Dan Gruber

College Catalyst

W. P. Carey School of Business

I was drawn to get involved on multiple dimensions with Principled Innovation. Initial conversations with the Dean of the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Carole Basile, were inspiring as the groundwork was being conducted to envision what PI would eventually become for the university. Learning more at the West Valley Forward event from President Crow brought the design aspiration of PI to life in a transformational manner. Being asked by my Dean, Ohad Kadan, to serve as one of two College Catalyst was the formal beginning of what has been an impactful and meaningful endeavor.

Before I was involved with PI, the practices were an implicit part of much of the work I was doing as Associate Dean for Teaching Learning. However, taking on the additional role as a College Catalyst made them explicit and also empowered me to see PI in so many things that I was doing here at W. P. Carey. Being a part of the PI community has been an amazing personal and professional growth opportunity. I have learned so much from the PI team, my fellow Catalysts, and from all of the faculty, staff, students, and others with whom I have collaborated with on our Principled Innovation initiatives.

I resonate deeply with all of the areas of PI and the accompanying assets. Collaboration and resilience have been core to my leadership as have inclusivity and altruism. I am very passionate about the role of empathy and honesty in my work as well as curiosity and critical thinking. The Principled Innovation cards are something that I continue to find resonance and learning from on an ongoing basis. It has been amazing to bring them to many different audiences and to see the universal embracing of possibility.

As a College Catalyst, in partnership with Jared Byrne, I intend to plant as many metaphorical seeds as possible to grow the awareness, interest, and impact of Principled Innovation. I am excited about what we have been able to accomplish in our first two years as Catalysts and am looking forward to continue advancing our efforts across our school with faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders.