Meet the Team
Liz Paushter is the Director of Education Innovation and Learning at Bentley University, where she leads the Badavas Center in reimagining how faculty teach, how students learn, and how innovation becomes institutional. With over 20 years of experience across K–12, higher education, and professional learning, Liz is passionate about building the systems, partnerships, and cultures that make bold ideas possible—and sustainable. Her work lives at the intersection of innovation design, faculty development, and strategic change, always with a focus on engagement, equity, and real-world impact. She is an active thought leader in academic innovation, regularly presenting on topics such as experiential learning, AI-enhanced pedagogy, and the future of teaching and learning.
Liz is earning her doctorate in Education and Transformative Leadership at Northeastern University, holds an M.Ed. in eLearning and Instructional Design from Northeastern, an M.A. in English from the University of Vermont, and a B.A. in English and Textual Studies from Syracuse University.
Recent Presentations and Publications
Mirroring Modern Learners: Moving Beyond Silos by Crafting Community-Centric Partnerships. Author. May 15, 2024. https://evolllution.com/mirroring-modern-learners-moving-beyond-silos-by-crafting-community-centric-partnerships
Reimagining Partnership: Cultivating Innovative Degree, Professional, and Executive Programs for the Modern Learner. Presenter. UPCEA 2024 Annual Conference.
Rising to the Challenge: How institutions create community for online learners. Invited Panelist. Digital Universities US 2024, Times Higher Education.
Immersive and Inclusive Pedagogy: Examining VR’s Effectiveness in Student Learning. Presenter. EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2024.
The Skills Needed to Thrive in the Future of Work. Invited Panelist. EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2024.
Empowering Tomorrow’s Information Technology Professionals: Bridging Competencies and Personalized Learning through ‘Topics in Tech.’ Co-author with M. Frydenberg. Frontiers in Education 2024.
Interactive Facilitation. Bentley Community Learning Conference. Presenter. 2024
Scaling Entrepreneurship Education: An Integrated Modular Approach. Co-presenter with S. Purao. 2024 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC).
Priyadharshini (Priya) Sivakumar is a learning design and digital learning expert with over 4 years of experience creating transformative educational experiences. As the Digital Learning Manager, she develops high-impact digital strategies, collaborating with faculty to design innovative online environments for Bentley University’s executive and professional education programs.
Previously, Priya worked at Wharton Online Executive Education, where she developed innovative solutions to enhance learning experiences for executive and professional learners using evidence-based methodologies. Her role as a Learning Designer with Teach For India was marked by significant gains in student engagement and personalized curriculum development.
Driven by the mission to make learning accessible to anyone, anywhere, Priya holds a Master’s in Learning Sciences & Technologies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s in Informatics from Indiana University. She is deeply committed to transforming education through learning sciences and digital innovation, empowering individuals across the globe.
