Annual Meeting

The AICUP annual meeting is Pennsylvania’s largest gathering for higher education leadership. Held in Harrisburg near the State Capitol, AICUP brings together luminaries, legislators, and member presidents to deep-dive and discuss innovation and policy. Together, we work to create positive outcomes and opportunities for more than a quarter of a million students.

The 2026 conference is held March 23-24 and is by invitation only.

Monday, March 23, 2026

9:00 am - 11:30 am AICUP Board of Directors Meeting

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Luncheon

Welcome: Douglas Lee, Chair, AICUP Board, President, Waynesburg University

Prayer: Glynis Fitzgerald, President, Alvernia University

Introduction: Tom Foley, President, AICUP

Guest Speaker: Bob Atkins, “The Tumultuous Twenties, Myths and Realities.” Atkins is the founder of Gray Decision Intelligence, and he spoke at the Inside Higher Ed US Universities Summit in 2025.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Panel: Higher Education & Workforce Development

Moderator: Elizabeth Meade, Vice Chair, AICUP, President, Cedar Crest College

Panelists: Elizabeth Rider, President, Elizabethtown College; Thomas Burns, President, York College of Pennsylvania; Luke Bernstein, President, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry; Tom Foley, Former PA Secretary of Labor & Industry

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Panel: A.I. Campus Challenges & Opportunities

Moderator: David Shribman, Pulitzer Prize winning former chief editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Panelists: Christina Clark, President, La Roche University; Chris Domes, President, Neumann University; Joseph Helble, President, Lehigh University; Bob Atkins, Founder, Gray Decision Intelligence

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm Break

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm SBHE Update

Cheryl McConnell, AICUP Representative to State Board of Higher Education (SBHE), President, Saint Joseph’s University

AICUP staff on SBHE issues

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm AICUP Membership Meeting

2025-2026 Finance Report: Chris Domes, President, Neumann University

2026-2027 AICUP Leadership Report: Douglas Lee, AICUP Chair and President, Waynesburg University; Elizabeth Meade, AICUP Vice Chair and President, Cedar Crest College

State of AICUP

AICUP VP Reports

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Reception

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Welcome: Tom Foley, President, AICUP

Prayer: Kathy B. Richardson, President, Westminster College.

Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement: Senator Scott Martin, Senator Vincent Hughes

Franklin Medals Presented by Tom Foley and Father Paul Taylor, AICUP Government Relations Chair, President, Saint Vincent College

Francis J. Michelini Award for Outstanding Service to Higher Education: Kent Trachte, former president, Lycoming College

Michelini Award Presented by Chair Lee and Vice Chair Meade

Robert P. Casey Medal for Distinguished Achievement: The Hamilton Family

Casey Medal Presented by Wesley Fugate, President, Wilson College

Passing of the Gavel: Douglas Lee to Elizabeth Meade

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

8:00 am - 8:30 am Breakfast

8:30 am - 9:30 am State Update

Member Introduction: Father Peter Donohue, President, Villanova University

Speaker: Representative Matthew Bradford, Majority Leader of the PA House of Representatives

9:30 am - 9:45 am Break

Place session information here.

9:45 am - 10:45 am Federal Update

Speakers: Tim Powers, Vice President for Government Relations and Policy Development, NAICU; Suzanne Stokes Vieth, Director of State Relations and Outreach, NAICU

Moderator: Tom Foley

Panel: Elizabeth Rider; Father Paul Taylor; Jonathan Peri, President, Manor College; Nichole Duffy

10:45 am - 12:15 pm What Keeps You Up at Night and What Gets You Up in the Morning?

Moderator: James Troha, former Chair AICUP, President, Juniata College

12:15 pm Lunch

(Boxed lunches available for all attendees).

12:30 pm AICUP Presidents Day on the Hill

Maps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg

House and Senate member directories.

Housekeeping and Helpful Resources

WiFi

Free wireless internet access is available. For the WiFi password, please refer to your printed handout or ask the AICUP staff.

Parking

Walnut Street Garage (breezeway connected to event center): 215 Walnut St, Harrisburg, PA 17101

Facility map linked here.

Payments are based on license plates. The hotel can still provide a discount on the parking fee. You will need to provide the front desk with your license plate number. It is highly recommend taking a picture of the license plate. If the license plate is not properly provided, guests will be charged the full amount, as it will not “reread” the license plate to update the information. Here is a more detailed parking information sheet. Linked here is a more detailed parking information sheet.