Wendy is Vice President and Associate Provost at Boston University, where she leads BU Virtual and the Institute for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, two units united by a mission to drive academic innovation and digital transformation for student and faculty success. BU Virtual partners with BU’s schools and colleges to expand and diversify academic offerings through a dynamic online portfolio for working professionals worldwide, while the Institute fosters innovative teaching, faculty collaboration, and interdisciplinary excellence. Together, these efforts advance high-impact learning experiences on campus and beyond.
With over 25 years of global experience in higher education, Wendy has led the design and growth of programs that align academic excellence with institutional impact and differentiation. Her expertise spans strategic management, program creation, and online education, from concept to delivery, guided by a strong belief in technology’s power to transform learning.
Before joining BU, Wendy served as CEO of UMGC Ventures, affiliated with the University of Maryland Global Campus, and as Divisional Vice President at Laureate Education, leading digital learning initiatives across 80 universities. She has also held senior roles at Carnegie Innovations, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Thomson Reuters, and the Silicon Valley edtech firm DigitalThink.
In this insightful conversation with Higher Education Digest, Wendy shares her perspectives on the evolving landscape of higher education and the leadership principles that drive her work. She discusses how innovation, collaboration, and human connection can transform teaching and learning and highlights the vital role of research universities in addressing global challenges, the impact of AI on academic rigor, and the importance of aligning purpose with progress. Below are the excerpts of the interview.