By Robert Harry, NACAC member and associate director of college counseling at Kent School (CT)

Jan. 6, 2026 – “Old dog…new tricks.” You know the saying. But, in any field of work, continuous learning is critical to stay relevant in today’s rapidly changing environment. Specifically in college admission counseling, continuous learning is necessary to remain agile and nimble to serve our students and their families in the best way possible. That’s why attending, and even presenting, at professional events like NACAC Conference 2026 can be so beneficial. 

Take it from me: When I was asked to take part in a professional development project at my school, I could have furrowed my brow, shifted in my seat, and rolled my eyes.  However, I decided to take the opposite approach and lean in. As hard as it was to gear up for a year-long professional development endeavor in April (so close to the end of the academic year), leaning in was the best thing I could have done. Twelve months later, I accomplished a career goal: to present at a regional ACAC and with a bit of luck, at NACAC Conference 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.

Now, you have the opportunity to present at NACAC Conference 2026. Submit your education session proposal by March 16 for consideration. 

I knew I wanted to present on how to guide students who have diagnosed learning differences through the college application process, but before I could write the proposal, I had to gather my team. I knew the list of thought partners that could potentially join me on this journey had to possess deep knowledge and come from a variety of backgrounds and contexts. One of my first lessons in this journey was that experts are all around us. I didn’t have to look far for my first team member, as a high school colleague worked at a school that specialized in supporting students with learning differences. That connection led to two others with college admission experience who provided perspective from “across the desk.” Our team felt balanced (two college counselors and two admission officers), and when you added our different geographic contexts (Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Tennessee) as well as institution types (boarding schools, a small liberal arts college, and a medium-sized research university), I could hear the faint echo of, “we’re off to see the wizard!” emanating from my computer screen.

Over the next several months, our team met over Zoom to discuss concepts, ask questions of ourselves, navigate frameworks, propose outlines, and bring back research from our campus partners that we could share, prioritize, and develop into topics for further discussion. We found it incredibly helpful to set goals that kept each other accountable. When it came to writing the proposal, we were mutually supportive and consistently curious about how we were shaping our topic while remaining true to our original mission of helping students with diagnosed learning differences navigate the college application and admission process.

With hard work, we were proud to have been selected to present at NACAC Conference 2025. Because this was such an impactful professional development experience for me, I wanted to share some tips to help you submit the next great education session for NACAC Conference 2026.

  • Tip #1: Education sessions should be a collaborative conversation, so frame it as such. What do you want to share with your colleagues? What do you hope to get in response? How can this discussion propel your professional practice?
  • Tip #2: Be vulnerable. It’s perfectly fine to explore a topic that you don’t know that much about. We’re all working to stay abreast of the ever-changing higher education landscape, and tapping into the hive mind of colleagues can be an incredible learning experience.
  • Tip #3: Build your team with depth and breadth. Our individual stories and lived experiences are our collective superpowers, and when you combine that with our professional reach and the work we do every day, any vision can become a reality.
  • Tip #4: Be inclusive. Anticipate concerns from other institutional contexts and perspectives and prepare to address those concerns in your session. This can help your education session proposal be as wide as it is deep.
  • Tip #5: Structure is everything, and details elevate your message. When writing the proposal, every word counts, so try to make it inviting. Also, be sure to explain what specific tools, advice, or frameworks the audience will gain from attending your session.

Remember: Presenting at NACAC Conference 2026 can be a powerful professional development experience. I look forward to attending as many education sessions as I can in Minneapolis, Minnesota in October!