Trained as a designer, Sukhwant Jhaj uses design thinking to discover new solutions for incremental and disruptive challenges facing higher education. In his role as vice provost at Arizona State University, Jhaj pursues ways to create greater levels of student success for all learners across all degree types. He works to identify new ways the university can improve learning outcomes, and helps ASU set a new standard of quality and accessibility that can be shared with institutions of higher education around the country and the world. In addition to his role in the Office of the University Provost, Jhaj is the dean of University College, an instrumental and significant part of ASU’s efforts to enhance retention, graduation, and overall student achievement. Jhaj is also a faculty member in The Design School within the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. 

Previous to ASU, for over 16 years, Jhaj held various faculty and administrative positions at Portland State University (PSU), advancing academic innovation and student success at different levels. Most recently, he served as the vice president for academic innovation, planning and partnerships. Jhaj helped co-create and implement reTHINK PSU, numerous student success initiatives, and the crowd-sourced Provost’s Challenge initiative. He also established the Office of Academic Innovation to support faculty innovation. 

Jhaj is an active researcher. He is an expert in design thinking, design of student experience, managing change, open innovation and user centered design. He speaks extensively on these topics and has served on several national advisory groups focused on improving student success and institutional transformation. 

In his book, “Delivering on the Promise of Democracy: Visual Case Studies in Educational Equity and Transformation,” Jhaj has crafted a new look at how imaginative leadership and a shift in perspective can guide institutions as they work to improve access and success for all students.