Presidential and Featured Sessions
The line-up of Presidential, Program Committee Co-Chair Featured, and Featured Sessions for the 49th Annual Conference will highlight the conference theme, "I Am A Scholar." These sessions are in addition to the 228 paper; performance, visual, and digital scholarship; works in progress; poster; and interactive symposia sessions that will be part of the General Conference, Pre-Conferences, and Virtual Conference Day.
The intent of the 2024 conference theme, “I Am A Scholar,” is to not only consider our own identities as scholars, but to consider who we are as a scholarly community.
The theme is not about navel gazing, something for which many of us are unfairly critiqued in our work. Rather, this is a project to welcome and learn from a community of scholars from a variety of institution types, associations, policy settings, unique identities, geographies, methodologies, epistemologies, positions within and beyond academe, and myriad other locations. Collectively, we can stake our claim as scholars who continue to transform higher education through the work we do.
Presidential Sessions
Presidential Sessions were created collaboratively amongst the Conference Committee and 2024 ASHE President Jeni Hart, with special attention to the conference theme and important scholarship happening with our members.
Building New Foundations: Scholarship, Activism, and Praxis within the Arts
This presidential session invites local leaders within the Twin Cities art community to examine how art serves as a conduit for new research methodologies and community engagement. The discussion will be centered around organizing and activism praxis which considers local environmental, economic, and social contexts.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Conference Local and Community Engagement Committee.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Service and Community: Considering Our Obligations to Ourselves, Each Other, and the Profession
Service is at the heart of the profession, yet it has taken on new strains with the diversification of the academy and reduction in tenure-line appointments. Thus, this presidential session grapples with the necessity and complexities of service and our obligations to one another and the profession as a whole.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Presidential Commission on Service.
Learn more at the conference program website.
The Role of Intermediary Public Policy Organizations in Translating Research into Policy During Turbulent Times
Intermediary Public Policy Organizations (IPPOs) operate between policymakers and higher education stakeholders. IPPOs are uniquely positioned to convey the interests of stakeholders to policymakers while also translating academic research into policy. In this session, we explore how IPPOs take up this work during a time in which DEI initiatives and academic freedom are facing political threats and as we transition to a new presidential administration.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Conference Attendee Engagement Committee.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Louisiana: A Case Study of Higher Education Successes and Opportunities
Scholars from Louisiana will share an overview of higher education in the state and discuss successes and opportunities in a sometimes challenging political environment. This session will specifically focus on Louisiana, which was to be the site of this conference; however, due to laws passed in 2022, the location was changed to Minneapolis.
Learn more at the conference program website.
The Mid-Career Take-Off
What happens after tenure? The mid-career point can be disorienting, confusing, and aimless. In this session we will discuss all the ways that the mid-career point can be a springboard for innovation and new opportunities. Panelists will discuss ways they have launched research collectives and large grant funded programs, engaged with policy makers, influenced practice, and moved into academic administration, which are just a few of the options beyond tenure. This will be an interactive session with opportunities to engage with the panelists.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Conference Attendee Engagement Committee.
Learn more at the conference program website.
I Am A Scholar, Too
Scholars embody a variety of roles within and outside higher education institutions. This panel takes up the discussion on who, besides faculty, are scholars. We invite people into this discussion about all the ways ASHE members are conducting research and producing knowledge including scholars from IPPOs, foundations, research institutes, and other spaces within and beyond universities. This will be an interactive session with opportunities to engage with the panelists.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Conference Attendee Engagement Committee.
Learn more at the conference program website.
ASHE Inclusion, Equity, and Organizational Diversity Committee Town Hall
The ASHE Inclusion, Equity, and Organizational Diversity (IEOD) Committee will present outcomes of the IEOD annual report, highlighting key achievements and ongoing initiatives to increase awareness of impactful work throughout the Association. Attendees are invited to provide feedback about matters connected to the ASHE IEOD statement and the committee's report.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Power Hour: Working Groups for Equity Advocacy and Activism
Attacks on equity in education are widespread and will continue. Although it is past time for educators to act, it is vital that we do. In this session, we will develop working groups assigned with various tasks to DO advocacy/activism work with the opportunity to continue beyond ASHE.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Conference Attendee Engagement Committee.
Learn more at the conference program website.
The Journey of Streetwise Scholars
We seek to shatter the stigma that revolves around the experiences of incarceration leading to a deficit perspective on this student population. The purpose of this presentation is to present information inciting advocacy for policies, programs, and services at 2-year and 4-year institutions serving formerly incarcerated & system impacted students.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Conference Attendee Engagement Committee.
Learn more at the conference program website.
ASHE Presidential Commission on Artificial Intelligence: A Community Conversation
In this session, members of the ASHE Presidential Commission on AI will lead a community conversation on the myriad intersections of higher education and forms of artificial intelligence. We will specifically consider the role(s) of AI with respect to access, scholarship, teaching and learning, and our work as an organization.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Scholarly Soundwaves: Amplifying Reach through Podcasting
With podcasting's surge in popularity, scholars have unprecedented opportunities to share research and insights. Join our panel of dynamic scholar-podcasters for a lively discussion on leveraging podcasts to share scholarship and unique perspectives while expanding the reach and impact of their work across higher education, social policy research, and beyond.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Conference Attendee Engagement Committee.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Program Committee Co-Chairs Featured Sessions
Program Committee Co-Chairs Featured Sessions were selected by the Program Committee Chairs based on recommendations made during the Call for Proposal process. These sessions were submitted through the proposal process and ranked very highly by reviewers.
Ideas and Ideologies in Higher Education Policy
This symposium gathers a panel of critical scholars of higher education policy and reform to engage in dialogue about both longstanding and immediate challenges that US colleges and universities face from ideologically motivated policy actors.
Learn more at the conference program website.
The Politics of Community: Perspectives on Power, Conflict, and Change
This session brings together scholars with differing perspectives on the politics of community and seeks to interrogate how power operates in various forms of civic, political, and institutional engagement. In doing so, session authors highlight how we view forms of change in higher education and the barriers to enacting it.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Toward Disability Justice: Challenging and Expanding Conceptions of Disability in Higher Education
This session brings together scholars who challenge how we conceptualize, study, and understand disability and disabled students in higher education. Collectively, these scholars urge us to critically examine how ableism informs research and practice and to consider how scholars and practitioners may work toward service of disability justice.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Responding Strategically as Equity-Centered Researchers in a Hostile Racial Climate
This interactive symposium features research from panelists advancing racial equity in undergraduate recruitment and admissions, faculty hiring and retention, and mentoring. We discuss dilemmas and strategies equity-centered researchers might use to navigate the current racialized, politically hostile environment to continue and support the work under current legislative and judicial threats.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Featured Sessions
Featured Sessions are those connected to the work of the association, including some deeper dives of works selected for some of our ASHE awards.
ASHE 2024 Barbara Townsend Lecture
Barbara Townsend served as the ASHE Executive Director and on many other committees, to improve the study of higher education for her higher education colleagues. Barbara was particularly well known for her research on community colleges, feminist studies, doctoral education, and higher education programs. In 1995, Barbara, Les Goodchild, and Bob Hendrickson co-founded the Council for the Advancement of Higher Education Programs (CAHEP). CAHEP and the larger ASHE community wanted to recall her spirit and enthusiasm for higher education programs annually with a lecture series in her honor. CAHEP welcomes nominations for a lecture and lecturer that focus on community colleges, feminist studies, doctoral education, and/or higher education programs. For more information about the award recognition, visit www.ashe.ws/townsendlecture.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Evidence to Action: Designing Research that Can Inform Policy
Policymakers are increasingly interested in using evidence to inform the design of policies & programs. This ultimately requires the careful design of research studies & targeted strategies to communicate recommendations. Join panelists for a discussion about how their rural-focused research is designed to answer questions that have implications for institutional & state-level policies.
This session is coordinated by Ascendium through a partnership with ASHE.
Learn more at the conference program website.
ASHE 2024 Bobby Wright Dissertation of the Year Presentation: Sponsored by the Penn State Center for the Study of Higher Education
The ASHE Dissertation of the Year Award, named in memory of Irvin Lee "Bobby" Wright, annually recognizes an exemplary dissertation in higher education. Named after Irvin Lee "Bobby" Wright, who received the 1986 ASHE Distinguished Dissertation of the Year Award, and who made significant contributions to historical studies of Native Americans in higher education. A gay Native American, Dr. Wright was an assistant professor and research associate at Penn State University and previously directed the Centre for Native American Studies at Montana State University. He was known for his compassionate mentorship and commitment to diversity and inclusion. This session celebrates the legacy of Dr. Wright by highlighting the work of the current Dissertation of the Year Award winner, whose research continues to inspire and impact the field of higher education. For more information about the award recognition, visit www.ashe.ws/dotyaward.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Omg, Surviving Academia & Academic Hazing, What Matters?
The pressures and challenges graduate students face are immense and multifaceted in the current academic environment. This session is designed as a safe and supportive space for graduate students to decompress and openly discuss the various difficulties they encounter on their academic journeys. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, gain insights from their peers, and realize that they are not alone in facing these struggles. Through candid conversations and mutual support, this session aims to foster a sense of community among graduate students, emphasizing the importance of mental health, peer solidarity, and effective coping strategies.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Graduate Student Committee.
Learn more at the conference program website.
Entering a Post-DACA Era: Navigating Post-DACA Realities with and for Undocumented Students in Higher Education
By 2025, no undocumented high school graduate will be eligible for DACA, which will hinder undocumented students’ access to higher education and employment. Panelists at this session will discuss what it means to enter a post-DACA era and how to support undocumented students without DACA.
This session is coordinated by the ASHE Presidential Commission on Undocumented Individuals.
Learn more at the conference program website.
ASHE 2024 Outstanding Book Award Fireside Chat
Join us for a Fireside Chat to honor the recipient of the Outstanding Book Award, a recognition bestowed upon a book that makes a significant contribution to the study of higher education. This award celebrates a published work within the last year that advance theories, knowledge, practices, pedagogies, and policies in the field of higher education. During this session, the recipient nomination author will discuss their work, share insights into their research and writing process. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a conversation, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the book's contributions to higher education. For more information about the award recognition, visit www.ashe.ws/outstandingbook.
Learn more at the conference program website.
The Review of Higher Education: Open Community Conversation on (In)Justice in Publishing
In this session, we will engage in a community conversation focusing on epistemic injustice within publishing processes. We will hear from each of the four Review of Higher Education (RHE) Task Forces working on short term and long-term structural change. The session will be interactive as we encourage ASHE members to reflect on justice-related topics faced by ASHE/RHE communities relative to publishing substantively and methodologically field-shaping work. Finally, we will create next steps for moving RHE forward given the current socio/political milieu so our field’s journal is situated to do its best work to promote publishing justice and constructive debate of ideas.
This session is coordinated by the editors of The Review of Higher Education, ASHE's scholarly journal.
Learn more at the conference program website.
I Am A Scholar: Publishing in Higher Education Journals
This symposium is for aspiring authors who want to publish in peer-reviewed journals. This symposium will be a valuable resource to help faculty, graduate students, scholars and practitioners discuss with the editors the demystifying of the publication process in higher education journals.
Learn more at the conference program website.