B. Tyler Walsh

Tyler Walsh is Director of the Center for Higher Education Innovation (CHEI) at the University of Central Florida, where he leads cross-institution initiatives designed to accelerate student success, well-being, and institutional innovation at scale. Working across academic and administrative units, he designs and manages complex institutional projects that integrate data, technology, and behavioral insights to improve student outcomes and strengthen the systems that support them.At UCF, Tyler leads the development of Operation Insights, a division-led initiative focused on optimizing the operational infrastructure of student success by improving data visibility, institutional decision-making, and cross-unit coordination. He also oversees the university’s institutional AI chatbot initiative, Knightbot, and supports national research and implementation efforts exploring how conversational AI and data infrastructure can strengthen student engagement, academic success, and institutional strategy.Prior to joining UCF, Tyler served as a Senior Program Advisor at the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) at Georgia State University, where he helped design and deliver a large-scale student success diagnostic and strategy service used by colleges and universities across the United States. During his time at NISS, he worked directly with twenty-five institutions to identify systemic barriers to student success and implement evidence-based solutions to improve outcomes and reduce equity gaps.Tyler’s work focuses on building practical, scalable models for institutional transformation that help universities align strategy, operations, and emerging technologies in service of student success. His career began as a high-school teacher and coach and later included roles in university instruction and student support. These experiences continue to inform his commitment to designing systems that work for students at scale. He holds master’s degrees in Anthropology and Political Science from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Florida.