Keynote Speaker

Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success

Queens College, USA

Abstract:

International education leaders should embrace career readiness and AI in the college environment as powerful, complementary strategies for institutional innovation and global leadership. Together, they ensure that higher education remains globally competitive, student-centered, and aligned with the rapidly shifting demands of the world economy.

Traditionally, universities have emphasized academic mastery as their central mission. While this remains vital, today’s students expect more, seeking institutions that also provide clear pathways to professional success.

At CUNY, we are advancing this vision through a set of interlinked initiatives. Every major now includes an academic plan aligned with a career map, helping students connect coursework to long-term goals from the outset. We publish alumni career outcome summaries that detail job titles, salary ranges, and skill requirements, giving students a realistic view of the opportunities their degrees can open. Data-informed planning also highlights how many CUNY graduates remain in their local communities, shaping both career choices and regional workforce development. Most importantly, career awareness is now embedded across the student experience, from entry into college and academic advising, to department-level guidance and a growing number of course curricula. These practices ensure career readiness is a continuous, intentional part of academic life.

Technology strengthens this model. AI-supported advising provides students with personalized course recommendations tied to career pathways, while AI-driven platforms offer resume and cover letter drafting tools, curated job descriptions, and interview practice resources.

By embedding career thinking across the college journey, institutions can graduate students who are prepared not only to succeed, but also to lead in a dynamic global workforce.

Biographies:

Dr. Nathalia Holtzman is the Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success at Queens College, City University of New York, and an Associate Professor of Biology. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto and her PhD from the University of Oregon. A developmental biologist, she joined Queens College in 2005, where her research has focused on heart development and aquatic toxicology.

Before her current role, Dr. Holtzman served as Chair of the Biology Department and Associate Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. As Associate Provost, she oversees the Learning Commons, Writing Center, Office of Experiential Education, Center for Career Engagement and Internships, First-Year Experience, Office of Honors and Scholarships, and the Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE) program. Her current priorities include building a Transfer Hub to improve institutional pathways, investing in experiential learning, and scaling data-informed practices that close equity gaps.

Under Dr. Holtzman’s leadership, Queens College has achieved measurable gains in student success and equity. The number of peer tutoring sessions has more than doubled—surpassing 10,000 annually—while the introduction of math recitations has led to a 10% increase in average course grades among participating students. Her office has secured over $1.5 million in scholarships through private philanthropy and competitive grants, expanding access to high-impact academic opportunities. In support of transfer students, Dr. Holtzman has spearheaded efforts to accelerate credit evaluation and course equivalency decisions, reducing time to degree and improving retention for this critical student population.

Looking ahead, Dr. Holtzman is focused on embedding career readiness into the academic experience—strengthening employer partnerships, expanding paid experiential learning, and ensuring all students graduate with a clear pathway to meaningful careers.