Events
Master's Student Conference
3 FRIDAYS • 9, 16 & 23 OCTOBER 2026 • 1:00-4:00PM ET EACH DAY
VIRTUAL EVENT
ADVANCE your Student Affairs Career at the Master’s student conference
This conference prepares Master’s students for careers in higher education and student affairs by fostering skills, knowledge, and connections that support well-being and sustain professional growth.
Attending this conference will allow you to deepen your understanding of higher education and student affairs, explore different career paths and career transitions within and beyond higher education, and craft individualized strategies for professional advancement.
MAster’s student conference
WHAT TO EXPECT
Designed for Master’s students at all stages of their journey (first year, 2+year; full- or part-time; those diving into the field or with prior professional experience), this conference provides opportunities for learning, reflection, networking, and professional growth.
Through interactive sessions and dialogue, participants will:
- Identify strategies for navigating expectations, norms, and current issues in higher education and student affairs
- Reflect on personal leadership identity, values, skills, and long-term career goals
- Build meaningful professional connections and begin developing a supportive network within the field
- Explore opportunities for professional growth and career advancement
Participants will leave with concrete tools and strategies to support the next steps in their careers, including a networking toolkit, a professional development plan, a well-being check-in tool, equity-minded frameworks for assessing workplace culture, and more. The interactive format of the conference will allow participants to build relationships with peers and experienced professionals from across the country.
Conference SCHEDULE
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Introduction and Welcome (1:00-1:30 PM ET)
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Career Paths and Job Searching (1:30-4:00 PM ET)
- Norms, Trends, and Current Issues in Higher Education (1:00-4:00 PM ET)
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Mentoring Conversations (1:00-2:00 PM ET)
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Personalized Professional Advancement Strategies (2:00-4:00 PM ET)
Conference FACULTY
Gudrun Nyunt (Co-Chair)
Gudrun Nyunt is an Associate Professor of Higher Education at Northern Illinois University with professional work experience in residence life. Her research focuses on employment in higher education and student mobility. Gudrun joined ACPA as a first-year Master’s student and has been involved in entity group leadership and governance. As a former international student from Austria, Gudrun has been instrumental to fostering a community of international students and professionals within ACPA.
Brandon Johnson (Co-Chair)
Dr. Brandon Johnson is Director of Housing & Residence Life at Northeastern Illinois University and an active leader in the ACPA. His research agenda investigates the student engagement and involvement pathways of Black men at predominantly White institutions and how the culture of plantation politics shapes how Black men navigate college campuses. Through his scholarship and practice, Dr. Johnson is committed to advancing student success, cultivating belonging, mentoring future leaders, and creating equitable, student-centered learning environments.
Jennifer Artis
Jennifer Artis is a higher education leader, educator, and scholar with more than two decades of experience advancing student success, belonging, and equitable access. She serves as the Director of Student Life and Success for Graduate Students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she leads initiatives that support engagement, leadership development, and student persistence. Jennifer also serves as faculty for the ACPA Summit for Black Student Affairs Professionals and is committed to creating more inclusive and supportive pathways for graduate and nontraditional learners.
Heather Kropf
Dr. Heather Kropf (she, her, hers) serves as the Assistant Vice President & Dean of Students at Willamette University. She previously worked at the University of Oregon, Pacific University, and Azusa Pacific University where she received her Master’s degree in College Student Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication studies. Heather graduated from the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program from Portland State University in 2020. Her research focused on organizational cultures and structures that support a curricular approach. Heather has served as faculty on ACPA’s Institute on a Curricular Approach for multiple years.
Wincy Li
Wincy Li is the Associate Director of Career Education at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Career, Co-op & Student Success Centre in Canada. She has 15+ years of experience supporting the career development of post-secondary students and diverse community clients, with a focus on the inclusion of equity-deserving groups in the Canadian labour market. You can connect with Wincy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wincyli/. She currently serves on the ACPA27 Convention Planning Team (Convention Experiences).
Marc Lo
Marc A. Lo, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of Penn First Plus at the University of Pennsylvania, where he leads efforts to ensure the equitable success of undergraduates from first-generation and/or limited-income backgrounds. Marc has been involved with the Commission for Social Justice Educators, the Senior Level of Community of Practice, Leadership Council, and Convention leadership teams; including chairing the ACPA 2023 Convention in New Orleans.
Liv Maldonado
Liv Maldonado (she/her) serves as the Coordinator for Student Operations and Recruitment in Residence Life at Appalachian State University. An active member of ACPA since 2019, Liv began her involvement with the Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice and has remained committed to fostering professional development and connection within the association. She currently serves as the Coordinator-Elect for Communities of Practice on the Leadership Council. Liv is passionate about student success, leadership development, and creating meaningful opportunities for learning and belonging.
Mfon B. Nwabuoku
Dr. Mfon B. Nwabuoku is a scholar-practitioner and higher education leader serving as Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life at Lake Forest College, where she provides strategic leadership for residential education, student development, and housing operations. Her work is grounded in equity-minded, restorative, and student-centered practice, with a focus on translating theory into practice to foster belonging, accountability, growth, and holistic student success. She is engaged in ACPA and serves as Faculty in the ACPA Institute for the Curricular Approach (ICA), supporting curricular transformation in student affairs.
Kevin L. Wright
Dr. Kevin L. Wright is a faculty member in Global Diversity and Social Justice at Southern New Hampshire University and an award-winning educator, author, speaker, and equity strategist. Rooted in African, Creole, and Indigenous heritage, he has engaged more than 100,000 learners across five continents. A TRIO alum, Certified Financial Education Instructor, and Certified Life Coach, he advances equity, belonging, and transformational growth for individuals and organizations.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Early Registration Rates through 25 September 2026
- $69
Rates after 25 September 2026
- $79
Early Registration Rates through 25 September 2026
- $99 USD
Rates after 25 September 2026
- $109 USD
Early Registration Rates through 25 September 2026
- Group pass – 5 attendees: $250
- Group pass – 10 attendees: $450
Rates after 25 September 2026
- Group pass – 5 attendees: $300
- Group pass – 10 attendees: $500
Registrations can be paid by check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. All fees must be prepaid. Purchase orders are not accepted. Refunds will be given for cancellations received in writing at ACPA by 11 September 2026. Cancellations must be sent to info@acpa.nche.edu. Registrations can also be withdrawn by registrants using the event registration system through 11 September 2026. After 11 September 2026, there are no refunds. ACPA reserves the right to charge a service fee of US$50 for returned checks. Registrations can be transferred to another participant with the same membership type. The conference may be canceled or postponed due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. In this case, the fees will be fully refunded.
In order to qualify for member rates for the ACPA’s Virtual Master’s Student Conference, membership with ACPA must be valid through 23 October 2026. You must have your own individual membership. ACPA Members who purchase a Virtual Master’s Student Conference Registration understand their membership needs to be active through 23 October 2026. If it is not active prior to the start of the Virtual Master’s Student Conference, you will not be provided with your program access link unless you renew your membership or pay the difference between the non-member and member registration cost.