Upswing is proud to announce its upcoming Equity in Education Conference, June 25, 2026, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm ET. This free, virtual conference will bring together higher education leaders, innovators, practitioners, and advocates for a timely national conversation on the future of equity, access, and student success in higher education.
As colleges and universities face mounting pressure to improve retention, address widening equity gaps, and navigate the rapid rise of artificial intelligence across campus systems, the conference will provide actionable strategies and real-world solutions designed to help institutions better serve all students, especially historically underserved populations.
This year’s conference will explore some of the most urgent challenges and opportunities facing higher education today, including the ethical implementation of AI, equitable student support systems, workforce readiness, retention innovation, mental health and belonging, curriculum reform, and scalable student success strategies grounded in human connection.
Attendees will hear from leading experts, researchers, nonprofit innovators, and institutional practitioners who are actively reshaping how higher education supports students in an evolving landscape.
“Equity cannot be treated as an initiative operating alongside innovation—it must be embedded within it,” said Melvin Hines, Upswing CEO. “This conference is designed to move beyond surface-level conversations and equip institutions with practical, equity-centered strategies they can implement immediately.”
Conference sessions will include:
- The Bias Inside the Student Success Stack: What Institutions Need to Know Before AI Scales Further
- Dr. Shmona Simpson, Founder, Paritti
- From Bottleneck to Breakthrough: How AI Powers Retention for Underserved Learners
- Reid Russom, Curriculum and Instruction Director, Code the Dream
- Pen, Pixels, and Possibilities
- Dr. Ritu Sharma, Professor, Purdue University and Ramona Anand, Professor, Lorain County Community College
- AI at the Crossroads: Equity, Access, and the Future of Student Success
- A panel featuring discussion featuring Dr. Shmona Simpson, Reid Russom, and Dr. Ritu Sharma
- The Pulse of Persistence: How Hope Chicago Uses Real-Time Data to Drive Scholar Success
- Michele Howard, Chief Engagement Officer, Hope Chicago
- Human-Centered Academic Support through Empowered Equity Leadership
- Ulric T. HIll, Director, Durham Technical Community College
- Helping the helpers: Strategies to build supportive program for students with family caregiving responsibilities
- Feylyn Lewis, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Vanderbilt School of Nursing
- Unwinding Curricular Complexity: Using Curricular Analytics to Sustain Student Success Amid Policy and Funding Uncertainty
- Julia Michaels, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, Colorado State University
Key discussions will examine:
- AI bias and accountability in student support systems
- Equitable implementation of generative AI
- Retention and persistence strategies for underserved learners
- Student caregiver support and inclusive campus policies
- Data-informed interventions and early alert systems
- Human-centered approaches to scaling student success
- Structural barriers to degree completion and curricular reform
The Equity in Education Conference reflects Upswing’s ongoing commitment to helping institutions create more inclusive, student-centered learning environments that drive measurable outcomes and long-term impact.
Event Details
Date: June 25, 2026 from 10 AM to 4 PM ET
Location: Zoom
To learn more or register for the conference, visit https://upswing.io/equity-in-education-conference-2/
Upswing exists to empower historically marginalized people to achieve their life goals. We are a technology company founded on the premise that access to educational support services should be universal and free. By partnering with academic institutions, Upswing provides students, staff, and admins with a modern student services experience that results in more students attaining a degree. To learn more about how Upswing increases student engagement and retention, visit www.upswing.io.
