2026 Conference Schedule

  • 8:00-8:45

    Arrival and Check-In

    Continental Breakfast Available

    8:45

    Kicking Off NHWHE 2026 Annual Conference

    Jennifer “Jenny” Durant, NHWHE State Chair

    Southern New Hampshire University

    8:55

    A Presidential Welcome

    Dr. Lisa Marsh Ryerson

    President of Southern New Hampshire University

    9:00-10:00

    Keynote Address

    Holly Hoffman, CSP

    Never Give Up – The Survivor Way

    Faith | Attitude | Determination,

    Confidence | Desire | Perseverance

    In this inspiring and engaging keynote, nationally and internationally recognized motivational speaker and Certified Speaking Professional, Holly Hoffman shares powerful lessons on resilience, risk-taking, and personal growth drawn from her extraordinary life experiences. Best known as the last remaining member of the Espada Tribe and the last woman standing on Season 21 of CBS’s Survivor: Nicaragua, Hoffman brings a compelling perspective on perseverance, mindset, and the power of human potential. 

    Through Never Give Up – The Survivor Way, Hoffman explores how faith, attitude, determination, confidence, desire, and perseverance shape our ability to navigate change, overcome adversity, and achieve meaningful success. Using compelling stories, humor, and real-world examples, she challenges attendees to embrace opportunities - even those that feel uncertain or risky - and demonstrates how stepping beyond comfort zones can lead to unexpected growth and new possibilities. 

  • 10:00-10:15

  • 10:15-11:15

    When Bias Lives Within: How Implicit Bias Fuels Impostor Syndrome for Women Leaders

    This session explores how implicit bias and impostor syndrome intersect. Inspired by the way impostor syndrome has shaped the experiences of women in leadership, this conversation looks at the subtle cues that influence confidence, success, and belonging. The introspective presentation offers practical strategies to recognize internal barriers, reframe self-doubt, and move forward with clarity and confidence. The goal is to walk away with insights, tools, a different perspective, and be a part of a space for meaningful discussion and connection.  >read more

    Leaving a Lasting Legacy: An Appreciative Approach to Giving and Receiving Feedback

    Feedback: some call it “constructive criticism”; or “just telling it like it is”; or “speaking the truth”. Regardless of what it’s called, feedback is a vital component to growth, but many of us have a complicated relationship with it. Regardless of our role in higher ed, in or out of the classroom, and regardless of what it has been called, feedback is part of the legacy that has shaped us and therefore becomes part of the legacy we leave for others. >read more

    The Inner Coach Advantage: Reclaiming Ambition with AI & Self-Compassion

    In today’s high-pressure academic environment, many women leaders and educators navigate a delicate balance between ambition, service, and self-preservation. We strive to be resilient, yet we often silence our own needs, minimize our achievements, or feel like we’re “not doing enough.” This session offers a powerful reframing: what if the most radical act of leadership is being kind to ourselves and modeling that mindset outward? >read more

    Presenting with Impact: Advancing Your Whole Self through Confident, Authentic Public Speaking

    It may not be surprising to learn that roughly 75% of individuals have a fear of public speaking. Regardless of how you feel about presenting, our work frequently demands it—from faculty meetings and classrooms to high-stakes podium moments. This gap between fear and professional necessity can hinder career advancement, especially for women. The ability to demonstrate our expertise with our authentic voice is vital to promote and celebrate our whole self in the workplace. When we align our inner expertise with a confident outer voice, we embrace our power to advocate for ourselves, our teams, and our communities, ensuring our contributions are not just heard, but, more importantly, valued. >read more

    The Stories We Carry: Listening, Leading, Becoming

    Through the lens of narrative medicine, participants will explore how deep listening, storytelling, and reflective practice support women in leading with clarity, courage, and purpose—while honoring complexity, emotional labor, and lived experience. By weaving together personal story, professional identity, and collective impact, this presentation invites women to reclaim influence in ways that feel true rather than performative. >read more

  • 11:15-11:30

  • 11:30-12:30

    From Endurance to Intention: Leading a Legacy in Motion Across Career and Life Transitions

    Women in higher education are often recognized for their endurance, navigating complexity, leading through sustained change, mentoring others, and carrying institutional knowledge forward. Over time, endurance can shift from a personal strength to an unspoken expectation, leaving limited space to pause, reflect, and lead with intention in the present moment. When leadership becomes primarily about sustaining systems, the opportunity to actively shape legacy through daily professional practice can be overlooked. >read more

    The Myth of Having It All (All at Once)

    For many women working in higher education, the idea of “having it all” can feel both motivating and exhausting. Across roles, institutions, and career stages, women often navigate persistent expectations to be fully engaged, responsive, and ambitious in their professional lives while also managing full and meaningful lives beyond campus. This interactive discussion challenges the myth that balance means doing everything at once, and instead invites participants to consider balance as a set of intentional choices that evolve across different seasons of life and career. >read more

    Building your Professional Brand through LinkedIn

    This interactive workshop empowers women working across New Hampshire's colleges and universities to strengthen their professional presence through LinkedIn. Participants will explore how to craft an authentic, compelling digital brand that reflects their leadership strengths, career goals, and contributions to higher education. Through guided strategies and hands-on examples, attendees will learn how to elevate their profiles, expand their networks, and use LinkedIn as a tool for visibility, collaboration, and career advancement. Designed with NHWHEL's mission in mind, this session supports women at every stage of their higher-education journey in building confidence, amplifying their voice, and positioning themselves for future opportunities. >read more

    The Legacy Audit: Aligning Your Values for Meaningful Impact

    What does it mean to leave a legacy in a field that often feels like an endless cycle of emails, meetings, and grading? Too often, we focus on the "what" of our daily roles—the to-do lists and role objectives—while losing sight of the "who" we are becoming. >read more

    Beyond Buzzwords: Real Strategies for Belonging in Higher Education During Times of Uncertainty and Civil Unrest

    In an increasingly interconnected world, the principles of community, collaboration, and belonging have become fundamental to the success of higher education institutions. Join us in this vital conversation as we envision a future where every member of the academic community feels valued, connected, and inspired to contribute to a shared mission of excellence and equity in education. >read more

  • 12:30-1:30

    LUNCH

    Networking /Raffle Tickets

  • 1:30-1:45

  • 1:45-2:45

    There’s a Monster Under My Suit: Listening to Impostor Syndrome as a Signal of Growth

    Impostor syndrome is often treated as something to overcome, silence, or fix. In higher education, women are frequently encouraged to build confidence, gather credentials, or “push through” doubt as a sign of professionalism or readiness. But what if that framing is incomplete? This session invites participants into a different conversation. >read more

    Badass by Design: Build Your Confidence Through Values Alignment

    Today’s higher ed environment is asking a lot of its administrators and staff. No wonder you may feel overwhelmed or out of sorts. Give yourself the gift of one hour to learn practical strategies that will anchor your daily decisions in your core values. Clarifying what matters most and aligning it with how you spend your time sharpens priorities and reduces second-guessing. As we learn to stand in our values-aligned power, we become more confident, we increase our impact, and our institutions benefit from our full set of talents. >read more

    Resilience Over Time: Women's Evolving Perceptions of Health, Balance, and Well-Being Across Careers

    Women working in higher education often manage sustained professional responsibility alongside evolving personal roles, caregiving demands, leadership expectations, and institutional change. Balance and resilience are not one-time achievements, but ongoing processes shaped by career stage, identity, and lived experience. >read more

    Executive Function in the Age of Distraction

    Women in higher education are drowning in distraction. Between endless emails, Zoom fatigue, committee work, student crises, caregiving responsibilities, and the persistent pressure to do more with less, our cognitive resources are stretched to the breaking point.  >read more

    NHWHE Insight Circle: The Art of Gathering

    We spend so much of our time gathering with one another – in meetings, workshops, conferences, dinner parties, backyard barbecues, and more- but not enough time thinking about how to gather well. This session will provide an opportunity to consider how we can infuse our gatherings with creativity and meaning through NHWHE’s first in-person Insight Circle guided by The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. >read more

  • 2:45-3:00

  • 3:00-3:45

    Afternoon Presentation

    Cultivating Connection and Leadership: Introducing NHWHE’s Mentoring Program

    This exciting unveiling of the NHWHE Mentorship Program will outline a transformative new initiative designed to cultivate meaningful connections, empower leadership growth, and strengthen the higher education community across New Hampshire.>read more

  • 3:45-4:00