Next Generation Leadership Development Conference

2025

"Navigating Change: Leading Higher Education Through Complex Times"

September 24-26, 2025 | Governors State University, University Park, Illinois

Conference Overview

The Next Generation Leadership Conference 2025 is designed to develop and empower a social cohort of emerging leaders in higher education who will transform institutions through a justice-oriented approach to leadership. In today's rapidly evolving landscape, higher education leaders face unprecedented challenges across social, financial, political, and human resource dimensions. This conference provides a comprehensive professional development experience that equips emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks to effectively navigate these complex challenges and drive meaningful change.

Conference Theme

"Navigating Change: Leading Higher Education Through Complex Times" reflects the reality that today's higher education leaders must simultaneously address multiple interconnected challenges:

  • Social Justice Imperatives: Creating equitable and inclusive institutions that serve all students, particularly those from students and employees who need additional resources and support 

  • Financial Sustainability: Developing innovative approaches to funding and resource allocation in an era of declining public support and changing enrollment patterns 

  • Political Complexities: Navigating increasingly polarized political environments while maintaining institutional integrity and academic freedom

  • Human Resource Innovations: Building and supporting diverse teams capable of driving institutional transformation

 The conference theme recognizes that these challenges cannot be addressed in isolation—effective leadership requires an integrated approach that considers how social, financial, political, and human factors intersect in institutional contexts.

Conference Objectives

Participants in the Next Generation Leadership Conference 2025 will:

  • Leadership Skills: Enhance your capacity to lead complex organizations through periods of significant change and uncertainty.

  • Strategic Competencies: Gain specific strategies for addressing social justice, financial, political, and human resource challenges 

  • Professional Networks: Connect with peers and mentors who can provide ongoing support and collaboration 

  • Away with Concrete Action Plans: Translate conference insights into practical initiatives for your home institutions

  • Advanced Leadership Roles: Develop the skills and perspectives needed to pursue cabinet-level positions in higher education 

Conference Target Audience

The Next Generation Leadership Conference is designed for:

  • Emerging Leaders: AVPs, Chairs, Deans, and Directors aspiring to more senior leadership roles

  • Diverse Administrators: Professionals from all higher education disciplines in a higher education leadership setting

  • Change Agents: Individuals committed to institutional transformation through a justice-oriented approach

  • Mid-Career Professionals: Administrators seeking to enhance their leadership skills and expand their professional networks

Conference Format

The three-day conference offers various presentation formats to maximize engagement and impact:

Day 1 (Wednesday, September 24, 2025) - TBD

A special micro-credential preconference workshop will be available at the cost of $50. The first day focuses on establishing foundational concepts and frameworks. Sessions introduce participants to the most pressing challenges facing higher education leaders and establish a common language for discussing social justice, financial, political, and human resource issues. Evening activities build community among participants, ensuring you'll forge connections with peers from across the country.

Day 2 (Thursday, September 25, 2025) - Governors State University

The second day deepens the exploration of conference themes through intensive breakout sessions that provide practical strategies for addressing specific challenges. Sessions are organized in four parallel tracks, allowing participants to focus on areas most relevant to their professional contexts. The day culminates in a College Presidents Panel featuring leaders from various higher education background sharing their experiences navigating institutional challenges, providing invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing today's higher education leaders.

Day 3 (Friday, September 26, 2025) - TBD

The final day focuses on synthesis and application. Sessions help participants integrate insights from the previous days into comprehensive leadership approaches. An interactive workshop guides participants in developing concrete action plans for their home institutions. The conference concludes with a commitment to ongoing networking and professional development, leaving you with a clear roadmap for continued growth and impact.

Special Features

  • C-Suite Panel: A highlight of the conference is a rare and candid conversation with diverse college presidents about navigating institutional challenges while advancing equity and social justice. Presidents will share personal leadership journeys, discuss how they've addressed complex challenges, and offer advice for emerging leaders.

  • Interactive Leadership Workshop: A guided workshop on the final day helps participants translate conference insights into concrete action plans. Small-group facilitation ensures that each participant leaves with practical strategies tailored to their specific institutional context. 

  • Networking Opportunities: The conference design includes multiple structured networking opportunities to foster meaningful connections among participants, presenters, and mentors. These connections extend beyond the conference to create lasting professional relationships.

Conference Leadership

The Next Generation Leadership Conference is organized by GovState in collaboration with the university's leadership development programs. The conference planning committee includes representatives from institutions across the region, ensuring that the conference addresses challenges relevant to a wide range of higher education contexts.



Join us in University Park for this transformative professional development experience. Together, we will develop the leadership capacity needed to create more equitable, sustainable, and effective institutions of higher education. Invest in yourself and your institution.

 

Register Today!