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2026 Benchmarking Conference - Keynote & Special Session Speakers
June 9-11, 2026
Keynote Speakers
YouTube videos of Keynote Speakers
Chancellor Juan Salgado: title
Christine Keller, Ph.D.: title
Linli Zhou, Ph.D.: title
Special Session Speakers
YouTube videos of Special Session Speakers
Haley Hanson, J.D.: title
Mickey McCloud, Ph.D.: title
Tuesday, June 9, 3:45 - 5:00 PM - RC 101 C/D
Wednesday, June 10, 8:30 - 9:45 AM - RC 101 C/D
Workforce Outcomes in a New Policy Moment: Opportunity, Risk, and Institutional Strategy
Community colleges have long been leaders in workforce education, closely aligned with regional labor markets and committed to economic mobility. As federal attention increasingly turns toward post-completion and earnings-based outcomes, institutions face both opportunity and risk: greater visibility into workforce value alongside new pressures around how that value is defined and measured. This keynote will explore how community colleges can use benchmarking and outcomes data strategically—not simply to respond to accountability demands—by examining where earnings metrics are useful, where they fall short, and how data professionals can apply benchmarking with local context to support decision-making and responsibly advance the workforce mission.
Thursday, June 11, 8:30 - 9:45 AM - RC 101 C/D
Data is the New Oil: The Future of AI, Ethics, and Institutional Research
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing at unprecedented speed, reshaping higher education through predictive models, generative tools, and data-driven decision-making. Yet the mantra that “data is the new oil” underscores both AI’s promise and its risks: flawed or siloed data, misinformation, bias, and limited interpretability. This session addresses the urgent need to balance technical innovation with ethical responsibility. It will trace AI’s evolution, examine challenges of data quality and governance, and present frameworks that promote fairness, transparency, and explainability in institutional research practice.
Special Session Speakers
Wednesday June 10, 10:55 - 11:45 AM - RC 101 C/D
Policy, Compliance, and Risk: What Federal Shifts Mean for Community Colleges
Hayley Hanson, Partner at Husch Blackwell and nationally recognized leader in education law, brings more than 20 years of legal expertise supporting colleges and universities through today's most complex legal landscapes. As a trusted advisor to public and private institutions, she guides clients through compliance, governance, and campus operational challenges. In this session, Hayley will explore the implications of recent and proposed federal policy changes, offering practical insights into what these shifts mean for community colleges, how to anticipate compliance risks, and how legal strategy can support institutional effectiveness and student-centered outcomes. This session is relevant for all higher education leaders, staff, and faculty, as we all share in navigating today's evolving regulatory pressures.
Thursday June 11, 1:00 - 1:50 PM - RC 101 C/D
Lights, Camera, Data: Leveraging Narrative for Change in Higher Ed
Leadership is not a destination; it's a journey shaped by every classroom taught, every program launched, and every decision made. Dr. McCloud shares his candid insights from a career that spans teaching high school English to leading academic affairs at one of the nation's top community colleges. Through stories, lessons, and practical advice, this session will inspire current and aspiring leaders to embrace opportunity, navigate change, and lead with authenticity. Special focus will be given to how data-informed decision-making, relationship-building, and resilience shape sustainable leadership in higher education.
Questions? Contact Michelle Taylor at michelletaylor@jccc.edu or 913-469-3831
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