The image many of us have in our heads of the typical college student—someone straight out of high school focused exclusively on their postsecondary studies—is wildly outdated. Today's students are increasingly juggling work, family, and school while navigating a higher education system that was not designed for them.

To explore how institutions can better support today's students, we co-hosted the inaugural Modern Learner Summit in September alongside our sibling organization, Trellis Strategies. The event brought together over 200 education, workforce, and policy leaders. 

Across two days, participants discussed  

• Dr. Harrison Keller, President of the University of North Texas, reflected on leadership for modern learners during a fireside chat with Kristin Boyer, emphasizing the importance of aligning institutional strategy with student realities. 

• Dr. Mark Milliron, President and CEO of National University, explored the need for flexible delivery pathways, challenging institutions to design with empathy and adaptability at the forefront. 

• Dr. Wynn Rosser, Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, closed the summit by reinforcing the state's commitment to Building a Talent Strong Texas through collaboration and shared accountability. 

Feedback from attendees reflected strong enthusiasm and momentum, with many indicating that they left the event with new ideas and tools to support modern learners. One participant reflected, "Designing around student personas with empathy at the core helps institutions create flexible delivery pathways and curated credential sets that truly meet learner and employer needs." 

Throughout the event, one message resonated deeply: higher education must move beyond a one-size-fits-all model. The Modern Learner Summit underscored why this work matters now. With the potential expansion of outcomes-based funding in Texas higher education, employers calling for stronger talent pipelines, and students seeking credentials of value, cross-sector collaboration has never been more urgent. 

At Trellis Foundation, we are committed to supporting higher education leaders, policymakers, and workforce leaders in their work to create equitable systems where every learner can succeed. 

Read the event summary and explore upcoming events from Trellis Strategies to continue the conversation on supporting modern learners across Texas. 

Kristin Boyer leads Trellis Foundation’s efforts to advance equitable postsecondary outcomes for students across Texas. Her recent professional service includes several terms as an Advisory Committee member for the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education – the research arm of the Council for Opportunity in Education, chairing the Latino Student Success Funders Group, and serving as leadership committee chair of Philanthropy Advocates, a funders’ organization that informs policy and legislation in Texas. In addition, she has held positions in higher education development, communications, admissions, and financial aid, and she served as a public school teacher in a Title I middle school in rural Kansas. Kristin holds a Master of Arts degree in communications, and bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish, with a secondary education endorsement