Plenary Sessions
OPENING PLENARY
Elevating the Student Experience: From Welcome to Belonging in the Gen Z Era
Tuesday, Jan 26
10:15 AM
Central Time
Today’s students are entering higher education with new expectations, experiences, and ways of connecting with the world around them. Welcoming them to our campuses is no longer enough.
In this plenary, Dr. Patrick Turner challenges higher education leaders and professionals to move beyond creating welcoming environments toward building cultures where students genuinely feel seen, valued, connected, and that they belong. Through the lens of Gen Z, this plenary will explore how belonging, meaningful engagement, and authentic relationships shape the student’s experience and contribute to persistence and success. Participants will be challenged to rethink how we engage today’s learners and consider a fundamental question: Are we simply welcoming students into our institutions, or are we creating places where they truly believe they belong?
Patrick Turner, EdD
CLOSING PLENARY
Sustainable Academic Leadership: Protecting Capacity, Preventing Burnout, and Driving Excellence
Wednesday, Jan 27
2:45 PM
Central Time
Higher education is navigating unprecedented shifts in workload, administrative demands, and evolving institutional expectations. For faculty, department chairs, deans, and academic leaders, delivering excellence across teaching, service, and administration often comes at the expense of personal capacity and wellbeing.
In this plenary, attendees will explore actionable, research-backed strategies to align academic innovation with sustainable leadership. Drawing from her executive leadership frameworks, Dr. Brathwaite equips higher education professionals with practical tools to streamline institutional commitments, and cultivate resilient, high-performing academic environments without burning out.
Shemeka Brathwaite, EdD