2021 Equity & Excellence

logo for AHEAD's annual conference Equity & Excellence in Education

Monday, July 19 – Friday, July 23, 2021
JW Marriott Austin
Austin, Texas

After more than a year of physical separation, AHEAD is excited to announce its 44th annual conference, Equity & Excellence: Access in Higher Education, as an in-person professional development and networking event. Presenters and participants from diverse fields, including education, technology, law, scholarship, and government, will gather in Austin in July. Attendance will be capped at 400 to allow for distanced seating and a safe experience

For those unable to travel, a virtual conference comprised of select conference presentations will be held the week of July 26th. Registration for the Austin conference will include registration for the virtual conference.

The 2021 Program Committee received over 150 proposals for presentation and are excited about the well-balanced, comprehensive program

Because we know that many of you will not be able to travel this July, AHEAD is planning a follow-up virtual conference July 26-30. The virtual conference program will include over 35 presentations, Knowledge and Practice Community meetings open to everyone, and presentations by sponsors in our Virtual Exhibit Hall. All Austin registrants receive free registration for the virtual conference. 

Host Hotel - JW Marriott Austin

view of the outside of the JW Austin



All activities associated with the 2021 Equity & Excellence AHEAD Conference will be housed at the JW Marriott Austin, Austin, Texas.  AHEAD’s group room rate will be $229.00+tax for single or double occupancy. The rate includes complimentary in-room high speed internet service and the resort fee. The room block will open for reservations in mid-March 2021. To secure this rate, reservations must be made by Friday, June 25th, 2021 using the event discount website.

President's Welcome

Amanda Kraus

by Amanda Kraus, AHEAD President

On behalf of the AHEAD board of directors and staff, I am delighted to welcome you to Austin for our 2021 annual conference! Over the past year, we have navigated many personal and professional challenges, so we are particularly happy to plan to be with you in July. We hope you will use our time together to recharge and become reinvigorated - attend sessions that make you think, reconnect with colleagues, and have a good time being together! If you’re unable to travel this year, we look forward to being with you online through the follow-up virtual conference.

This year we have prioritized discussion on the intersections of race and disability and coalition-building across communities. We hope that our plenary speaker will stimulate important reflection on this topic and that as we move forward in our work, we can be inspired to promote equity in higher ed. Thank you for your support of AHEAD and for all the good work you do!