James DeVaney serves as Associate Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Founding Executive Director of the Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) at the University of Michigan. He brings more than 25 years of experience spanning executive leadership, management consulting, board service, and strategic advising to his work expanding access to education and helping universities respond to changing learner and societal needs.

At Michigan, James leads university-wide initiatives that extend academic excellence, advance the university’s public mission, and support its financial sustainability. Working with faculty, academic units, and external partners, he leads efforts to enrich teaching and learning, create new educational pathways, and expand the university’s capacity to serve learners throughout their lives. He is also responsible for Michigan Online, the university’s destination for global, lifelong, and engaged learning, connecting individuals and organizations with U-M’s educational resources.

Under his leadership, CAI has developed shared capabilities that help faculty and academic units experiment with new approaches, evaluate their effectiveness, and expand their reach. This work connects innovation in residential education with opportunities to serve learners around the world, develop new credentials and pathways, and build organizational partnerships that address workforce and societal challenges.

James’s work is grounded in the belief that universities can play a larger role throughout people’s lives—helping them prepare for meaningful work, participate in civic life, and continue learning as their goals and circumstances change. His writing and speaking explore the future of higher education, AI and learning, career and world readiness, and the institutional choices needed to make lifelong learning more accessible and effective.

Beyond Michigan, James works across higher education, education technology, and investor communities to shape strategy and create new opportunities for learners. He serves on the boards of directors of Collage AI and UPCEA and holds advisory roles with organizations including Coursera, Podium Education, and Morningside Technology Advisory. He previously served on Anthropic’s Higher Education Advisory Board.

Before joining U-M, James co-founded the global education and digital education practices at Huron Consulting Group. While living in the United Arab Emirates, he also established the firm’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa. Throughout his career, he has advised more than 100 universities, governments, nonprofit organizations, and education companies globally. His experience spans research universities, new educational ventures, education technology companies, and education sector investors, bringing a broad perspective to how institutions adapt, build capacity, and serve their communities.