Speaker Sessions
We have an exciting agenda featuring a series of engaging panels and sessions led by highly-experienced professionals in their fields. Learn more about the featured speakers at our speakers page. Times and dates TBD.
Managing Crisis and Free Speech:
Lessons from Students Protests
This panel will examine how colleges have responded to the recent on-campus protests stemming from the war in Gaza and how campuses can balance free speech with campus safety.
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Featured Speakers:
Maureen O'Connor, Palo Alto University (moderator)
Maggy Ralbovsky, RW Jones Agency
G. Gabrielle Starr, Pomona College​
Michelle Deutchman, UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement
Bridging Pathways: Strengthening Community College Transfer
This session is designed to be a fireside chat between the AICCU president and the California Community Colleges chancellor to discuss strengthening the relationship between the independent higher education sector and community colleges to improve transfer pathways.
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Featured Speakers:
Kristen Soares, AICCU​
Sonya Christian, California Community Colleges
What’s Next? Federal Political
and Legislative Update
The federal political landscape continued to witness great convulsions in 2024 and higher education was often in the middle of them. This session will discuss the wide ranging impacts of Supreme Court decisions, legislation, and the federal budget, and will look forward to the elections in November.
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Featured Speakers:
Thomas Vu, AICCU
Jonathan Fansmith, American Council on Education
Government Relations Update: How We Fared in 2024
Every year, the State Legislature introduces and debates roughly 3,000 bill proposals. This year, the state also faced a massive budget deficit. This session will cover key bills of interest and their outcomes, impacts of the budget cuts, and insights into AICCU advocacy efforts in 2025.
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Featured Speaker:
Alex Graves, AICCU
