can students use design thinking to get the most out of college? Design is about understanding people, thinking holistically to make connections, trying things out, and learning along the way. With this mindset, skills, and tools, you can design a college experience where you feel connected and supported, find your program and career path, and take full advantage of what college has to offer.

You’ll learn evidenced-based tips and student stories from his book to help students and parents make better decisions about not just where but how to go to college –  decisions about where to live, what courses to take, what to do a class project on, how to seek support, how to find belonging, what to major in, and how to explore career paths. This talk can also include an activity to create a college experience roadmap so that students can get the most out of it.

 
 
 

Designing for Student Success

Every college or university is continuously assessing and improving their student experience to enable student success. But amidst a sea of analysis and initiatives, few institutions create experiences that are remarkable enough to differentiate them or to move the needle on student attraction, retention, and completion. Communications are overwhelming, technology is hard to navigate, facilities are ineffective, and support services are underutilized.

You’ll learn how to design experiences for student success – and how to research and transform the communications, technology, student services, and spaces that shape these experiences. By sharing stories and stats, you’ll understand the key demographic, technological, and cultural trends, see the common pain points and highlights for students, and learn what colleges and universities are doing to improve and differentiate their student experience. This talk can also include an activity to assess your student experience and/or create the roadmap to improve it.

 
 
 

The Connected Campus

What do shifts in technology, culture, and demographics mean for the future of college and university campuses? What will online learning, remote work, and industry partnerships mean for the campus? How will all this change the types and amounts of spaces needed? How will this change how campuses will be organized, operated, and used – and by whom?

In this talk based on my Connected Campus whitepaper, you’ll learn trends reshaping campuses, the tactics different colleges and universities are using to respond, and the tools you need to create inspiring and effective places to learn, live, and work. You’ll also hear a vision for a more engaging and equitable future, one where campus is for creativity, collaboration, and community. Hybrid workspace. Flat, flexible classrooms. One-stop-shop student service hubs. Usable outdoor spaces. Inviting community and industry. This talk can also include an activity to analyze your campus experience for the future and/or create the roadmap to improve it.

Design: Snøhetta/Stantec, Photo: Michael Grimm

 
 
 

Next Gen Workforce/Workplace Roundtable. Watch example

Future Workforce, Future Workplace

Who are today’s students, how are they learning, and what does this mean for the future of work and the future workplace? How will students’ expectations for technology and support services shape their views on the workplace? What will today’s classroom/career connections through speakers, projects, and internships mean for their future employee experience? How will the spaces they learn and live in today inform where, how, and why they work in the future?

Based on Elliot’s work with 100+ colleges, national surveys he’s led, and conversations with 2,000+ students, you’ll learn about today’s college experience and how you can design tomorrow’s employee experience – and the workplace, technology, and services that will shape it. You’ll hear the trends changing how we learn, live, and work and see bleeding edge examples that provide a window into the future, a future that anticipates AI and focuses people on the creativity, collaboration, and community that complements it. This talk can also include an activity to assess your employee experience and/or create the roadmap to improve it in the short- and long-term.

 
 

  • "Elliot is at the top of our list when we are looking for a thought-leader on the future of learning, libraries, and student experience. He’s spoken at many of our conferences, led webinars, and participated in panel discussions. One of his many strengths is the level of engagement that he creates with an audience through his insights, questions, and advice. He’s a tremendous collaborator!"   

    – Kathleen Benton, Associate Director, Strategic Alliances, Society for College and University Planning

  • "Elliot participated in many of our workplace workshops and collaboration sessions. He informed and inspired these discussions in multiple ways, but in particular with a talk on the future of learning. It was full of great analysis and examples that got us thinking and almost immediately sparked ideas on how to collaborate with education and community partners."

    – Mary Davidge, Former Global Design Director, Real Estate and Workplace Services, Google

  • “Elliot has spoken at several of our conferences, and he has also taught several online courses for EDUCAUSE members on topics like student experience and learning technology. His sessions are always engaging, grounded in deep expertise, and give audiences examples, tools, and practical advice that help them make progress.”

    – Kathe Pelletier, Director, EDUCAUSE Teaching and Learning Program

  • “I’ve participated in several roundtables that Elliot facilitated to bring together Student Affairs professionals across institutions to think about the future. All these sessions really got us thinking together about our students’ needs, how they are changing, and how we need to change. Each was well-researched and prepared and was expertly facilitated.”

    – David Clark, Associate Vice-President for Campus Life, Emory University

  • "Elliot has given keynotes, led workshops, and participated in town halls at more than a dozen of our conferences. These sessions are consistently among the top-rated sessions by our audiences – and the most lively and engaging. He combines bold insights about the future of work and learning with practical advice, tools, and metrics."

    – Derek Westfall, President, Tradeline, Inc.

  • “We seek speakers who will get students to think expansively about their opportunities and resources, and honor their voices and experiences. Elliot achieved this and more… If you are looking for a speaker or facilitator that is really going to get people engaged, motivated, and inspired, then look no farther than Elliot Felix. One of our students said it best: ‘I liked how Elliot Felix framed the college and work experience as something you need to design. I never thought of it that way.’ ”

    – Alice Ginsberg, Director of Programs, Partnerships and Strategy at The Collective Success Network

  • "We are offering a new high-impact course called Communities of Practice. Elliot Felix joined one of our classes and led students through some reflective exercises that spurred conversations about their challenges and successes bringing to life the concepts of his book, which the students also got a copy of… This book has surely been a valuable resource for the students!"

    – Patience Lueth, Director of Foundation Studies, Minneapolis College of Art and Design

 

Book Elliot for your next event.