Program Agenda

American Association Of Colleges Of Nursing | The Voice Of Academic Nursing | Nursing Advancement Professionals (Nap) Conference | Transform. Connect. Learn. Lead

Program Agenda

Program subject to change.

February 16 (President's Day)
Welcome

8:00-10:00 p.m.	Location: Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Networking with Night Owls Kick off the conference with an informal evening of connection designed for our night owls and early arrivals. Meet new people and share your aspirations for the days ahead.

February 17
Focus on Self & Advancement

7:30-8:30 a.m.	Breakfast & Registration

8:30-9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Icebreaker

9:00-9:45 a.m.	Elevating Excellence: A New Dean, A New Home and A Bright Future Invites attendees to explore a pivotal moment of transformation and vision at the UCF College of Nursing. This keynote will spotlight the arrival of dynamic new leadership, the opening of a new home for learning and teaching, and the bold initiatives shaping the College’s future. With a focus on innovation, partnerships, and excellence, the session will inspire participants to imagine what’s possible when fresh leadership, ideas and a new home converge to create lasting impact.

9:45-10:00 a.m.	Break

11:00-12:00 p.m.	Say what??!! The Language of Connection The language we use fuels our connection, and therefore fuels our work and humaning. So how do we think about our words? More actively, how do we say, think, and shift our language so that we are accurate, candid, and effective - propelling human connection in every instance, being the person we want to be AND doing the work with purpose? Ginger will lead this interactive workshop on the Language of Connection, specific to the NAP community. Come ready to be all-in with your Connector's Mindset (explained at the workshop) and to participate, laugh, and have ready to rock usefulness when you depart.

11:00-12:00 p.m.	Anchored Leadership: How to Stay Rooted When Priorities Swing In a shifting political and financial landscape, fundraising leaders are under mounting pressure to do more with less all while navigating rapidly evolving institutional priorities. Changes to federal funding, DEI initiatives, and public sentiment are reshaping how we engage donors and support our teams. How do we stay grounded amid the turbulence? This session will explore practical strategies for leveling with institutional leadership, equipping staff for difficult conversations, and remaining agile in an unpredictable environment. In this interactive session, we’ll tackle the challenge of adapting swiftly without losing sight of long-term goals. The world won’t stop shifting, but great leaders know how to stay steady. Let’s figure out how.

12:00-1:00 p.m.	Lunch

1:00-1:45 p.m.	Panel: Personal Strategies for Leading Through Uncertainty In an era of constant change, advancement professionals face mounting pressure to adapt quickly while maintaining focus on long-term goals. This interactive panel brings together leaders in development, alumni relations, and communications to share personal strategies for navigating uncertainty in higher education and healthcare. Building on themes from the earlier “Anchored Leadership” session, panelists will explore how they stay grounded amid shifting priorities, foster collaboration across functions, and lead teams through challenging conversations. Attendees will gain practical insights and inspiration to apply in their own roles, setting the stage for profession-specific breakout discussions.

1:45-2:00 p.m.	Break

2:00-3:00 p.m.	Networking by Profession (Communications, Fundraising, Alumni Relations)

2:00-3:00 p.m.	Networking by Profession (Communications, Fundraising, Alumni Relations) Following the panel on Personal Strategies for Leading Through Uncertainty, join your professional peers in focused breakout sessions—Development, Alumni Relations/Constituent Engagement, and Communications. These discussions will provide an opportunity to reflect on panel insights, share experiences, and explore practical approaches tailored to your area of advancement. Together, we’ll identify strategies to stay agile, collaborate effectively, and lead with confidence amid ongoing change.

3:00–4:15 p.m.	NAP Awards Ceremony and Business Meeting

4:15-5:00 p.m.	Break

Evening	Open Networking

February 18
Focus on Nursing & Broader Impact

7:30-8:30 a.m.	Breakfast

8:30-9:30 a.m.	ZYXs of Connection Fun, lively & interactive keynote address to boost the power of connection. Ginger Johnson shares 26 Alphabetic words, tailored to fit the NAP community and help celebrate the ongoing commitment, desire to serve, and live a good life. We'll wrap up the event with high positive energy and enthusiasm for the guests, with thinking points for guests to choose and use.

9:30-10:15 a.m.	The Power of Partnership: How Federal Policy Impacts Academic Nursing

10:15-10:30 a.m.	Break

10:30-11:45 a.m.	The Future of Alumni and School Magazines

11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.	Networking Lunch

1:30-2:30 p.m.	Engagement Reimagined: A Continuum of Connection This session explores a holistic approach to building lifelong relationships through an engagement continuum that spans every stage of connection. Learn how The Ohio State University College of Nursing is expanding its reach to include students and parents, and discover creative strategies for inviting new audiences into meaningful programming. Walk away with ideas to strengthen engagement and foster a sense of belonging across diverse constituencies.

2:30-2:45 p.m.	Break

2:45–3:45 p.m.	Panel: Nursing Advocacy & Expanding the Donor Pipeline Nurses touch every life, yet philanthropic engagement often focuses narrowly on alumni or clinical care. This session explores how schools and colleges of nursing can broaden their prospect pipeline by engaging non alumni and non nurses, leveraging partnerships with health systems and external organizations, and connecting nursing’s impact to outcomes in patients, communities, and policy. Panelists will share strategies for internal advocacy, grateful patient engagement, cross college collaboration, and creative approaches that resonate beyond traditional audiences.

3:45-4:00 p.m.	Conference Debrief & Closing Remarks

For questions, contact the 大象传媒 Conference Team today!

Phone: 202-463-6930 | Email: conferences@aacnnursing.org | Website: www.aacnnursing.org/conferences

大象传媒

Program Agenda

February 16 (President's Day) Welcome

February 17 Focus on Self & Advancement

February 18 Focus on Nursing & Broader Impact

For questions, contact the 大象传媒 Conference Team today!

February 16 (President's Day)
Welcome

February 17
Focus on Self & Advancement

February 18
Focus on Nursing & Broader Impact