The IDEA Institute

Innovation, Discovery, and Excellence in Academia

A future-facing approach to academic public health transformation

The IDEA Institute was created in response to a challenge: how do we ensure public health education keeps pace with the urgent, complex issues our communities face? ASPPH listened to its members—including faculty, students, administrators, and partners—and heard a clear message: we need a space for innovation, a structure for equity, and tools we can actually use.

In response, the IDEA Institute works to create, adopt, and develop equity-infused tools and resources that provide relevant information and help transform academic public health. Guided by a vision to elevate the scholarship of equity, the Institute supports bold approaches to teaching, research, practice, advocacy, and community engagement—powered by innovative technology.

Our Pillars of Impact

The Institute’s work is grounded in four strategic focus areas that guide our initiatives and partnerships:

Academic Public Health for the 21st Century

Preparing a forward-thinking, equity-driven workforce

Fostering Student Belonging and Engagement

Creating inclusive, empowering educational environments

Teaching, Research, and Practice in Action

Bridging research and real-world application

Interprofessional, Community-Engaged Scholarship

Collaborating across sectors for greater impact

Our Strategy: Three Learning Anchors

The IDEA Institute is designed as a dynamic learning environment that functions as:

A Library

A curated, searchable resource hub

ARIE–the AI Resource for Institutional Excellence. ARIE is ASPPH’s equity-infused chatbot supports academic public health learners and leaders at all levels. ARIE is continually evolving and new resources will be added regularly.

Meet arie

A Laboratory

A space for discovery and innovation

The Institute’s IDEA Exchange podcast–a place where ideas turn into action within academic public health.

COMING SOON

A Classroom

A platform for continuous, applied learning

ASPPH offers user-friendly, asynchronous skill-building via ASPPH’s eLearn online learning management system. Designed for learners of all levels–professionals, faculty, staff, and students. Contact idea@aspph.org to request access today!

Access Now

Foundations of AI: Live Online Training

ASPPH hosted a live online training led by Dr. C. Edward Watson (AAC&U). The session welcomed faculty and higher-ed leadership participants at all experience levels and focused on building practical, introductory AI skills. It also served as a preparatory session for the in-person AI Skill-Building Workshop held on March 18, 2026.

Reach out to us to request access to the session recording and materials.