Jason Vest

Instructor, VCU da Vinci Center

Jason Vest is a former college dropout turned first-gen student (and graduate) at VCU and in a full circle moment in time, is now a Faculty Instructor at the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation. He has always been student-centered in the classroom as a middle school History teacher (and on the court as a Head Basketball coach). Jason saw an opportunity to reimagine “study hall” and piloted a Design Thinking + Entrepreneurship program so students could creatively solve problems and build social capital across RVA, which earned national recognition.

  • The experiment ultimately resulted in him moving into the CTE/Tech Ed classroom and later helping to redesign and operate CodeRVA Regional High School’s internship program and Regional Advisory Council, as the Richmond-based magnet school’s first Work-Based Learning Coordinator. 

    Jason later piloted one of the first generative AI courses at VCU. Now called AI + Human Experience, the course was remixed with students, colleagues, and an eclectic bunch of industry partners. The goal: help students figure out the best ways to use AI so that they might better understand “Self, Others, and Systems.” INNO 591: AI + Human Experience culminates with a storytelling-inspired “Reverse Dream Job Offer” artifact that bucks the typical interview process and tells employers (and investors) “I am here. I understand the job and the industry. Here’s the proof. I will not be algorithm’d.”


    Jason’s professional interests lie at the intersection of reimagining education, innovation in sports + student-athlete experience, and embracing the power of having real conversations, with real people. He believes learning - no matter your age - is experiential and should be personally relevant and... a little bit rebellious.