Book Launch: The New American Frontier

Tuesday, November 17, 2026
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET
Doors open at 3:30 p.m. | Programming begins promptly at 3:45 p.m.

In Person & Livestream
The Aspen Institute
2300 N St. NW, Washington DC 20037 – 8th Floor

Register to attend in person Register for livestream

Join the AESG for the launch of The New American Frontier: Job Training for the Next Technological Age with author and AESG Resident Scholar Rachel Lipson.

In The New American Frontier, Lipson explores how a new wave of technological innovation is creating opportunities for good-paying jobs that do not require a four-year degree. Drawing on examples from across the country—from battery plants in Michigan to AI data centers in Virginia to small modular nuclear reactors in Idaho—Lipson examines how educators, employers, and policymakers can adapt to help American workers thrive in a rapidly changing economy.

Lipson will join AESG Policy Director Luke Pardue for a conversation about the book’s central themes, followed by a panel discussion with education and workforce development leaders from across the country.

In-person attendees are invited to join us for a reception following the conclusion of the panel discussion from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Lipson is a Resident Scholar at the Aspen Economic Strategy Group and a Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. From 2023 to 2025, she served as a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she helped shape the workforce strategy for the federal CHIPS initiative to revitalize American semiconductor manufacturing.

AGENDA

Welcome & Introduction

  • Luke Pardue, Aspen Economic Strategy Group

The New American Frontier: A Conversation with Rachel Lipson

  • Rachel Lipson, Harvard Kennedy School and Aspen Economic Strategy Group 
  • In conversation with Luke Pardue, Aspen Economic Strategy Group

Regional Perspectives: Job Training for the Next Technological Age Panel Discussion

  • Pearl Chang Esau, TechSmart Learning Fund, Arizona
  • Garrett Groves, Austin Community College
  • Hope Morrow, Idaho National Laboratory
  • Moderated by Rachel Lipson, Harvard Kennedy School and Aspen Economic Strategy Group 

Reception

Speakers

  1. Rachel Lipson
    Rachel Lipson
    Harvard Kennedy School Aspen Economic Strategy Group
  2. Pearl Chang Esau
    Pearl Chang Esau
    TechSmart Learning Fund, Arizona
  3. Garrett Groves
    Garrett Groves
    Austin Community College
  4. Hope Morrow
    Hope Morrow
    Idaho National Laboratory