The 2026 NADOHE Annual Conference brought more than 800 higher education leaders to Philadelphia for a timely and energizing gathering centered on the theme, “Reclaiming ‘We the People’: Democracy and the Renewal of Higher Education.” More than 150 participants also took part in pre-conference workshops, setting the tone for a week focused on strategy, connection, and collective purpose.
From the opening day, the conference created space for both reflection and action. Pre-conference sessions grounded attendees in NADOHE’s Rooted in Mission and Values framework and offered practical tools for advancing access and opportunity across institutions. As Dr. Tia McNair emphasized during the workshop, this moment calls on leaders to “speak up, engage deeply, and stand together” in support of higher education’s mission.
Across four days, keynote speakers and session leaders challenged participants to think critically about leadership, community, and the future of equity work. Maurice A. Stinnett, Ph.D., opened the conference by urging attendees to find community and take pride in incremental progress, a message that resonated throughout the week. Sessions explored topics ranging from restorative dialogue and disability justice to data-informed decision making and coalition building.
Speakers returned again and again to a central idea: this work is evolving, and so must the strategies that support it. As NADOHE President and CEO Emelyn A. dela Peña noted in remarks reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, “the question isn’t whether the work continues, but how it continues with clarity and integrity.”
That sense of urgency was balanced with a strong emphasis on care and sustainability. Esther Choo, M.D., MPH, reminded attendees that “hope isn’t a feeling; it’s a practice,” underscoring the importance of small, consistent actions and personal wellbeing in sustaining long-term change.
Throughout the conference, participants engaged deeply with the realities shaping higher education today. National coverage noted that attendees gathered to reflect on a challenging year for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts while also identifying paths forward. Within that context, the conference served as both a professional convening and a source of renewed momentum.
Equally important were the moments of connection that took place outside formal sessions. Affinity gatherings, networking events, and informal conversations created space for attendees to share experiences, build partnerships, and strengthen a sense of community. These interactions reinforced a key takeaway echoed across sessions: progress is sustained not in isolation, but through collaboration.
This year’s conference was shaped by the leadership and vision of the NADOHE Conference Planning Committee, including co-chairs Lisa D. Givan, CP-HIL, and James A. Felton III, M.S. Their stewardship helped create a program that was both responsive to the current moment and grounded in the field’s long-term priorities.
The conference concluded with a powerful call to action from Michael Benitez Jr., Ph.D., who encouraged participants to move forward with intention while maintaining authenticity and joy in their work.
As attendees returned to their campuses and communities, they carried with them new ideas, practical strategies, and strengthened networks. In a moment of continued complexity for higher education, the 2026 NADOHE Annual Conference affirmed both the importance of this work and the collective leadership required to advance it.