September 15, 2023
Early Bird Registration Deadline
October 8, 2023
Regular Registration Deadline
September 29, 2023
Awards Nomination Deadline
2023 NASPA Florida Drive-In Conference
Regional Drive-in/Small Conference
October 19 - October 21, 2023 USF (Tampa, FL)
NASPA-FL is proud to present the 2023 Annual Drive-In Conference for members of the NASPA-FL community.
Please note that our program lineup has changed for this year's event, including: Welcome Social for participants on Thursday evening (October 19, 2023); a full day of speakers, concurrent sessions, and the annual awards presentation on Friday, October 20, 2023; and the Case Study Competition on Saturday, October 21, 2023.
The Undergraduate Symposium has been postponed and will be offered in a virtual format during the month of November. More information will be available shortly.
Presented By
About
Make sure you save the date for October 19-21, 2023. This year’s Drive-In Conference will feature the NASPA-FL Social on Thursday; educational sessions, guest speakers, and awards on Friday; and the 2023 Case Study Competition on Saturday.
The annual NASPA-FL Social will be held on Thursday, October 19th at 6:00PM. Additional information about the location will be sent out to Drive-In Conference registrants closer to the event date.
This event is an affordable opportunity for professional development, networking, reconnecting with old friends, and creating new ones! The 2023 NASPA-FL Drive-In Conference is open to all student affairs professionals, graduate students, institutional partners, and undergraduate students considering careers in Student Affairs.
If you have any questions about the 2023 NASPA-FL Drive-In Conference, please contact Dr. Kerrie Montgomery Orozco, Conference Chair, at [email protected].
If you have any questions about the 2023 NASPA-FL Case Study Competition, please contact Susan Trudeau, Case Study Competition Coordinator, at [email protected].
Call for Programs
The Call for Programs is now CLOSED.
Those who submitted programs by the final August 18th deadline will be notified no later than September 8, 2023.
Registration
Registration for the 2023 NASPA-FL Drive-In Conference is OPEN.
Pricing for the conference is as follows:
| Registration Type | Early Bird (through 9/15/2023) | Regular (through 10/08/2023) | Late/On-Site (10/19 & 10/20/2023) |
| NASPA Member | $90 | $120 | $150 |
| NASPA Student Member | $50 | $65 | $80 |
| Non-Member | $165 | $195 | $225 |
| Student Non-Member | $80 | $95 | $110 |
Registration as a member is based on individual membership status at the time of the event. If your current membership will expire prior to the event, you will have the option to renew at the time of registration to receive the member rate.
If you are not a current member and are employed by a college or university that is an institutional member, you can join as a professional affiliate member for $80. If your institution is NOT a member, you can join as an associate affiliate member for $250. Both membership types provide access to the individual member rate for the event. Please visit the membership section of the NASPA website to learn more about membership types and benefits. We hope you’ll consider joining today!
For a comprehensive listing of NASPA registration policies, please visit this page.
Case Study Competition
The NASPA-FL-Drive-In Conference on October 19-21. 2023 will feature the return of the live annual Case Study Competition, a great opportunity for graduate students to enhance their professional development in student affairs by utilizing their knowledge of student affairs theory and how it applies to real-world situations.
We will be hosting the annual Case Study Competition on Saturday morning, October 21. (Note date change.) Teams of three competitors from the same institution will analyze, evaluate, and provide solutions to a thought-provoking case relevant to the field of student and academic affairs. Participants will present to a panel of judges composed of student and academic affairs practitioners and faculty. Winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded at the end of the competition. Winners will also be shared via social media.
We strongly suggest that institutions host a local competition to determine a team to advance to the statewide competition. Cases from previous NASPA-FL competitions may be used for local competitions, or you may want to ask some of your student affairs professionals on campus to create a case and judge the on-campus event.
Please note that all participants must register for the NASPA-FL Drive in Conference to be eligible to participate.
We hope that students from your institution take part in this educational and fun opportunity for professional development! If you are interested in competing, please register here. Please contact me at [email protected] or 904-620-3547 if you have additional questions.
Morning Keynote Speaker
Carla L. McKnight is a speaker and educator dedicated to promoting growth and inspiring change. Her passion for higher education was ignited when she enrolled as a student at her local community college. Carla was surrounded by individuals from all walks of life who were
actively trying to have more, to do more, and to be more. Their commitment and drive inspired her to do the same despite her circumstances.
Carla’s experience spawned her belief that higher education is key to economic and social mobility. She asked herself a question: “What can I do to help students achieve their dreams?” Throughout her career, she’s done so in myriad ways including working with students in housing
and residence life, conduct, academic advising and as a professor. She states, “I always focused on creating spaces where my students knew how important they were to me. Then one day, it hit me: I am just one person that some students may encounter on their journey. What if every student knew, without any doubt, they mattered to everyone at the college?”
Therefore, after a decade of working directly with students, Carla shifted her focus to working with higher education professionals. She provides personal and professional training and development for faculty, staff, and administrators in colleges and universities across the country.
Ultimately, Carla hopes to inspire others to create an inclusive learning environment that bolsters the success of all students.
Carla currently serves as the Vice President of Organizational Development and Human Resources at Valencia College. She holds an Associates of Arts degree from Santa Fe College, of which she is most proud. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Master’s in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education and Policy Studies, both from the University of Central Florida. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organization Development and Change at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Afternoon Keynote Speaker
Gerald L. Hector, CPA is currently Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. He also held similar positions in higher education at Morehouse College, Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Johnson C. Smith University. His experiences span all aspects of higher education management that include, treasurer, debt management, controller’s office, information technology, post award management, policy office, student accounts/bursar, facilities, grounds, business operations, auxiliary services, risk management, purchasing and procurement, legal, financial aid, campus safety, compliance, and public private partnerships. He has also served as a liaison with local elected officials for construction projects.
With over twenty-four years of progressive leadership in finance and operations in higher education, he is known for his collaborative and focused leadership style that garners trust and builds confidence in his divisions and units to deliver on the mission of the institutions he serves.
In addition to being a finance and operations professional, he is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion after being thrusted into this work after racial tensions on college campuses across the nation in the fall of 2015. He hosted and appeared on national webinars, podcasts, and other media to continue sharing the message that diversity, equity and inclusion are not only moral issues, but given the continuing changing demographics in the nation, they are economic variables that must be addressed in a comprehensive way for the future financial health and vibrancy of institutions of higher education.
He is a published author and has written several articles and white papers that are still must reads. His landmark white paper, “Navigating the New Normal, Financial Imperatives for MSI Effectiveness and Avoiding Financial Exigency” is still read extensively by MSI leaders and stakeholders. His first published book, “It’s Easy Son, Quit Making Things Difficult” (It's Easy 'Son', Quit Making Things Difficult: Lasting Life Lessons from a Coach and Mentor: Hector, Gerald: 9781732478114: Amazon.com: Books) chronicles his journey from Kingston, Jamaica on a track and field scholarship to the varied roles he has occupied including Deloitte and UNCF. The book birthed a podcast of the same name, that features, corporate leaders, college presidents, Olympians, spiritual leaders, and educators. The show airs every Wednesday at 8pm on the HBCU Nation Radio Network and attracts an international audience (Stream TheHBCUNation | Listen to IT'S EASY SON-Life Lessons on the Journey to Your Promise with Gerald Hector playlist online for free on SoundCloud).
He is a sought-after speaker on matters of higher education finances and operations and continues to give back to the industry by offering his services as a peer reviewer with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and as a mentor and advisor of the Educational Leadership Internship at Clark Atlanta University.
Drive-In Conference Schedule
| THURSDAY, October 19 | Event | Times | Location |
| NASPA-FL Closed Board Meeting | |||
| Conference Check-In/On-Site Registration | 3:00-5:30pm | Marshall Student Center Atrium | |
| NASPA-FL Social | 6:00pm | To Be Announced | |
| FRIDAY, October 20 | |||
| Conference Check-In/On-Site Registration | 8:00am | Marshall Student Center - 2nd Floor | |
| Continental Breakfast | 8:30am | 2nd Floor Landing | |
| Welcome & Opening Keynote | 9:00am | TBA | |
| Concurrent Education Session 1 | 10:15am | Various | |
| Concurrent Education Session 2 | 11:15am | Various | |
| Lunch/Networking | 12:00pm | TBA | |
| Concurrent Education Session 3 | 1:15pm | Various | |
| Afternoon Keynote | 2:10pm | TBA | |
| Awards Ceremony and Closing | 3:15pm | TBA | |
| SATURDAY, October 21 | |||
| Case Study Competition |
10:00am - 1:30pm |
TBA |
Suggested Accommodations
Hotel Suggestions Within 1 Mile of the USF Campus (Tampa, FL)
Conference Location - Marshall Student Center (4103 Cedar Circle, Tampa, FL 33620)
A room block will not be available for this year’s Drive-In Conference, but each of the hotels listed below is within 1 mile of the campus. Many include breakfast and/or WiFi. (Note that a light, Continental Breakfast will be provided at the Drive-In Conference on Friday. October 20th and the Undergraduate Symposium on Saturday. October 21st.)
Note: We do not have any affiliation with these hotel properties, and there is no special rate for the NASPA-FL Drive-In Conference. These are suggested accommodations based on their proximity to the conference location.
Hyatt PlaceTampa/Busch Gardens
11408 N 30th St, Tampa, FL 33612
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/florida/hyatt-place-tampa-busch-gardens/tpazb/?src=corp_lclb_gmb_seo_tpazb
Free Breakfast and Free WiFi
Red Roof PLUS+ & Suites Tampa
11310 N 30th St, Tampa, FL 33612
https://www.redroof.com/property/fl/tampa/RRI1261?utm_source=GMB&utm_medium=Google&utm_campaign=GMB_Performance_RRI1261
Free WiFi
Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa USF (Located on the USF Campus)
3705 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/tpafres-embassy-suites-tampa-usf-near-busch-gardens/?SEO_id=GMB-AMER-ES-TPAFRES&y_source=1_MTExMDA3Ny03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D
Free Breakfast
Home2 Suites by Hilton
11606 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/tpasfht-home2-suites-tampa-usf-near-busch-gardens/?SEO_id=GMB-AMER-HT-TPASFHT&y_source=1_Nzk0MDk5Ny03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D
Free Breakfast and Free WiFi
LaQuinta Inn & Suites
3701 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33612
https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/tampa-florida/la-quinta-usf-near-busch-gardens/overview?CID=LC:LQ::GGL:RIO:National:53065&iata=00093796
Free Breakfast and Free WiFi
Awards
Awards reviewers are an important part of the awards process. Sign up to be an awards reviewer!
Sponsorship
NASPA-FL is the state connection for NASPA members. Through various opportunities, we aim to assist higher education professionals with career development and networking needs within Florida. As a state organization within NASPA Region III, we seek to develop a robust partnership with your organization and our association members.
We are excited to host this conference fully in person at the University of South Florida in the beautiful city of Tampa. Being held Thursday, October 19 through Saturday, October 21, 2023, this conference will provide high levels of engagement for both sponsors and participants. Thursday and Friday of the Drive-In Conference will include professional staff, faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students throughout Florida. The conference concludes on Saturday with the Undergraduate Symposium, which targets undergraduate students considering a career in Student Affairs.
NASPA is the professional home for student affairs and is dedicated to the evolution of higher education. Our guiding principles of Integrity, Innovation, Inclusion, and Inquiry shape our work of fulfilling the promise of higher ed for every student. If you believe that your organization’s mission and objectives are aligned with these guiding principles there may be a mutually beneficial partnership opportunity with our association.
As the second largest state organization in our region, we encompass thousands of higher education professionals representing over 100 colleges and universities in Florida. NASPA-FL has a strong record of member engagement through our annual Drive-In Conference, NASPA National Conference attendance, webinar participation, and association networking.
To participate in this event, NASPA-FL would like to identify our sponsors by September 1, 2023. Details about our sponsorship levels and how your organization can engage with our NASPA-FL community can be found at the link below. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Michael Baumhardt. If you have already identified your sponsorship package, you may fill out the form below.
2023 NASPA Florida Drive-In Conference Sponsorship Levels
2023 NASPA Florida Drive-In Conference Sponsor Information Intake Form
We thank you in advance for your time and consideration. NASPA and the NASPA-FL community greatly value your support.
Michael Baumhardt, NASPA-FL Operations & Planning Chair
Kerrie Montgomery Orozco, Ph.D., Conference Chair
Amy Vaughan Deahl. State Director