2026 Associate Professor Conference
Elevate your academic career path at the 2026 Conference for Associate Professors. Designed specifically for advanced assistant professors and term/tenured associate professors, this year’s conference centers on "Designing Mid-Career Trajectories in a Changing Academy." Attendees will engage with an expert keynote address, targeted professional development conversations, and valuable peer networking. Discover strategic insights and practical tools to purposefully navigate mid-career transitions and foster long-term professional fulfillment.
Designing Mid-Career Trajectories in a Changing Academy
Friday, September 18, 2026 | 8:30am-12:00pm
Conference Keynote
"Reimagining Your Career During Times of Change in Higher Education"
Ann E. Austin, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor Emerita
Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Learning
Michigan State University (MSU)
Dr. Ann Austin is a nationally recognized expert in faculty development, organizational change in higher education, academic work, and careers. She is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Austin is a former Interim Vice Provost and Assistant Provost Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs at MSU. Learn more about Dr. Austin >>
8:30-9:00am
Check in and Breakfast
9:00-9:15am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Kathleen Rudasill, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Lisa Abrams, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
9:15-10:30am
Keynote: Reimagining Your Career During Times of Change in Higher Education
Ann E. Austin, University Distinguished Professor Emerita, Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Learning, Michigan State University
10:30-10:40am
Break
10:40-11:25am
Chart Your Next Chapter: Interactive Roundtable Discussions
Navigating the transition beyond promotion often requires stepping back to reflect, recalibrate, and deliberately design what comes next. Join us for a dynamic, interactive roundtable session designed to give you space for candid conversation, peer learning, and strategic career planning. Whether you are looking to revitalize your teaching, pivot your research agenda, navigate leadership roles, or simply rediscover joy and balance in your daily academic life, these facilitated conversations offer actionable strategies and fresh perspectives to shape your career trajectory.
11:25-11:45am
Gathering Insights: Collective Strategies and Next Steps for Mid-Career Trajectories
Following our roundtable discussions, this plenary session brings the room together to synthesize key takeaways, surface shared patterns, and build a collective roadmap for navigating the mid-career landscape. This interactive debrief goes beyond reporting and is designed to help you cross-pollinate ideas across disciplines, discover unexpected connections, and walk away with a broader toolkit of concrete strategies for your own trajectory.
11:45am-12:00pm
Closing Remarks by Dr. Ann Austin