Former Walgreens CEO Roz Brewer: Don't 'AI proof' higher education, embrace it

May 5, 2026 - 05:46

The former chief executive of Walgreens, Roz Brewer, is pushing a new message for higher education: stop trying to shield students from artificial intelligence and start teaching them how to use it. Brewer, who now serves as a trustee at Spelman College, is fast-tracking a technology roadmap for the historically Black women's college as federal funding priorities shift and the job market evolves.

Speaking about the initiative, Brewer argued that colleges should not waste time trying to "AI proof" their curriculums. Instead, she believes institutions must integrate the technology into every discipline. "We have to lean into this," she said. "If we try to build walls around the classroom, we are doing our students a disservice." The plan at Spelman includes embedding AI tools into coursework across the humanities, sciences, and business programs, rather than treating it as a separate computer science specialty.

The push comes at a critical time. With federal grants and research funding facing potential cuts, Spelman is looking to private partnerships and alumni networks to finance its digital overhaul. Brewer has been instrumental in connecting the college with tech firms and corporate donors. The goal is to ensure graduates are not just familiar with AI but can lead in fields where the technology is reshaping everything from healthcare to finance. For Brewer, the message is clear: the future of work is already here, and higher education must catch up or get left behind.