Program

Monday, June 2    

Time (all times are Eastern) Activity

Pre-Conference Workshop (Room 116): Developing Performance to Unlock Your Limitless Capability

9:30 AM Opening
12:00 PM Lunch
5:30 Social Hour/Dinner
     

DAY 1: Tuesday, June 3    

Time (all times are Eastern) Activity
All day Hall of Innovation Interactive Poster Session (asynchronous online)
10:00 AM Welcome Session (Room 116)
Navigating the Online Conference
Interactive Team activity (with mentoring partner pairs set up in this session)
10:50 Coffee & Conversation Break
11:00 Keynote Address: Uncomplicating Student Success (Dr. Thomas Dickson)

From the pandemic response to political forces and to calls for greater ROI, there is a genuine need for higher education to find ways to continually improve how we support our students. Transformational change can feel exhausting and meaningful actions during times of change can feel unattainable without generating more burnout. Join Dr. Thomas Dickson as he brings together positive psychology, learning theory, play theory, student voice theory, and burnout prevention to create accessible and actionable models for improving student success.

Learn more about Dr. Dickson

Dr. Thomas Dickson currently serves as Director of the Ohio Strong Start in Science initiative for the Ohio Department of Higher Education and as a higher education consultant and facilitator with over 25 years of higher education experience and leadership. Thomas has served on campuses as a career counselor, academic advisor, assistant dean, and as an assistant vice provost overseeing high impact practice programs, teaching and learning centers, academic resource centers, and student success initiatives. He later went on to serve the regional community of southern California, the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside Counties) with a regional non-profit serving 18 colleges and universities and now works with the Ohio Department of Higher Education serving 20 institutions on STEM co-requisite supports. Throughout his administrative career he also served in teaching roles including for the graduate programs in higher education and student affairs, undergraduate courses in first year success and career exploration, and in democratic pedagogy for student-initiated courses. He has presented nationally and published on first-generation student success, burnout prevention, institutional transformation, and play theory. When not working, Thomas is found spending time with his family, building with LEGO bricks, and finding new museums to explore.
12:15 PM Lunch Break
12:45
Breakout session #1A: Mentorship for Success: Elevate and Empower Bickkie Solomon (HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and West Coast University)
This interactive workshop equips pharmacy and academic professionals with the principles, tools, and real-world strategies to build impactful mentor-mentee relationships. Through scenario-based group discussions, participants will explore how to start and sustain effective mentorship, navigate challenges, and grow as both mentors and leaders.
Breakout session #1B: Introduction to a Model for Generating Growth Objectives Cy Leise (Bellevue University) & Dan Apple (Pacific Crest)
This session explores the 4-anchor model of Self-Growth, guiding participants in setting Growth Objectives by addressing mindset, consciousness, and motivation. Teams will apply the model, generate insights using the Insight Generator GPT, and evaluate its effectiveness in Self-Growth action planning.
2:30
Breakout session #1C: Developing Transferable Learning Practices Josh Morrison, Carin Neitze, & Shawn Hurst (University of Indianapolis)
This workshop explores how student voice and choice in active learning can enhance empowerment and performance. Presenters will introduce 5-7 best practices, guide participants in developing student-centered activities, and provide a framework for integrating these strategies into their own courses.
Breakout session #1D: Putting Performance Measures for Mentoring Skills Into Practice Tris Utschig (Kennesaw State University), Kathy Burke (SUNY Cortland), Steve Beyerlein (University of Idaho), & Ingrid Ulbrich (Achieving Academic Success)
This workshop builds on last year’s session with updated mentoring performance measures, focusing on designing assessments, providing growth feedback, and being nonjudgmental. Through case scenario role-play and skill application, participants will refine their mentoring abilities and leave with a practical toolkit for lifelong learning and mentorship.
3:30 Coffee & Conversation Break
3:45 Interactive Team Time discussion session (Room 116) / (Virtual Breakout Rooms)
4:30 Social Hour / In Person Dinner at a local restaurant and a Virtual Happy Hour
     

DAY 2: Wednesday, June 4
Time (all times are Eastern) Activity
All day Hall of Innovation Interactive Poster Session (asynchronous online)
8:00 AM

Special (In-Person ONLY): Building Burnout Breakers (Thomas Dickson, Ohio Department of Higher Education)

This hands-on workshop tackles burnout in higher education by focusing on environmental change strategies rather than self-care, using LEGO® Serious Play® and environmental sludge auditing to help participants identify workplace stressors, set priorities, and implement scalable solutions.
10:00 Welcome Day 2 - Team Time discussion session (Room 116)
10:45 Academy Annual Business Meeting/Board Elections (Room 116)
11:45 Lunch Break
12:30 PM

Plenary: Promising Practices to Promote Student Success (Hamann, Lowder, Smith)

This interactive panel session will explore systematic approaches to fostering student success. Each panelist will showcase one or more innovative and promising programs and services that involve structured, impactful processes. The session will provide space for sharing innovative ideas, engaging in thoughtful discussion, and inspiring actionable insights. Our panelists include: Dr. Amber Smith, Vice President of Student Experience, Success, and Belonging at UIndy, Dr. Lori Lowder, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success at Kennesaw State University, and Dr. Bryan Hamann, Vice President for Student Success & Retention Strategy at Ivy Tech Community College - Statewide
2:00 Coffee & Conversation Break
2:15
Breakout session #2A: Building Bridges: A Cross-Cultural Approach to Collaborative Learning Tynnetta Muhammad & Shilpa Thakur (University of Indianapolis)
This interactive workshop equips educators with cross-cultural collaboration strategies to create inclusive learning environments. Through reflective practices, role-playing, and collaborative planning, participants will identify communication barriers and develop actionable solutions for promoting equity and learner-centered communication.
Breakout session #2B: Generating Research Hypotheses Chaya R. Jain (Virginia State University), Cy Leise (Bellevue University), & Steve Beyerlein (University of Idaho)
This session guides practitioners in designing empirical research studies to validate Process Education interventions, explore new assessment variables, and develop innovative research hypotheses that strengthen the PE Framework.
3:45 Team Time (Room 116)
4:30 Social Hour / In Person Dinner at a local restaurant and a Virtual Happy Hour
     

DAY 3: Thursday, June 5
Time (all times are Eastern) Activity
All day Hall of Innovation Interactive Poster Session (asynchronous online)
8:00 AM
Breakout session #3A: Designing & Training a PE GPT from Scratch Daniel K. Apple (Pacific Crest) & Wade Ellis (West Valley College)
This hands-on session guides attendees in building and refining a PE GPT, integrating Process Education methodologies.
10:00 am Welcome  (All activities: Room 116)
10:15
Breakout session #3B: Building Inner Strength: Fostering Resilience, Self-Trust, & Authenticity During a Self-Growth Journey Daniel K. Apple (Pacific Crest) & Wade Ellis (West Valley College)
Explore 13 key characteristics for building inner strength, using PE methodologies and the Self-Growth Coach GPT to foster resilience, enhance emotional regulation, and support personal and professional growth.
11:45 President's State of the Academy Address
12:15 PM Report Out: Team insights on focused issues
1:00 Closing Session
“THE” Academy Awards
Conference Formal Assessment survey
Announcement of 2026 Conference Plans