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Facing Complexity, Finding Solutions
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
Location: University of New Mexico, Student Union Building
11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Registration Open
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch for 2025 Academy Cohort and Executive Committee only
1:30 pm- 3:30 pm
Concurrent
- Forum Executive Committee (Executive Committee Members Only)
- Closing Seminar—2025 Leadership Academy Cohort
(Academy Cohort and Faculty Only)
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Welcome Reception at Hotel Chaco
Join us for a lovely evening reception where you can meet up with old friends and make new ones!
THURSDAY, APRIL 2
7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Registration
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am – 9:00 am
Welcome and Meeting Overview
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Keynote Address: Academic Leadership in the AI Era: Turning Challenges into Competitive Strengths
Higher education institutions face mounting pressure to navigate an AI landscape that is reshaping teaching, learning, and academic operations faster than most can adapt. This keynote examines how chief academic officers can move beyond reactive responses to AI and build institutional frameworks that transform disruption into strengths. Together, we will explore the current state of AI, the challenges it is creating for institutions, and how to deliberately leverage AI rather than merely respond to it.
Introducer: John Georgas, Forum Chair, Northern Arizona University
Speaker:
Van Davis, Executive Director, WCET – the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies and Vice President, Digital Learning, WICHE
10:00 am – 10:15 am
Break
10:15 am – 11:05 am
Concurrent Sessions
Cut and Reappropriate: Strategic Reinvestment in the Utah System of Higher Education
In 2025, the Utah Legislature required public institutions to cut 10% of their budgets and reinvest in high demand programs. This session will describe how institutions in the Utah System of Higher Education are finding solutions while facing this complex new requirement and will discuss potential implications for other states.
Speakers:
TJ Bliss, Utah System of Higher Education
Chris Guymon, Utah Tech University
Steven Hood, Utah System of Higher Education
WeR1: How to Develop a Strategic, Multi-Faceted, and Adaptive Faculty Research Success Program through Effective Organizational Partnerships
This session presents UNM’s WeR1 framework, a strategic approach to designing and sustaining a multifaceted faculty research success program built through organizational partnerships. Attendees will explore our modular approach used to address faculty needs across career stages and disciplines and how to adapt this structure to their institution’s needs and priorities.
Speakers:
Melissa Emery Thompson, University of New Mexico
Ellen Fisher, University of New Mexico
11:05 am – 11:20 am
Break
11:20 am – 12:10 pm
Concurrent Sessions
How Investing in Faculty to Improve Student Experience Can Build Institutional Trust
How can institutions prepare faculty for the complex life and belonging challenges that routinely interfere with students’ engagement in learning? We describe a program at scale enabling faculty to design equitable classroom learning environments — a program that 98% of students respond to with a positive “trust and fairness” rating of their instructors.
Speakers:
Pamela Cheek, University of New Mexico
Sushilla Knottenbelt, University of New Mexico
Erin Shortlidge, University of New Mexico
Transforming Graduate Education: Collaborative Solutions to the Complexities of Student Success
Graduate student needs are increasingly complex, demanding holistic and culturally responsive solutions. This panel showcases how one R1/MSI is transforming support through cross-campus partnerships that strengthen belonging and reduce barriers. Panelists will share emerging models and engage attendees to envision collaborative approaches to build impactful and integrated support systems.
Speakers:
Rodolfo Becerril, University of New Mexico
Travis Broadhurst, University of New Mexico
Maria Lane, University of New Mexico
Eric Scott, University of New Mexico
Allison Shaddox, University of New Mexico
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
Networking Lunch
1:15 pm-2:20 pm
University of New Mexico Flamenco Dancers
Introducer: Barbara Damron, WICHE Commissioner, University of New Mexico
When Everyone Plans to Grow: Examining Enrollment Goals and Market Capacity in WICHE States
As Western states face declining high school graduate populations, what enrollment futures are institutions planning? When we add them up, is the math even possible? This session presents findings from a comprehensive analysis of strategic enrollment plans at WICHE public comprehensive universities, combined with demographic projections and institutional market share data. By comparing institutional enrollment goals against WICHE demographic projections and calculating needed market-share shifts, the analysis reveals where regional capacity exists for growth and where institutions may be planning for students who don’t exist—or planning to take them from each other without acknowledging the competition. These findings will serve as a springboard for discussion about the results, pressures on institutional leaders to increase enrollment, and potential, realistic alternatives.
Introducer:
Colleen Falkenstern, WICHE
Speaker:
Gwen Sharp, Nevada State University
2:20 pm – 2:35 pm
Break
2:35 pm – 3:25 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Preparing Faculty and Staff to Support Student Learning and Career Readiness
As the needs of our student body rapidly evolve, it’s essential to understand who we serve, integrate their needs into the classroom and campus experience, and embed career readiness from orientation to career. This session will focus on practical tools to enhance student success outcomes and make work-engaged skills visible on your campus.
Speakers:
Pamela Cheek, University of New Mexico
Cait Lippitt, University of New Mexico
Chelsea Mellenthin, University of North Dakota
Karyn Plumm, University of North Dakota
Micro-Pathways: A Model to Drive Statewide Transformation Efforts in Montana
This session will highlight the Montana University System partnership with Education Design Lab to transform their work with employer partners to design and deliver in demand micro-pathways that lead to good paying jobs. Presenters will describe this first of its kind effort and share newly designed micro-peducation. Participants will describe the neutral convener approach through the facilitation of a 5-phase human-centered design process.
Speakers:
Angela McLean, Montana University System
Minza Thomas, Education Design Lab
3:25 pm – 3:40 pm
Break
3:40 pm – 4:30 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Student-Centered Innovation at Scale: Recruitment, Program, and Success Strategies at the University of New Mexico
This panel showcases how a large HSI/MSI is rethinking recruitment strategies, program delivery, and student success services to support learners’ evolving needs. It also addresses the balance between fostering innovation and maintaining coherent institutional guidelines – an essential component of student-centered innovation at scale.
Speakers:
Elisha Allen, University of New Mexico
Pamela Cheek, University of New Mexico
Alina Chircu, University of New Mexico
Donna Riley, University of New Mexico
David Weiss, University of New Mexico
Maximizing Institutional Capacity Through Shared Services: A Collaborative Approach
This session presents innovative approaches from the University of New Mexico to sustain institutional capacity amid financial constraints. Through shared service case examples and lessons learned, participants will gain practical strategies for maintaining or expanding capacity, even when facing staff reductions, limited resources, and increasing operational demands in higher education.
Speakers:
Nicole Dopson, University of New Mexico
Charla Orozco, University of New Mexico
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Wrap Up & Adjournment
4:45 pm – 6:00 pm
Graduation and Awards Reception with support from the Mellon Foundation
All are welcome, please attend and celebrate our community achievements!
Dinner on your own
FRIDAY, APRIL 3
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am – 9:30 am
WICHE Business Meeting
Learn about what is happening at WICHE in relation to programs and events, policy and research, tuition savings initiatives, and legislative updates.
Speakers: Ray Burgman Gallegos, Nick Fuselier, Olivia Tufo
9:30 am – 10:30 am
Using Alternative Futures Scenario Building to Envision the Futures of Higher Education
This workshop introduces participants to alternative futures thinking to better understand and plan for uncertainty in higher education. Using the Manoa School’s four generic scenarios, participants will explore trends, envision preferred futures, and identify strategies to navigate trends and emerging issues shaping higher education over the next 20–50 years.
Speaker:
Debora Halbert, University of Hawai’i System
10:30 am – 10:45 am
Adjournment
10:45 am – 11:00 am
Break
11:00 am
Optional: University of New Mexico: Public Art Walk