Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement (CEii)

Conference Agenda (Tentative) 

Sunday, April 7, 2025

1:45-2:00 Welcome and Conference Overview 

Dr. Bill Harvey - Conference Organizer & CEii Distinguished Fellow 

President Darryll Pines - University of Maryland, College Park 

2:00-3:15 Connecting K-12 to Higher Ed

Dr. Bryan Cook - Director for Higher Education Policy, The Urban Institute

3:15-3:30 Break

3:30-4:45 Insights Regarding the K-12 Higher Ed Connection

Dr. Lorenzo Esters - President, the Indianapolis Foundation

Dr. Andrew Flagel - President, Consortium of Universities of the Greater Washington  Metropolitan Area

Senator Angela Alsobrooks - U. S. Senator from Maryland (invited)

5:15-6:30 Reception and Networking

Monday, April 7th

8:45-9:00 Monday Welcome 

9:00-10:15 Everything You Need to Know About the Enrollment Cliff

Dr. Nicole Smith - Research Professor and Chief Economist, Georgetown University 

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-11:45 The Impact on American Society of Dismantling DEI

Dean Kimberly Griffin - Dean & Professor, College of Education; University of Maryland College Park 

Representative Steven Horsford - 4th District of Nevada (invited)                

Noon-1:15 Lunch

1:30- 2:45 Concurrent Afternoon Sessions

3:00-4:15 Innovative Admissions in Higher Education Institutions 

4:30- 5:45 State-Level Policy Perspectives on K -12/Higher Ed Connections 

6:00- 7:00 Networking Opportunities 

7:00-8:30 Fireside Chat University Level Leadership 

Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan - President, St. Mary’s College of Maryland 

Dr. Holden Thorp - Editor-in-Chief, Science Journals

Tuesday, April 8th

815-8:30 Tuesday Welcome

8:30-9:45 An Update on Legal Considerations and Interpretations of Higher Education Issues 

Dean Dayna Matthews - Dean and Professor of Law, George Washington University 

9:45-10:00 Break

10:00-11:15 Panel: Building an Ecosystem That Connects Underrepresented K -12 Systems and Communities to Higher Education

Dr. Kofi Lomotey - Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership, Western Carolina University

Dr. Monifa McKnight - Superintendent in Residence, College of Education, University of Maryland College Park

Dr. Tony Watlington - Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia 

Dr. Segun Eubanks (Moderator) - Professor of Practice, College of Education, University of Maryland College Park

11:30-12:45 Lunch Presentation

1:00- 2:15 Concurrent Afternoon Sessions

2:30-3:45 Concurrent Afternoon Sessions

4:00-5:00 Closing Plenary: What Can The Blueprint for Maryland's Future Teach Us About American Education? 

Dr. William (Brit) Kirwan - Vice Chair, Accountability & Implementation Board 

Senator Bernie Sanders - Vermont (invited)

We invite you to explore our sponsorship opportunities and consider supporting this important event. Please review the sponsorship grid below to see the benefits of each level.

Sponsorship Opportunities .pdf

Sunday April 6th, 2025
Pre-Conference: 8:30am - 12:00 pm

Conveners: 

Dr. Cristi Ford, Chief Learning Officer, D2L Corporation

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight, Superintendent in Residence, Dean’s Fellow, College of Education, University of Maryland College Park

Dr. Gloria D. Thomas, President, HERS (Higher Education Resource Services)

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, building strong partnerships and alliances is essential for driving meaningful change.  These two special sessions bring together women of color and their allies–leaders from policy, philanthropy, and education to explore effective strategies for collaboration in the face of uncertainty. Join us for a dynamic conversation on strengthening partnerships, fostering innovation, and navigating challenges with strategic impact.
 

9:00 - 9:30  Registration

9:30- 10:30  Greetings and Opening Followed by Panel Discussion: 

Building Stronger Partnerships and Allies among K-12 and Higher Education Leaders to Sustain WOC Leaders and Improve Outcomes for Students

Panelist: 

• Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-Mccoy, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
• Charlotte Crutchfield, Esq., Member, Maryland House of Delegates
• Dr. Garikai Campbell (INVITED), Deputy Director for Strategy, Planning, & Management for Postsecondary Success, Gates Foundation

Moderator: Dr. Monifa McKnight, Superintendent in Residence College of Eduction University of Maryland, College Park 

Roundtable Discussions: Good Partnerships & Collaboration: Through the Lens of Leadership
Session Description: What strategies are needed to foster effective relationships in response to financial, administrative, and political disruptions that confront women of color leaders in the K-12 higher education sectors?  Women of color need support through mentoring, sponsoring, advocacy, and allyship to respond effectively to current challenges.  The roundtable leaders for this session will offer various opportunities for partnerships and collaborations to improve outcomes for all through a leadership lens.

Facilitators:

• Dr. Annette Anderson, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Education
• Dr. Rotunda Floyd-Cooper, Vice President, Education Leadership, Wallace Foundation
• Dr. Kimberly Moffitt, Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County
• Dr. Gladys Palma de Schrynemakers, Interim Acting Senior University Dean for Graduate and Undergraduate Programming, City University of New York
• Dr Gloria Thomas, President, HERS (Higher Education Resource Services)

11:40- 12:00  Review Call to Action,