2026 GBSSA Annual Conference Schedule Waves of Innovation: The Science of Student Success | ||||
This live document will continue to be the most up-to-date schedule and is subject to change. Connect to UC San Diego Guest WiFi | ||||
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | ||||
Recommended Dress: Business Casual | ||||
Time (MST) | Session | Location | ||
9:00 AM | Board Meeting | |||
3:00 PM | Hotel Check-in | Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines (Book your hotel accommodations here) 10950 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037 | ||
4:30 PM | Conference Check-in | Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Lobby | ||
6:00 PM | Welcome Reception | 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
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Thursday, October 22, 2026 | ||||
Recommended Dress: Business Casual to Business Formal | ||||
Time (MST) | Session | Location & Presenter | ||
8:20 AM | Optional Walking Group to Rady School of Management | Meet in Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Lobby:
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9:00 AM | Breakfast | Rady School of Management - Otterson Hall 1S116 (MPR1) | ||
10:00 AM | Location: 2S117 Otterson Hall (MPR2) Welcome: Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs Jon Masciana Keynote Intro: Assistant Dean, Strategy and External Relations Wendy Hunter Barker Keynote Address: Your Mind Isn't Fixed. Neither Is Your Impact. Presented by: Parish D. Jefferson, Ph.D, Human Potential Translator, Author | |||
11:15 AM | Break | |||
11:30 AM | Session Name | Location | Presenter(s) | School |
Stop the Scroll: How Short-Form Video Drives Student Leadership and Engagement | 2S117 Otterson Hall | Joey Maman | University of Illinois - Chicago Liautaud Graduate School | |
Building an International Student Support Ecosystem Through Collaboration, Clarity, and Community | 5W110 Wells Fargo Rady Sky Pavilion | Amber Hanna Michelle Kim | UC San Diego Rady School of Management Santa Clara University Leavy School of Business | |
12:30 PM | Lunch | Rady School of Management - Otterson Hall 1S116 (MPR1) | ||
1:30 PM | Session Name | Location | Presenter(s) | School |
Managing Up, Down, & Across: The Middle Level Leader's Playbook | 2S117 Otterson | Sijie Yao Lydia Supplee Alysson Biermaier | University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business University of Colorado Leeds School of Business | |
5W110 Wells Fargo Rady Sky Pavilion | Judith Hernandez | University of Illinois - Chicago Liautaud Graduate School | ||
2:30 PM | Break | |||
2:45 PM | Session Name | Location | Presenter(s) | School |
2S117 Otterson | Amanda Miller Evan Matson | University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management | ||
The Wayfinder's Compass: Using Data to Direct Student Programming | 5W110 Wells Fargo Rady Sky Pavilion | Talia Moore Eunice Shin | MIT Sloan School of Management | |
3:45 PM | Break | |||
4:00 PM | Campus Tour - Meet outside 2S117 Otterson Hall (MPR 2) | |||
6:00 PM | Social and Networking Dinner | Location: Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Parterre Garden | ||
Friday, October 23, 2026 | ||||
Recommended Dress: School Spirit Casual or Business Casual | ||||
Time (MST) | Session | Location & Presenter | ||
8:30 AM | Breakfast | Rady School of Management - Otterson Hall 1S116 (MPR 1)
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9:30 AM | Membership Survey Presentation | 2S117 Otterson Hall | GBSSA Membership Chair | |
10:00 AM | Session Name | Location | Presenter(s) | School |
Building Connection & Growth Through Residency Day and Community Engagement | 2S117 Otterson Hall | Angela Ross Francine Bryce Andrea Burdman Ashley Prince | University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management | |
5W110 Wells Fargo Rady Sky Pavilion | Liam Dole | University at Buffalo School of Management | ||
11:00 AM | Break | |||
11:15 AM | Session Name | Location | Presenter(s) | School |
Smart Learning, Smarter Business: Responsible AI as a Catalyst for Graduate Student Success | 2S117 Otterson Hall | Shilpa Balan, Ph.D. | California State University, Los Angeles | |
Leading with Humanity: Innovative Approaches to Supporting Graduate Students During Community Crisis | 5W110 Wells Fargo Rady Sky Pavilion | Colleen Stephens | University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business | |
12:15 PM | Location: 2S117 Otterson Hall (MPR2) Closing Speech: From Insight to Action: What Did You Do With It? Presented by: Parish D. Jefferson, Ph.D, Human Potential Translator, Author Gift Cards and Prize Drawing! | |||
1:15 PM | Ending Lunch Social | Location: Ridgewalk Social (2 minute walk from Rady School of Management) Book Signing: Parish D. Jefferson, Ph.D will be signing copies of his book “Empathy Rising: A Practical Guide to Bridging Divides and Rebuilding Connection” (purchasable on Amazon in advance) | ||
Session Descriptions: Thursday, October 22 | ||||
Time (PST) | Session | Description: | ||
10:00 AM | Opening Session | Keynote Address: Your Mind Isn't Fixed. Neither Is Your Impact. Presented by: Parish D. Jefferson, Ph.D, Human Potential Translator, Author Dr. Parish Jefferson opens the conference with an interactive keynote reframing growth mindset as a disciplined practice, not a mood. Drawing on his firsthand experience inside Microsoft's culture transformation, he helps attendees identify their personal growth edge and the mental triggers that pull them toward fixed thinking, equipping them with a lens to carry into every session that follows. | ||
11:30 AM | Session Name | Description | ||
Stop the Scroll: How Short-Form Video Drives Student Leadership and Engagement | Joey Maman University of Illinois Chicago Graduate Business School In a world where students are constantly scrolling, how do you capture attention and turn it into meaningful engagement? This session explores how leveraging short-form video and podcast-style interviews with student leaders can amplify student voice, increase engagement, and strengthen leadership visibility. Participants will gain a step-by-step, replicable approach to creating, repurposing, and sharing content that resonates with students, builds connection and belonging, promotes involvement opportunities, and supports student success. | |||
Building an International Student Support Ecosystem Through Collaboration, Clarity, and Community | Amber Hanna UC San Diego Rady School of Management Michelle Kim Santa Clara University Leavy School of Business International graduate business students navigate a complex landscape that extends beyond the classroom, including immigration requirements, career preparation, communication expectations, cultural adjustment, and building a sense of connection and belonging. Supporting their success requires more than providing individual resources. It requires creating an intentional ecosystem that helps students understand, access, and engage with the support available to them. Drawing on practices from graduate business programs at Santa Clara University and UC San Diego, this interactive session will explore how institutions can build a more connected international student support experience through cross-campus collaboration, clear and accessible resources, and intentional opportunities for communication and community-building. Presenters will share practical examples of partnerships with international student services, career and experiential learning teams, faculty, and program staff, as well as initiatives designed to strengthen communication confidence, English language development, classroom and professional participation, cultural connection, and belonging. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all model, this session invites participants to examine the challenges international students face within their own programs and share strategies that have worked on their campuses. Through facilitated discussion, practical examples, and collaborative idea-sharing, attendees will leave with adaptable approaches for strengthening partnerships, reducing barriers, and creating an international student support ecosystem that promotes engagement, confidence, career readiness, and belonging. | |||
1:30 PM | Managing Up, Down, & Across: The Middle Level Leader's Playbook | Sijie Yao University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business Lydia Supplee and Alysson Biermaier University of Colorado Leeds School of Business Mid-level leaders are the bridge between institutional strategy and day-to-day execution. They supervise teams, collaborate across departments, support senior leadership, and champion the student experience—all while balancing competing priorities and navigating constant change. This interactive panel brings together experienced graduate business student services professionals to share practical strategies for leading effectively in the middle of an organization. Panelists will discuss how to build trust with supervisors, empower and develop staff, foster cross-functional partnerships, and influence decisions without relying on formal authority. Through real-world examples and candid conversations, attendees will gain actionable tools for managing complex relationships, navigating organizational challenges, and growing as confident, effective leaders. Whether you are new to management or an experienced mid-level leader preparing for your next career step, this session will provide practical insights and opportunities for reflection that you can immediately apply within your own institution. | ||
From Graduate School to Generational Wealth: The Impact of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree from The University of Illinois at Chicago on Latino Career and Financial Success | Judith Hernandez University of Illinois - Chicago Liautaud Graduate School This interactive workshop explores how graduate business schools can better support Latino students before, during, and after their MBA journey. Participants will examine common barriers to enrollment, discuss strategies for communicating the value of an MBA, and identify advising and student-success practices that help students translate educational achievement into professional and financial growth. | |||
2:45 PM | From Mass Confusion to Mass Communication: Creating an Onboarding Communications Plan That Gets Everyone Where They Need To Go | Amanda Miller and Evan Matson University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management How do you get hundreds of students across unique graduate programs to the right place and prepared to start their program? Learn how the Minnesota Carlson Graduate Programs Office transitioned from individual outreach to a consolidated communications plan to onboard hundreds of students across 12 unique graduate programs in an efficient, effective, and thoughtful way. We will review the development of our communications plan, what we’ve learned, and what we would have done differently along the way. | ||
The Wayfinder's Compass: Using Data to Direct Student Programming | Talia Moore and Eunice Shin MIT Sloan School of Management What happens when you let the data lead? In this session, the Student Life Office at MIT Sloan shares how a comprehensive mixed-methods data initiative -- combining quantitative event metrics, qualitative community insights through community engagement, and AI-powered analysis sparked a shift in their programming framework. Learn how we are moving from volume to intention: hosting fewer events with greater purpose, reimagining our mission around community, and building sustainable systems to keep data at the center of our work. You’ll walk away with practical, replicable strategies for turning student insights into meaningful action at your own institution. | |||
Session Descriptions: Friday, October 23 | ||||
Time (PST) | Session | Description: | ||
10:00 AM | Building Connection & Growth Through Residency Day and Community Engagement | Angela Ross and Francine Bryce University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business Andrea Burdman and Ashley Prince University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management Working professional graduate business students are busy balancing work, life and online coursework while also seeking connection and networking opportunities. This session will highlight two approaches, at two institutions: an Annual Residency Day and a creative approach to develop outside-of-class, community-based engagement opportunities for students. | ||
Making the Invisible Visible: Strategies to Address the Hidden Curriculum for Online Graduate Students | Liam Dole University at Buffalo School of Management This session introduces the hidden curriculum as a critical lens for understanding the experiences of online graduate students and examines how unspoken expectations can impede student progress—particularly during the earliest stages of a program. Drawing on retention and withdrawal data from UB’s Online MBA program, this presentation highlights a key insight: a significant proportion of student attrition occurs during or immediately following the first semester, suggesting that early encounters with the hidden curriculum may disrupt student momentum. Through a presentation and a facilitated small-group activity, attendees will identify hidden curriculum barriers within their own institutional contexts and develop actionable strategies to address them. Participants will leave with tools and frameworks to better support online graduate students, improve engagement, and strengthen retention outcomes. | |||
11:15 AM | Smart Learning, Smarter Business: Responsible AI as a Catalyst for Graduate Student Success | Shilpa Balan, Ph.D. California State University, Los Angeles, College of Business and Economics Graduate business students are preparing for workplaces where AI literacy and responsible AI use are becoming increasingly important. They are also using AI to navigate their academic and professional experiences from understanding complex information and preparing for advising appointments to exploring career options. What does this shift mean for the professionals who support them? Participants will explore practical ways AI can serve as an advising copilot while considering the responsible-use principles. | ||
Leading with Humanity: Innovative Approaches to Supporting Graduate Students During Community Crisis | Colleen Stephens University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business When federal immigration enforcement operations took place across the Twin Cities during the winter of 2025 and 2026, many graduate business students experienced fear, uncertainty, and disruption. At the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business in downtown Minneapolis, the impact was immediate and deeply personal. International students, undocumented students, students from mixed status families, and many others questioned how they could safely continue their education. This session shares how Graduate Student Services responded by leading with compassion, consistency, and care while helping students remain connected to their academic goals. Attendees will learn practical strategies for supporting students during times of crisis, partnering with campus resources, balancing university policies with student needs, and creating a sense of stability when students and staff alike are navigating uncertainty. Participants will leave with ideas they can adapt to support student success and well-being on their own campuses. | |||
12:15 PM | Closing Session | From Insight to Action: What Did You Do With It? Presented by: Parish D. Jefferson, Ph.D, Human Potential Translator, Author Dr. Jefferson returns to close the conference by asking attendees to harvest what they actually noticed, using the growth mindset lens from Thursday's keynote. Through a hands-on reframe activity built from real moments at this conference, attendees leave with one specific, portable commitment for their institution and a leadership principle for choosing accountability over blame. | ||