The Way Up Leadership Conference 2026

The Way Up Leadership Conference 2026

8:00am CST

Registration Open Prefunction Area Continental Breakfast General Session Room

9:45am CST

Opening Speaker - Engage, Embody, Elevate: Changing Lives & Building Communities General Session RoomLiang Chee Wee, Ph.D.

10:30am CST

Break Prefunction Area

10:45am CST

Crossing the Finish Line: Supporting Students on the Road Back Room Location TBAJennifer Bertrand • Amy Korthank • Monica Madura • Molly Rechkemmer Governing AI From Where You Sit: The Five Decisions Your Institution Has Not Made Room Location TBAKacy R. Webster, M.Ed. Speed Networking: Fast-Track Your Connections Room Location TBATheresa Rademacker • Jill Hansen Your Multigenerational Campus: (Mis)Perceptions, Realities, and Strategies for Today's Workforce Room Location TBAMeghan Gillette, Ph.D.

12:00pm CST

Lunch, Recognition Awards, Scholarship Awards General Session Room

1:30pm CST

Break Prefunction Area

1:45pm CST

Academic Coaching in Action: Coaching Skills and Practical Applications Room Location TBAMyranda Hadley Financial Aid as a Strategic Partner: What Leaders Need to Know Room Location TBASarah Freestone, M.Ed., FAAC® • Rachael Koehler, MBA • Jerry McKeen • Vanessa Wiest Inclusive Teams, Stronger Institutions: Supporting Neurodiverse Colleagues Room Location TBADr. Ann M. Smith Psychological Safety as the Engine of Leadership Growth: Engage, Embody, Elevate Room Location TBANikki Gullion

3:00pm CST

Break Prefunction Area

3:15pm CST

Birds of a Feather: Administration & Operations Room Location TBA Birds of a Feather: Continuing & Community Education Room Location TBA Birds of a Feather: Student Engagement & Support Room Location TBA Birds of a Feather: Teaching & Learning Room Location TBA

4:30pm CST

Networking Hour - Social with Cash Bar & Silent Auction Prefunction Area

5:30pm CST

Evening Banquet with Speaker - The Way Up: Building a Leadership Journey from Where You Stand General Session RoomAmy Kristof-Brown, Ph.D.

7:30am CST

Registration Open Prefunction Area

8:00am CST

Continental Breakfast General Session Room

8:30am CST

Welcome & Announcements General Session Room

8:45am CST

Excelling on the Way Up: Strategies to Engage, Embody, and Elevate Room Location TBAMary Gill • Lori SchraderBachar Imposter Syndrome: Addressing the Fear of Being a Fraud Room Location TBABarry Schreier, Ph.D., H.S.P. Leading Through Institutional Challenges: Navigating AI Room Location TBAZoë M. Thornton, Ph.D. - Moderator • Panelists To Be Announced Why We Stay: Lessons from the Educators Who Almost LeftDr. Emily J. Mason

10:00am CST

Break Prefunction Area

10:15am CST

4 Costly Retirement Tax Mistakes & How to Avoid Them Room Location TBAChris Harris, CFP • Angie Zimmerman, CFP • Angie Rummel Automating Microsoft: How to Create Automations with Tools You Already Have Room Location TBAKatie Akin Compassionate Listening in Higher Education: Engaging People, Embodying Leadership, Elevating Culture Room Location TBAKimberlee Gregory • Dr. Malinda Shultice Improv for Educators Room Location TBARobin K. Johnstone

11:30am CST

Lunch with Closing Speaker: Mindsets of Possibility & Power General Session RoomToby S. Jenkins, Ph.D.