Breakout Session Directory

The 2026 CEIA National Conference in Alexandria serves as a strategic imperative for our field. Our theme—”Capitalizing on Experience: Where Purpose Meets Practice”—provides the necessary framework to elevate experiential learning as a primary solution for today’s workforce and education challenges.

This directory is more than a list of sessions; it is a strategic roadmap designed to navigate you through a high-impact curriculum of proven practices and fresh strategies. Use this guide to curate an experience that addresses your most pressing professional needs and prepares you for what is next in the workforce ecosystem.

Directory Navigation and Competency Framework

To ensure your professional development is both targeted and measurable, we have aligned our conference programming with the Professional Competencies for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Practitioners Framework. These competencies represent the essential skill sets required to navigate, manage, and lead complex experiential learning programs.

By selecting sessions that map to these pillars, you can bridge individual skill gaps and bring actionable expertise back to your institution or organization. Additional information about the Professional Competencies for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Practitioners can be found on the CEIA website at https://www.ceiainc.org/member-area/wil-competencies/

Directory of Accepted & Confirmed Breakout Sessions

Updated: January 19, 2026

The following sessions were selected through a rigorous peer-review process, representing confirmed presenters at the time of publication. Please note that this list is subject to change, and an updated directory including sessions assigned to specific dates and times during the conference is forthcoming.

A Collaborative, Tech-Driven Framework for Strengthening Internship Programs – Soulyka Agana-Woodbine | Trinity Washington University

AI & Internships: Data-Driven Insights from Supervisors and Students – Cherie Pierce Lynch, Chris Westgate, Jaime Freedman, Cher Harrington | Endicott College

AI and Emerging Technologies in Internship Management, Skill Development, and Partnerships – Ben Groff, Kelsey Bickett | GradLeaders / QuantHub

AI + LinkedIn Hacks to Scale Student Impact & Employer Engagement in WIL Programs – Jeremy Schifeling | The Job Insiders

Ascending into Leadership: Practical Strategies for Leadership Growth in Our Field – David Schwartz, Dr. Kristen Gallo | Bradley University / Temple University

Beyond Journals: Scaffolding the Entire Experiential Learning Cycle in Internship Courses – Meg Joseph | Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY

Breaking Barriers: Expanding WIL Pathways for Justice-Involved Learners – Julia Perez Stotts | Alamo Colleges District

Breaking Borders, Building Bridges: A New Approach to International Student Career Success – Camila Bolsoni, Samantha Carmer | New College of Florida

Building a College-Wide Work-Based Learning Ecosystem Through Data Integration – Treva Wynn, Dani Heeter | Sinclair Community College

Building a Structured Internship Program that Lasts – Cate Bechtold | Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

Building Bridges: Empowering Youth Through Community-Driven Apprenticeships – Jennifer Lester, Diane Sawyer | Rockingham Community College / Reidsville Chamber

Building Capacity for ExL: Scaling Internships and Reducing Barriers through Grant-Funded Innovation – Becca Scott, Julia Ward | Virginia Tech

ChargeOn with Purpose: Advancing Work-Integrated Learning through Alumni Mentorship – Tiffany Johnson | UCF Alumni Engagement

Credit Where It’s Due: A Successful Launch of College-Wide Internship for Credit Program – Madhvi Acharya | University of Central Florida

Cultivating Belonging: Guiding Queer Students Through Career and Identity – Samantha Carmer | New College of Florida

Decision-Making in the Co-op Search and Beyond – Gaby Fiorenza-Hagopian, Becky Buchmelter, Michaela Modica | Northeastern University

Designing Choice-Driven Co-op Curriculum: A Pilot for Student Agency & Engagement – Corey Fereday, Cathy Merlo, Michelle Taylor, Samantha Martinez | Northeastern University

Designing Inclusive Infrastructure for Non-Credit Work-Integrated Learning Programs – Professor James Mallory | RIT/National Technical Institute for the Deaf

Designing Internships That Matter: Engaging Students as Contributors, Not Just Interns – Chelta Wray | Crystal Bridges

Developing an Employer Sponsorship Program: Challenges and Lessons Learned – Jennifer Warrner | Ball State University

Double the Fun! Scaling a Co-op Program to Support Institutional Priorities – Tiffany Medeiros, Melissa Welch | University of Massachusetts Lowell

Elevated Employer Engagement: Connecting Students + Industry Beyond the Info Session – Jenny Strickland, Kyle Liechty | Purdue University / Tesla

Enhancing Co-op Readiness: Scaling a Co-op Prep Course – Ria Kalinowski, Sarah Abramson | Wentworth Institute of Technology

Evolving Career Services with Data and AI – Joyce Mueller | University of Cincinnati

Expanding Internship Access: Administrative, Employer, Faculty, and Staff Partnerships – AJ Van Valkenburg, Dr. Ashley Hass, Dr. Lauren Berger | University of Portland

Expanding Paid Internship Opportunities and Infusing Career Readiness Curriculum – Betsy Hays, Jaydene Elvin, Maria Dolores Morillo, Faith Sidlow | California State University, Fresno

Experience Where You Learn, Impact Where You Live: Expanding Internships – Iteeah Pounds, NeKenjie Tarver | Georgia Tech

Experiential Learning at The Mill (A Student-Run Creative Agency) – Sonya Lawyer | Stevenson University

Faculty Partnerships for Student Career Success – Faith Stipanovich | SHRM

From Insight to Impact: Leveraging Learning in a Business Internship – Susan Yturraspe, PhD | Yturraspe & Co./ The Chicago School

From Policy to Placement: A University Blueprint for Rigorous, Enterprise-Focused Internships – Jeralyn Westercamp | University of Iowa

From Silos to Synergy: Scaling Experiential Learning Collegewide at NOVA – Kristy Balbuena, Nicole Evans, Luke Waters | Northern Virginia Community College

From Start to Finish: Leveraging Career Technology and AI Across the College Experience – Abby Conrad, Aleah Coppin | Youngstown State University

Georgetown VIEW: A Signature, Scalable Micro-Internship Program – Susan Campbell, Jodi Schneiderman, Beth [TBD], Penelope Safioleas | Georgetown University / Express Search

Human Capital: The Missing Piece to Enhancing Student Employability in Internship Programs – Meg Joseph | Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY

Innovative State-wide WIL Initiatives for Virginia – Sam Ratcliffe, Lauren Jackson | State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

Internships 101: A Toolkit on Increasing Reach of Employer Training – Tracey Dowling | Florida State University Career Center

Leveling Up UML’s Co-op Program with Our Greatest Asset: Co-op Peer Leaders – Melissa Welch, Tiffany Medeiros | University of Massachusetts Lowell

Pathways to Professionalism: Building Careers through Student Employment Roles – Julia Van Steenberghe, Melanie Brooks | University of Maine

Placing International Interns: Lessons Learned – Joe Tort, Evan Carr | Purdue University

Power in Partnership: Partnering with Your Local Chamber for Workforce Impact – Jennifer Brown | Forsyth Technical Community College

Rebuilding the Broken Triangle: A Cross-Disciplinary Framework for High-Impact Experiential Learning – Timothy Flohr | University of Memphis

Reimagining Co-op Reflection: Enhancing Multi-Stakeholder Engagement and Assessment – Michelle Fiorenza-Hagopian, Kellianne Murphy, Alex Cantor | Northeastern University

Reimagining the Internship Fair: Redefining Engagement at FIU – Martha Rosa | Florida International University

Scalable Strategies for Equity in Experiential Learning – Chestley Talley, Kathy Graham, Michael Oelbaum | Jarvis Christian University / Jobs Connected

Second Chances, Stronger Outcomes: Support for Students After Job Search Failure – Cheryl Arruda, Corrine Condon | Northeastern University

Statewide Work-Based Learning Program Implementation in Ohio – Sri Vidya Uppalapati | Ohio Department of Education

Strengthening Career Readiness through a College-Wide Transformational Experience Model – Jennifer Tortora | Virginia Tech, Pamplin College of Business

Sustainable Learning & Professional Connections For Accounting Major Internships – Dr. Kathy Tuberville | University of Memphis

The Knight Shadow Program: Credentialing Career Readiness through Job Shadowing – Sandra Leon-Barth, Lashay Vazquez | University of Central Florida

Virginia’s Regional Work-Based Learning Panel: Strategies for Internship Access for ALL Students – Saranette William, Kathleen I. Powell | Norfolk State University / William & Mary

What’s Your WBLE?: Designing Systems for JMU’s Work-Based Learning Experience Initiative – Anna Maria Johnson, Emma Gibbons | James Madison University

Who am I? Aligning Purpose to Leadership – Ross Johnston | Beinn Leadership Inc

YOU’RE HEROES: Positioning WIL Programs as Drivers of Institutional Enrollment and Retention – Jeannie Burlowski | Author of LAUNCH

Programs Committee Acknowledgments

The 2026 CEIA Annual Conference Program Committee reviewed and selected the sessions featured in this directory. We thank Committee Chair Amanda McLaughlin and the following members for facilitating this rigorous process: