When: March 6, 2026 8:00 am – 5:00 pm CT
Where: Education Building, WI Idea Room 159, 1000 Bascom Mall, Madison, WI 53706
Program Fee: Free; pre-registration required
Call for Proposals: The 2026 EPS Conference Call for Proposals is now open!
Deadline for Submissions: Friday, February 6, 2025
Proposal Abstract: Maximum 200 words
*PLACE is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events. If you need accommodations, please make sure to include this information when you register for this event. If accommodation needs arise after registration, please contact us at place@education.wisc.edu at least two weeks before the event. While we will do our best to fulfill late requests, we may not always be able to guarantee them.
Conference Description
Throughout history, times of difficulty have created opportunities for reflection and growth. The dynamism of education offers us a vital space to engage in these reflections — to consider the movements, responsibilities, and contributions that each of us brings to society in communal ways. For communities whose shared identity has been under threat, the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu has offered a form of education that teaches the power of drawing strength from one another. Grounded in the belief that “I am because you are,” the philosophy reminds us of the essence of collective resilience when navigating challenging times. It is our shared identity that allows us to examine our sense of unity, solidarity, and commitment as scholars, educators, and advocates as we learn to ebb and flow together.
The 2026 EPS Conference encourages us to dream of what is and has been possible, and to ebb and flow together by grounding ourselves in who we are and the importance of being in community. It encourages us to create and strengthen networks that help us move fluidly through uncertain moments, as we ask:
- How do our social identities as teachers and learners shape our capacity to resist?
- What kinds of solidarities, partnerships, and communities are needed in the current moment to remain afloat? Where can we support, and where can we be supported?
- How can we rise in action towards justice? What does it take to engage with and contribute to our communities?
A confluence of past experiences and future aspirations, the 2026 EPS Conference invites us into a space of reflection and learning together through our interconnected identities. Together, we will explore possibilities for resistance and discover new ways to galvanize our efforts as we ebb and flow together.
Conference Highlights
The conference will feature Indigenous Language Advocates, EPS faculty, alumni, and student keynote speakers.
Schedule
9 am – 12 pm: Grounding in Indigeneity, Positionality & Place, Setting Intentions
12:05 pm – 1:05 pm: Lunch
1:15 pm – 3:25 pm: Breakout Sessions
3:40 pm – 4:40 pm: Keynote EPS panel: Ripples through education scholarship
2026 EPS Conference Committee
Makamae Sniffen, Max Yakubovskiy, Mya Halvorson, Antonella Pappolla, Otavio Soares Barros, Diana Frantz Anderson, riya dominic, Claire Victoria Willett , Stella Brenda Makhuva
2026 EPS Sponsors
The Educational Policy Studies Conference is hosted by the UW–Madison School of Education’s Department of Educational Policy Studies and the Office of Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE). This partnership was made possible by the generosity of the School of Education Dean’s Office.