Futurist Thinking Series: 'Strategic by Design: Why Liberal Arts Are the Essential Element to Success in a Skills-Driven Age'

The Futurist Thinking Series at Augustana College is a high-energy dialogue where innovators and big thinkers tackle the questions shaping the next decade of education, leadership and human potential. The October session, titled "Strategic by Design: Why Liberal Arts Are the Essential Element to Success in a Skills-Driven Age."

About the session

Do the liberal arts matter in a world that prizes microcredentials, AI and narrowly marketable skills? Or are they, in fact, the smartest strategy for preparing agile leaders who can adapt, innovate and lead in times of change?

This dialogue will feature:

• Moderator: Ann Perreau (Communication Sciences and Disorders)
• Faculty: Doug Parvin (Philosophy)
• Alumni: Doug Hultquist ‘77 (Financial Services Executive and Trustee)
• Civic Voice: Angie Sharp ‘08 (City of Bettendorf)

The panel will interrogate how broad-based learning fuels strategic thinking across industries and careers. It is both a candid provocation about the future and a reminder that time-tested habits of mind—curiosity, judgment, and reflection—are what equip us to navigate the unknown.

• Why are “skills” the floor, not the ceiling, of education?
• Why does agility — not just expertise — drive leadership?
• How do we prepare students for a future we cannot yet predict?

This dialogue will not only challenge assumptions but also contribute to Augustana’s strategic planning and Bold & Boundless goals. The insights raised will inform future faculty essays, public scholarship, performance arts and campaign storytelling.

Because in a world that won’t sit still, specialized skills expire. Strategic thinkers don’t.