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National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education

Call for Conference Proposals

40th Annual National Conference and Business Meeting

February 24-26, 2027
Tucson, Arizona
Conference Information

Our Call for Proposals will open soon.

Thank you for your interest in presenting a concurrent session at the upcoming conference. Our call for proposals will open in late August. More details will be posted soon. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions or inquiries.

Calling all presenters!

The National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE) invites proposals for breakout/concurrent sessions to be presented at the 40th Annual National Conference and Business Meeting. NAPAHE seeks presentations that explore and discuss topics that strengthen the professions of those who support higher education’s senior leaders. We particularly encourage proposals that focus on one of the following areas of interest: Professional Development for Executives and Administrators, Communication and Influence, Workplace Dynamics and Management, Personal Growth and Well-being, Support During Organizational Changes, Event Planning, and Advanced Topics and Issues in Higher Education.

NAPAHE's 38th Annual National Conference & Business Meeting | January 23-25, 2025 | Washington, D.C.
  • Call for Proposals

    Sessions submitted via the call for proposals will be reviewed by the conference planning committee. If accepted, session presenters are responsible for covering their own annual meeting registration fees, travel expenses, session supplies/materials, etc. There are no additional fees associated with being a presenter.

  • Submission Portal

    All session proposals must be submitted via NAPAHE's Presentation Portal, powered by EventsAir. Click here to access the portal. If you have not yet submitted a proposal with NAPAHE, you will first need to create an account within the portal. Be sure to save your login credentials, so that you can return to the portal to review your proposal's status.

  • Submission Deadline

    The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, October 16, 2026, at 12:00 PM Central Time.

  • Selection Process

    All session proposals will be reviewed by a panel of NAPAHE members, selected from the Conference Planning Committee. The panel will use a rubric to evaluate the proposed presentation and topic, as well as the preparedness of the presenter. Presenters may be asked to meet with members of the panel for a brief demo presentation and to answer any questions about the proposal.

  • Notifications

    Decisions on proposals will be sent via email, to the primary session contact, by the week of December 1, 2026. We will select a limited number of presenters, as allowed by the conference schedule. In addition, some proposals may be designated as alternates in case of cancellations or scheduling adjustments.

    Additional details will be requested upon notification of acceptance, including presenter headshots, social media profiles, and availability. These additional details should be submitted in a timely manner for inclusion in the conference program/app.

  • Presentation Dates

    If accepted, presentations will be scheduled for one or more session(s) during the 2027 Annual Conference, scheduled for February 24-26, 2027, at the El Conquistador Tucson Resort in Tucson, Arizona. Certain presentations may be selected by the planning committee for additional in-person sessions during the conference, based on attendee demand and/or interest. If a presenter is unavailable for certain dates/times within the scheduled conference, these conflicts should be noted in the submitted proposal or otherwise communicated to the planning committee via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Session(s) may also be selected for virtual presentation to NAPAHE members following the conference, based on attendee/member interest.

  • Concurrent Session Details & Format

    The upcoming conference will feature multiple concurrent sessions throughout the conference, each with multiple options for attendees to choose from. Concurrent sessions will be 55 minutes in length. Presentation rooms will be set in either roundtables or theater-style with a head table, and microphones for presenters. All session rooms will have a projector, screen, and a provided PC laptop. Please do not plan to bring your own computer/device to connect. Additional details will be shared with accepted presenters prior to the conference.

  • Registration Fees

    All presenters are expected to attend the meeting, in person, and are responsible for paying the appropriate registration fees, as listed on the conference webpage. Submission of a presentation proposal does not replace the conference registration process. Please be sure all presenters submitted in your proposal have this information. Certain Non-Member Practitioners and Sponsored Sessions may be exempted from registration fees, at the discretion of the planning committee and executive director.

  • Non-Member Practitioners

    NAPAHE values the insights from both inside and outside our target membership audience and the higher education campus community. Non-Member practitioners are defined as those who come from outside of NAPAHE's target membership audience (professionals who support higher education's senior leaders). Non-Member practitioners may include campus presidents/chancellors, vice presidents and other cabinet-level leaders, as well as non-profit, for-profit, governmental, and association representatives. Non-Member Practitioners interested in participating as presenters at the NAPAHE Annual National Conference are encouraged to either submit a proposal for review or contact NAPAHE at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. regarding session options.

Proposal Submission Requirements

Before starting your proposal, have the following information ready as it is required for submission and consideration:

  • Contact information for all presenters, including email address, phone number, organization info, work title, and a brief biography (Max 250 Words).
  • Presentation Title to be used in promotional materials and in both the meeting program and the mobile app.
  • Area of interest that your proposed presentation most closely addresses (see Areas of Interest & Suggested Presentation Topics below).
  • Brief Description of your proposed presentation (Max 200 Words).
  • Anticipated learning outcomes or session takeaways for your proposed presentation, such as specific examples that attendees would take away from the session and apply or use at thier institution (Max 200 Words).
  • Plan for participant interaction, if applicable (Max 150 Words).
  • Special requests, instructions, or accommodation needed for your proposed presentation.

Areas of Interest & Suggested Presentation Topics

All presentations should focus on one of the following categories: Professional Development for Executives and Administrators, Communication and Influence, Workplace Dynamics and Management, Personal Growth and Well-being, Support During Organizational Changes, Event Planning, and Advanced Topics and Issues in Higher Education.

Suggested sub-topics are included below. Presenters can pick from one of our topics, or create your own.

Professional Development for Executives and Administrators

  • Career advancement
  • Creating in-house professional development for administrative staff
  • Project management
  • Collaborating effectively with digital tools
  • AI for Executive Assistants

Communication and Influence

  • Using your influence
  • Enhancing networking through inquiry
  • Presentation skills for beginners
  • Organizational communication
  • Crisis planning & communication

Workplace Dynamics and Management

  • Conflict resolution
  • Strategic planning and implementation
  • Navigating legislative and governmental relations
  • Calendar management / organizing and prioritizing tasks
  • Generational differences in the workplace

Personal Growth and Well-being

  • Work-life harmony and stress management
  • Developing and advocating for yourself
  • Impostor Syndrome: Overcoming self-doubt
  • Applying principles for personal and professional life

Support During Organizational Changes

  • Supporting leadership transitions
  • Managing transitions and embracing change

Event Planning

  • Event planning for large groups
  • Organizing and spicing up large-scale events

Advanced Topics and Issues in Higher Education

  • Fundraising and Advancement Activities: Strategies and practices
  • Title IX and EA's: Understanding legal responsibilities

About NAPAHE's Conference

More than a professional gathering, the NAPAHE conference is a community experience that strengthens the pipeline of leadership support across higher education. Attendees leave with new connections, tools, and insights that directly elevate their campus impact. With a strong emphasis on networking, professional development, and shared problem-solving, NAPAHE fosters a supportive environment where professionals can learn from peers, exchange ideas, and discover year‑round opportunities for growth. 

Questions about NAPAHE2027?

If you have questions or would like additional information about our upcoming conference, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.