Generative AI, precedent-resetting Supreme Court decisions, soaring selectivity - the landscape continues to shift beneath our feet as educators. How do we ensure we stay informed and in a position to support students? Join industry leaders as we aim to find opportunity in the uncertainty, guiding our communities through new frontiers.
The most meaningful educational experiences are those in which students cultivate and pursue their genuine academic interests. But the prevailing pre-collegiate co-curricular environment all too often conditions students to seek “pay-to-play”, transactional resume building instead. Frank Bruni, long-time New York Times journalist and columnist, Duke University professor, and author of Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania will help students, counselors, and parents recognize and embrace the critical connection between a student’s authentic self - their interests, goals, and aspirations - and their definition - and experience - of success.
Frank Bruni
Renowned Journalist, Author, and Professor
Students rely on schooling to learn vital skills. Out-of-school activities help form characters. AI technology, quantum computing, political polarity… The future of the world is filled with uncertainties. What skills will tomorrow's world demand? How can we prepare teens to prepare for the future?
Dr. Sascha L. Goluboff
Director of the Office
of Community-Based Learning
Professor of Cultural Anthropology
Washington & Lee University
Bruce G. Hammond
Vice Principal
Tsinglan School
Engage with various highly-respected academic programs in our e-exhibit hall
This list participating programs will grow in the process of confirmation:
Introduce yourself to representatives from colleges and universities on the list, and perhaps add some new ones! An exciting array of institutions will be in attendance, including:
Navigating the maze of academic programs can be daunting, but selecting the right opportunities is crucial for maximizing potential. The panel of AO and educators will explore the keys on how to choose the best academic opportunities.
Adam Sapp
Assistant Vice President
Director of Admissions
Pomona College
Chris LaTempa
Director of College Counseling
Moorestown Friends School
Gregory Manne
Senior Manager, Selection and Global Outreach
RISE
The Small-Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network is a consortium of 16 colleges and universities dedicated to working together to help students from small-town and rural America enroll in, succeed at, and graduate from college. Through STARS, students from small-town and rural high schools can learn about a wide variety of free on-campus programs, such as fly-ins, drive-ins, and bridge programs, hosted by STARS member schools, participate in a virtual webinar series with monthly panels focusing on different college admissions topics, earn college-level credit through curated math curriculum on Khan Academy and Schoolhouse, and more!
Marjorie Betley
Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Executive Director of the STARS College Network
The University of Chicago
Drew Goodwin
Senior Assistant Director Of Admissions
Colby College
Melissa Rodriguez
Admissions Counselor
California Institute of Technology
Researchers have been studying talent development, achievement, and expertise for decades and the findings are both relevant and beneficial for students preparing for high school, college, and career. In this session learn what has been discovered about how our abilities develop and the important role that non-cognitive skills (e.g., self-reflection, goal setting, executive functioning, motivation) play.
Susan Corwith
Director, Center for Talent Development
Northwestern University
Brian Cooper
Director of Academic R&D
Pioneer Academics
Why is conducting the type of rigorous learning process so valuable for high school students? Michael Parkin of Oberlin College & Conservatory and Kelly Mu of Rural Debate Initiative will talk about what is key to transformational learning experience.
Michael Parkin
Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Erwin N. Griswold Professor of Politics
Oberlin College
Kelly Mu
Co-Founder and President
Rural Debate Initiative
Leaderboard Announcement, Q&As and Closing Remarks
Currently there is no single forum for educators, parents, and students to engage with distinguished academic programs. Recognizing this lack of connection, Pioneer leverages our reputation and invites the most rigorous, values-based programs together for the 2nd Annual Pioneer Academics Co-Curricular Summit, allowing you and your students to engage directly with these organizations.