2027 National Conference on Trusteeship: Schedule

Board chairs play a pivotal role in helping institutions navigate uncertainty, sustain effective governance, and support presidential leadership. This interactive workshop will examine the chair’s evolving responsibilities, including shaping a constructive board culture, strengthening the board-president partnership, planning for leadership succession, and addressing common governance challenges. Participants will also consider how chairs can lead with clarity and confidence amid heightened financial, regulatory, compliance, and political pressures. Bring your questions and be prepared to share experiences and strategies with peers.

Speakers:
Shannon McCambridge, senior consultant, AGB; executive search consultant, AGB Search
Jason Lane, special advisor to the president, University of Illinois System; director, AGB Search Institute for Leadership and Governance

Designed for trustees in their first one to three years of service, this workshop will offer a strong foundation for effective board leadership in higher education. Participants will gain greater clarity about the board’s role, the responsibilities of individual trustees, and the important distinction between governance and management. With focused discussion on institutional mission, priorities, and the practice of trusteeship, the session will equip newer board members to serve with confidence, engage more fully in board work, and contribute meaningfully to institutional success.

Speakers:
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
Mark A. Mone, chancellor emeritus, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee; senior consultant, AGB

Public colleges, universities, and systems face mounting uncertainty—from political tensions over curriculum, hiring, and admissions to funding pressures and enrollment declines. In addition, they must navigate diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges as well as conflicts over free speech and campus protests. In this environment, board members and presidents must work closely together to lead effectively. Yet differences over strategy, direction, and governance can strain these critical relationships.

This workshop will explore practical strategies and resources to strengthen board and board–chief executive relationships during stressful times. Organized around common questions raised by trustees, presidents, and chancellors, the session will focus on how institutional leaders can navigate disagreement, build consensus, and sustain a productive path forward.

Speakers:
Cristin Toutsi Grigos, senior vice president and chief content and program officer, AGB
Joan Prince, president and CEO, Executive Strategies Elite LLC; member, University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents

A presidential search is among the most consequential responsibilities a governing board will undertake. This workshop, which is a condensed version of AGB Search’s Pre-Search Strategy Workshop for governing boards and search committees, will provide practical strategies for leading an effective, well-structured search process that reflects institutional priorities and builds confidence across the campus community. Participants will examine how to clarify leadership needs, engage key stakeholders thoughtfully, develop a compelling position profile, and identify the qualities and experiences most important in the next president. The session will also emphasize careful planning, clear processes, realistic expectations, and board readiness to support a successful transition and a strong foundation for presidential success.

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 

Begin your AGB conference experience with a welcome session! This workshop will introduce attendees to AGB’s mission, core services, and the wide range of resources available to support effective governance. Through discussions and an interactive Q&A session, participants will learn how to access key tools, publications, and member benefits that they can use long after the conference ends. Attendees will also receive a practical walkthrough of the conference platform, agenda, and networking opportunities, ensuring they can confidently navigate sessions and make the most of their time. Whether you are new to AGB or looking to deepen your engagement, this session will provide a clear roadmap to help you connect with the organization, leverage its offerings, and fully experience everything the conference has to offer. 

Part I Diagnose

Most strategic plans in higher education take too long to write and say too little that is distinctive. This two-part working session is designed to change that—and it is built for teams. Bring your president and board chair, or two or three trustees, and work the problem together at one table.

In Part 1, you will name the headwinds honestly and put your own institution’s strategy through three tests: is it differentiated, is it clear, and is it connected to real resources? In Part 2, you will design the board–cabinet operating rhythm that makes a strategy move—including a redesigned retreat, the three moments where campus input belongs, and the quarterly checkpoint that keeps the plan alive.

Throughout the session, the facilitators will show how leading institutions are using artificial intelligence (AI) to compress a process that used to take a year—gathering campuswide input in days rather than months. Teams that submit their current strategy statement will receive a confidential AI-assisted read on its clarity, differentiation, and resource alignment, returned live during the session.

Come to either part. Come to both and leave with your strategy drafted on a single page.

Facilitators:
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

A new federal earnings rule puts program outcomes on the board’s agenda. Programs whose graduates’ earnings fall below specified benchmarks in two of three years can lose access to federal student loans. What should trustees ask now about programs at risk, the quality of outcomes data, and the effects on students? This session will examine how boards can oversee institutional readiness, weigh financial and reputational risks, and work with leadership on decisions about programs and student support while staying grounded in institutional mission.

Speaker:
Michael Itzkowitz, founder and president, The HEA Group; former director of the College Scorecard and deputy chief of staff, Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education

“All members of a governing board, not just investment committee members, have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that endowments are prudently and effectively managed. That responsibility becomes harder in periods of financial stress when current needs may loom large at the expense of future generations. This session focuses on six pillars of investment stewardship and endowment decision making:  Purpose, Policy, Portfolio, Process, People, and Performance, and examines how these “6 Ps” provide a framework to inform decisions about portfolio construction, liquidity and alternatives, spending policy, mission‑driven risk, and governance best practices. The discussion will draw on insights from the latest NACUBO–Commonfund Study of Endowments to highlight how these concepts apply in the current higher education environment.

Participants will leave with practical, actionable takeaways they can use to strengthen conversations and decisions around their endowment, and to apply the 6 Ps as a clear, adaptable framework for long‑term stewardship.” 

Presidential transitions are high-stakes moments for institutions and individuals. Drawing on a recent successful transition at Clark State College, this panel will pull back the curtain on the practical and human sides of handing over presidential leadership. Panelists will offer a concise, actionable playbook covering board alignment and transition planning, identity and ego management, and the day-to-day work of “passing the baton” so the next leader can succeed. Attendees will leave with concrete steps they can apply immediately at their institutions.

Moderator:
Kim Bobby, principal, AGB Search

Part II Decide

Most strategic plans in higher education take too long to write and say too little that is distinctive. This two-part working session is designed to change that—and it is built for teams. Bring your president and board chair, or two or three trustees, and work the problem together at one table.

In Part 1, you will name the headwinds honestly and put your own institution’s strategy through three tests: is it differentiated, is it clear, and is it connected to real resources? In Part 2, you will design the board–cabinet operating rhythm that makes a strategy move—including a redesigned retreat, the three moments where campus input belongs, and the quarterly checkpoint that keeps the plan alive.

Throughout the session, the facilitators will show how leading institutions are using artificial intelligence (AI) to compress a process that used to take a year—gathering campuswide input in days rather than months. Teams that submit their current strategy statement will receive a confidential AI-assisted read on its clarity, differentiation, and resource alignment, returned live during the session.

Come to either part. Come to both and leave with your strategy drafted on a single page.

Facilitators:
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
Sharon Evans, trustee, Clark State College
Evon Walters, president, Clark State College

What value do the humanities and social sciences deliver for students—and how should boards assess their place in an institution’s strategy? This session offers an evidence-based account of the value of humanistic fields—the study of history, philosophy, literature, languages, religion, culture, politics, society, the arts, and archaeology—in our time of growing uncertainty about the future of work and the global order, as well as the emerging force of AI. Our panel of seasoned trustees and academic administrators will present studies undertaken by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences on the performance of humanities and social science majors on the job market and in life satisfaction surveys. We will provide a brief overview of curricular innovations in various types of institutions, from community colleges to research universities, including emerging fields such as medical humanities. Session attendees will leave equipped to examine assumptions and assess the contributions made by humanistic teaching and research to individuals, the workplace, and democratic society.

Immigration policy increasingly shapes consequential issues for colleges and universities, including enrollment, workforce development, research and innovation, student success, and institutional risk. As institutions recruit, educate, and retain domestic and global talent, policy changes can affect who is able to enroll, teach, conduct research, work, and contribute to campus communities.

This session will help trustees and higher education leaders understand the implications for international students and scholars as well as refugee and immigrant students, including Dreamers and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Bringing together national higher education, legal, and trustee perspectives, speakers will examine immigration enforcement, visas and employment pathways, developments affecting student access, and other evolving federal and state policies—and the role trustees can play in institutional strategy, preparedness, and mission stewardship.

Speakers:
Miriam Feldblum, co-founder, president, and CEO, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
Dan Berger, partner, Green & Spiegel, academic fellow, Cornell Law School
David Fine, general counsel and secretary to the board of trustees, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Student trustees bring an important perspective to governing boards—but are boards creating the conditions for them to contribute fully? Drawing on AGB’s Empowering Student Trustees Through Leadership and Governance Programs Project, this interactive session will explore how student trustees experience their roles, where they encounter barriers, and what helps them succeed. Board and system leaders will examine emerging research, exchange effective practices, and identify practical strategies to strengthen student engagement. The conversation will highlight how board structures, culture, orientation, and leadership can better support student trustees and ensure their perspectives inform governance while positioning them as meaningful partners in the work of the board.

Speakers:
Kemal Atkins, trustee, San Francisco Bay University; former vice president, Keene State College and Delaware State University; senior consultant, AGB
Tanya M. Spilovoy, consultant, grants and strategic partnerships, AGB

How well do higher education system boards reflect the economies they serve? AGB–National Association of System Heads research examines board members’ occupational backgrounds alongside states’ major economic sectors. In this session, system and governance leaders will explore national patterns, gaps, and implications for board composition, nominations, and trustee development. Participants will consider how board expertise can strengthen workforce alignment, strategic partnerships, and informed investment decisions while advancing student success and systems’ broader public missions.

Speakers:
Justin Kollinger, associate vice president, AGB Consulting
Additional speakers to be announced.

Accreditation plays a vital role in assuring educational quality, advancing institutional improvement, and maintaining public trust in higher education. This session will explore why accreditation exists, how it has evolved, and what forces are shaping its future—including regulatory changes scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027. Board members will consider accreditation’s implications for institutional accountability, student success, federal policy, financial aid, and institutional autonomy. The discussion will equip trustees to ask informed, strategic questions about accreditation, assess potential risks and opportunities, and provide effective oversight as institutions navigate a changing and increasingly contested accreditation landscape.

Speakers:
Cameron Howell, president and CEO, Commission for Public Higher Education
A. Maria Toyoda, president and CEO, WASC Senior College and University Commission
Emily Rounds, senior higher education policy advisor, Third Way

A presidential transition can shape an institution’s strategic momentum, culture, and long-term success. In this session, participants will take a deep dive into how colleges and universities can effectively prepare for and manage the transition from an outgoing president to an incoming president. Through guided discussion, practical exercises, and scenarios, participants will examine key transition stages, clarify the roles of trustees and campus leaders, and consider how to transfer essential institutional knowledge, engage stakeholders, and build trust. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and tools to maintain continuity, reduce disruption, and position the new president and institution for success.

Two former university presidents—representing a private and a public institution—will share their firsthand perspectives on how they helped prepare their institutions for a successful presidential transition. After the discussion, they will join participants for an interactive Q&A session.

Moderator:
Shannon McCambridge, senior consultant, AGB; executive search consultant, AGB Search

Speaker:
Mark A. Mone, chancellor emeritus, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee; senior consultant, AGB”

Higher education leaders increasingly face difficult questions about institutional sustainability, growth, mission preservation, and long-term viability. Yet too often these discussions are framed as a simple choice between remaining independent or pursuing a merger. In reality, governing boards have a much broader range of options available. This highly interactive workshop will place governing boards and presidents in realistic boardroom situations where they must evaluate competing priorities such as institutional autonomy, legacy, financial sustainability, student success, mission alignment, governance, and execution risk.

Using a practical framework that compares multiple merger, acquisition, and partnership (MAP) structures, participants will work through a series of hypothetical scenarios, vote on board resolutions, assess due diligence findings, respond to unexpected developments, and defend their decisions against alternative approaches. Rather than simply hearing lessons learned from mergers and acquisitions, attendees will experience the strategic and governance challenges firsthand and leave with practical tools, decision frameworks, and questions that can be immediately applied in their own boardrooms. Attend this workshop ready to work!

Speakers:
Mark Heckler, president emeritus, Valparaiso University; trustee, Elizabethtown College, senior consultant, AGB
Ali Malekzadeh, president, Roosevelt University; senior consultant, AGB

Shared governance is increasingly under attack for slowing decision-making, stifling innovation, and obscuring accountability. How have institutional leaders successfully applied the principles of shared governance to move from narrow notions of shared governance to a broader view of shared responsibility and accountability? This session takes a candid look at how shared governance can enable effective decision-making in today’s difficult environment through clearly defined roles, meaningful and broad consultation, and mutual accountability, while protecting academic quality and fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities.

The rapid expansion of sports betting and prediction markets creates significant risks for colleges and universities, their athletics programs, and campus communities. Student-athletes, other students, faculty, and staff may face harassment, gambling addiction, financial harm, or pressure to misuse confidential information. Institutions also confront growing legal, regulatory, financial, reputational, data security, and competitive integrity risks.

Boards must oversee institutional policies governing gambling, prediction markets, education, compliance, data protection, and behavioral health. Effective oversight requires trustees to ask the right questions, clarify accountability, and ensure that strong safeguards protect individuals and the institution. Through sound governance and risk management, boards can preserve public trust and help their institutions respond effectively to a rapidly evolving betting environment.

Speakers:
Lindsey Mortenson, executive director, University Health & Counseling; chief mental health officer; and clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan

Changing athletic conferences or divisions can reshape an institution’s finances, competitive position, student-athlete experience, academic priorities, and public identity for years to come. Boards play a critical role in determining whether such a move advances institutional mission and long-term strategy. Effective governance requires rigorous analysis, thorough due diligence, and a clear assessment of both immediate opportunities and long-term consequences. Trustees must weigh financial projections, competitive implications, reputational considerations, contractual obligations, and effects on students to ensure that realignment decisions serve the institution’s broader priorities and future.

Speakers:
Ali Malekzadeh, president, Roosevelt University; senior consultant, AGB
Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, president, Saint Francis University

Expanding or contracting athletic teams requires boards to weigh institutional mission, student opportunity, competitive goals, and long-term financial sustainability. Boards must consider the costs, risks, revenue implications, and strategic trade-offs as they assess the future scope of their athletics programs and determine the questions that should guide sound, mission-aligned decisions. What are the questions boards should ask and what data should they seek in determining the best strategic course?

Speaker:
Joan McDermott, interim athletic director, Sonoma State University

As college athletics undergoes rapid legal, financial, and structural change, uncertainty continues to surround how Title IX will apply in the new environment. Trustees must assess how evolving compensation models, revenue sharing, roster decisions, scholarships, facilities, and program investments may affect gender equity and institutional risk. Strong board oversight can help institutions navigate ambiguity, protect student opportunity, and align athletics decisions with legal obligations, mission, and values. 

Student-athlete health and safety are fundamental governance responsibilities in an increasingly complex intercollegiate athletics environment. This session will examine how boards can oversee institutional policies, resources, and accountability systems designed to protect athletes’ physical and mental well-being. Participants will explore emerging risks, including medical independence, mental health support, travel demands, abuse prevention, and the pressures created by competition and commercialization. The discussion will highlight the questions trustees should ask, the information they should receive, and the governance practices needed to ensure that athlete welfare remains central to institutional decision-making, risk management, and fiduciary oversight at every competitive level. 

College athletics plays a vital role in developing athletes who compete on the national and international stage, making the Olympic pipeline an important governance consideration for boards. Trustees must oversee athletics strategies that sustain Olympic sports while balancing financial pressures, institutional priorities, and student-athlete well-being. The conversation will address the risks posed by program reductions, shifting revenue models, and uneven investment across sports, while highlighting how boards can protect access, opportunity, and competitive excellence. Effective governance can help ensure that athletics decisions advance institutional mission and strengthen the long-term future of the U.S. Olympic movement. 

If student-athletes are deemed employees, institutions could face fundamental changes in compensation, collective bargaining, benefits, workplace protections, taxation, and the structure and financing of athletics programs. Boards must prepare for the legal, financial, operational, and mission implications of a potential employment model. Critical questions include institutional responsibility, labor relations, budgets, equity, and the student-athlete experience. Effective oversight requires boards to evaluate multiple scenarios, engage the right expertise, and establish policies and contingency plans that position institutions to govern confidently amid continuing uncertainty and significant change.