NASPA
2025 NASPA Annual Conference

2025 Community Colleges Institute

Thank you for joining us at the 2025 Community Colleges Institute!

NASPA's Community Colleges Institute (CCI) is the only pre-conference experience designed solely by and for our community college members and occurs before the NASPA Annual Conference. The CCI is your exclusive opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the country serving in student affairs or service capacity at community colleges and open-enrollment institutions. This experience will accelerate your professional development and kick-start your conference experience! A compact day and a half of learning offers attendees an enriching opportunity to come together and rethink how they organize programs of study, methods of instruction, and student support services. With the continued focus on student success and completion, community colleges are uniquely positioned to lead the way for student success.

2025 Community Colleges Institute Call for Programs

 The NASPA Community Colleges Division and 2025 CCI Planning Committee invite you to submit proposals for the 2025 Community College Institute.  

2025 Community Colleges Institute Theme

Reimagining Our Profession: Cultivating a Culture of Care for Community College Professionals.

We are excited to have you join us in a dynamic environment to share and celebrate ourselves and our best practices, identify opportunities for growth and reimagine our profession as we move into the next quarter of the century.   

Submission Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by several program reviewers to ensure they address at least one (1) of the three (3) learning outcomes associated with the theme:

  • Celebrate: Recognize and celebrate the achievements of past and present higher-education professionals while continuing their impactful work.
  • Equip:  Understand how to protect the new generation of higher-education professionals from toxic environments, suppression, and trauma.
  • Transform: Master strategies for bridging inter-generational gaps and fostering effective cross-generational support in higher education.

For more details see the Learning Outcomes section below. 

Notifications

Presenters with accepted proposals must register for the Community College Institute and pay registration fees. Presenters will be notified of their program status by November 15, 2024.

All presenters will be expected to provide an electronic copy of their presentation prior to the event which will be shared with Community College Institute participants to view afterwards.

Submit Your Program

2025 Themes & LEarning Outcomes

Reimagining Our Profession: Cultivating a Culture of Care for Community College Professionals

The theme "Reimagining Our Profession: Cultivating a Culture of Care for Community College Professionals" emphasizes the importance of nurturing a supportive and inclusive environment within Community Colleges and our profession. The learning outcomes associated with this theme focus on three key areas: Celebrate, Equip, and Transform. By celebrating the achievements of both past and present Community College Student Affairs professionals, we honor the rich legacy and impactful contributions of those who have shaped our professional landscape. Our goal is to foster a sense of community and shared purpose among attendees, inspiring them to carry forward the torch of excellence and dedication in their roles. Simultaneously, we seek to equip colleagues as we address the pressing need to empower new generations of higher-education professionals to create environments where they will thrive by growing professionally while positively impacting their campus communities. By identifying behaviors we can improve on and creating robust support systems, we will empower educators to advocate for policies that promote mental well-being and offer safe spaces for dialogue. Lastly, we seek to transform the profession by centering on bridging generational gaps, fostering inter-group conversations, and encouraging collaboration across different professional stages. By reimagining professional mentorship programs and facilitating the sharing of best practices, we seek to uplift the diverse experiences and insights of various generations to enrich the educational community as a whole. Doing so lays the groundwork for a more resilient, supportive, and dynamic higher education environment that prioritizes care and collaboration.

We are excited to have you join us in what will be a dynamic environment to share and celebrate ourselves and our best practices, identify growth opportunities, and reimagine our profession as we move into the next quarter of the century.

Learning Outcomes: 

Celebrate: Recognize and celebrate the achievements of past and present higher-education professionals while continuing their impactful work.

  • Gain an understanding of the contributions and legacy of past educators and professionals.
  • Highlight and appreciate the ongoing work and achievements of current professionals.
  • Foster a sense of community and shared purpose among educators.
  • Inspire participants to continue the legacy of excellence and dedication in their roles.
  • Encourage professional development opportunities for both past and present leaders within each department.

Equip:  Understand how to protect the new generation of higher-education professionals from toxic environments, suppression, and trauma.

  • Recognize and address toxic behaviors and environments in higher education.
  • Develop and implement strategies to safeguard mental health and well-being.
  • Establish robust support systems and resources for new professionals.
  • Advocate for policies that protect against workplace suppression and trauma
  • Enhance SAFE round table discussions around navigating higher education. 
  • Establish effective peer-mentorship within institutions.

Transform: Master strategies for bridging inter-generational gaps and fostering effective cross-generational support in higher education.

  • Facilitate inter-generational conversations and understanding between different generations of professionals.
  • Develop mentorship and support programs that cater to cross-generational needs.
  • Encourage collaborative learning and sharing of best practices across generations.
  • Explore innovative approaches to education and support that incorporate insights from multiple generations.

2025 Keynote Speakers

To be announced

2025 CCI Planning Committee

  • NASPA 2025 Community Colleges Institute Chair, Mayra Olivares-Urueta, Ph.D., Executive in Residence, Higher Education Program, Director, Bill J. Priest Center for Community College Education

  • Will Bowlin, Ph.D., Political Science/History Instructor, Northeast Mississippi Community College

  • Dantrayl Smith, Ed.D, Director of Student Development Services, Tarrant County College South Campus

  • Candice P. Baldwin, Ph.D., Chief of Staff, Monroe Community College 

  • Christopher Conzen, Ed.D., Executive Director, Secaucus Center and Early College Programs, Hudson County Community College

  • Reyna Anaya Ph.D., Senior Student Affairs Officer & Dean of Student Success, Community College of Aurora

  • Angelo Abreu, Director of Perth Amboy Center and New Brunswick Center, Middlesex College

  • Kiantra Loza, Ed.D., Director- Admissions & Outreach, Onboarding, Campus Central & International Student Services, College of DuPage

  • Andrea Gonzalez, Program Specialist, Student Equity, Mt. San Antonio College

  • Ana Contreras Ed.D., Coordinator Office of Student Activities, Tarrant County College 

  • Michelle Donahue, Dean of Students, Cabrillo College 

2025 CCI Schedule

The schedule has been designed to provide participants with interactive and engaging programming, opportunities for deeper discussion, and networking. Click the button below to browse the 2025 NASPA Community Colleges Institute Full Schedule, including the educational session lineup, and review the schedule-at-a-glance to familiarize yourself with the layout of the institute. All listed schedule items below are tentative and subject to change. All times are CT.

The 2025 NASPA Community College Institute program book and symposium app will be available in February 2025.


Schedule

Afternoon

  • 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

    Institute Check-In Open

  • 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

    Institute Welcome & Opening Keynote

  • 2:50 pm to 3:40 pm

    Programmatic Session Block

  • 3:50 pm to 4:40 pm

    Programmatic Session Block

Evening

  • 5:10 pm to 6:45 pm

    Opening Reception

Morning

  • 7:30 am to 12:00 pm

    Institute Check-In Open

  • 7:30 am to 8:30 am

    Breakfast

  • 8:30 am to 10:00 pm

    Day 2 Keynote

  • 10:10 pm to 11:00 am

    Programmatic Session Block

  • 11:10 pm to 11:40 pm

    Poster Sessions Block

Afternoon

  • 11:50 pm to 1:10 pm

    Lunch and commUNITY Conversations

  • 1:20 pm to 2:10 pm

    Programmatic Session Block

  • 2:20 pm to 3:10 pm

    Programmatic Session Block

  • 3:15 pm to 3:30 pm

    Closing Session