Stakeholder’s Day 2026
Leading the Future of Education Together
Stakeholders Day brings together partners, supporters, and College leadership to share the strategic direction of the University of Florida College of Education.
As we build national momentum, we are focused on expanding research excellence, scaling innovation across Florida, and strengthening the partnerships that make measurable educational impact possible.
This event offers a focused look at where we are investing, what we are building, and how collaboration accelerates outcomes.
Date
March 4, 2026
Time
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location
UF College of Education
Norman Hall Conference Center
Parking
Free onsite parking provided by the University of Florida
Agenda
8:30 am
Continental breakfast and networking
9:25 am
Welcome from Dean Good
9:30 am
Panel #1 – From Vision to Action
Designing the Future of Education Now
10:15 am
Break
10:30 am
Panel #2 – Student Impact
11:15 am
Lunch and Open Discussion
12:20 pm
Panel #3 – Reimagining Education
1:05 pm
Closing remarks
1:30 pm
Tours of Norman Hall
Travel Details
Hotel
Attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodations. Some convenient options include: Hotel Eleo, Reitz Union, and the Holiday Inn University Center. The Reitz Union and Holiday Inn are a 10-15 minute walk to the event, Hotel Eleo is better suited to those driving. The area offers a wide variety of accommodations which can be found on the Visit Gainesville/Alachua County website.
Parking
The UF College of Education is located at 1221 SW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 with parking available in the flat lot accessible through the Norman Garage off of SW 8th Avenue and SW 12th Street.
Limited reserved parking is available courtesy of the University of Florida. We suggest carpooling once in Gainesville as our reserved spots are limited.
Dining
Gainesville offers a wide variety of dining options, many of which can be found at the Visit Gainesville/Alachua County website.
Accessibility
The UF College of Education is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event. If you need reasonable accommodation, please contact Aldreka Everett at 352-273-4144 or aldrekae@ufl.edu.
Panel #1 – From Vision to Action
From Vision to Action highlights how interdisciplinary research, data systems, AI, and statewide partnerships converge to build education systems ready for tomorrow. These leaders represent work that moves beyond theory — translating scholarship into scalable tools, technical assistance, digital innovation, and coordinated statewide impact.
Panel Moderator
Thomasenia Adams, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development
Panelists
Pasha Antonenko, Ph.D.
Professor
Herman Knopf, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Phil Poekert, Ph.D.
Director, Lastinger Center for Learning
Clinical Professor
Erica McCray, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Personnel Affairs & Community Engagement
Jason Arnold, Ed.D.
Director, E-Learning, Technology and Communications
Panel #2 – Student Learning and Impact
Student Learning and Impact centers the learners who are at the heart of our mission. Through their experiences in research, mentorship, applied learning, and scholarship support, they illustrate how bold ideas become real outcomes — preparing graduates not just to participate in the future of education, but to lead it.
Panel Moderator
Elayne Colón, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic & Student Affairs and Clinical Professor
Panelists
Carina Swenson, B.A.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Recommended by: Kent Crippen
Paige Carter, M.A.
Graduate Research Assistant
Recommended by: Amber Moss
Florence Bason, M.Ed.
Graduate Assistant, UF Literacy Institute
Recommended by: Valentina Contesse
Brittany Grubbs-Hodges, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer and Assistant Director, Beyond120, CLAS UF
Recommended by: Lindsay Byron
Ainsley Williams
Student, B.A.E. in Elementary Education
Recommended by: Blake Beckett
Panel #3 – Reimagining Education
Reimagining Education invites us to think forward. As schooling becomes more adaptive, decentralized, and technology-enabled, these scholars and practitioners explore how leadership, AI, mathematics innovation, literacy
Panel Moderator
Erica McCray, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Personnel Affairs & Community Engagement
Panelists
Walter Balser, Ed.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Shaunté Duggins, Ph.D.
New World’s Reading Director & Research Scientist, State Initiatives
Zandra de Araujo, Ph.D.
Director of Mathematics at the UF Lastinger Center
Ahmad Rahimi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor