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DAY 1
MARCH 3RD - TUESDAY
Dr. Tim Renick
Founding Executive Director National Institute for Student Success
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
3/3/26 -- 10:00 AM CENTRAL TIME
Title: Coming Soon!
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
Information coming soon. Please check back later for updates and additional details as they become available.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY:
Information coming soon. Please check back later for updates and additional details as they become available.
Estimated time: Speech 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes
>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.
If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
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Panelist Information
Information coming soon!
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DISCUSSION PANEL
3/3/26 -- 1:00 PM CENTRAL TIME
The Future of Transfer Student Success in Alabama: The EdVisorly and Alabama Transfers Pilot Program in Action
PANEL DISCUSSION OVERVIEW:
In 2025, Alabama Transfers launched a bold, collaborative effort to modernize the transfer experience for community college students within the State of Alabama. This panel session will share early insights and lessons from the first phase of the EdVisorly & Alabama Transfers Pilot Program, a groundbreaking multi-year initiative led jointly by EdVisorly and Alabama Transfers. With participation from Troy University, Enterprise State Community College, Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, and Wallace Community College–Dothan, the pilot is designed to simplify and redesign transfer and reverse transfer pathways statewide.
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Panelists will discuss how the initiative is transforming transfer operations and empowering students through EdVisorly’s AI-powered platform. The session will highlight EddyNavigate™, a core tool driving this work, which is a a student-facing planning interface that supports guided transfer pathways.
Speakers will share implementation experiences from both two-year and four-year perspectives, offering practical insight into how the pilot is already addressing long-standing challenges such as siloed credit systems, inconsistent advising, and unclear transfer pathways. The discussion will also explore broader implications for statewide policy, technology-enabled student support, and data-informed enrollment strategies. The session will conclude with a look ahead to future expansion, including plans to scale the initiative to all Alabama community colleges and opportunities for additional institutions to participate.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
Information coming soon. Please check back later for updates and additional details as they become available.
Estimated time: Panel Discussion 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes
>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
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Dr. Timothy Thornton
Associate Professor of Career and Technical Education
Athens State University
Dr. Letitia Bergantz
Associate Professor of Instructional Design
Athens State University
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
3/3/26 -- 3:00 PM CENTRAL TIME
ActiveFlex - Student Centered Instructional Model
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
ActiveFlex is a student-centered instructional model designed to elevate the online learning experience. It expands the "HyFlex" concept of allowing students to attend class in-person, asynchronously, or synchronously. ActiveFlex goes a step further by prioritizing high-level, active engagement, ensuring every learner participates in the same rigorous, hands-on activities.
At Athens State University, ActiveFlex is a specialized instructional model designed specifically to support our unique student body, which consists entirely of transfer students (upper-division) and adult learners. The ActiveFlex model was designed to address many issues associated with the transfer process, including commuting, work-life balance, and credit loss. During this session, we will examine each issue and provide specific examples of how ActiveFlex can be implemented to assist with the transfer process.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER(S):
Timothy Thornton serves as an Associate Professor of Career and Technical Education at Athens State University. His research focuses on the learning needs of nontraditional students, ensuring they have the tools and support needed for success.
Letitia Bergantz began designing courses through an online grant in 2000 while teaching in Kansas. Through experimentation with various models, she has developed her skills as an Associate Professor of Instructional Design at Athens State University.​ She has worked in both education and industry and has created courses for FEMA, FDA, and FAA. Her latest project was through an NSF grant, developing microlearning lessons. Her interest includes instructional design and technologies, maximizing student engagement, and creating flexible learning environments. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and recently -pickleball.
Estimated time: Presentation 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes​​​​
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>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
DAY 2
MARCH 4TH - WEDNESDAY
Dr. Jason E. Lane
Special Advisor to the University of Illinois System President
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
3/4/26 -- 10:00 AM CENTRAL TIME
Systemness Is a Leadership Choice: What It Takes to Make Transfer Work at Scale
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
Meaningful transfer reform requires more than better policies or technical fixes—it requires a fundamental shift in leadership mindset. Framed around the conference themes of Innovate, Collaborate, and Celebrate, the presentation challenges higher education leaders to rethink how they design and lead student success initiatives. In particular, transfer is positioned not as an operational problem to be managed, but as a strategic opportunity to demonstrate what systemness looks like when leaders put student success first.
To innovate for transfer success, leaders must move beyond incremental adjustments and legacy assumptions about institutional autonomy, ownership of students, and academic control. The presentation highlights how systemness emerges when leaders are willing to redesign rules, incentives, and decision-making structures around student mobility rather than institutional convenience. Innovation, in this context, is not about new programs, but about reimagining how authority, data, and accountability are used to support seamless student pathways at scale.
To collaborate effectively, leaders must intentionally cultivate trust, shared responsibility, and aligned purpose across diverse institutions. The presentation underscores that collaboration is not a natural outcome of good intentions; it is a leadership practice that requires clear expectations, transparent data, and a willingness to confront misalignment. Through examples from large-scale system reform, the session illustrates how leaders can foster collaboration that respects institutional missions while holding the system collectively accountable for transfer student success.
Finally, the presentation invites leaders to celebrate not only outcomes, but the cultural shift that makes those outcomes possible. Celebrating systemness means recognizing when institutions act in the interest of students and the system as a whole—even when doing so challenges long-standing norms. By embracing innovation, collaboration, and celebration as leadership commitments, leaders can transform transfer from a persistent pain point into a powerful lever for access, mobility, and student success at scale.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY:
Jason E. Lane is an award-winning scholar-practitioner and widely regarded as an architect of systemness in higher education, with a career focused on statewide transfer reform, student success at scale, and the design of coordinated multi-university initiatives. He serves as Senior Advisor to the President of the University of Illinois System and is a Professor of Higher
Education and International Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
He previously held senior executive roles within the State University of New York system, where he led system-wide academic and student success initiatives, including the implementation of SUNY’s Seamless Transfer framework—the largest multi-directional transfer initiative in the nation—reducing credit loss, shortening time to degree, and improving outcomes for transfer students across community colleges, comprehensive universities, and research universities.
Dr. Lane is lead author of the national report The Emerging Role of Public Higher Education Systems in Advancing Transfer Student Success and has published more than 12 books, including Higher Education Systems 3.0 and Higher Education Systems Redesigned. He serves as Board Chair of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), co-led NASH’s Taking Student Success to Scale (TS3) initiative—cited by President Barack Obama as a major effort to increase college completion—and has served as Senior Fellow and President of the National Association of Higher Education Systems. He is also a senior fellow of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB), director of AGB’s Institute for Leadership & Governance
and a frequent keynote speaker and consultant for state systems, governing boards, and national policy organizations.
Estimated time: Speech 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes
>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
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Panelist Information
Information coming soon!
DISCUSSION PANEL
3/4/26 -- 1:00 PM CENTRAL TIME
Reimagining Transfer: Scaling Seamless Transfer Through People, Policy, Process, & Technology
PANEL TOPIC:
Transfer is a critical pathway to statewide completion, yet students still face barriers such as credit loss, inconsistent evaluation, and administrative delays. Improving transfer success requires more than policy—it requires modern systems, collaboration, and innovation. This panel will highlight how institutions and state systems can work together to modernize transfer through stronger articulation, shared responsibility, and innovative solutions.
Leaders from transfer forward institutions, state systems, and foundations will participate in a moderated panel to discuss their experience designing, building and leading some of America’s most effective transfer ecosystems. We will explore how people, policies, processes, and technology form the foundation for successful transfer outcomes. Participants will leave with forward-looking strategies for scaling transfer success across the United States and Alabama.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
Information coming soon. Please check back later for updates and additional details as they become available.
Estimated time: Panel Discussion 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes
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>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
Dr. Robin McGill
Deputy Director of Academic Affairs
Alabama Commission on Higher Ed
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
3/4/26 -- 3:00 PM CENTRAL TIME
State of Transfer in Alabama: Data Deep Dive with ACHE
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
As part of its agency responsibilities for data reporting, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) publishes term-by-term reports on student transfers. These reports offer valuable insight into the behaviors of transfer students moving across sectors and between institutions, but they do not allow for a comprehensive view of the transfer system as a whole.
This session aims to provide a broader view of the transfer student data, showing trends over time, with a particular focus on two-year to four-year transfer pathways. ACHE will provide an analysis of transfer student enrollments by destination major, associate degree completion, and other factors of interest to leaders at two-year and four-year institutions. ACHE will also encourage institutional stakeholders to offer feedback on what data would bemmost useful to include in a larger written report on the state of transfer.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Dr. Robin McGill serves as the chief academic and student success officer at the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. She manages ACHE's instructional portfolio for Alabama's public colleges and universities, which includes program review, education and workforce policies, and student success initiatives. Prior to joining ACHE in May 2019, she worked as Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, where she provided system-wide leadership on institutional effectiveness, data governance, and strategic finance. Dr. McGill has presented in local, regional, and national settings on higher education topics ranging from AI in higher education to workforce alignment and rural postsecondary opportunities. Her training is in classical literature, and she has taught courses in literature, languages, and history to undergraduates and high school students.
Estimated time: Presentation 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes
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>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
DAY 3
MARCH 5TH - THURSDAY
Dr. Matt Newlin
Founder and Principal of Matt Newlin Consulting
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
3/5/26 -- 10:00 AM CENTRAL TIME
Beyond the Degree: How Higher Education, Employers, and Communities Build Opportunity Together
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
As workforce demands evolve and emerging technologies reshape how learning connects to work, higher education is being called to move beyond the degree as the sole marker of readiness and success. For transfer students, and particularly those from rural communities and first-generation backgrounds, opportunity is shaped by how well institutions, employers, and communities work together to recognize talent, value experience, and create clear pathways to meaningful careers.
This keynote invites participants to innovate and collaborate to create new approaches to workforce development that intentionally align transfer pathways with regional labor market needs. Drawing on labor market data, employer partnerships, and student experiences, the session explores how colleges and universities can expand technical and job-ready credentials, more fully award credit for prior learning and workforce experience, and responsibly integrate artificial intelligence across advising, instruction, and workforce alignment.
With a focus on rural communities, this session highlights the power of cross-sector collaboration among two- and four-year institutions, employers, and local partners to transform transfer from a point of transition into a platform for economic mobility. Attendees will leave with practical insights for building systems that honor students’ experiences while strengthening local workforce ecosystems, proving that opportunity is built not in isolation, but together.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Matt Newlin is the Founder and Principal of Matt Newlin Consulting, where he partners with colleges, universities, and organizations to advance equity and student success for rural, first-generation, and low-income learners. With 20 years of experience in higher education, Matt brings deep expertise in student success, financial aid, and equity-centered program design. He also serves as Senior Education Designer for Rural Initiatives at Education Design Lab, collaborating with institutions nationwide to reimagine pathways that better serve rural communities. Matt is the creator and host of The Rural College Student Experience podcast, which centers rural student voices and elevates practitioner and scholar perspectives on access and belonging. A published scholar, he has contributed book chapters focused on rural students and first-generation college students. Matt’s work bridges research, practice, and storytelling, with a commitment to building partnerships that expand opportunity and strengthen higher education systems across the country.
Estimated time: Speech 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes
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>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
Dr. Keith Sessions
Executive Director
Alabama Transfers
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Mr. Shannon Nichols
Assistant Director - IT
Alabama Transfers
ALABAMA TRANSFERS UPDATE & WEBSITE TOUR
3/5/26 -- 1:00 PM CENTRAL TIME
Get to Know the New and Improved Alabama Transfers! >>> AN INFORMAL WEBSITE TOUR
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
Have you heard of Alabama Transfers (formerly known as STARS), but aren't quite sure what it is or how it supports transfer students across Alabama? Join us for this informal, hour-long website tour hosted by Keith Sessions and Shannon Nichols, who together bring over 60 years of statewide transfer expertise.
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We'll cover the program's history, demonstrate how students and advisors use the transfer guide system, and highlight other helpful tools and features on the Alabama Transfers website. The session will include plenty of time for questions through Zoom chat and Q&A.
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Our goal is to help educators, advisors, students, and families throughout Alabama better understand Alabama Transfers and its role in simplifying the transfer process—making it easier to navigate the "transfer maze" while saving time, credits, and money.
ABOUT THE TOUR GUIDES:
Keith Sessions has served as Executive Director of Alabama Transfers since 2003. He previously worked as an Area Coordinator for the program from 1994 to 2000 and has held administrative roles at Southern Union State Community College and Auburn University. Keith holds mutliple degrees from Enterprise State Community College, Auburn University (2), and the University of South Alabama.
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Shannon Nichols joined the program as a computer programmer in 1994 and has remained ever since. He has served as Computer Programmer, Director of IT, and the Assistant Director for over 32 years. Shannon developed and programmed the original STARS Transfer Guide system and continues to oversee all technical aspects of Alabama Transfers today. Shannon holds degrees from Enterprise State Community College and Troy University.
Estimated time: Speech 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes
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>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
Heather Yush, M.S.
Senior Director of College Relations
PTK Connect
Amber Martinez
Interim Director of Admission
Athens State University
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
3/5/26 -- 3:00 PM CENTRAL TIME
PTK Direct Admission: A Fast Track for Transfer Success
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
This session introduces PTK Direct Admission, a one-of-a-kind fast-track transfer pathway created by Phi Theta Kappa to streamline admission for high-achieving community college students. PTK Direct Admission reduces friction and guesswork by allowing prospective transfer students to signal interest and receive expedited entry to partner institutions—often with waived application fees, automatic scholarships, and honors college benefits. Interim Director of Admission, Amber Martinez, of Athens State University will co-present, sharing firsthand insights as the first institution in Alabama to implement PTK Direct Admission. Attendees will learn how the program works within PTK Connect, what participation looks like from an institutional perspective, and how this innovative model saves time, eases student stress, strengthens transfer pipelines, and drives intentional, high-quality enrollment growth.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER(S):
Heather Yush is a first-generation college graduate of Marietta College and a former student-athlete who has spent nearly two decades exploring what colleges seek in students—and what students seek in colleges. Building on her liberal arts undergraduate education, she earned a master’s in experimental psychology from Ohio University and has worked across community colleges and four-year institutions in admissions, recruiting, advising, coaching, and instruction.
Now in her 10th year at Phi Theta Kappa, Heather serves as Senior Director of College Relations, advancing access and opportunity for high-achieving, transfer-bound students—including Direct Admission through the PTK Connect platform. Based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, she and her husband, a University of Alabama coach, remain deeply connected to the student-athlete experience and the transformative power of higher education.
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With over a decade of experience in higher education, Amber Martinez has dedicated her career to helping people grow—students, colleagues, and leaders alike. As the Interim Director of Admissions at Athens State University, she leads a talented team of transfer advisors, processors, and enrollment professionals, all committed to creating a welcoming, student-centered admissions experience. Outside of work, Amber mentors high school students through the AUM Foundation, guiding them through college preparation and teaching leadership development. She enjoys spending time outside with her two dogs and dabbling in watercolors.
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Estimated time: Presentation 60 Minutes --- Question and Answers 15-20 Minutes
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>>> TO JOIN THIS SESSION, CLICK ON THE ZOOM LOGIN BUTTON BELOW AND ENTER THE PASSWORD PROVIDED.
The Password is _________________.
NOTE: The password will be provided the day before and the day of the session.If you have technical difficulties, please call 334-670-3691 or email shannon@alabamatransfers.com.
END OF CONFERENCE
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