Higher Education Professional Development Day
About this Event
The Higher Education Networking Collective's Professional Development Day brings together higher education professionals from across institutions and functional areas for a full day of learning, connection, and actionable insight. This year’s theme is focused on helping you show up more effectively, grow intentionally, and navigate an increasingly complex workplace.
📅Thursday, October 29, 2026
🕠 8:30 AM
📍 Simmons University, 300 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, USA
WHAT TO EXPECT
A full day built around four key areas:
Working Smarter - AI, productivity, efficiency, and tools that help you do more with less.
Growing Your Career - Advancement, positioning, career navigation, and owning your professional trajectory.
Building Relationships - Mentorship, networking, influence, and building the connections that matter.
Leading in Complex Environments - Managing up/down, navigating teams, communication, and leading through uncertainty.
SESSION FORMATS
Something for every kind of learner:
Expert-Led Presentations - Research, best practices, and case studies with clear implementation strategies.
Interactive Workshops - Hands-on learning experiences that equip you with actionable tools.
Networking Roundtables - Focused peer discussions with opportunities to connect, share insights, and grow.
Leave with strategies you can implement immediately, stronger cross-campus relationships, and clarity on your next career steps.
About Us
The Higher Education Networking Collective (HENC) is a volunteer-run, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) recognized charitable professional organization created to foster meaningful connection and collaboration among higher education professionals across institutions and functional areas.
In a field where professionals often work in silos—separated by department, institution, or job function—HENC exists to create spaces where individuals can learn from one another, share challenges, and build relationships that support both personal career growth and institutional success. Our community includes professionals from enrollment management, student affairs, academic administration, advising, human resources, institutional research, and many other areas of higher education.
Through in-person networking events, virtual programming, and professional development opportunities, HENC provides practical, affordable ways for professionals to expand their networks, strengthen supervisory and leadership skills, explore career pathways, and engage with emerging issues such as workforce change and generative AI in higher education. Our programs are intentionally designed to be accessible, relevant to daily work, and focused on real-world application.
HENC is grounded in the belief that stronger institutions are built through collaboration, inclusive professional communities, and shared learning across roles and campuses. By bringing together diverse voices and experiences, we aim to support retention, advancement, and well-being within the higher education workforce while strengthening the broader professional ecosystem.
Whether you are new to the field, seeking career growth, supervising teams, or simply looking to connect with colleagues beyond your institution, HENC welcomes you as part of a growing community committed to learning, connection, and collective impact.
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM
HENC PD Day Introduction & Networking Roundtables
🕑: 10:30 AM
Break-Out Sessions
Host: Mary Ellen Normen
Info: WORKING SMARTER - From Silos to Shared Purpose: Building Cross-Functional Collaboration in Higher Ed
GROWING YOUR CAREER - Win the Workday: Building Resilience, Discipline, and Momentum
LEADING IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS - The Social-Emotional Leader: Building Trust and Collaboration
🕑: 11:30 AM
Lunch
🕑: 12:40 PM
Break-Out Sessions
Host: Kim Johnson
Info: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS - Supporting Neuroinclusivity in the Workplace for Colleagues and Supervisees
LEADING IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS - The Influence Gap: Leading Change Without Formal Authority
🕑: 01:40 PM
Break-Out Sessions
Host: Megan Akatu
Info: GROWING YOUR CAREER - Choices and Decisions: A Framework for Confident Leadership
LEADING IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS - Leading from Every Seat: Practical Leadership for Complex, Uncertain Environments
🕑: 02:40 PM
Break-Out Sessions
Host: Raashi Bhatia
Info: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS - The Leadership Listening Gap
WORKING SMARTER - Countering Cognitive Offloading: Reclaiming Human Intellectual Agency in an AI-Saturated Workspace
🕑: 03:30 PM
Closing Activity
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 92.55
