June 16, 2025
Registration Opens
August 25, 2025
Call for Programs Deadline
December 7, 2025
Early Registration Deadline
January 9, 2026
Regular Registration Deadline
January 10, 2026
Late Registration Begins
January 24, 2026
Symposium Opens!
January 26, 2026
Last Day to Register
2026 NASPA AVP Symposium
Health, Safety, and Well-being Career and Workforce Development Supporting the Profession Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice AVP or "Number Two" Senior Level VP for Student Affairs
January 24 - January 26, 2026 Denver, CO
The NASPA AVP Symposium is a unique and innovative three-day program designed to support and develop AVPs and other "number twos" in their unique campus leadership roles. Leveraging the vast expertise and knowledge of sitting AVPs, the Symposium will provide high-level content through a variety of participant engagement-oriented session types.
This professional development offering is limited to AVPs and other "number twos" who report to the highest-ranking student affairs officer on campus and have substantial responsibility for divisional functions. Additionally, vice presidents for student affairs (and the equivalent) who are presenting during the symposium may also register at a discounted rate and attend.
The theme for the 2026 symposium is “Leading the Ascent: Cultivating Future-Ready AVPs.” Given the ever-evolving and fast-changing nature of higher education today, AVPs must be nimble and ready to adjust quickly. While the future is unpredictable, preparing leaders to respond to whatever may come their way is critical.
With the Rocky Mountains as our setting, this year’s symposium will focus on how we as individuals and leaders in our divisions and universities develop the necessary skills and abilities to meet today’s (and tomorrow’s) challenges. Through educational presentations and relationship-building, participants will leave with the skills, tools, go-to peer networks, confidence, and inspiration needed to lead teams, institutions, and students through a new set of obstacles.
Presented By
About
Assistant and associate vice presidents for student affairs and other senior-level "number twos" (and the equivalent) who report to the vice president for student affairs have among the most complex and challenging roles in the modern student affairs division. The NASPA AVP Symposium will gather AVPs from a wide variety of institutional types for three intense days of learning and networking designed to support AVPs' success in these difficult, yet critically important, roles. Symposium attendees can expect sessions with high-level content developed by and delivered for an AVP audience that call on AVP participants to contribute to the peer learning community by deeply engaging with the Symposium content and fellow participants.
Learning Outcomes
Strategic Agility and the Expanding AVP Role
Strategic Agility and the Expanding AVP Role
Focus: Equipping AVPs to navigate complexity, lead organizational change, and anticipate what's next.
Core Competencies Integrated:
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Ever-changing nature of the AVP role
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Leading strategic planning, change, and budget/resource management
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Forward-thinking practices in tech, workflows, and staffing
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Nimbleness and adaptability in the face of complexity
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Responding to broader societal, legal, and institutional shifts
The Power and Responsibility of Being a Number Two
The Power and Responsibility of Being a Number Two
Focus: Emphasizing the AVP’s unique positioning between vision and implementation, and the influence they wield across and beyond the institution.
Core Competencies Integrated:
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What it means to be a Number Two
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Finding your place and voice as AVP
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Inspiring and leading with authenticity across unfamiliar functional areas
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Supervising the supervisor
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Maintaining connections with students for grounded leadership
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Flourishing in the AVP role
Fostering Belonging Through People-Centered Leadership and Talent Strategy
Fostering Belonging Through People-Centered Leadership and Talent Strategy
Focus: Creating a culture of belonging and excellence through equitable, responsive leadership and staffing innovation.
Core Competencies Integrated:
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Leadership that attracts, develops, and retains talent
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Innovative staffing models in difficult hiring climates
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Investigating and redefining staff roles (pros, paras, students)
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Advancing equity and institutional culture
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Enhancing well-being and workplace quality for all
Visionary Mentorship, Collaboration, and Legacy Building
Visionary Mentorship, Collaboration, and Legacy Building
Focus: Inspiring the next generation of leaders while driving student success and modeling holistic leadership.
Core Competencies Integrated:
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Inspiring future leaders while forecasting higher education’s direction
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Sharing professional journeys to inspire excellence and resilience
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Leading with one’s whole self
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Enhancing student success through collaborative leadership
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Influencing institutional culture and learning environments
Registration
All presenters must be registered for the Symposium. Presenters and co-presenters who are AVPs (or the equivalent) whose proposals are accepted must register for the symposium in order to present. Presenters and co-presenters who are VPSAs (or the equivalent) whose proposals are accepted who do not wish to attend the full symposium will be granted a complimentary presenter pass in order to attend only the session they are presenting. Presenters and co-presenters who are VPSAs (or the equivalent) whose proposals are accepted who wish to attend the full symposium will receive a 25% discount of their registration fee. If you are not an AVP (or the equivalent), please contact Ke'Ana Bradley at [email protected] for guidance regarding completing your registration.
Registration Scholarship and Discount
- If you are experiencing financial hardship, you may qualify for a NASPA Foundation Membership Scholarship or NASPA Foundation Professional Development Access Scholarship, which can be used to cover registration for this event. Apply by December! If possible, you are encouraged to go ahead and register for the event by the early registration date. If you are awarded a scholarship, your registration will be refunded in full.
- If you are an AVP (or the equivalent) who is also attending the immediately preceding NASPA Institute for New AVPs, you are entitled to a 25% discount for your symposium registration fee. Please use the coupon code provided in your institute registration when completing your symposium registration.
For a comprehensive listing of NASPA registration policies, please visit this page.
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REGISTRATION FEES |
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Early Registration Through Dec 7, 2025 |
Regular Registration Dec 8, 2025 - Jan 9, 2026 |
Late Registration Starting Jan 10, 2026 |
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NASPA Member |
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$725 |
$825 |
$925 |
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Non-Member |
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$925 |
$1025 |
$1125 |
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HALF-DAY PRE-CONFERENCE REGISTRATION |
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NASPA Member |
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$75 |
$95 |
$140 |
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Non-Member |
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$175 |
$195 |
$240 |
Registration Policies
Registration Policies
Registration Cancellation Policy:
This program may be cancelled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. In this case, fees will be refunded; however, NASPA will not be responsible for additional costs, charges, or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines, hotels, and/or travel agencies. NASPA is not responsible for weather or travel related problems and will not reimburse registration fees for these issues.
For a comprehensive listing of NASPA registration policies, please visit this page.
Questions
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Registration: NASPA Event |
Ke'Ana Bradley |
Register Online for 2026 NASPA AVP Symposium
Pre-symposium Workshops
Prior to the “official” start of the symposium, attendees will have the chance to participate in pre-symposium workshops. Registration is required for these optional offerings. To add a pre-symposium workshop to your existing registration, please send an email to [email protected] or call 202-265-7500.
Presympoisum Workshops
State legislation in Ohio has recently reshaped the higher education landscape, prohibiting many Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. These mandates resulted in significant institutional shifts: department closures, restructuring of student services, and a reimagining of institutional values in practice. This session invites AVPs to explore how strategic agility—paired with principled leadership—can transform disruptive mandates into opportunities for reinvention. Through a case-based approach grounded in the presenter’s experience, participants will:* Examine a real-time response to legislation;* Explore how to lead through ambiguity* Reflect on strategies for realigning resources;* Identify emerging skillsets and frameworks that future-ready AVPs must develop to lead through policy, political, and cultural headwinds. This is not a story of defeat—but one of resilience, adaptation, and leadership under pressure. Attendees will walk away with tools to lead change that is legally compliant, mission-aligned, and student-centered.
You always prepare for the worst and hope for the best on any college or university campus, but there are some days that you can never really prepare for. On April 17, 2025, Florida State University experienced what educators would describe as their worst fear. A current student opened fire near and in the student union, killing two staff members and injuring five students. From the initial lockdown to the months ahead, the facilitators will dive into the situation, response, and recovery. This session will explore the roles each AVP played in collaborating with campus partners to support faculty, staff, and students through the incident.
Schedule
The symposium will begin on Saturday, January 24, 2026 and will conclude at on Monday, January 26, 2026. Additionally, several pre- and post-symposium workshops will be offered for an additional fee.
Sample Symposium Schedule
January 23
January 24
January 25
January 26
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
No-host Mixer for Early Arrivers
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Symposium Registration and Check-in
12:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Pre-Symposium Workshops
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Symposium Welcome and Opening Speaker
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM
Welcome Reception
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Optional No-host Dinner Group
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
Symposium Registration and Check-in
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Breakfast with Optional Roundtable Discussions
9:40 AM - 10:55 AM
General Interest Sessions
11:05 AM - 12:20 PM
General Interest Sessions
12:30 PM - 1:50 PM
Luncheon with Featured VPSA Panel
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
General Interest Sessions
3:25 PM - 4:40 PM
General Interest Sessions
4:40 PM - 5:15 PM
Networking Refreshment Break
7:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Symposium Registration and Check-in
7:45 AM - 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Optional Roundtable Discussions
9:10 AM - 10:25 AM
General Interest Sessions
10:35 AM - 12:00 PM
Symposium Closing Session and Featured Educational Session
Featured Speakers
VPSA Panel
Venue
All conference activities will take place at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
650 15th Street
Denver CO, 80202
NASPA has arranged special room rates for conference attendees at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. Please use this link to reserve a room in our hotel block.
Reserving a room within our block by using the hotel's dedicated meeting website or toll-free telephone number not only benefits you; it also helps to support the conference. When you book within our conference block, you help NASPA keep meeting costs as low as possible and enable us to provide some of the important features meeting attendees have come to enjoy.
Travel Information
Travel
Parking
Weather
The average temperatures in Colorado, Denver are around 43° F during the day and 36° F in the evening. As the conference gets closer, please visit the Weather Channel for more information.
Please note, the hotel and meeting areas may be cooler temperatures. A sweater or jacket is recommended.
NASPA Global Health, Safety, and Responsibility
For complete and most up-to-date policies and procedures related to health and safety during our place-based events, please refer to this page: https://www.naspa.org/events/global-health-and-safety
Travel
Nearby Airport
The Denver International Airport (DEN) is 23 miles (30 minute drive) from the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Hotel and Convention Center.
Denver Airport Rail
Travelers can use A Line, the rail service from Denver International Airport to Union Station in LODO (lower downtown) and back, courtesy of Regional Transportation District (RTD). The Denver Airport Rail has six stops along the way and takes approximately 37 minutes at a cost of $10.50 each way.
You may also explore alternative transportation options here.
Sponsors
If you would like to sponsor the 2026 NASPA AVP Symposium, please contact Senior Director of Corporate Development Fred Comparato at 614-204-5994 or at [email protected].
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors!
Planning Team
Leadership Team
Planning Committee
Weather
The average temperatures in Denver, CO, in January are around 47°F during the day and 17°F in the evening.
As the conference gets closer, please visit the Weather Channel for more information.
Please note, temperatures in the hotel and meeting areas may vary, and we recommend layering clothing.