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Time: 9:15 a.m.
Location: SU Theatre (201)

We all have a heart and a mind!- let's connect. Join Dr. Alexandria White as she challenges us to practice the guiding pillars of empathy, inclusion, and unity. In a time when fostering understanding and belonging is more important than ever, this keynote offers space to reflect, recharge, and reimagine how we support one another and our students.Dr. White will challenge and motivate us to lead with intention, courage, and compassion.

Whether you're a seasoned leader or emerging professional, this keynote will leave you inspired to create meaningful change in your work and across campus. Let’s move forward—together.

Discover how empathetic leadership can transform your team dynamics. In this session, we’ll explore how leading with empathy fosters deeper trust, enhances collaboration, and drives greater productivity. Learn practical strategies to understand and respond to the needs of your team, create a culture of psychological safety, and lead with emotional intelligence.

When conflict arises, it’s easy to fall into an us-versus-them mindset. But what if the person you see as the problem could become part of the solution? In this workshop, I’ll share simple strategies for transforming friction into collaboration—turning ‘them’ into ‘us’—so you can work together to craft solutions that work for everyone.

This presentation will provide an overview of proactive and in-the-moment strategies for staying emotionally regulated when responding to others who are struggling. Participants will be invited to notice their personal indicators of regulation and dysregulation, and discuss what is needed to stay within their window of tolerance to best respond to those they work with empathy.

Student Life professionals have an important role creating an inclusive environment for UB’s diverse student body. At the same time, the university must comply with new federal legal mandates regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. This presentation provides an overview of legal changes, and strategies for fulfilling UB’s mission of promoting a university-wide culture of equity and inclusion while complying with legal mandates.

The presentation will discuss the definition and goals of Inclusive Design with examples of research and projects conducted by the IDEA Center (Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access) including a case study of inclusive design in student life at Greiner Hall. 

Supervisors are in a particularly unique and critical position to role model the inclusive behaviors and practices they wish to see within their organizations. While we can identify what it means to be multiculturally aware and knowledgeable, action and skills are far more impactful and require considerable intention and practice. This session will offer participants the opportunity to reflect upon their supervision practices through the framework of the inclusive supervision model and self-assessment and develop a personal action plan.

As the largest collegiate institution in the Buffalo-Niagara area, UB is well-positioned to collaborate with local organizations in- and outside of the classroom. These relationships can offer enriching, meaningful experiences for all involved – students, staff, and community stakeholders. Learn best practices for developing, strengthening, and maintaining partnerships to foster mutually beneficial connections between campus and community.

Student activism is a constant part of campus life - and higher education professionals have a key role in fostering spaces where students feel heard, supported, and empowered. This session will highlight the work at UB around student activism support, focused on the Freedom of Assembly Support Team (FAST), protest education, and civic dialogue. Learn practical strategies for partnering with students, supporting peaceful activism, de-escalation, and strengthening campus unity through shared purpose and community engagement.

Join a dynamic panel of student leaders as they explore how collaboration and a shared sense of purpose among student life professionals can significantly enhance the student experience. Drawing from their firsthand involvement and leadership roles, panelists will offer unique insights into the power of cross-functional teamwork, inclusive dialogue, and intentional alignment between student leaders and professional staff. This session will highlight real-world examples, identify common challenges, and present actionable strategies to foster stronger partnerships across departments. Whether you're a student affairs professional, advisor, or campus leader, discover how nurturing a unified approach can amplify your collective impact and elevate campus life.

Time: 3 p.m.
Location: SU 145

Empower your students to thrive through empathy, respect, and realness. In this interactive workshop, discover actionable strategies for building authentic connections with Gen Z students. Learn how to communicate effectively across platforms and use interactive tools to boost engagement. Gain meaningful conversation starters rooted in pop culture, music, and gaming, and tips for building a “Calming Companion Toolkit” with students. You’ll leave this session equipped to foster trust, autonomy, and purpose-driven learning. 

Kim Karr equips colleges and companies to lead and learn from Gen Z. As co-founder of the nonprofit Digital4Good × #ICANHELP, she has trained over 2.4 million students and educators to become “Digital First Responders,” turning social platforms into engines for kindness and innovation. Her student-powered campaigns, backed by Google, Snapchat and New York Yankee Aaron Judge, have removed thousands of toxic accounts and replaced them with purposedriven projects for good. Kim will help you discover the playbook that turns scrolling into solving.