Q&A with EVP of Global Learning and Academic Operations, Dollie Davis, Ph.D.

Meet our newest Executive Vice President of Global Learning and Academic Operations and Professor of Social Sciences, Dollie Davis, Ph.D., who for the past six years has been key to Minerva University’s development.

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What originally drew you to Minerva, and what’s kept you here for over six years?

Definitely Minerva’s mission and pedagogical model. I always knew that the traditional higher ed model,  based on lecturing, rote memorization, and such ), wasn’t great for student learning but I had no idea how impactful Minerva’s mission and intentional design based on the science of learning and global leadership could be. I have been able to watch my students learn and evolve tremendously over their 4 years here.

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What’s something that surprised you about transitioning from faculty to dean in your career?

All the things I got to learn at Minerva outside of the colleges of Social Sciences and Business, where I had taught. Not only did I get to learn more about every course at Minerva, but I also got to learn about different registrar, advising, engineering, and cross-team functions.

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What’s one innovation in Minerva’s pedagogy that you think more universities should adopt?

Combining the active learning and flipped classroom model with an initial focus on core competencies so that students are challenged to learn about the nuances of solving complex problems before actually trying to solve them.

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You’ve spoken at conferences about generative AI in higher education—how is Minerva leveraging or responding to AI in the classroom?

Minerva has been incorporating AI into student learning opportunities for several years now, with our AI Lab where students work on projects utilizing AI under the management of Professors. We have also had a series of faculty workshops and meetings discussing how we will work together to develop policies and update our lesson plans accordingly so that students can use AI ethically in a way that amplifies their skills and enhances their learning. Additionally, I have been working with the student AI Consensus group that has put on several events related to the ethical use of AI, and we are planning on launching a page on the Minerva website dedicated to AI use, best practices, and cool features and ideas at Minerva!

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From a curriculum standpoint, what excites you most about the College of Social Sciences at Minerva?

The ever-changing interconnected global economy and geopolitical landscape, and how both intersect with human behavior, allow the course designers in Social Sciences to continually update and revise lessons to make the students’ learning journey current yet always aligned with our mission.

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You’ve worked internationally, including in Taiwan—has that global lens influenced how you view education at a university like Minerva?

Definitely. Our world is so interconnected now that I can’t imagine an effective university learning program that doesn’t incorporate opportunities for students to be able to experience and try to understand global perspectives.

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What's the most inspiring part of your job?

The people. Students, faculty, and staff alike. It's incredible and inspiring to work with a group of people all so extremely dedicated to the mission of Minerva and to student success.

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If you woke up tomorrow in an entirely different career—no academia in sight—what would your life look like?

My non-academic, non-policy-focused dream is to open my own Ballet Barre Studio!

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What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Own your mistakes and make them learning moments.

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If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve...

Puppies!