Jax State Honors College Brings Statewide Leaders Together for Inaugural Administrative Conference

07/07/2026

Conference establishes new forum for collaboration among honors programs across Alabama and the region.

Jacksonville State University's Honors College recently welcomed honors administrators from across Alabama and the Southeast for the inaugural Honors Administrative Conference. The event created a new opportunity for honors programs across the state and region to gather, collaborate, and discuss the current state of honors programs and best practices moving forward. 

Held June 24 at Houston Cole Library, the one-day conference brought together 30 honors professionals representing 14 universities, including 11 institutions from Alabama. The event focused on the current landscape of honors education and provided participants with opportunities to discuss challenges, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships that benefit honors students across the region. 

The conference grew from an idea developed by Jax State Honors during the fall of 2025. After surveying honors programs to determine whether there was interest in bringing programs together, Jax State was encouraged by the positive response from public universities across Alabama and moved forward with plans for a summer conference. Organizers developed the conference agenda using suggestions, concerns, and challenges submitted by honors programs throughout the state. 

"This conference grew out of conversations with colleagues who were looking for more opportunities to connect and learn from one another," said Dr. Lori Owens, dean of Honors. "Honors programs often face many of the same opportunities and challenges, and bringing everyone together created an environment where meaningful ideas and practical solutions could be shared. We were encouraged by the enthusiasm of the participants and look forward to building on these relationships in the years ahead." 

Because the 2026 conference marked the first meeting of statewide honors leaders and staff, organizers structured the day around interactive roundtable discussions designed to encourage conversation and collaboration. Topics included honors curriculum, student experience and engagement, student success, retention, and recognition, as well as recruitment, advising, and alumni relations. The format also allowed participants to continue conversations one-on-one throughout the day with colleagues facing similar challenges. 

Owens thanked Honors program coordinator Sarah Faulkner and administrative associate Heather Stephens for their dedication in assisting with the conference. She also recognized Honors students Nate Adams, Cole Bridges, Maisy Gilchrist, and Ansley Pope for assisting with the conference and offering their insights from the student perspective. 

According to post-conference evaluations, attendees expressed a strong desire to continue the dialogue established during the event. As a result, the Jax State Honors College plans to host the conference on a biennial basis. 

Owens said the strong attendance reflected both the need for honors programs to connect and share ideas and the conference's affordable registration, noting that many regional and national conferences have become cost-prohibitive because of budget constraints.