JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State University’s Honors College recently hosted the inaugural Honors Administrative Conference, bringing together honors administrators from across Alabama and the Southeast to discuss collaboration, shared challenges, and the future of honors education.
Held June 24 at Houston Cole Library, the one-day conference welcomed 30 honors professionals representing 14 universities, including 11 institutions from Alabama. The event provided a forum for participants to exchange ideas, discuss current trends in honors education, and strengthen partnerships that support honors students throughout the region.
The conference originated from discussions among Jax State Honors leaders during the fall of 2025. After surveying honors programs across Alabama to gauge interest in a statewide gathering, organizers received strong support from public universities and began planning the event. Conference sessions were developed using feedback from participating institutions, focusing on topics and challenges identified by honors administrators.
“This conference grew out of conversations with colleagues who were looking for more opportunities to connect and learn from one another,” said Dr. Lori Owens, dean of Honors. “Honors programs often face many of the same opportunities and challenges, and bringing everyone together created an environment where meaningful ideas and practical solutions could be shared. We were encouraged by the enthusiasm of the participants and look forward to building on these relationships in the years ahead.”
As the first gathering of its kind for honors leaders and staff in the state, the conference emphasized interactive roundtable discussions. Participants explored topics including honors curriculum, student engagement, student success and retention, recruitment, advising, alumni relations, and student recognition. The format also encouraged informal networking and conversations among professionals facing similar opportunities and challenges.
Owens recognized Honors program coordinator Sarah Faulkner and administrative associate Heather Stephens for their work in organizing the conference. She also thanked Honors students Nate Adams, Cole Bridges, Maisy Gilchrist, and Ansley Pope for assisting with the event and providing student perspectives throughout the day.
Post-conference evaluations indicated strong interest in continuing the collaboration established during the event. In response, the Jacksonville State University Honors College plans to host the Honors Administrative Conference every two years.
Owens said the conference’s strong attendance highlighted both the demand for greater collaboration among honors programs and the importance of providing an affordable professional development opportunity as many regional and national conferences have become increasingly expensive because of budget constraints.
