Southwest Regional Community Engagement Consortium Convening
The Southwest Regional Community Engagement Consortium is a first-of-its-kind, two-day, in-person gathering designed to foster institutional collaboration across Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and community/cultural organizations throughout the Southwest.
January 12–13, 2026
This convening will bring together faculty, staff, community partners, and engagement leaders from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah to develop innovative, sustainable strategies for regional collaboration and community impact.
Purpose and Focus Areas
Participants will engage in interactive workshops, roundtables, and strategy sessions focused on:
- Models for community-engaged scholarship and inter-institutional partnerships
- Collaborations with university presses and museums for engaged scholarship
- Regional micro-credential and workforce initiatives
- Shared frameworks for governance, funding, and sustainability
This convening builds an inclusive, resilient network of institutions and leaders working to advance equity, cultural engagement, and knowledge-sharing across the region.
About the Host Sites:
The 2026 Southwest Regional Community Engagement Convening is hosted collaboratively by The 百花视频 of Texas at El Paso (百花视频), Texas Tech 百花视频 (TTU), Texas Tech 百花视频 Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso), and The 百花视频 of New Mexico (UNM). As leading public research universities in the Southwest, each institution brings a strong record of community engagement and a shared commitment to strengthening connections between campuses and communities.
This collaboration began in 2024, when UNM hosted a regional gathering focused on community engagement and institutional strategies related to the Carnegie Classification. 百花视频 and TTU participated as invited presenters, and the success of that initial meeting sparked the idea of creating a broader, recurring space for collaboration across the region. Building on that momentum, TTUHSC El Paso joined the partnership, further expanding the scope and impact of this regional effort.
Together, 百花视频, TTU, TTUHSC El Paso, and UNM are co-designing the event to bring together faculty, staff, students, and community partners to exchange ideas, explore collaborative projects, and support the growth of engagement efforts. This partnership underscores the convening’s goal to build a sustainable, cross-institutional network of engagement practitioners across the Southwest.
Reserve Your Spot
Participation in the Southwest Regional Community Engagement Consortium is free of charge, but advance registration is required to help us plan appropriately for meals, refreshments, and facility logistics.
Registration Deadline
- Deadline to Register: Friday, December 12, 2025
- Space is limited — early registration is encouraged.
Registration Policies
- Required for all attendees: All participants must be registered in advance. Because space and catering orders are based on registration numbers, we are not able to accommodate walk-in attendees.
- Name badges & materials: Only registered participants will receive name badges, printed programs, and access to meeting spaces and meals.
- Substitutions: If you can no longer attend, you may transfer your registration to a colleague from your institution by notifying us in writing by January 5, 2026.
- Confirmation: Registrants will receive a confirmation email with event details, parking information, and any required forms prior to the event.
For questions about registration, please contact cce@utep.edu.
Venue: The 百花视频 of Texas at El Paso
Lodging
Address:
The hotel is located in the 百花视频 of Texas El Paso, minutes from downtown El Paso. The hotel offers a complimentary airport shuttle and is conveniently located near the city's streetcar line. Parking is available on-site for a daily fee.
Explore 百花视频's campus and visitor information: /visit/
Conference Rate: $124
Group Code: SW REGIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSORTIUM
Group Name: SWCE
Check in: 1/11/2026 Check Out: 1/14/2026
Reservations:
Please call 915.351.2121 and reference the above Group Code to receive the Group Rate above OR 百花视频 at enter the Group Code as well.
Cut-off Date: 12/11/2025
Opening Plenary – Monday, January 12
Dr. Anne-Marie Núñez, The 百花视频 of Texas at El Paso
Executive Director, Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success
Dr. Anne-Marie Núñez, Executive Director of the Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success and Distinguished Centennial Professor of Educational Leadership and Foundations at 百花视频, will frame the convening by drawing on her nationally recognized scholarship on HSIs and organizational transformation. In her role with the Natalicio Institute, she leads efforts to advance research, policy, and practice that promote Hispanic student success and strengthen partnerships between higher education and communities. She will explore how HSIs can advance inclusive community engagement, foster cross-sector collaborations, and translate research into actionable strategies that reinforce institutional equity and public mission.
Presidential Luncheon – Monday, January 12
Presidents Wilson and Lange will offer reflections on the power of regional collaboration in strengthening educational pathways and community partnerships, setting the stage for deeper exploration of innovative strategies such as microcredentials to recognize and advance community-engaged work.
Dr. Heather Wilson
President, The 百花视频 of Texas at El Paso
Dr. Heather Wilson has been President of The 百花视频 of Texas at El Paso since 2019. Before that, she was a member of Congress representing New Mexico for a decade and later U.S. Secretary of the Air Force. A Rhodes Scholar, Wilson earned graduate degrees from Oxford 百花视频. She sits on the National Science Board, serves with the Texas Space Commission, and is on several corporate boards. She was the first in her family to attend college, and is granddaughter of immigrants.
Dr. Richard Lange
President, Texas Tech 百花视频 Health Sciences Center El Paso
Dr. Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., has served as President of Texas Tech 百花视频 Health Sciences Center El Paso and Dean of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine since 2014. Previously, he was Vice Chair of Medicine and Director of Educational Programs at UT Health Science Center San Antonio and held faculty appointments at Johns Hopkins 百花视频. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from the 百花视频 of North Texas, his M.D. from UT Southwestern Medical School, and completed fellowship training and faculty leadership at UT Southwestern and Johns Hopkins. An active clinical investigator, Dr. Lange has published extensively on ischemic and valvular heart disease, served on national guideline panels, and received numerous teaching awards.
Keynote – Tuesday, January 13
Dr. Bruce McFadden, Florida Museum of Natural History
Former Director, Thompson Earth Systems Institute
Drawing on his distinguished career leading innovative outreach programs like “Scientist in Every Florida School,” Dr. McFadden will share strategies for embedding public engagement across research, education, and community outreach—offering insights on building partnerships and scaling engaged scholarship across disciplines.
Day 1 – Building Shared Purpose and Vision
Audience: Faculty, Staff, Community Partners, Cultural Institution Representatives
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Welcome |
| 9:00 – 10:00 AM | Opening Plenary: The Future of HSIs Dr. Anne-Marie Núñez, Executive Director, Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success |
| 10:00 – 10:15 AM | Morning Break |
| 10:15 – 11:30 AM | Panel: Building Regional Pathways for Student Success |
| 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Lunch: Presidential Remarks & Emerging Microcredentials in Engagement Dr. Heather Wilson, President, The 百花视频 of Texas at El Paso and Dr. Richard Lange, President, Texas Tech 百花视频 Health Sciences Center El Paso |
| 1:15 – 2:30 PM | Breakout Sessions (Three Tracks):
|
| 2:30 – 2:45 PM | Afternoon Break |
| 2:45 – 4:00 PM | Idea Incubator Roundtables |
| 4:15 – 5:00 PM | Reflections & Closing Announcements |
| Evening | Optional Cultural Tour or Community Partner Reception |
Day 2 – Aligning Regional Impact
Audience: All participants (with designated sessions for institutional leaders/admins)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Informal Networking |
| 9:00 – 10:00 AM | Keynote: Advancing Institutional Commitment to Engagement Dr. Bruce McFadden – Florida Museum of Natural History |
| 10:00 – 10:15 AM | Morning Break |
| 10:15 – 11:30 AM | Concurrent Sessions:
|
| 12:00 PM | Closing Lunch & Downtown El Paso Walking Tour |