CUPSO 2026 Annual Conference Agenda Overview
Note: This agenda is still in draft form. Times and titles for all sessions are subject to revision.
You can explore session descriptions here.
Monday, May 18
| 8:30 - 9:15 am | CUPSO Business Meeting
|
9:15 - 9:30 am
| Break
|
9:30 - 11:45 am
| Opening Roundtable for Center/Institute Directors and School Deans
Higher Ed at the Inflection Point
|
| 10-11:45 am | Opening Roundtable for CUPSO Staff
|
| 11:45 am - 1 pm | Lunch
|
| 1 - 2:30pm | Welcome and Opening Plenary
Understanding Alaska's Indigenous Context
|
| 2:30 - 2:40 pm | Group Photo
|
| 2:40 - 3 pm | Break
|
| 3 - 4 pm | Lightning Talks: Short presentations followed by a deeper-dive roundtable discussion into whichever presentation most captures your interest. Choose from one of three themed rooms. Theme 1: Change Management - Leading Through Change: Riley Center's Role in Supporting AI Adoption
- Federal-State Nexus: Insights for Policymakers
- When Big Change Feels Constant
Theme 2: Education - Strengthening Educational Equity and Instructional Quality
- Rallying Around Reading
- NextGen Leaders for Public Service: Does it Increase Student Interest in Public Service?
Theme 3: Partnerships that Inform Policy - Empowering Communities to Save Lives
- Getting to "Yes" on Affordable Housing Policy
- Helping Missouri Navigate Competing Models for Kinship Care
|
4 - 4:30 pm
| Break |
4:30 - 5:30 pm
| Progressive Walking Tour |
5:30 - 8 pm
| Hosted Dinner at the UAA Alaska Airlines Center
|
Tuesday, May 19
| 7:45 - 8:45 am | Check-in and Continental Breakfast |
8:45 - 10:15 am
| Conference Welcome and Morning Plenary
Public Service Across Alaska: From Urban to Remote |
10:15 - 10:45 am
| Break |
| 10:45 -11:45 am | Breakouts - Strategic Planning Yourself
- Designing Training that Builds *Both* Skills and Leaders
- Navigating Political Neutrality: What it Gives Us and What it Costs Us
|
| 11:45 am - 12:45 pm | Lunch |
| 12:45 - 1:45 pm | Poster Showcase |
| 1:45 - 2:45 pm | Breakouts - Capacity Management for Public Service Professionals
- Building Successful Collaborations Across Multiple States and Institutes
- Deepening Impact Within Your Ecosystem
|
| 2:45 - 3:05 pm | Break |
| 3:05 - 4:05 pm | Lightning Talks: Short presentations followed by a deeper-dive roundtable discussion into whichever presentation most captures your interest. Choose from one of three themed rooms. Theme 1: Civic Engagement - Oregon Trust in Elections Project: Research-Practitioner Partnerships for Civic Engagement
- Understanding and Assessing Civic Health in Turbulent Times
- Beyond Research to Building Trust: Focus Groups as Engagement
Theme 2: Data and Evaluation - Participatory Data Governance: A Shared Commitment to Use of Data Throughout the Data Lifecycle
- From Data Silos to Shared Infrastructure: Building a Regional Data Ecosystem with the Carolinas Regional Explorer
- Structuring an Evaluation from a Failed Research Plan
Theme 3:Building Capacity and Leadership - Legislative Leadership Development: Connecting State Legislators with Your Resources
- The Domino Effect: Automating Program Evaluation Creates Capacity and Greater Impact
- Intergovernmental Services Agreement (IGSA) Framework: An Essential Foundation for Innovation
|
4:05 pm | Buses to Anchorage Museum |
4:45 - 6 pm | Anchorage Museum Exploration and Tours |
6 - 8 pm | ISER 65th Anniversary Celebration |
Wednesday, May 20
| 8 - 9 am | Continental Breakfast |
9 - 10 am
| Breakouts - Leadership: Tapping into Your Core Values
- Building Stronger Rural Futures
- Conflict Resolution for Public Events
|
10 - 10:30 am
| Break |
| 10:30 - 11:30 am | Breakouts - Navigating AI Integration in Local Public Service
- Leveraging AI to Improve your Communications Game
|
| 11:30 - 11:45 am | Break |
| 11:45 am - 12 pm | Presentation of Poster Session Award and Closing |
| 12:30 pm | Optional Post-Conference Lunch and Field Trip to Alaska Native Heritage Center |
Buses will be available to transfer attendees between conference hotels and all conference events. Bus schedules will be provided to registered attendees prior to arrival.
Print Page