Vocation, Higher Education, and the Future: Imagining Possibilities, Cultivating Practices
Host Institution: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Dates: Thursday to Saturday, March 11-13, 2027
Location: Farrell Hall, Wake Forest University School of Business
About the Event
Join the 2027 NetVUE Regional Gathering at Wake Forest University for the official book launch of the forthcoming volume, Vocation, Higher Education, and the Future: Imagining Possibilities, Cultivating Practices (Oxford University Press). As a member of NetVUE for over 20 years, Wake Forest is uniquely positioned to host this gathering centered around the alignment of vocation, career, character, and leadership within the student experience.
Participants will explore how higher education institutions, faculty members, staff, and students can cultivate vocational practice—individually and corporately—amid a changing future. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage deeply with the book’s contributors, discover “future-ready” innovative practices for vocational discernment, and meet Wake Forest’s leadership team.
Strategic Goals for the Gathering:
- Book Launch: Feature contributors to the new volume to facilitate deep engagement with key concepts.
- Innovation Showcase: Highlight innovative models and practices for vocational discernment that are future-ready.
- Inspiring Leadership: Hear from Wake Forest’s new President and Provost, highlighting their vision for meaningful work and character as mission-critical elements educating for vocation.
Registration Information
| Registration Type | Details / Fee Tier |
|---|---|
| NetVUE Member (full rate, including two-night lodging): | $100 |
| NetVUE Member (day rate, no lodging) | $50 |
| Non-member (full rate, including two-night lodging): | $400 |
| Non-member (day rate, no lodging): | $100 |
Registration Deadline: February 6, 2027
Schedule of Events
- 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Conference Check-in (Farrell Hall)
- 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Reception, Welcome, and Dinner (Farrell Hall)
- 5:30 PM: Doors and Reception open
- Opening Remarks: David Cunningham, Executive Director of NetVUE
- 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM: Conference Check-in and Breakfast
- 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Andy Chan (Vice President of Personal and Career Development, Wake Forest University)
- Erin VanLaningham (Editor; Director of Project Development, NetVUE; Professor of English, Loras College)
- 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM: Session 1: Fear and the Future
- Speakers: Lauren Kuykendall, Justin Klassen, Meghan Winchell
- Moderator: Richard Sévère
- Themes: Technology and cultural disruption, vocational despair, student/faculty emotional impacts, meaningful work.
- 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM: Morning Break
- 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Session 2: Crises, Justice, Vocation, and the Future
- Speakers: Mari Elise Ewing, Richard Meagher, Brandi Simpson
- Moderator: Stephenie Chadouir
- Themes: Climate change, justice, politics, advocacy, civic engagement, access, belonging.
- 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM: Session 3: Lunch & NetVUE Presentation
- Rachael Baker (Director of NetVUE Professional Development) and David Cunningham (Executive Director of NetVUE)
- 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Session 4: Panel – Cross-Campus Partnerships for Career and Life Readiness
- TED-style talk: Andy Chan (“More than a Job: Connecting Career and Vocation in Higher Education”)
- Moderator & Presenter: Heidi Robinson (AVP OPCD)
- Panelists: Nate French (First in the Forest), others TBD
- 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Afternoon Break
- 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Session 5: Keynote Plenary Address
- Michael Lamb (“Leadership, Character, and Vocation across the Institution”)
- 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Free Time / Campus Walk (Maps will be provided for great spaces to relax or exercise)
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Table Talks: Day 1 Reflection, Reception, and Dinner
- Structured discussion at dinner locations exploring the day’s themes with table facilitators.
- 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM: Breakfast
- 9:30 AM – 9:35 AM: Welcome back (Andy Chan)
- 9:35 AM – 11:50 AM: Session 6: Cultivating Practices for Vocation (Interactive Rotations)
- Moderator: Cristy Guleserian
- Featured Speakers: Julia Fogg, Aron Reppmann, Courtney Kealy
- Format: Attendees sit in three designated sections while book authors rotate every 35 minutes to deliver concrete tools and facilitate a 20-minute activity and 10-minute Q&A.
- 11:50 AM – 12:10 PM: Speaker Insights and Final Advice (Central Stage Panel)
- 12:10 PM – 12:30 PM: Closing Remarks (Erin VanLaningham and Andy Chan)
- 12:30 PM: Boxed Lunches and Departure
Accommodation & Travel Information
Lodging
Participants are expected to arrange their own hotel reservations. A block of 50 rooms has been secured for conference attendees at the nearby Courtyard Marriott in Winston-Salem, NC (1.5 mile walk or 4 min drive). Reservations must be made by February 13, 2027.
- Negotiated Rate: $129 per night.
- Reservation Method: Details on online booking links or call-in codes will be provided shortly.
- Important Reminder: While specified nights may be covered or subsidized under certain registration packages, a valid credit card will still be required upon booking to hold your room.
Travel & Transportation
All attendees are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the gathering. The closest commercial airport is Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), located approximately 30 minutes from campus. Alternative options include Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU), both between a 1.5 and 2 hour drive from Wake Forest University. All attendees are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the gathering.