KIE Conference dates – July 22-24, 2025 – full Program to follow
African American Faculty Connects (AAFC) at KIE Conference: Program July 24-25, 2025, Lisbon, Portugal & Online
Day 1: Thursday, July 24, 2025
Theme: Empowering African American Faculty through Global Engagement and Innovation
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Registration & Coffee Networking
- Attendees sign in, receive materials, and engage in informal networking over coffee.
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Opening Remarks & Welcome Address
- Speaker: Representative from KIE Conference and AAFC Organizing Committee
- Overview of AAFC’s mission and goals within the global academic community.
9:30 – 10:30 AM | Roundtable Discussion: Expanding Leadership and Influence in Academia
- Topics: Preparing for roles in academic administration, department leadership, and community engagement.
- Participants: Experienced African American deans and department heads share their journeys and leadership insights.
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Coffee Break & Networking
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Panel Discussion: Navigating Career Advancement in Academia
- Panelists: Senior African American faculty from leading institutions
- Focus: Strategies for securing tenure, achieving promotion, and advancing in academic leadership.
- Q&A session to follow.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch & Informal Networking
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Workshop: Mastering Grant Writing & Publishing Success
- Facilitator: Expert in academic publishing and grant writing
- Practical insights into identifying funding opportunities, writing winning grant proposals, and improving scholarly publication outputs.
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Break
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Roundtable Discussion: Expanding Leadership and Influence in Academia
- Topics: Preparing for roles in academic administration, department leadership, and community engagement.
- Participants: Experienced African American deans and department heads share their journeys and leadership insights.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Reception & Networking Session
- Attendees connect with peers, thought leaders, and international scholars.
Day 2: Friday, July 25, 2025
Theme: Building Global Networks and Sustaining Academic Excellence
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast Networking Session
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Workshop: International Networking for African American Faculty
- Facilitator: International collaborations expert
- Practical session on forging global academic relationships, participating in international research projects, and leveraging global connections for career development.
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Panel Discussion: The Global Influence of African American Faculty in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- African American faculty discuss their roles in shaping the future of knowledge, creativity, and innovation on an international scale.
- Insights into how global collaborations can lead to new opportunities and impact.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Workshop: Advancing Leadership and Career Growth through Mentorship
- Facilitator: Mentorship expert from a leading institution
- How African American faculty can mentor the next generation, and the value of mentorship in career growth and academic success.
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Break
3:30 AM – 5:00 AM | AAFC Inaugural Lecture
- Lecture Topic: “The Enduring Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in 21st Century Education”
- Keynote Speakers: Two HBCU Presidents
- Discussion on the vital role HBCUs play in fostering innovation and leadership in education today.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Farewell Reception
- Final opportunity for participants to solidify connections and celebrate the achievements of the AAFC retreat.