Dr. Monique Reeves to Serve as Sector’s First Futurist at a Community College

As the nation faces deep uncertainty about the value and direction of higher education, Austin Community College District (ACC) is taking a bold step forward. The College announces the creation of a groundbreaking new position: Executive Vice Chancellor for the Future — a first for community colleges.

Dr. Monique Reeves, a nationally recognized leader in workforce innovation, digital transformation, and education grounded in inclusive excellence, has been appointed to lead the role.

“We are living in a moment of political, economic, and technological upheaval, and higher education is at a crossroads,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “If we don’t challenge our institutions to think differently and plan boldly, we will not survive. Dr. Reeves will help us do just that. She’s not just preparing ACC for the future, she’s helping redefine what the future of education can be.”

Why This Role Matters Now

“This role gives us the mandate to challenge outdated models, elevate emerging opportunities, and prioritize agile frameworks,” says Dr. Reeves. “We must create flexible, responsive systems that see the whole student. Not just as a learner, but as a worker, a parent, and a member of a fast-changing world.”

The traditional college degree is losing ground as the workforce evolves rapidly with artificial intelligence, automation, and shifting industry demands. Meanwhile, public trust in higher education continues to erode. According to Deloitte’s 2025 U.S. Higher Education Trends report, only 47% of Americans believe a four-year degree is worthwhile without loans, and that number drops to just 22% when loans are included.

”Higher education must understand the strategies that brought us here will not take us there,” says Dr. Reeves. “Students are demanding more. Employers are demanding more. Our communities are demanding more. And we need systems built not for yesterday’s economy — but for tomorrow’s reality.”

Deloitte also found community college enrollment is rising steadily at 4.9% per year, while many degree-granting institutions are declining.

The report also highlights top risk factors for colleges, including:

• Worsening public perception of higher education’s value
• Over-reliance on tuition and student loans
• A lack of institutional agility
• Mental health challenges
• Shifting program demands from employers and students

“The Executive Vice Chancellor for the Future will ensure ACC doesn’t just react to change, it leads it. Dr. Reeves is the perfect person to lead this change for us. Her extensive background in both the tech sector and higher education provide the prospective we need to prepare for what is ahead,” says Dr. Lowery-Hart. “From curriculum design to digital learning platforms, industry partnerships to economic mobility, this role challenges the institution to reimagine what’s next and how to get there.”

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 indicates that 77% of employers plan to prioritize reskilling and upskilling their workforce to adapt to AI and automation.

“America’s colleges and universities are at a critical inflection point – colleges are closing at the rate of one per week. Change is not mandatory, but neither is survival,“ says Dr. Reeves. “We need someone constantly asking the hard questions: The funding models that sustained higher education for generations are collapsing – what comes next? We are preparing students for a future we cannot predict, using systems designed for a past we cannot recreate. How do we bridge that gap?”

Reinventing the Role of Academic Leadership

The role reflects a structural shift in how ACC approaches leadership, strategy, and student success. As the former ACC Provost, Dr. Reeves brings a powerful blend of expertise in AI strategy, agile project management, digital education ecosystems, and human-centered design. Her work will include scenario planning, thought leadership, institutional strategy, and collaboration with national leaders and other colleges ready to do the same.

“Higher ed must get comfortable being uncomfortable,” says Dr. Reeves. “We need to operate with agility, not in fear. My role is to ensure ACC can ask bold questions, challenge itself, and remain nimble enough to adapt. And just as importantly, I will share that learning with others. This isn’t just for ACC, this is for the entire sector.”

Located in one of the country’s fastest-growing and most innovative cities, ACC is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of a shifting workforce. With more than 74,000 students annually, ACC trains the region’s skilled workforce in healthcare, manufacturing, biotechnology, software development, skilled trades, and more. 

Dr. Reeves’ first year will focus on building frameworks for institutional agility, leading national conversations, and delivering white papers and playbooks for transformation in higher ed. A national launch and call to action will invite other institutions to collaborate.

Dr. Reeves officially began this role on Monday, May 19.

Tags: Dr. Reeves, Executive Vice Chancellor for the Future, Future, Futurist