2025 NASPA Region IV-West Conference
Regional Annual Conferences Region IV-W
October 5 - October 7, 2025 St. Louis, MO
The NASPA Region IV-W Conference will be held at The Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center located on the Washington University in St. Louis campus from October 5-7, 2025. We hope to see you there!
Presented By
About
Gateway to Passion, Values, & Connections in Student Affairs
Join us on the WashU campus in St. Louis for a conference designed with intention and heart. Gateway to Passion, Values, & Connections in Student Affairs isn’t just a title; it’s the core of what we’re building together. Each session is organized around one of the conference’s central themes, creating a clear throughline that connects the day’s conversations and builds momentum.
Every session will explore the values that shape our work, the passion that fuels it, and the connections that keep us going. Expect real talk, practical takeaways, and space to reflect, collaborate, and recharge.
Come ready to think, share, and grow alongside others committed to making a meaningful impact in student affairs.
Sponsors
Thank you to our 2025 Region IV-West Conference Sponsors!
Registration
| Rates |
Members |
All-Non Members |
Member UG/ |
|
| Advanced | Before August 15 | $325 | $600 | $225 |
| Early | Before September 1 | $350 | $600 | $225 |
| Regular | Before September 15 | $400 | $600 | $225 |
| Late | On or after September 16 | $475 | $600 | $300 |
| One Day Rate at the Conference | $250 | $300 | $300 |
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Your registration rate depends on your NASPA membership status at the time of the event. If your membership will expire before the event, you can renew it during registration to keep the member rate. For a comprehensive listing of NASPA registration polices, please visit this page.
Not a member? Visit the NASPA membership website to learn about membership options and benefits.
Funding Assistance
If you're facing financial hardship, you may be eligible for a NASPA Foundation Membership Scholarship to help with costs.
To help more members attend, Region IV-West is offering travel grants for those with financial need.
The application asks for basic personal and professional information, travel details and the grant amount requested, and a short reflection on your experience and engagement as a IV-West member.
For access to the travel grant application, please visit the IV-West Information Hub website.
The application deadline is August 18, 2025.
Awards
The 2025 Region IV-West Award Nominations Portal is NOW OPEN!
Shine a light on the people and programs transforming student affairs across Region IV-West — click here to submit a nomination.
Call for Nominations Deadline: August 15th, 2025 at 11:59 PM (CT)
View NASPA IV-West Award Descriptions
Schedule at a Glance
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Emerging Professional Institute - Danforth University Center
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Registration Open - Danforth University Center & Knight Center Lobby
6:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Opening Keynote Session - Emerson Theatre
Dr. Anna Gonzalez, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Washington University in St. Louis
7:15 PM - 8:30 PM
Opening Reception - Frick Forum
7:00 AM - 8:45 AM
Hot Breakfast – Knight Center Dining Hall
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Exhibitor Hall Open – Tisch Commons
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Registration Open – Emerson Foyer/DUC - Tisch Commons
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Featured Session 2 - Emerson Theatre
Dr. Amelia Parnell, President, NASPA
(Theme: Identifying your values)
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Breakout Sessions – Danforth University Center (DUC)
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Foundation Lunch - Knight Center Dining
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Featured Session 3 - Emerson Theatre
Dr. Carmen Rivera, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Colorado State University
(Theme: Purpose-Driven Practice)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Breakout Sessions – Danforth University Center (DUC)
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Snack Break – Danforth University Center, Tisch Commons
4:15 PM - 5:45 PM
Breakout Sessions – Danforth University Center (DUC)
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Hot Breakfast – Knight Center Dining Hall
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Exhibitor Hall Open – Danforth University Center
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Registration Open – Danforth University Center
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Featured Session 4 - Emerson Theatre
Details
Moderator:
Dr. Jerri Arnold-Cook, Director, McNair Scholars Program, Henderson State University
Panelists:
Norma Guerra Gaier, Associate Vice Chancellor for Career Development and Education
Dr. Mako Miller, Inaugural Director of the Kansas City College and Career Attainment Network (KCCAN)
Dr. Edna Grover Bisker, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students, University of Missouri of Science and Technology.
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Breakout Sessions – Danforth University Center (DUC)
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Lunch – Knight Center Dining Hall
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Breakout Sessions – Danforth University Center (DUC)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Breakout Sessions – Danforth University Center (DUC)
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Snack Break – Danforth University Center, Tisch Commons
4:15 PM - 6:00 PM
Featured Session 5: Featured Speaker and Closing - Emerson Theatre
Princess Sarah Culberson
(Theme: Integrating Purpose and Connection)
Conference Hotel
The Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center
Throop Drive & Snow Way Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
Located on-site at Washington University in St. Louis, The Knight Center is a premier five-story, 135,000 sq. ft executive training and conference facility designed to inspire collaboration and creative thinking. Recently renovated, the hotel now features upgraded Deluxe King and Double Full rooms with modern amenities, including walk-in showers, streaming-enabled TVs, plush linens, and USB charging stations. With meeting spaces that accommodate up to 300 guests, professional on-site catering, and a 24-hour fitness center, The Knight Center offers our conference attendees everything they need for a seamless and sophisticated stay during the conference.
Deadline to reserve your room - September 22, 2025.
Book Your Room
Explore St. Louis
Nestled alongside the Mississippi River, St. Louis is a vibrant Midwestern city known for its iconic Gateway Arch, rich cultural heritage, and diverse neighborhoods. The city offers a blend of historic charm and modern attractions, making it a dynamic place to live and learn.
At the heart of St. Louis lies Washington University in St. Louis (WashU), a prestigious private research university established in 1853. The university's Danforth Campus, renowned for its Collegiate Gothic architecture and lush green spaces, provides a picturesque setting for academic pursuits. The Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center, located on the Washington University campus, is fully integrated into university life—just steps away from classrooms, research centers, and campus landmarks. As the site of our conference, it offers a dynamic setting that reflects the university's spirit of learning, collaboration, and innovation.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we work on the unceded ancestral and contemporary homelands of the Osage Nation, Otoe-Missouria, Illinois Confederacy, Quapaw, Ho-Chunk, Miami and many other tribal nations. Read Land Acknowledgement for the Brown School
2025 Conference Committee
Jennifer Alanis, WashU - Washington University at St. Louis
Chair
Melissa Stutz, Laramie County Community College
Co-Chair, Logistics, Wyoming
Hope Mabrey, WashU - Washington University at St. Louis
Assistant to the Chair
Brett Polen, Fort Lewis College
Treasurer & Finance Coordinator
Victoria Ruiz, WashU - Washington University at St. Louis
Communications & Social Media - MO - Chair
Sylvia Jauregui, University of Missouri
Communications & Social Media - MO - Co-Chair
Megan Bell, Arkansas Tech University
Communications & Social Media - AR - Co-Chair
Stan Sweeney, WashU - Washington University at St. Louis
Local Liason - MO - Chair
Jacob Chacko, WashU - Washington University at St. Louis
Local Liason - MO - Co-Chair
Tanya Montgomery, WashU - Washington University at St. Louis
Programs - Co-Chair
Jerri Arnold-Cook, Henderson State University
Programs - MO - Co-Chair
Amanda Williams, South Dakota State University
Registration - South Dakota
Brenda Peters, Mid-Plains Community College
Registration - Nebraska - Chair
Drake Summers, University of Missouri - Kansas City
Volunteers/Special Projects - Chair
Dallas Doane, University of Kansas
Institute Chair: Graduate Students - CO - Chair
Patty Witkowsky, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Institute Chair: Graduate Students - CO
Victoria Obregon, Colorado State University - Pueblo
Institute Chair: Undergraduate Students - CO - Chair
Bonnie Fruland, Colorado State University - Pueblo
Institute Chair: Undergraduate Students - CO
Lori Lander, University of Arkansas
Regional Director
Cassie Gerhardt, University of North Dakota
Regional Director - Elect
Demi Spencer, University of Arkansas
Assistant to the Regional Director
Savala DeVoge, Adams State University
Professional Development Coordinator