AACRAO’s 106th Annual Meeting will be held March 29-31, 2021,
in a virtual format, which probably comes as no surprise to anyone. We are thrilled to have speakers whose messages are more relevant than ever.
Remember last March?
Our 2020 meeting was to be held in New Orleans in early April, just as the extent of the coronavirus pandemic was becoming apparent. But it was cancelled when states began issuing shelter-in-place orders in March. Without the time or capacity to shift
online, instead we shifted our focus to 2021.
Black Lives Matter
Little could we foresee just how prescient the choice of keynote speaker — renowned antiracist writer and professor Ibram X. Kendi — would be.
Amidst the tension of ongoing shutdowns and economic crisis this spring, a racial consciousness awakening was ignited. The reality of police violence against black and brown bodies became impossible for those in power to continue to ignore. Kendi’s insight has never been more valuable than it is right now, which is why we are thrilled that he is able to join us at our 2021 Annual Meeting.
Taking collaboration to a new level
Many of the pressing questions facing higher education a year ago have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. Our virtual gathering will extend and enrich our usual professional development content through the lens of COVID.
For example, office collaboration has been critical during the “pivot” to remote work and online learning. Thankfully, another of our planned 2020 keynotes, Joel Zeff, is also able to join our 2021 conference. Zeff’s
work revolves around cultivating a cooperative, positive, and empowered office climate. This kind of supportive and connecting energy is needed now more than ever as we grapple with pandemic fatigue and with the long-term effects of the pandemic
on work and higher education.
Learn more about this year’s Annual Meeting
Join the email list and be the first to know when registration opens early next year.