Geographic Focus

Global

Topics

Keynotes and panel moderation on strategic partnerships for education transformation, future-proofing pedagogical innovation, global trends in higher education.

Biography

Sharan C. Singh is Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at Minerva Project. He is responsible for leading the creation of Minerva’s partnership ecosystem across a diverse range of network institutions. Prior to Minerva, he worked as a senior administrator for 16 years and also as a management consultant. Singh graduated with a B.A. from Whittier College with a double major in International Relations and Business. He also holds an M.A. in International Business from Nova Southeastern and an M.A. in International Administration from the University of Miami.

Geographic Focus

North America

Topics

Panels and workshops on curricular reform in the US, the role of AI in higher education, the science of learning, program design from a neuroscientist lens, and innovative new undergraduate models.

Biography

Dr. Christine Looser is a cognitive neuroscientist and Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships at Minerva Project. In her role, Dr. Looser consults on learning innovation strategies and new program creation for institutions worldwide. Previously, she was the head of the Business College at Minerva University and taught courses on data-driven approaches to building customer-centric brands. Her expertise spans behavioral science, consumer psychology, and branding. Her research focuses on how seemingly small cognitive biases create outsized consequences for interpersonal understanding, organizational management, and public policy. Before joining Minerva, Looser was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Business School and taught in the Harvard Psychology Department as a College Fellow. She holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Dartmouth College and an interdisciplinary B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross.

Geographic Focus

Asia, Latin America

Topics

Panels and workshops on curricular reform in Latin America, industry connections for skills-based curricula, innovation and technology in Latin America, higher education innovation.

Biography

Will Sanchez is Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships for Asia and Latin America at Minerva Project. In this role, he leads the development and expansion of strategic collaborations with institutions across both regions,  guiding institutional leaders in redesigning curricula, scaling active learning pedagogies, and embedding global competencies into their academic programs, leveraging Minerva’s pioneering model of education to drive systemic innovation. With over 11 years of experience in the global higher education sector, Will brings deep expertise in education innovation, data-driven decision-making, and future-focused learning design. Previously based in Singapore, he served as Regional Director at two of the most prominent UK-based global rankings firms, Times Higher Education and QS Asia Quacquarelli Symonds, where he worked with top universities across Latin America, Africa, Korea, and Japan to advance their global education strategies.

Will holds an M.A. in Global Economy and Strategy from Yonsei University and a B.A. in International Business from San Diego State University. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Korean, he has delivered keynotes on education transformation across Latin America and Asia.

Geographic Focus

Latin America

Topics

Panels on curricular reform, pedagogical practices, technology and AI in higher ed, program design and curriculum delivery, designing virtual and hybrid learning experiences.

Biography

Abha Ahuja is Senior Director of Partner Programs, Americas at Minerva Project where she conducts program design and oversees curriculum delivery for Minerva Project’s higher education partnerships. Passionate about diversity and inclusion in STEM, Ahuja realized the potential of online education early in her career, designing innovative virtual courses as an Associate Professor in the College of Natural Sciences at Minerva University. Prior to joining Minerva University, Ahuja conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University and served as a Lecturer and Curriculum Fellow at Harvard Medical School. She studied Zoology at Delhi University (India) and earned her Ph.D. in Genetics from McMaster University (Canada).

Geographic Focus

EMEA

Topics

Panels on Learning and AI, transforming broad competencies into actionable learning outcomes, practical strategies for embedding skills-based learning into institutional curricula.

Biography

Dr. Sean Hughes is Senior Manager of Partner Programs, EMEA at Minerva Project, where he collaborates with universities around the world to reimagine and supercharge their educational practices for a post AI era. His thought leadership on how to transform institutions in ways that equip their students with AI resilient durable skills has recently been spotlighted by the World Economic Forum and at UNESCO global events. Prior to Minerva, Sean served as an assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Ghent and as a visiting scholar at both Harvard and Cornell Universities. He has published over 75 peer-reviewed articles on a wide range of topics, from Learning and AI, to Behavior Change and Influence, as well as Attitudes and Persuasion. He is also the co-author of a book titled, “The Psychology of Learning: An Introduction from a Functional-Cognitive Perspective” currently available from the MIT Press.