2025 SELC

The National Academy of Public Administration and the Universities at Shady Grove invite you to register for the 24th annual SELC, which will be held June 5-7, 2025 at The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland.

Join policy makers, practitioners, scholars, community leaders and students as we engage in a national dialogue, themed "Leading Together: A national dialogue to propel us forward," to challenge our thinking and stimulate our collective, creative efforts in advancing fairness, opportunity, and justice for all through cutting edge leadership.

Visit the conference webpage (shadygrove.umd.edu/selc) to register for the conference, locate hotel and travel information, and view sponsorship opportunities.

Register Now!

Consider Sponsoring!

Featured Speakers

Frederickson Lecture

This year’s Frederickson Lecturer is Aparna Rae, a dynamic leader, entrepreneur, and advocate dedicated to advancing equity, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and driving systemic change. With extensive experience across philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and the tech industry, Aparna has built a career at the intersection of social impact, innovation, and organizational transformation. Featured in Forbes, Seattle Business Magazine, Business Insider and GeekWire, her insights are sure to bring inspiration to all - entrepreneurs, policy makers, practitioners, scholars, and students - as we lead together.

Plenary Speaker

A popular thought leader in higher education, non-profit and organization communities, Vernon Wall is a nationally known speaker in the areas of social justice and leadership styles. He is one of the founders and facilitators of the Social Justice Training Institute and has written several articles and co-edited two books on issues of inclusion on today’s college campus.

Conference Theme & Tracks

The 2025 SELC will center on empowering practitioners and scholars to lead with equity. This year's theme, "Leading Together : A national dialogue to propel us forward," will feature six engaging tracks:

• Servant Leadership Rising
• Community Wealth Building (CWB) & Regenerative Economics
• AI & Education: Breaking or Building Barriers
• Entrepreneurship in Policy, Practice & Pedagogy
• Sustainable Solutions for Inequalities in Housing, Healthcare, Incarceration & Prison Reform, Employment, Food & Transportation
• Outcomes: Measure Our Progress Toward Greater Fairness, Justice & Expanded Opportunity

Conference Program

Day 1 (June 5, 2025)

• Opening Plenary Speaker
• Morning of Dialogue
• Concurrent Sessions 1 & 2
• Conference Reception
  sponsored by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs,
  Virginia Commonwealth University

Day 2 (June 6, 2025)

• Concurrent Session 3
• Frederickson Lecture - Featured Speaker: Aparna Rae
• Concurrent Sessions 4-6

Day 3 (June 7, 2025)

• Morning of Dialogue
• Closing Plenary Speaker
• Graduate & Doctoral Candidate Networking Event

Visit the conference webpage (shadygrove.umd.edu/selc) to register for the conference, locate hotel and travel information, and view sponsorship opportunities.

Register Now!

Consider Sponsoring!