Dr. Claire Brady Keynotes 2025 ACCT Leadership Congress
New Orleans, LA — October 24, 2025 — At the recently convened 2025 ACCT Leadership Congress held October 22–25 in New Orleans, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) welcomed higher-education leaders and trustees from across the nation—including thousands of participants gathered to celebrate and strengthen the vital role of community colleges in a rapidly changing world.
Dr. Claire Brady delivered an inspiring address titled “The Future Is Now: Guiding Colleges Through AI Transformation.” In front of thousands of trustees, presidents, and senior leaders, Dr. Brady challenged the convening audience to go beyond technology adoption and embrace AI as a strategic and cultural shift—a shift centered on mission and human-driven innovation.
During her remarks, Dr. Brady:
Highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in higher education governance, student success, and workforce readiness.
Emphasized that true success in AI initiatives is rooted in people, culture, and transparent leadership—not just platforms and systems.
Many attendees shared that the session left them feeling educated, energized, and inspired.
About Dr. Claire Brady
With more than 25 years of experience in higher education leadership, student affairs, and executive consulting, Dr. Brady is a nationally recognized thought leader in artificial intelligence adoption, institutional strategy, and cultural transformation. Her work is guided by what she calls the “glass-half-full” philosophy—a belief that optimism, when grounded in strategy, has the power to turn challenge into opportunity. Dr. Brady is author of The Transformative Potential of AI: Recommendations for Student Affairs Leaders, published in partnership with NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the Strada Education Foundation.
About ACCT
The Association of Community College Trustees represents more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,000+ community, technical, and junior colleges throughout the United States. The annual Leadership Congress serves as the premier national gathering of board and senior leadership personnel in the community‐college sector.
