The EvoLLLution Symposium 2026

The EvoLLLution Symposium 2026

Higher education is navigating a moment of profound transformation.

Enrollment pressures. Shifting learner expectations. Workforce acceleration. AI disruption. Institutional silos. Budget constraints. Rising accountability.

The institutions that thrive in this environment are not simply adopting new tools — they are redesigning how they operate.

This virtual symposium brings together institutional leaders for a forward-looking conversation on what it takes to build a more agile, connected, and learner-centered institution.

Agenda at a Glance

Opening Remarks (10:00AM ET - 10:05AM ET)

Shauna Cox | Editor-in-Chief, The EvoLLLution

Opening Keynote (10:05AM ET - 10:45AM ET)

Asim Ali | UPCEA Board President and Executive Director of the Biggio Center for the Enancement of Teaching and Learning, Auburn University

Engagement, Belonging and Student Success in a Data-Driven Era (10:50AM ET - 11:35AM ET)

Student success is increasingly influenced by a learner's sense of connection, belonging, and purpose. Yet as student populations become more diverse and learner journeys less linear, fostering meaningful engagement at scale has become more complex. This session explores how institutions can intentionally design experiences that strengthen community, support persistence, and improve student outcomes while leveraging data to better understand participation patterns and opportunities for intervention. Attendees will examine how student affairs and success leaders can move beyond measuring activity to demonstrating impact, creating environments where learners are empowered to thrive academically, personally, and professionally.

Devin Purgason | Associate Vice President of Student Experience, Marketing and Outreach, Forsyth Technical Community College

Vince Miller | Vice President of Enrollment & Student Affairs, Valdosta State University

Leslie Webb | Vice President of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, University of Montana

Strategic Leadership in a Rapidly Shifting Landscape (11:40AM ET - 12:15PM ET)

Higher education leaders are navigating a convergence of demographic shifts, financial pressures, workforce disruption, technological acceleration, and changing learner expectations. The institutions that thrive in the next decade will not simply adapt to change—they will build the organizational capacity to evolve continuously. This session explores how presidents, provosts, and executive leaders can create resilient institutions that balance mission, sustainability, and innovation while serving increasingly diverse populations of traditional, adult, and lifelong learners. Attendees will examine emerging trends reshaping higher education and discuss leadership strategies that position institutions for long-term relevance and growth.

Mark Milliron | President, National University

Enrollment, Marketing and the Modern Learner Experience (12:20PM ET - 12:55PM ET)

Modern learners expect more than effective recruitment campaigns—they expect personalized, intuitive experiences that help them confidently navigate educational and career decisions. As competition intensifies across degree, certificate, and workforce programs, institutions must rethink how they engage prospective learners throughout the discovery and enrollment journey. This session examines how enrollment, marketing, and digital leaders can create seamless learner experiences that build trust, reduce friction, and improve conversion. Attendees will explore how personalization, digital engagement, and outcome-focused storytelling can strengthen enrollment strategies for both traditional and lifelong learners.

Stephanie Geyer | Associate Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy, University of Montana

Meloney Linder | Vice President for Marketing & Communications, University of North Dakota

Break (12:55PM ET - 1:10PM ET)

Academic Affairs and the Future of Curriculum Agility (1:10PM ET - 1:45PM ET)

As workforce needs evolve faster than ever, institutions face growing pressure to modernize academic offerings while maintaining quality, rigor, and governance. Today's learners are seeking flexible pathways, career-connected learning, and credentials that deliver clear value in a changing economy. This session explores how academic leaders can build more responsive curriculum ecosystems that accelerate innovation, strengthen cross-campus collaboration, and connect learning outcomes to workforce opportunities. Participants will discuss strategies for creating academic agility while supporting both degree and non-degree pathways that prepare learners for lifelong success.

Sandra Tarbell | Provost & Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, Coconino Community College

Leadership Panel: Leading the Adaptive Institution (1:50PM ET - 2:50PM ET)

Change is no longer a moment for institutions to manage—it has become a constant. The harder question is how to turn the need for change into meaningful action across organizations shaped by complex governance, competing priorities and deeply established ways of working. This panel brings together institutional leaders to explore what it takes to build a more adaptive institution—from setting priorities and aligning leadership teams to breaking down silos, navigating change and turning strategy into action. Panelists will share how they are leading transformation, where progress gets stuck and what today’s leadership teams need to do differently to respond to changing learner needs while staying true to institutional mission.

Michael Avaltroni | President, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Lisa Marsh Ryerson | President, Southern New Hampshire University

Ken Udas | Vice Provost of Digital Learning Initiatives, University of Idaho

Closing Remarks (2:50PM ET - 3:00PM ET)

Shauna Cox | Editor-in-Chief, The EvoLLLution