Academic Strategy and Learning Innovation (ASLI – pronounced “Ashli”) brings together three core units: the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL), Office of Assessment, and the Institute for Global Higher Education (IGHE). ASLI drives initiatives that support and enhance teaching, learning, and curriculum development at DKU.

ASLI fosters a dynamic academic culture rooted in continuous improvement and innovation. By supporting teaching excellence, student learning, and curriculum design, ASLI strengthens DKU’s distinctive educational identity and advances the university’s global mission.

Our work cultivates collaboration among faculty and enhances teaching effectiveness, creating richer learning experiences, a flexible and high-quality curriculum, and a campus-wide commitment to evidence-based innovation. These efforts also reinforce DKU’s external partnerships and highlight its unique contributions to higher education.

ASLI collaborates closely with faculty committees, administrative units, and students, with a particularly strong partnership with Curricular Affairs. This collaboration ensures robust systems for curriculum development, assessment, and faculty support, promoting high-quality teaching and learning across the university.

ASLI‘s Team

Noah Pickus

Head of Global Strategy and Partnerships Senior Advisor to the Provost (Duke)

Scott Benson

Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and Global Higher Education (Duke)

Ying Xiong

Assistant Vice Provost for Learning Innovation and Assessment (Duke)

Yisu Zhou

Interim Dean of ASLI
China Director of IGHE

Junyi Li

Interim Assistant Dean for ASLI
Lecturer of English language

Ben Van Overmeire

Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies

Haiyan Zhou

Director of Center for Teaching and Learning

Changcheng Zheng

Faculty Lead for Science Education Strategy
Associate Chair of DNAS
Associate Professor of Physics

Faculty Fellow

Jason Todd

Faculty Coordinator for Office of Assessment
Assistant Professor of Political Science

Yitzhak Lewis

Faculty Coordinator for CTL
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Lincoln Rathnam

Faculty Assessment Fellow
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Associate Chair for Division of Social Sciences