13th Annual Future World Changers in the Academy National Conference

"Empower, Elevate, and Excel: Leading the Academy into the Future"

FWCA CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Join us for an unparallel professional development experience, at the 13th Annual Future World Changers of the Academy (FWCA) Conference, “Empower, Elevate, and Excel: Leading the Academy into the Future," taking place April 10–13, 2025, in Arlington, VA.

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This conference is a cornerstone event for faculty, administrators, post-docs, and graduate students in higher education, offering a focused platform for professional development and academic growth. Through engaging sessions, intentional networking, and collaborative knowledge sharing, participants will gain tools and insights to advance their careers and amplify their impact within the academy.

This year’s FWCA Conference will explore key themes such as leadership development, research excellence, career advancement, and scholar activism. Whether you are navigating the challenges of early academic roles or seeking strategies for continued success, FWCA is designed to equip you with actionable insights and a supportive community dedicated to advancing the future of higher education.

FWCA Keynote Speakers

Natalie Stites Means, JD (Lakota/Dakota)
Organizer, Social Entrepreneur, Executive Director of the COUP Council since May 2023

Gloria Ladson-Billings is Professor Emerita and formerly the Kellner Family Distinguished Professor of Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

Dr. Gloria Ladson Billings
American pedagogical theorist Professor Emerita at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

G. Cristina Mora is Associate Professor of Sociology and the Co-Director of the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley

Dr. G. Cristina Mora
Associate Professor of Sociology and the Co-Director of the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley

Dr. OiYan Poon
Associate Co-director of the College Admissions Futures Co-Laborative, and author of Asian American Is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family (2024, Beacon Press)

FWCA Leadership Panelists

Amy Sueyoshi is Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at San Francisco State University.

Dr. Amy Sueyoshi
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at San Francisco State University

Dr. La Jerne Terry Cornish is the 10th president of Ithaca College. She took office on March 7, 2022.

Dr. La Jerne Terry Cornish
The 10th president of Ithaca College in New York.

Naelys Luna, PhD, MSW Founding Dean and Professor College of Social Work and Criminal Justice FAU

Naelys Luna, PhD, MSW
Founding Dean and Professor
College of Social Work and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University

Joely Proudfit, Ph.D. (Luiseño/Payómkawichum/Tongva), is a nationally respected scholar, activist, and media maker, leading in California Indian education, equity, and representation.

Joely Proudfit, Ph.D. (Luiseño/Payómkawichum/Tongva)
Department Chair of the American Indian Studies Department and Director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center at California State University San Marcos