Ann Kirschner

Dr. Ann Kirschner is a renowned figure in the digital media landscape, known for her expertise in technologies and business models reshaping content and commerce, particularly in the realms of Web3, blockchain, short-form video, VR, and AI.

As a University Professor at The City University of New York, she plays a crucial role at the nation's largest urban university and is involved with the Futures Initiative at the CUNY Graduate Center. Dean Emerita of Macaulay Honors College, she has been pivotal in the Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship (WiTNY) initiative in partnership with Cornell Tech.

Having a rich business background, Ann has served as a C-suite executive and has been part of innovative startups in sports, news, entertainment, and education sectors. Noteworthy accomplishments include being the first digital strategist for the NFL, where she launched prominent platforms like NFL.COM and SUPERBOWL.COM. She is recognized for her trailblazing work in online learning through founding and leading FATHOM with prestigious institutions such as Columbia University and London School of Economics. Her strengths lie in strategy development, fostering partnerships, leading cross-functional teams, business development, communications, and brand marketing.

Dr. Kirschner’s influence extends to the boardrooms where she serves on the boards of Movado Group (MOV), Strategic Cyber Ventures, and Noodle Partners. Additionally, her advisory roles include positions at ASU EdPlus and Learning Enterprise, where she is a Senior Advisor to the Office of the President. Noteworthy council and board memberships include Princeton University Graduate School Leadership Council, Advisory Council of Princeton University School of Engineering, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Council, Academic Advisory Council of Chegg, just to name a few. Her board chairmanship at Footsteps and directorial roles at the Paul and Daisy Soros Foundation, FIRSTnyc, and national advisory board of Break Through Tech and World Quant University underline her commitment to various causes.

Apart from her illustrious career, Ann Kirschner is also an accomplished author with books like "Sala’s Gift" (2006) and "Lady at the OK Corral: The True Story of Josephine Marcus Earp" (2013) to her credit. She frequently shares her insights on innovation in media, technology, education, and the future of work through speaking engagements and written contributions.

Her educational journey is marked by achievements, having earned a PhD from Princeton University, where she was a Whiting Fellow in the Humanities, along with MA and BA degrees in English from the University of Virginia and the State University of New York at Buffalo, respectively.