Michael Crow

BizTUCSONApril 20, 2026

2 minutes read

President
Arizona State University

What opportunities do you see for your business here in the next several years?

There is considerable sea change now, and uncertainty is often seen as an obstacle to progress. I believe that the changing landscape presents opportunity for those who are willing and able to adapt through innovation. Arizona is a tremendous state with one of the most significant economies in the world, but we need to make some serious decisions about our future. The people of Arizona have said what they want their state to be. We need to execute a plan to get us there.

What issues keep you up at night?

An issue that keeps me up at night is the lack of awareness about where we are operating in time and history. The old quote says, “Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.” That’s true. We need to do a much better job of helping the public to understand the significant and practical impact of higher education and university research. The people, products and ideas produced by universities touches every facet of your daily life.

Are there any exciting updates you want to highlight?

The demand for higher education continues to grow and “the invisible hand” of university research remains steadfast in working to move humanity forward. The integration of rapidly evolving technology and enhanced institutional collaboration is dismantling the barriers to quality learning at scale. At ASU, our major efforts include our advancement of ASU Health to improve health outcomes for all Arizonans, enhanced focus on supporting our nation’s national defense and need for public service, and creating new education pathways for new and returning learners of all ages.

How can The Chamber help you going forward?

The Chamber and the business community can help by speaking loudly and consistently about the vital role that our universities play in driving social mobility, economic competitiveness and meaningful innovation. In order to achieve the aspirational resilience demonstrated by other successful U.S. states, we need the local business community to participate in the public discourse about the need to support our state universities. Only by working together will we be able to design a model for our shared future.