Seth Porter

Dean Kraemer Family Library

Bio

Seth Porter is Dean of the Kraemer Family Library and Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Under his leadership, the library has become a hub for innovation in research, teaching, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, including the creation of the C3 Innovation Lab. A widely published author, he coauthored Engaging Design: Creating Libraries for Modern Users and has contributed numerous book chapters and scholarly publications. He was named a 2026 Fellow of the P3•EDU Innovation and Public-Private Partnership in Higher Education program and was recognized as one of the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest's 2025 “40 Under 40.” Seth will become Dean of University Libraries at Texas Tech University on August 1, 2026.

2026 Presentation

Designing for Creativity: Beyond Innovation Theater in Higher Education

Higher education is full of talented, creative people. Yet many institutions struggle to adapt because their systems were designed for control and consistency rather than experimentation, learning, and responsiveness.

This talk explores how leaders can move beyond innovation theater and build organizations that are resilient, adaptable, and genuinely creative. Drawing from examples in higher education, libraries, and industry, the session examines how operational excellence, distributed leadership, portfolio thinking, and disciplined experimentation create the conditions for innovation to thrive.

Using copyright as a real-world case study, the presentation will also explore how institutions are navigating AI, authorship, licensing, preservation, and other rapidly evolving challenges. These issues highlight the need for organizations that can learn, adapt, and respond to change without losing sight of their mission.

Attendees will leave with practical ideas for designing systems that empower people, reduce bureaucratic friction, and build lasting institutional capacity.