2024 Board Professionals Conference: Schedule

During this session, participants will review the basics and get answers to all the questions they were afraid to ask. Although board professionals do not serve as parliamentarians, they are expected to know and understand basic rules, motions, and procedures, which in turn helps boards run orderly and efficient meetings. This session will be interactive, encouraging discussions and questions from participants.

Presenter:
Jason Langworthy, board associate, policy & committees, University of Minnesota Board of Regents

A key characteristic of a high-performing board is its ability to engage in difficult conversations regarding the myriad challenges facing institutions today. The board professional is in a position to develop and nurture the kind of culture needed for board members to be well informed, to ask generative and meaningful questions, and to be actively engaged. In this interactive session, participants will engage in activities to bring back to their campuses, will discuss how to create an inclusive culture, and will consider collectively how to manage boards with diversity on numerous dimensions.

Presenter:
Hanna Rodriguez-Farrar, vice president for strategic initiatives and secretary to the board of trustees, Colgate University

Board professionals are always looking to “level up” meetings and board experiences to build stronger connections and organizational affinity, increase productivity, clarify goals, and build support. We must be intentional and thoughtful in all that we do to best leverage our board’s time and talent.

This discussion will examine learnings and best practices from The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker. Join us as a university president and a board professional talk about how they are using the book for more intentional meetings and how you can use some of the same tools and ideas. Haven’t read the book? No problem. The session will be informative for those who have read the book and those who haven’t.

Presenters:
Stacey Robertson, president, Widener University
Katie Herschede, vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff, Widener University

This presentation will explore findings from a case study that aims to understand the relationship between the governing board and sense of belonging for students of color within the context of a private nonprofit college and the dynamics at play as board members participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work.

Presenter:
Adriana Lopez Lobovits, director of the president’s office, California College of the Arts

In our rapidly evolving professional landscape, personal and career growth are not just aspirations; they are necessities. Whether you are an early career professional, midway through your career, or a seasoned professional, it’s crucial to have a well-defined strategy to navigate the changing pursuit of professional development. This session will explore the development of a personalized plan for professional growth and the motivation and opportunities to take proactive steps toward achieving your career aspirations.

Presenter:
Denise Nelson Nash, vice president and secretary of the board of trustees, Scripps College
Herminio L. Perez, assistant dean of student affairs, diversity and inclusion, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine

You planned and prepared for the meeting (or event) months in advance, troubleshooted technology, and waited until the final moment to hit print. Inevitably, however, something throws a wrench (or two) into your best-laid plans. The ability for board professionals to quickly pivot to address myriad situations before, during, and after the unexpected is a critical skill in this unique role. Crisis management can be complex, but sorting through the facts and continuing to move forward are not impossible. Learn techniques to maintain a high level of professionalism while addressing the demands of the board, executive leadership, and the public.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify key strategies to effectively prioritize matters as they arise before, during, and after board meetings, events, and functions.
• Understand the role of servant leadership in addressing unexpected scenarios in the day-to-day role of a board professional.
• Establish yourself as a trustworthy leader.

Presenters:
Amber McDonnell, director of board operations, University of Colorado
Amanda Gordon, board relations coordinator, University of Colorado

In this session, we will delve into the significance and methodology behind board self-assessments. Participants will gain insights into the tools and best practices for developing, conducting, and utilizing the data resulting from board self-assessments. Whether you’re looking to implement a board self-assessment for the first time or refine your current process, this session will offer valuable takeaways for boards of all sizes and structures.

Presenters:
Jessica Burns, board administrator/executive to CEO, West Virginia University Foundation
Lauren Ferguson, assistant vice president of board relations, University of Central Florida

Board professionals are constantly learning and implementing new ideas into their work. Join us to get actionable ideas and insights into six best practices that you can immediately implement when you get back to your institution. The six best practices include flipped meetings, board education, action minutes, building board social capital, helping colleagues understand governance, and board recognition.

This session will be led by two seasoned board professionals who have experience at private and public universities.

Presenters:
Denise Nelson Nash, vice president and secretary of the board, Scripps College
Katie Herschede, vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff, Widener University

Board professionals (BPs) are in a unique position to help facilitate the committee restructuring process because of their role in planning and executing the business of the board. In this session, we will explore the tools you will need to help your board rethink its committee structure—from why this process is important to analyzing whether your board is ready. We will also devolve into how to restructure, including what tools are available to BPs to help facilitate the process. Finally, we will review a case study from the City University of New York.

Presenter:
Gayle Horwitz, senior advisor to the chancellor and secretary of the board, City University of New York

Explore the building blocks for effective board management and learn some best practices for volunteer engagement. Join us in a conversation that will help you gain tools for streamlining communications, meeting management, and structure—ensuring your board is effective and well-managed.

Presenters:
Jennifer Hendrickson, associate vice president for advancement, Georgia Gwinnett College; president, Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation
Laura Brown, assistant director of donor and board relations, Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation

Communication is a critical component of the board professional role. Board professionals need to communicate not only with their board but also with university and board leadership. Identifying what messages need to be communicated—and when and to whom—is important to the work of a board professional. This session will focus on how to organize board communications into a communication plan and various types of communications while also utilizing the strengths of a board portal. By creating a comprehensive communication plan, board professionals can integrate and execute a consistent communications strategy with their board members and leadership. Presenters will explore many types of communications, including new trustee outreach and orientation, mentorship programs, annual compliance and training, trustee self-assessments, term reminders, board meeting details and registration, e-newsletters, board portal resource centers, and more. In addition, they will share communication plans and samples from Elizabethtown College and the University of Maryland College Park Foundation.

Takeaways include:

• How to communicate effectively with an integrated, consistent communications strategy
• What content to communicate in an e-newsletter update for trustees.
• How to measure overall engagement and participation through data analytics and surveys
• Why improved and enhanced communication will help strengthen your board and its governance practices
• How to benefit from multiple types of communications, including new trustee outreach, annual compliance, trustee self-assessments, term reminders, board meeting details and registration, monthly digital newsletters, and more
• How to utilize a board portal as a communication tool

Presenters:
Kristen Coffey, program manager, board operations, University of Maryland College Park Foundation
Keri Straub, associate vice president for marketing, communications & external relations, and board liaison, Elizabethtown College

Take away actionable insights and expand your BP network as panelists discuss trending topics for foundation BPs.

Panelists:
Lisa Cousino-Hoersten, executive assistant to the president and board liaison, University of Toledo Foundation
Matthew Paskin, executive assistant to the president and board coordinator, University of Alaska Foundation