The Arkansas Student Affairs Association (ArSAA), in partnership with NASPA Region IV-West, is pleased to announce that the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith (UAFS) will host the 2026 NASPA Region IV-West Summer Critical Conversations Drive-In Conference on Student Persistence, Retention, & Strategic Enrollment Management. The conference will take place on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, on the UAFS campus.
Register today!
This one-day professional development event will focus on the critical topics of student persistence, retention, and strategic enrollment management. Participants will explore how student affairs broadly, as well as specific programs, interventions, services, and events, contribute to student persistence and institutional retention outcomes. The conference will also highlight promising practices in collaboration among student affairs, student success, and strategic enrollment management professionals.
Registration should be open next week (by Friday, March 20), and registration will be $45 for NASPA and ArSAA members and $60 for non-NASPA or ArSAA members. This registration fee will cover continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, and the full program of educational offerings that day.
Dr. Lee Krehbiel, Special Assistant to the Chancellor at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, will be providing the opening keynote speech that day focused on relevant trends in student persistence, retention, and strategic enrollment management in higher education.
In addition to Dr. Krehbiel’s keynote, we have a full line-up of educational sessions that will be offered throughout the day, including the following sessions:
- Academic Advising Practices that Support Student Persistence & Sense of Belonging – presented by Robert Moor, Academic Advisor/Internship Coordinator at NorthWest Arkansas Community College
- Connecting Housing & Residence Life to Strategic Enrollment Management & Retention – presented by Stephanie London, Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith; Ricky Harris, Associate Director of Residence Life at the University of Central Arkansas; and Sandra Martin, Dean of Housing at Southern Arkansas University
- Engaging Families as Persistence Partners to Support Student Success – presented by Jordan Frederking, Associate Director of Parent & Family Programs at the University of Arkansas
- Fellows, Communities, & Councils, Oh My! Strategizing for the Ecosystem that Supports Your First-Generation Student Community – presented by Brett Petersen-Bruner, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success & Persistence at Wichita State University
- Considerations & Conversations about AI’s Influence on Strategic Enrollment Management: A Strategic Discussion – presented by Donna Jones, Director of Community Engagement at the University of Arkansas
- Opening Doors & Sustaining Success: How TRIO College Programs Transform Access & Persistence – presented by Jerri Arnold Cook, Program Director for McNair Scholars at Henderson State University; C.J. Mathis, Director of NEXUS Retention Outreach & TRIO Student Support Services at the University of Arkansas; and Lucy Jones, TRIO Consultant & Evaluator
- Reframing Care & Conduct as Pathways to Persistence, Thriving, & Student Academic Success – presented by Jerri Arnold-Cook, Program Director for McNair Scholars at Henderson State University, and Brett Petersen-Bruner, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success & Persistence at Wichita State University
- Serving & Retaining Military-Connected Students – presented by David Williams, Assistant University Registrar for Veteran Services at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- Strategic Enrollment Management & Retention Through Financial Aid – presented by Marla Bush, Dean of Student Services & Financial Aid at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana
- Strategic Recruitment & Persistence Pathways for Adult Learner Students – presented by Pamela O’Neal, Associate Director of Student Engagement at Wichita State University
- Strategic Recruitment & Persistence Pathways for Concurrent Enrollment Students – presented by Amber Roth, Executive Director of High School Relations at NorthWest Arkansas Community College
- Tackling Food Insecurity & Meeting Basic Needs to Drive Student Persistence – presented by Reginald Lambert, Associate Dean of Student Engagement/Dean of Students at Shorter College
- The New Architecture of Student Success: Building Nimble, Purpose-Driven, & Integrated Structures for Student Persistence – presented by Brett Petersen-Bruner, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success & Persistence at Wichita State University
- The Power of Peers in Student Persistence, Retention, & Strategic Enrollment Management – presented by Brett Petersen-Bruner, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success & Persistence at Wichita State University; Lauren Wilson, Director of Academic Success at Hendrix College; Tiffany Byers, Director of Multicultural Engagement at Harding University; and Skyler Ames-Patton, Assistant Director of Transition Programs & Initiatives at the University of Arkansas
- Using Student Journey Mapping to Maximize the Student Experience in Career Development – presented by Jerri Arnold-Cook, Program Director for McNair Scholars at Henderson State University
- What Moves the Needle: Senior Leaders on the Power of Early & Mid-Level Professionals in Student Success & Enrollment Strategy – presented by Zackery Tucker, Dean of Students at Arkansas State University-Beebe; Lori Lander, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas; Justin White, Vice President for Student Affairs & Strategic Initiatives at NorthWest Arkansas Community College; and Rhonda Lovelace Tilmon, Vice Provost for Student Success/Dean of University College at Philander Smith University
ArSAA and NASPA Region IV-West invite higher education professionals, staff, and administrators to attend this drive-in conference to enhance their understanding of strategies that support student success and strengthen institutional outcomes.
Additional details, including registration information, will be shared in the coming months at https://www.naspa.org/region/region-iv-w.
