The 2025 Conference on Higher Education Values, Identity, Belonging, and Purpose Drive-In is a one-day, in-person event at UMKC. It will feature a keynote speaker, interactive breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, along with a continental breakfast and box lunch. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions on values, identity, belonging, and purpose in higher education.
By attending this conference, attendees will:
This in-person conference is an extension of the virtual conference, with goals to expand the community-building established in the virtual conference events over the last three years. It continues a tradition of transformative leadership focused on belonging, values, identity, and purpose in higher education.
Conference topics will be of interest to all Higher Education and Student Affairs professionals, as well as faculty and graduate students across disciplines.
Register based on your institutional role.
Rates are as follows:
Hosted by the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), the 2025 Drive-In Conference will take place at UMKC’s Education Building. Attendees will choose from six breakout sessions and hear from a keynote speaker (to be announced), focusing on scholarship and practices that foster identity, belonging, values, and purpose in higher education.
The event includes informal networking and community-building opportunities. Parking, continental breakfast, and lunch will be provided.
The 2025 Drive-In Conference explores values, identity, belonging, and purpose in higher education. In today’s academic landscape, professionals must clarify their values and purpose, understand their identities, and strengthen their sense of belonging to better support students, colleagues, and communities.
This event offers space for reflection, discussion, and engagement with like-minded professionals.
This year's drive-in event will kick-off with a keynote address from Dr. Christy Craft, Professor of Special Education, Counseling and Student Affairs, Coordinator of the Student Affairs graduate programs, and Graduate Coordinator for the School of Education at Kansas State University. Dr. Craft has a background in both administrative and faculty roles across the country including at the University of Arizona, University of Texas-El Paso, and right here at University of Missouri-Kansas City, before joining K-State in 2005. She currently teaches master's and doctoral level courses in higher education, student affairs, and academic advising.
Dr. Craft brings her expertise in spirituality, religion, and meaning-making in higher education to the conference, alongside her experience and deep research on topics related to legal guidelines for students, staff, and faculty related to religious expression on campus. Dr. Craft's research focuses on Christian students in particular, but extends to the ways that colleges and universities can create safe environments for religious expression for all students. For more information about Dr. Craft's professional and personal background, check out her detailed bio.
- School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri - Kansas City
Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership, Educational Leadership, Research and Technology - Western Michigan University
