New initiative brings together educators, innovators, and leaders to redefine what’s next in higher education

Austin Community College District (ACC) is taking another step to shape the future of higher education. On Monday, October 13, the College launched the Alliance of Future Makers (AFM). This new initiative—formed under ACC’s Office for the Future—convenes presidents, faculty, staff, and administrators to co-create strategies for the rapidly changing landscape in education.

The inaugural cohort is made up of approximately 60 members representing the following institutions and organizations:

  • Austin Community College District
  • Center for Community College Student Engagement
  • City Colleges of Chicago
  • Forsyth Technical Community College
  • Gardner Institute
  • Houston Community College
  • Huron Consulting
  • Kansas City Kansas Community College
  • McLennan Community College
  • Metropolitan Community College
  • Midland College
  • Nicolet College
  • Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
  • Our Cause
  • Pellissippi State Community College
  • Tallahassee State College
  • Tarrant County College
  • Temple College
  • The Girls’ School of Austin and Leadership & Design
  • The Venture Build
  • Trinity Valley Community College
  • University of North Dakota
  • USA Institute 

“Higher education is preparing students for a future we can’t fully predict, using systems built for a past we can’t recreate,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “The Alliance gives us space to wrestle with that paradox together. It’s where we challenge outdated models, embrace new opportunities, and design systems that truly serve today’s students. This work is bigger than ACC — it’s about reshaping higher education so our students, employers, and communities can thrive.”

The AFM functions as a community of practice, offering members the opportunity to learn foresight methods, experiment with new approaches, and apply future-focused strategies at their own institutions. In its inaugural year, AFM will feature two tracks: a Fellows Track for scholar-practitioners and a Leadership Track for college and university CEOs.

“Change is not mandatory, but neither is survival,” says Dr. Monique Reeves, ACC’s Executive Vice Chancellor for the Future. “We are preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, with systems designed for a world that no longer does. The Alliance of Future Makers is about closing that gap — creating a future of education that is flexible, human-centered, and built to last.”

The launch signals a new chapter for ACC’s Office for the Future. By bringing together educators, the Alliance focuses on building stronger pathways for students for today’s careers and emerging opportunities.

“This is not a conversation for later. It’s a call for leaders, innovators, and educators to step into the work now,” says Dr. Reeves. “By joining the Alliance, you become part of the community that will decide what higher education looks like in 2030 and beyond — and ensure that it continues to serve students, employers, and society in ways that matter.”

Over the following eight months, members will work to identify emerging trends, develop scenarios, and design solutions that anticipate the needs of students, institutions, and communities. The program will culminate in spring 2026 with a national Innovation Hub Summit, showcasing future-ready models for higher education and workforce development.

For more information about the Alliance of Future Makers, visit austincc.edu/afm. 

About the Office for the Future

The Office for the Future is ACC’s hub for foresight, innovation, and transformation in higher education. Established in May 2025 with the appointment of the nation’s first Executive Vice Chancellor for the Future, the office leads scenario planning, builds institutional agility, and fosters collaboration between higher education and industry. Led by Dr. Monique Reeves, the office produces national playbooks for transformation and works to ensure that colleges don’t just respond to change, but actively shape what comes next. to ensure that colleges don’t just respond to change, but actively shape what comes next.