Mimi Benjamin and John Wesley Lowery, professors in the Student Affairs in Higher Education Program within IUP’s Student Affairs, Student Success, and Disability Access Department, both presented at the 2026 NASPA Conference in Kansas City this March. NASPA, the world’s largest student affairs professional organization, drew more than 4,300 professionals, faculty, and students to its annual conference.
Benjamin contributed to multiple aspects of the conference. She co-facilitated “Strengthening Partnerships Between Academic and Student Affairs” with Dr. Jeannette Smith, Vice President of Student Affairs at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; the session focused on collaboration between faculty and student affairs professionals to strengthen the student affairs pipeline. In addition, Benjamin served as a member of the 2026 Conference Leadership Committee.
Lowery, who serves as NASPA historian and chairs the History Advisory Board, co-presented a preconference workshop, “Navigating the Current Legal Climate: A Higher Education Case Law and Legislative Update,” with W. Scott Lewis and Matt Gregory. He also presented in two concurrent sessions: “Commissions, Caucuses, Networks, and Knowledge Communities: The Evolution of NASPA's Work on Functional Areas and Identities,” with Martha Enciso and “Ghost Stories and the Macabre on Campuses: Exploring Deeper Meanings and Purposes” with Chris Broadhurst, Amy French, and Carrie Kortegast. The latter presentation is based on an upcoming book, Myths, Mysteries, and the Macabre on American Campuses, to be published later this year.