The college year is underway, and the remaining months of 2026 are coming to an end. With that in mind, it’s time to prepare for 2027! There are so many big events happening next year for colleges that will feature a wide range of keynote speakers, and Human Connection Speakers would love to feature our very own speakers at any of these events.
For anyone who works as a professional speaker, event planner, or works in the positions surrounding higher education for colleges, this is the perfect time to start planning out the new year ahead of us. So many different topics, such as collegiate athletics, leadership events, student wellness, and anything else that relates to helping people with their education, are what will shape the future of students after they are done with school.
In this blog, we are going to show you several upcoming college speaking events and conferences that students should prepare to attend in 2027.
Leadership and College Athletics
Beginning on January 13-15 and taking place in Anaheim, California, the 2027 NCAA Convention will bring together members of the collegiate athletics community for educational sessions, professional development, governance, and other networking efforts.
For keynote speakers, this is an excellent opportunity to attend educational sessions featuring experienced voices from across the industry who address topics related to divisional decision-making, participate in timely discussions, and connect with peers, industry leaders, and student-athletes from all over. What makes this event great is that it includes Division III and Division II programs, so you have a wide range of voices represented.
One of our very own speakers, Darryll Stinson, would be a great fit to speak at this event, given his history as a former D1 athlete; he would be perfect to speak to college athletes and other personnel. Read more about him on our website!
Addressing Mental Health in Colleges
Hosted by the University of Minnesota, the 2027 Big Ten Mental Health & Counseling Conference will focus on Lean Forward: The Evolving Work of Collegiate Mental Health. It will take place from February 24-26 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Anything as it relates to mental health continues to be one of the most important conversations taking place on college campuses. It’s one of the most talked-about conversations that we cherish at Human Connection Speakers. Several of our speakers have spoken about mental health in ways that have really stayed with the crowds they reached.
As noted on the official University of Minnesota Lean Forward website, clinicians and campus professionals will speak about student mental health, trauma-responsive care, crisis support, technology, and collaboration across campus services. This event is particularly relevant and worth showcasing for speakers specializing in mental wellness, human connection, and creating environments where students feel supported.
There’s another event regarding health and wellness taking place from June 1-5 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, called The American College Health Association's 2027 Annual Meeting. The motto for this event is Building Connection and Inspiring Community! With more than 150 educational sessions and an audience of campus health and wellness professionals, this conference is a great fit for keynote speakers addressing mental health, student well-being, and human connection.
The audience for this event includes psychologists, physicians, counselors, student affairs professionals, campus administrators, and other health educators. We would love to have one of our very own attend this event to be one of its keynote speakers. Both Mike Shoreman and Martin Lespérance are uniquely qualified for these topics! Read about them to learn more!
Higher Education Leadership and Student Affairs
The NASPA Annual Conference is a major gathering for student affairs professionals and higher education leaders. We all know how important mental health and student athletics are for colleges, but higher education and student affairs are what bring it all together, making this event key for people to attend.
Its audience includes university administrators, student affairs practitioners, educators, and professionals responsible for improving the student experience. The 2027 conference on March 6-10 in National Harbor, Maryland, offers an excellent setting for conversations about student engagement, leadership, mental health, professional development, and campus community building.
EDUCAUSE is another fantastic event centered on higher education, student affairs, and the future of college education. A great aspect of this event is that it has two modes of attendance. It’ll be in person on October 18-21 in Orlando, Florida, and then there will be an online version for two days on November 9th and 10th.
Human connection remains an important part of the conversation around higher education and the affairs of students. As we start to see universities all over the United States embrace AI, institutions must also consider how the advancement of technology affects communication, workplace culture, relationships, and student engagement.
All of these events and conferences hold a significant part of what makes life important for college students over the 4 years that they live through it. Human Connection Speakers would love to be a part of this process for any of these events, but we also want to make sure you are aware of them and are educated about their importance. If you would like to schedule one of our speakers and learn more about them, reach out for a consultation!