Mastering the Most Human Skills

In an opinion piece published in U.S. News & World Report earlier this month, “Why AI Makes a Liberal Arts Education Even More Invaluable,” President Robin Holmes-Sullivan speaks to the value of a liberal arts education in an age of rapidly evolving, artificially intelligent machines.

Credit: Nina Johnson“It may seem counterintuitive,” she writes, “but in a time of economic uncertainty, national division and increased technological reliance, those who are inclined to pursue a degree from a liberal arts college should take heart. Choosing to sharpen your skills as a thinker, communicator, creator and problem-solver has never been a better bet—because machines don’t actually have ‘intelligence.’ Only humans do. And ‘artificial intelligence’ is exactly that: an artificial version of what can only be the unique human ability to lead, advocate, speak, write, design, create, feel, empathize, envision and innovate. In fact, in our increasingly AI-driven world, professional and personal success depends on nurturing that which makes us human.”

Holmes-Sullivan argues that machines will never master skills like collaboration and interpersonal communication—capabilities developed through the study of the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences: “A machine will never possess the level of interpersonal skills needed to manage a team, to engage in civil discourse with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds, or to resolve messy human conflicts that resist logic. Judgment will never be AI’s strength.”

She also points out how much liberal arts education has evolved in the past decade in response to workforce demands and student needs.

She writes “ … a liberal arts education has become much more focused on career preparation. Most liberal arts colleges now offer robust exposure to data science, technology and business concepts, in addition to more traditional liberal arts fields of study.”

“The liberal arts approach to incorporating these more career-oriented fields often focuses on ethical concerns and other real-world challenges, not just learning by reading a textbook,” she writes. “For example, at Lewis & Clark College, where I serve as president, our Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership combines critical thinking, one of the chief benefits of a liberal arts education, with direct and hands-on links to the worlds of entrepreneurship, business and positive social change so that our students are prepared for the transition to work and life.”

Holmes-Sullivan cites an August 2025 study of 1,030 executives and hiring managers, conducted by the American Academy of Colleges and Universities in partnership with Morning Consult, in which 93 percent of employers rated written and oral communications, critical thinking, and ethical judgement/decision-making as high on their list of important skills when considering recent college graduates for employment. “This is exactly what a broad education in liberal arts and sciences delivers in spades.”

In conclusion, she writes: “There is no one-size-fits-all education. There are as many educational paths as there are humans on the planet. In an AI-driven world, an education focused on gaining the knowledge and skills that are uniquely human is the best preparation for career longevity. After all, today’s cutting-edge technology may be obsolete tomorrow—or performed by machines with more accuracy and efficiency than any human could ever have. But the ability to do what only humans can do is likely to be in high demand. Think of it this way: Career-ready skills will help you land a job, but only mastering the most human skills will prepare you to change the world.”

Office of the President