Chris Deaton (he/him)

Transforming Higher Education Through Principled, Ethical, and Sustainable Innovation

Welcome! I’m Chris Deaton, a Faculty Associate and Research Coordinator at Arizona State University's School for the Future of Innovation in Society (SFIS), part of the College of Global Futures. My passion is empowering students to become ethical leaders while tackling real-world challenges through principled and sustainable innovation.

With a solid academic foundation in the social sciences—including seven degrees focused on community-building—I bring over 20 years of experience as a Product Manager, 13 of those years at ASU. I transitioned from the corporate world into higher education, expecting a slower pace, but found the excitement ramped up in all the best ways! From enrollment systems to graduation apps, I've worked on hundreds of projects to enhance the student experience.

At ASU, I lead the Responsible Innovation Lab, where students engage in hands-on projects tackling both local and global issues. Through the Future 17 program, we collaborate internationally to focus on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I also teach the Capstone course on Responsible Innovation, where students dive into ethical problem-solving and develop solutions with real-world impact.

If you’re into creative problem-solving, ethical leadership, or making a difference in education, I’d love to connect. Feel free to reach out—I’m always up for a conversation on how we can collaborate to create lasting change.

Learn more about the programs I’m involved in:
📌 Future 17: Future 17 ASU
📌 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDGs