NISTS conference set for online, Portland

The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) will hold both in-person and online options for its annual conference for the second year in a row. NISTS will host the virtual event Feb. 1-3 and the in-person conference Feb. 21-23 in Portland, Oregon. Registration is available on the NISTS website.

This year's theme for the conference that brings together transfer professionals is "Be a Connector for Transfer Student Success."

Keynote speakers for the virtual conference are:

• Dr. Christine Ortiz, founder of Equity Meets Design
• Dr. Gregory Washington, George Mason University president

Keynote speakers for the in-person event are:

• Dr. Liza Talusan, educator, speaker, leader, writer, and leadership coach
• Stephen Rayfield, learning and education director of Creative Reaction Lab

These speakers will help conference participants explore three distinct aspects of the connector role:

• Providing direct and easy access to the resources and services students need to navigate the transfer transition.
• Forming authentic relationships with students so that they feel uniquely seen, heard and cared for.
• Partnering with others to create a network of integrated and comprehensive transfer support.

"The ability to form strong connections to information and people is crucial to all aspects of transfer work," Emily Kittrell, NISTS assistant director, said. "We're huge fans of this year's speakers and are thrilled they can help us unpack this important concept and practice new skills for serving students better."

Ortiz is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for innovation through equity-centered design. She has launched K-12 microschools, consulted for schools in the U.S. and internationally, coached entrepreneurs, coordinated a national competition for innovative school models, and designed and taught graduate-level courses at the Stanford d.School and Harvard University. Her current venture is Equity Meets Design, a think/do tank merging the consciousness of equity work with the power of design methodologies.

Washington launched his George Mason presidency in July 2020 with a series of initiatives aimed at research, innovation and academic and entrepreneurial pathways for all Virginians, including the Mason Virginia Promise. He also opened or broke ground on academic facilities on all three campuses across the university's 847 acres, and he established a task force to ensure fairness in university practices and policies.

With more than 25 years of experience in pre-K-20 education, Talusan is an engaging facilitator in conversations about diversity, anti-racism, bias, privilege, and power and creating environments that allow people to discuss these difficult topics openly. Through her direct work with organizational leaders, staff, students, teachers, and communities, she empowers individuals to create a more inclusive organization, environment, community, and team.

Rayfield has previous professional experience as a teacher, a professional learning designer, a trainer and consultant, and a school leader. His current organization, Creative Reaction Lab, uses Equity-Centered Community Design in their mission to educate, train, and challenge Black and Latinx youth to become leaders in designing healthy and racially equitable communities.

UNG President Bonita Jacobs founded NISTS in 2002 in response to a lack of professional development opportunities and research literature focused specifically on transfer students. The institute is based on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

Kittrell said having virtual and in-person options is important to NISTS.

“Everyone's voice is valuable to the conversation on transfer," she said. "Many institutional and personal factors continue to influence conference travel, so we are committed to helping folks access the sessions and other transfer professionals in the way that works best for them."

The 2024 NISTS Conference will be held in St. Louis, and the 2025 event will return to Portland.