2026 NAPSA Annual Conference
March 7-11, 2026 • Kansas City, MO
128
Days
22
Hours
26
Minutes
41
Seconds
Keynote Speakers
We are thrilled to announce the keynote speakers for the NASPA26 Annual Conference. Each brings a unique perspective, deep expertise, and a vision for the future of higher education that will inspire and challenge us to think boldly about our collective impact.
Our keynote sessions will set the tone for NASPA26: exploring the evolving landscape of student affairs, the power of inclusive leadership, and the innovation needed to shape the next generation of learning communities.
TUESDAY KEYNOTE
Dr. Kevin McClure
Distinguished Professor and Leading Expert on the Higher Education
Workplace and Organizational Change
Dr. Kevin McClure is a professor, researcher, and speaker dedicated to reimagining the higher education workplace. A distinguished scholar of higher education, McClure holds the joint title of Professor of Higher Education and Department Chair at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He is the author of The Caring University: Reimaging the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation (Johns Hopkins University Press). His research on college leadership, workplace culture, and organizational care has been featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education and national conferences. Through McClure's writing, keynotes, and workshops, he helps leaders create people-first campuses where faculty and staff can thrive.
Higher education is in a crisis of burnout and disengagement. Many institutions are struggling with high turnover, low morale, and outdated policies that leave employees undervalued. But it doesn't have to be this way. McClure didn't set out to become a national voice on higher education workplaces—but his own experience with burnout led him to take a closer look.
During the pandemic, while juggling research, teaching, and family life, McClure saw firsthand how many faculty and staff were struggling. As he wrote about these issues, his work struck a nerve. Leaders, institutions, and media outlets sought his insights on how to address burnout, boost morale, and prevent higher ed's great resignation.
McClure is passionate about helping colleges and universities build a culture where faculty and staff can thrive—because when employees feel supported, students and institutions succeed.
When Kevin McClure isn't writing, researching, or speaking, he's likely spending time with his family, exploring North Carolina, or reading about organizational leadership.
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Dr. Amelia Parnell
President, NASPA
Dr. Amelia Parnell is an accomplished higher education executive and an internationally recognized thought leader regarding current issues and emerging trends in the field. She is a passionate advocate for higher education as a tool for personal advancement and impact, and she is committed to work that centers students' needs.
In her first year as NASPA president, she has met with members across the world, including NASPA regions, divisions, knowledge communities, and areas, and she has visited more than 25 campuses to speak directly with student affairs professionals. She frequently delivers keynotes on the value of student affairs and she has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and PBS NewsHour.
Amelia also enjoys opportunities to teach, and she is energized by making complex concepts easy to understand. She has had enriching engagements with students and peers as an adjunct instructor and lecturer and she is the author of the book, You Are a Data Person, which she wrote to encourage all higher education professionals to discover and embrace their unique data identity.
Amelia holds a Ph.D. in higher education from Florida State University and master's and bachelor's degrees in business administration from Florida A & M University.
