---
title: "Conference Circuit: Higher Learning"
id: "37168"
type: "post"
slug: "conference-circuit-higher-learning"
published_at: "2017-03-03T01:56:21+00:00"
modified_at: "2017-03-03T01:56:21+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/03/03/conference-circuit-higher-learning/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/03/03/conference-circuit-higher-learning.md"
excerpt: "The 2017 NASPA Annual Conference is set to start this weekend. More than 5,000 attendees are expected in San Antonio, Texas."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Advocacy"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "Advocacy"
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "campus police"
  - "Meetings"
  - "social justice"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Employee (Non-Manager)"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Association Professionals"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » Conference Circuit: Higher Learning

Around 5,500 student affairs professionals from around the globe are headed to San Antonio to be inspired and to hear from industry leaders on topics relevant to their campuses.

**Organization:** NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education

**Conference:** 2017 NASPA Annual Conference

**Venue:** Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

**City:** San Antonio, Texas

Following two days of workshops, board meetings, and other preconference activities, the [2017 NASPA Annual Conference (opens in a new tab)](http://conference2017.naspa.org/)
 officially begins with Sunday evening’s opening session featuring CNN’s Anderson Cooper. He’ll help to frame #NASPA17 with his years of experience telling stories and seeking answers to questions that matter to attendees. Also on the schedule:

**Innovation in the spotlight.**New this year is a unique space NASPA is calling its Innovation Station. Its goal is to connect attendees to innovative programs and new ways of thinking on campuses other than their own. Sessions will cover a range of topics, including technology, assessment, and sexual violence prevention.

**Lip sync battle.**Attendees can take part in the meeting’s March Madness Lip Sync Competition. Teams of five will bring their best lip sync rendition of their favorite songs, and the audience will determine the winners. The grand champion team will win complimentary member registrations to the 2018 NASPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia.

**Social justice**. NASPActs will engage conference participants in encouraging a socially just community in Texas and beyond. Activities include an exhibit booth with sample letters to legislators, an Instagram photo challenge to demonstrate that NASPA celebrates diversity in all its forms, and a vigil on Tuesday evening that will shine a light on action that needs to happen across the country. A track of sessions focused on public policy and social justice will also be part of it.

The usual social spaces—[Facebook (opens in a new tab)](https://www.facebook.com/naspaFB)
, [Twitter (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/NASPAtweets)
 ([#NASPA17 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/naspa17?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash)
), and [Instagram (opens in a new tab)](https://www.instagram.com/naspapics/)
—have other details and behind-the-scenes footage.

(iStock/Thinkstock)

[Samantha Whitehorne](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/)

Samantha Whitehorne is a former editorial director of Associations Now in Washington, DC.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/)

Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/)
 [#campus police](https://associationsnow.com/tag/campus-police/)
 [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/)
 [#social justice](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-justice/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/)
- [VideoASAE Legislative 2025 Fly-InApril 4, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/04/asae-legislative-2025-fly-in/)
- [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/)
- [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2017%2F03%2F03%2Fconference-circuit-higher-learning%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!