Complete College America today announced two compelling main stage panel sessions for NEXT: The 2025 CCA Annual Convening, taking place November 17-19, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. These sessions, in addition to the previously announced keynote by Chike Aguh, bring together institutional leaders and innovators to address critical opportunities in higher education transformation.
Opening Main Stage Panel
Leading Change in the Nation’s Capital Region
Monday, November 17, 2 pm
Discover how leaders in the Baltimore-Washington corridor are shaping the agenda for change in one of America’s most densely populated regions, and how that change will affect both education and the economy. The presidents will share how they’re leveraging their proximity to federal policy, broad student populations, and economic opportunities to create new models of institutional success.
Moderator:
- Yolanda Watson Spiva, PhD, President, Complete College America
Panelists:
- Makola M. Abdullah, PhD, President, Virginia State University
- Maurice D. Edington, PhD, President, University of the District of Columbia
- Daria J. Willis, PhD, President, Howard Community College
- David K. Wilson, EdD, President, Morgan State University
Wednesday Main Stage Panel
AI as a Catalyst for Postsecondary Transformation
Wednesday, November 19, 10:15 am
For higher education, AI doesn’t need to be a threat to be managed—it can be a transformative tool that forward-thinking institutions are already using to reimagine student success, institutional efficiency, and educational delivery. Technology innovators will discuss how higher education leaders are using AI to transform everything from student advising to curriculum design, and what other systems and institutions can learn from their early adoption and innovation. The conversation will also address the imperative to prepare students for a workforce that AI is already transforming at an increasingly rapid pace.
Moderator:
- Vistasp Karbhari, PhD, CCA Board Member and Fellow; Immediate Past President, University of Texas at Arlington
Panelists:
- Stephanie Khurana, MBA, MPP, CEO, Axim Collaborative
- Tade Oyerinde, Chancellor, Campus
- Mara Woody, EdD, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Riipen
Join us for these engaging main stage sessions that will shape the future of higher education and drive the college completion movement forward.
Extended Registration Deadline
CCA has extended the regular registration deadline to October 18, giving you extra time to register at the $900 rate. After October 18, registration increases to $1,000. Register today at CompleteCollege.org/Next to be part of the conversation shaping the next era of higher education transformation.
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About Complete College America: Complete College America (CCA) builds movements for scaled change and transforms institutions. Specifically, CCA drives systemic change that leads to better college completion rates; scalable outcomes; and greater economic and social mobility, especially for historically excluded students. CCA operates at the federal, state, and institutional levels and works with its national network of forward-thinking state and higher education leaders. Since its founding in 2009, CCA and its network have introduced bold initiatives that help states and institutions implement data-driven policies, student-centered perspectives, and success-driven practices.
