2026 National Conference on Trusteeship: Schedule

This session will examine academic freedom as both a professional norm and a First Amendment right, offering trustees a clear framework for understanding their institutions’ obligations and risks. We will begin with the American Association of University Professors’ foundational 1915 Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure, whose core ideas still shape policies across U.S. colleges and universities. The session then will trace the courts’ recognition of academic freedom as an individual First Amendment right for faculty beginning in 1957, and its later extension to institutions in the 1970s. We will conclude with a discussion of how these legal principles apply to current federal and state interventions in university teaching, research, and governance, and what they mean for board-level oversight and stewardship.

Speaker:
David Rabban, professor of law, University of Texas School of Law

In this era of profound change in higher education, governing boards must adopt a perspective that embraces the long arc of time. Many administrators are focused on the current crop of high school seniors and urgent matters. Presidents, however, should be focused on eighth graders (five years from college) and governing boards should be focused on elementary school students (10 years from college). The most effective and enduring change we see in higher education occurs through assimilation over long periods of strategy formation and implementation. Institutional leaders receive an inheritance from previous generations, and we all work for our successors. The churn of presidencies, stop-and-start strategic planning, and recursive decision-making is dissipating time, energy, and funding. The temptation is to react, not respond. Governing boards must set a confident tone that facilitates the assimilation process and manages through the rigidities of conventional wisdom and conformity.

Speakers:
Bryan Alexander, senior scholar, Georgetown University
Mark Putnam, president, Central College; author, Leading Across the Arc of Time: Commitment and Change in Higher Education

Selecting a new president is one of a governing board’s most important responsibilities—and its best opportunity to shape the institution’s future. In the current higher education landscape, institutions face a number of significant headwinds, including enrollment, financial, and policy challenges. To attract top-tier presidential leadership, boards must evolve into high-functioning, strategic partners that view the search as an opportunity for institutional renewal.

This session will provide trustees and senior administrators with an overview of how to conduct a transparent, efficient, and successful search. Speakers will explore how to build an inclusive and cohesive search committee, foster meaningful shared governance, and conduct rigorous due diligence that mitigates risk. Participants will learn how to operate as a proactive, high-functioning board that appoints a leader who can best position the institution for success in its next chapter.

After attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Structure a high-functioning search committee: Identify the right mix of stakeholders and develop a clear, efficient process for effective decision-making.
• Leverage strategic communication: Maintain confidentiality while ensuring transparency with internal and external constituents to build trust.
• Ensure thorough due diligence: Utilize interviews, references, social media reviews, background checks, and personality assessments to assess candidates’ potential for success in fundraising, financial management, enrollment and student success, and cultural alignment with the institution.

Speakers:
Roderick J. McDavis, managing principal and CEO, AGB Search
Melissa K. Trotta, associate managing principal and senior vice president for client development, AGB Search

Tightened student visa vetting, H1B restrictions, and scrutiny of international partnerships threaten U.S. leadership in global education and the financial health of many institutions. If students can no longer come to America, colleges must take American higher education abroad—through branch campuses, joint degrees, and strategic partnerships. What roles should governing boards play in addressing these challenges? How can they anticipate risks and sustain global engagement and revenue? This session will explore the shifting geopolitical landscape and examine how boards can assess, authorize, and oversee international strategies that strengthen mission, impact, and institutional resilience.

Speakers:
Richard Joseph, former president, Babson Global, Inc.; senior consultant, AGB
Jason Lane, special advisor to the president of the University of Illinois System; director, AGB Institute for Leadership and Governance

In 2026, federal higher education policy will continue to evolve with significant implications for institutional leaders and boards of trustees. This session will provide a forward-looking overview of the federal policy landscape and the broader regulatory, legislative, and funding environment shaping colleges and universities. Participants will gain insight into emerging priorities in Washington, DC, the direction of federal oversight, and the potential impact on institutional governance, strategy, and risk management. The discussion will focus on what higher education leaders should be watching, how to anticipate change, and ways to position institutions for resilience amid uncertainty.

Speaker:
Alex Nock, principal, Penn Hill Group

The business model of advancement is evolving. Positioned at the intersection of relationships, resources, and institutional strategy, advancement is uniquely equipped to convene diverse stakeholders—philanthropists, alumni, government partners, industry, and academic leadership—around shared priorities that drive long-term impact.

This session explores how advancement can serve as the connective tissue of the university ecosystem, aligning external and internal stakeholders to enable new forms of value. We will explore how data connectivity across traditionally siloed systems, combined with responsible applications of AI, can accelerate a new business model for advancement.

Participants will leave with an understanding of why legacy advancement operating models built on incremental staffing and siloed systems no longer align with today’s reality, and how data connectivity and AI enable a more scalable, sustainable model for institutional impact.

Speakers:
Rachel Crosbie, vice president, operations and strategy, Fundmetric, Inc.
Joseph P. Kender, senior vice president, university relations, Saint Joseph’s University
Mark Hobbs, CEO, Fundmetric, Inc.

Effective governance today calls for trustees to move beyond oversight and actively engage as informed strategic partners. This session will explore how intentional board development and ongoing trustee education deepen understanding of the institution—its mission, culture, financial realities, and external environment—so boards can thoughtfully assess and support strategic risk-taking. Participants will examine how building trust within the board and between trustees and the administration creates the conditions for open dialogue, shared accountability, and constructive challenge. Speakers will emphasize how a strong grasp of institutional context and current circumstances enables trustees to ask better questions, weigh risk and reward, and make decisions that are aligned with long-term strategy.

Speakers:
Paul Beideman, chair, Widener University Board of Trustees
J.C. Gonzalez-Mendez, chair, Roosevelt University Board of Trustees
Matthew Hartley, professor of education and board of advisors chair of education, University of Pennsylvania
Ali Malekzadeh, president, Roosevelt University
Stacey Robertson, president, Widener University

Higher education business models are facing unprecedented pressures, threatening the long-term sustainability of many colleges and universities. This session will equip board members with the knowledge and tools to recognize early warning signs that their institution may be at risk. Drawing on insights from leaders who have navigated financial stress, the session will highlight key indicators and benchmarks that boards should monitor. Participants will learn how to develop situational awareness, understand the institution’s business model, and engage in effective strategic questioning. The session will also outline alternative directions for transformation. Attendees will leave prepared to serve as strategic thought partners, supporting institutional leaders in making necessary adjustments or transformational changes to ensure resilience and vitality.

Speakers:
Nancy Blattner, president, Fontbonne University
Carlton Brown, trustee, San Francisco Bay University; former president, Clark Atlanta University and Savannah State University; senior consultant and senior fellow, AGB
Dennis Holtschneider, trustee, Teachers College, Columbia University; chancellor and past president, DePaul University; past president, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities

How can the work of the governing board and its policies and practices influence and enable changes that increase student success? What are the levers that have made a difference in retention, progression, completion, and success at institutions with large percentages of students who are first in their family to attend college, Pell Grant eligible, or underrepresented in higher education? Hear from the leaders of several institutions highlighted in AGB’s Gates Foundation-funded project and report, From Oversight to Impact: How Governing Boards and Administrators Advance Student Success.

Panelists:
Kemal M. Atkins, trustee, San Francisco Bay University; former vice president, Keene State College and Delaware State University; senior consultant, AGB
Tomikia P. LeGrande, president, Prairie View A&M University
Lamont O. Repollet, president, Kean University
Merrill P. Schwartz, co-author, Assessing Board Performance (AGB, 2018); former senior vice president for content and program strategy, AGB; senior consultant and senior fellow, AGB

College athletics is being transformed by the House v. NCAA settlement, revenue sharing with athletes, and name, image, and likeness (NIL). Discover how these (and other) seismic shifts impact your institution’s mission and financial bottom line—from Division I’s new competitive realities to Division II’s and III’s enrollment and retention challenges.

Speakers:
Karen Weaver, adjunct assistant professor and academic director of the Collegiate Athletics Certificate Program, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education; host, Trustees and Presidents: A Podcast for University Leaders on College Athletics; author, Understanding College Athletics: What Campus Leaders Need to Know about College Sports
Matthew Banker, senior advisor, CCHA Collegiate Sports Law

Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, Fort Lewis College (FLC) has discovered the power of leveraging student voice and innovation to improve the student experience. Over the past five years, students representing a wide range of campus constituencies have met regularly with the board of trustees to identify key factors affecting student success and retention. These conversations emphasize collaborative problem-solving and the exploration of viable, actionable solutions.

Following each session, student input is synthesized and routed to the relevant trustee committees or administrative leaders for review and implementation. This structured process has led to meaningful, measurable improvements across campus.

In this interactive session, the FLC student body president and members of the board of trustees will share insights from this model and offer a replicable framework for achieving comparable outcomes.

Speakers:
Mary Rubadeau, member, Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees
Asa Worthington, student representative, Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees; president, Associated Students of Fort Lewis College

In today’s rapidly shifting higher education environment, boards of trustees are called to provide steady, mission- and values-driven leadership. In this session panelists will offer trustees actionable strategies to sustain inclusive excellence through governance, policy, and mission alignment.

Moderator:
Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran, president emerita, Kalamazoo College; trustee emerita, Pomona College; chair, United States International University–Africa Board of Trustees; senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB

Panelists:
Paulette Granberry Russell, president, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
Tom Hyatt, general counsel, AGB; senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB

As questions about the value and purpose of higher education intensify, boards of trustees play a critical role in guiding institutions through a rapidly shifting credential environment. Colleges and universities are reexamining how short-term, skills-focused credentials—offered both within higher education and by external providers—fit into their missions, academic portfolios, and financial models. This session will explore an accreditor’s approach and how institutions are adapting their strategies in response. Trustees will gain insight into the opportunities and risks associated with alternative credentials, helping boards make informed decisions about program development, partnerships, and long-term positioning.

Speakers:
Barbara Gellman-Danley, president, Higher Learning Commission
Joanne Li, chancellor, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Mordecai Ian Brownlee, president, Community College of Aurora

State laws, executive orders, and federal regulations are increasingly dictating what may be included in syllabi, classrooms, websites, and grant proposals. These mandates raise complex questions about the First Amendment rights of institutions, faculty, and students—the freedoms of speech and inquiry that underpin higher education. At the same time many colleges and universities have been tightening policies regarding free expression on their campuses; everything from protest rights to sidewalk chalking has been constrained. This session will help trustees understand the foundations of free expression, how it is essential to the mission of higher education, the legal and governance implications of recent policy actions, and the board’s essential role in safeguarding First Amendment rights.

Speaker:
David Maxwell, member and past chair, Grinnell College Board of Trustees; president emeritus, Drake University; former chair, Council on Higher Education Accreditation; senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB
Kristen Shahverdian, program director of campus free speech, PEN America
Additional speakers to be announced.

Accreditation is the backbone of higher education quality and public trust—and it’s changing fast. Federal reforms and new accreditation models are challenging long-standing assumptions about how colleges and universities demonstrate excellence and accountability. What will these shifts mean for institutional reputation, governance, and student confidence? In this interactive session, trustees will explore the future of accreditation, gain insights into emerging trends and regulatory expectations, and discuss how boards can lead proactively to ensure quality, integrity, and strategic advantage in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Moderator:
Jill Derby, member, American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, Board of Trustees; former chair, Nevada Board of Regents; senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB

Speaker:
Jamienne Studley, president emerita, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission; past president, Skidmore College

This session will explore how shared governance serves as a catalyst for innovation across today’s colleges and universities—and why it matters to institutions. Drawing on real-world examples, the session will examine how collaborative decision-making among trustees, presidents, faculty, staff, and students leads to creative, sustainable institutional outcomes. Participants will consider how shared governance strengthens institutional agility, builds trust, and improves strategic decisions. The session will also address common tensions trustees encounter, including balancing fiduciary responsibility with inclusive processes, and will offer practical strategies for engaging governance partners without slowing progress. Designed for board members, the conversation will clarify the board’s unique role in fostering a culture where innovation thrives through shared purpose.

Speakers:
Steven C. Bahls, chair, Capital University Board of Trustees; president emeritus, Augustana College; senior consultant, AGB (moderator)
Burton J. Webb, president, University of Pikeville

State higher education policy is evolving rapidly as institutions navigate demographic shifts, workforce demands, and financial pressures. This session will provide boards of trustees with a strategic understanding of the state policy dynamics shaping public higher education and the vital role of regional compacts such as the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the New England Board of Higher Education. Trustees will explore how states are addressing affordability, talent development, cross-state credentialing, and the expansion of flexible learning pathways. Presenters will offer practical insights into how governing boards can anticipate policy shifts, strengthen institutional competitiveness, and leverage regional partnerships to expand access and reduce unnecessary duplication. Attendees will leave with a clearer perspective on how boards can collaborate effectively with state agencies and regional compacts to drive innovation, advance student success, and support mission-aligned, sustainable growth.

Speakers:
Scott Jenkins, trustee emeritus, Illinois State University Board of Trustees; member, AGB Board of Directors
Demarée Michelau, president, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Michael Thomas, president and CEO, New England Board of Higher Education

As higher education’s business model faces mounting pressure, innovation is no longer optional—it is an operational imperative. In this candid session, chief business officers (CBOs) from diverse institutions will examine the top five higher education business issues of the National Association of College and University Business Officers and share what they most want trustees to understand about the realities of their work. Positioned at the center of institutional strategy, CBOs translate ambition into financially and operationally sustainable decisions. The discussion will explore how today’s top business challenges are driving innovation in areas such as financial stewardship, workforce strategy, enterprise risk management, and long-term sustainability—and where constraints, trade-offs, and misunderstandings can slow progress. Trustees will gain insight into how these issues appear beyond the boardroom and how governance choices can either enable or inhibit meaningful innovation.

Speakers:
Kara D. Freeman, president and CEO, National Association of College and University Business Officers
Todd Haggerty, senior vice chancellor for finance, business and infrastructure, University of Colorado Boulder
Lori Seager, vice president for finance and chief financial officer, Colorado College
Teresa Costantinidis, executive vice president for finance and administration, The University of New Mexico

Higher education boards face mounting pressures: shifting business models, ideological divides, and high-stakes reputational risks. Many governance challenges stem not from a lack of expertise but from unaddressed values conflicts and unstructured debate. This session will provide a roadmap for purposeful training in constructive dialogue that equips boards to navigate disagreement, avoid decision relitigation, and maintain strategic clarity when it matters most. Constructive dialogue introduces a practical framework for strengthening board norms, building core dialogue skills, and using values-based listening to improve deliberation.

Speakers:
Mylien Duong, chief impact officer, Constructive Dialogue Institute
Terrance MacTaggart, former chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Superior, Minnesota State University System, and University of Maine System; senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB

As public trust in higher education declines and employers question graduate readiness, Colorado is advancing a model that better aligns education with workforce needs. This session will explore how state leaders are fostering collaboration among K–12, higher education, and industry to build stronger, more relevant pathways for students. Through a recent executive order, Governor Jared Polis has directed state agencies to develop a unified credentialing system that connects learning to careers in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity and business principles. Through bipartisan legislation and innovative partnerships with College Board to launch Career Kickstart—a new AP offering that allows students to earn college-level credit plus a workforce-ready credential—Colorado is creating new opportunities for learners statewide.

Trustees and governing board members will gain insight into how they can guide and support institutional policies that strengthen talent pipelines, align programs with employer needs, and expand access to meaningful postsecondary pathways.

Moderator:
Alyssa Chudnofsky, executive director, strategic reach and workforce partnerships, College Board

Panelists:
Danen Jobe, director of academic affairs, Colorado Community College System
Gillian McKnight-Tutein, senior educational impact officer, Colorado Department of Higher Education

The Colorado Trustee Network (CTN) is a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to support, connect, and mobilize the governing boards of Colorado’s public colleges, universities, and systems. Founded on the belief that informed, equity-minded trustees are essential to higher education’s future, CTN provides a trusted space for board members to learn, collaborate, and lead with purpose. Since its launch, CTN has become a national model for elevating governance to meet pressing challenges—strengthening enrollment, aligning with workforce needs, improving outcomes for students furthest from opportunity, and rebuilding public trust. This panel will examine CTN’s progress, highlighting early successes in shared professional development and the ongoing challenges of collective action, with trustees discussing how CTN supports their leadership in a complex higher education environment.

Moderator:
Landon Mascareñaz, chair, State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, Colorado Community College System; convener/chair, Colorado Trustee Network

Panelists:
Elaine Gantz Berman, chair, Trustee Network; convener/chair, Colorado Trustee Network; past member, Metropolitan State University of Denver Board of Trustees
Alison Griffin, member, Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees; member, Colorado Trustee Network
Stephen Jordan, vice chair, University of Northern Colorado Board of Trustees; member, Colorado Trustee Network
Russell Noles, trustee and past chair, Metropolitan State University of Denver Board of Trustees; member, Colorado Trustee Network

This session will explore the powerful intersection of sports and democracy and its implications for higher education governance. Athletics remains one of the most visible and influential aspects of campus life, shaping institutional identity, public trust, and civic engagement. The session will examine how collegiate sports can reinforce democratic values such as inclusion, fairness, leadership, and shared responsibility, while also reflecting broader societal tensions and change. Trustees will consider how evolving legal, policy, and cultural dynamics in intercollegiate athletics influence institutional mission, accountability, and community impact. Through a governance-focused lens, the discussion will invite trustees to think strategically about athletics as both a unifying force and a platform for democratic practice within higher education, offering insights relevant to oversight, stewardship, and long-term institutional health.

Speakers:
Amy Parsons, president, Colorado State University
Oliver Luck, member, West Virginia University Board of Trustees; executive director, United Athletic Conference
Teresa Gould, commissioner, Pac-12
William King, general counsel and corporate secretary, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee; former associate commissioner for legal affairs and compliance, Southeastern Conference

At a time when campus communities face growing academic, social, political, and economic pressures, campus leaders play a pivotal role in shaping a culture of well-being that extends to students, faculty, staff, and administrators alike. This session will explore strategic actions boards and presidents can take to champion holistic wellness as an institutional priority. Participants will examine how board-level decisions—ranging from resource allocation and policy development to presidential evaluation and campus climate oversight—directly influence mental health, belonging, workload balance, and overall community resilience. Learn how presidents create a culture of shared commitment, goals, and mutual support through practical frameworks and case examples, and how boards can ask the right questions, support data-informed initiatives, and reinforce a shared commitment to equitable support systems. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how governance can foster environments where all members of the campus community feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.

Higher education is experiencing unprecedented disruption—enrollment volatility, financial pressure, political scrutiny, and accelerating change driven by technology and artificial intelligence (AI). Yet some institutions are navigating this turbulence more effectively than others.

This session will present recent AGB research findings on best practices and the real-world applications that boards and presidents are using to reposition their institutions for resilience and long-term success. Drawing on original research and experience, case examples, and hands-on tools, participants will learn how leading boards move beyond traditional strategic planning toward more adaptive, execution-focused approaches.

The session will blend expert insight with practitioner perspectives from presidents and board leaders who have successfully led through complexity, offering trustees practical guidance they can immediately apply on their own campuses. Participants will learn how high-performing boards anchor strategy amid uncertainty without overmanaging, while understanding and incorporating the impact of macro forces reshaping higher education.

Speakers:
Paul Friga, clinical professor of strategy and entrepreneurship, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; former trustee, Saint Francis University; senior consultant, AGB
Mark Heckler, president emeritus, Valparaiso University; trustee, Elizabethtown College; senior consultant, AGB