Nick Swayne
Founder of JMU X-Labs @James Madison University

Nick Swayne is the founder of JMU X-Labs at James Madison University, which has been highlighted multiple times in the Chronicle of Higher Education and recognized by the Governor for innovation in higher education. The Lab is used for classes on a range of topics, from unmanned systems to homelessness, and also serves as the competition and practice space for the university’s esports club. Swayne serves as faculty advisor for the Stanford University Innovation Fellows and co-founder of the Stanford Faculty Innovation Fellows.  His doctoral work in Postsecondary Strategic Leadership focused on multidisciplinary innovation courses, identifying faculty to teach them, the innovation spaces and technology required to support them, and the impact on leader development.