RSVP for Thrive

media release: Be part of Madison College's Institute for Equity and Transformational Change (IETC) 2026 THRIVE Conference to explore strategies to strengthen retention, voice and engagement in education. 

The free April 17 event, themed “Beyond Inclusion,” will bring together educators, administrators, student services personnel, and community members to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking. 

Individuals interested in presenting should submit a proposal by Feb. 15, 2026.

Attendees may register for the conference through Friday, March 27. Learn more on the 2026 Thrive Conference webpage. 

UW-Milwaukee Assistant Professor Dr. Crystasany R. Turner will deliver the morning keynote address. As a third-generation early childhood educator, Dr. Turner has authored numerous articles and book chapters that interrogate institutionalized anti-Blackness and the systemic oppression of children and families with marginalized social identities. She is especially committed to illuminating the narratives of Black and Latina women as they care for and educate young children. 

UW-Madison Professor Emerita Gloria Ladson-Billings delivers this year’s lunch keynote address. Author of the critically acclaimed books The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children and Crossing Over to Canaan: The Journey of New Teachers in Diverse Classrooms, Ladson-Billings spent decades researching successful pedagogical practices that support African American students. 

The conference, sponsored by the IETC within the Division of Organizational Impact and Culture, will be a collaborative platform for sharing evidence-based practices, compelling narratives and practical strategies designed to foster belonging and advance equity.  

Attendees will participate in presentations and panel discussions focused on designing and implementing initiatives that significantly enhance the retention and success of underrepresented faculty, staff and students.  

See below the DRAFT schedule—

MORNING

8:15 – 9:00 • Breakfast & Networking: Poster sessions

9:00 – 9:15 • Kick-off & Welcome by Dr. Jennifer Berne & Dr. Damira Grady - Saffold

9:15 – 10:00 • Morning Keynote by Dr. Crystasany R. Turner  

10:10 – 11:00 • Breakout Sessions

11:10 – 12:00 • Breakout Sessions 

AFTERNOON

12:00 - 12:30 • Lunch 

12:30 – 1:15 • Keynote by Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings

1:25 – 2:15 • Breakout sessions

2:25 – 3:15 • Breakout sessions 

3:25 – 3:35 • Raffle Draw

3:35 – 4:00 • Final Remarks and Closing