Why Swarthmore College Is Betting on the Human Touch in an Age of Automation

As campuses adopt more automation (express checkout lanes, AI-assisted operations, automated package lockers) where does the human element fit in? In this episode of Thought Leaders in Foodservice, Envision Strategies' Rob White sits down with Anthony Coschignano, AVP for Campus Services at Swarthmore College, to explore that question. Anthony oversees a wide-ranging auxiliary portfolio at one of the country's most distinctive small colleges, and he's thinking carefully about how to use technology to address staffing shortages without sacrificing the service touch that defines the Swarthmore experience. The conversation covers express lane technology in the new dining hall, automated package pickup, AI's role in reassigning rather than replacing staff, and why the dining hall relationship between staff and students matters more than ever in an era when students are increasingly heads-down on their phones. It's a nuanced, practical take on one of the most pressing questions in campus auxiliary services right now. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes of Thought Leaders in Foodservice 🌐 Learn more about Envision Strategies: www.envstrategies.com #ThoughtLeadersInFoodservice #CampusDining #AuxiliaryServices #HigherEducation #EnvisionStrategies #Automation #StudentExperience