The countdown is on! The 87th Annual ACHE Conference will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 13–15, 2025, and this is your final opportunity to be part of our premier professional event. Registration officially closes on October 3, 2025.

This year’s conference theme—“Bridges to Empathy, Empowerment & Innovation”—is inspired by Milwaukee’s iconic bridges and reflects our shared mission of building stronger connections across the field of continuing higher education. Attendees will benefit from dynamic keynote speakers, thought-provoking concurrent sessions, and rich networking opportunities designed to spark collaboration and new ideas. We encourage you to take advantage of this final chance to join us in Milwaukee. Register today before the October 3 deadline!

Step into Milwaukee’s rich brewing tradition with an evening at the iconic Lakefront Brewery! This special ACHE event includes:

• A two-hour guided tour through the brewery
• Four (4) pours of Lakefront’s craft beer
• A souvenir pint glass to take home
• Stories and fun facts about Milwaukee’s beer heritage

When: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 • 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (CDT)

Where: Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St., Milwaukee, WI

Enjoy a relaxed night of camaraderie, conversation, and local flavor. Space is limited!

Make the most of your ACHE 2025 Conference experience:

• View the full agenda
• Get real-time updates & announcements
• Connect with fellow attendees
• Join discussions and share insights

Download the Whova Conference App today and be ready before you arrive in Milwaukee!

Look for an invitation in your inbox to kick off your conference experience by connecting with fellow first- and second-time attendees in a fun, casual setting.

When & Where

Sunday at 5:30 PM — meet in the hotel lobby. From there, we’ll walk together to 3rd St. Market Hall (275 W Wisconsin Ave) for food, drinks, and great conversation. (All pay-your-own.)

Look for the Hosts

Two of our planning team members will be wearing matching t-shirts so you can easily spot them.

Why come?

• Meet others who are new(ish) to ACHE.
• Break the ice before the full conference begins.
• Enjoy Milwaukee’s vibrant 3rd St. Market Hall in a relaxed, welcoming way.

For years, many of you have joined our Feel the Love tradition virtually. This October, at the 87th Annual ACHE Conference in Milwaukee, we’re taking it to the next level with our first-ever in-person celebration.

Aligned with this year’s theme, “Bridges to Empathy, Empowerment & Innovation,” this special kickoff event is about more than just fun—it’s about honoring the connections that strengthen our community and inspire our work in continuing higher education.

Show your love in your own style with a heart-themed accessory—whether it’s a pin, scarf, tie, or something creative of your own—and join us in making this milestone gathering unforgettable. Together, we’ll set the tone for three days of learning, connection, and empowerment.

The schedule for the 87th Annual ACHE Conference is already live, and it’s filled with transformative keynotes, hands-on breakout sessions, and dynamic networking opportunities. From conversations on AI and equity to strategies for student mental health and community partnerships, every session is built to inspire innovation and empower your work in continuing higher education.

If you haven’t mapped out your days yet, now is the time—make sure you don’t miss the sessions that matter most to you!

Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller 

Dr. Jessica Riddell

Julie Shankle

We are honored to have an exceptional lineup of keynote speakers at the 87th Annual ACHE Conference in Milwaukee, each bringing a unique perspective to this year’s theme, “Bridges to Empathy, Empowerment & Innovation.” Opening the conference on Monday, October 13, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller will deliver “Is It Too Late to Become an Empathic Society?” Drawing on her leadership experience and her book The Empathic Leader, she will make the case for empathy as an actionable force that drives connection, performance, and purpose across our institutions.

On Tuesday, October 14, Dr. Jessica Riddell will lead us through “Hope Circuits: Empathy, Empowerment, and Innovation in Lifelong Learning for Collective Flourishing.” As founder of the Hope Circuits Institute, she will challenge us to reimagine lifelong learning as relational, regenerative, and transformational, offering a vision of education that thrives even in uncertain times.

Closing the conference on Wednesday, October 15, Julie Shankle, ACHE’s President-Elect and Executive Director of Continuing Education at the University of Central Florida, will present “Navigate Disruption with Values-Based Leadership.” Her address will encourage us to use values as our guiding compass during disruption, demonstrating how purpose-driven leadership can foster resilience, innovation, and lasting impact on our campuses and in our communities.

Together, these keynotes promise to engage, challenge, and inspire us as we continue to advance the mission of continuing higher education.

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