Dr. Paul Heilker, Christina McIntyre, MS, and Dr. Najla Mouchrek have been selected as presenters during the 57th annual conference to be held by the National Collegiate Honors Council at the Sheraton Dallas Downtown in Dallas, Texas on November 2-5, 2022.

The conference highlights student and faculty research presentations from across the nation while providing training and development for honors program administrators and staff. The conference theme, “Centering Community,” examines the ways that honors colleges and programs create and center communities, knowing that students are far more likely to succeed when they feel they reside in communities that value and understand them.

NCHC22’s Opening Keynote speaker is Cece Cox, CEO of Resource Center, which operates one of the largest LGBTQIA+ community centers in the United States and provides health services and programs to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Cox has advocated on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ and HIV communities for over 30 years. She was instrumental in the passage of the City of Dallas’ sexual orientation nondiscrimination policy, the Dallas Independent School District’s first anti-harassment policy and its subsequent anti-bullying policy. NCHC22 attendees will also hear from Plenary Speaker Brian Broome, author of Punch Me Up to the Gods which won the 2021 Kirkus Prize for nonfiction. Broome’s recounting of his experiences—in all their cringe-worthy, hilarious, and heartbreaking glory—reveal a perpetual outsider awkwardly squirming to find his way in. But it is Broome’s voice in the retelling that shows the true depth of vulnerability for young Black boys that is often quietly near to bursting at the seams.

Dr. Paul Heilker will be presenting "Honors Peer Educators and Reading Seminars," as well as "An Honors College Transdisciplinary Minor." Christina McIntyre, MS will present "Balancing Communities in National Scholarship Offices," and Dr. Najla Mouchrek's presentation will be titled "Creating Community and Empowering Spaces for Students in an Honors Trans-disciplinary Course."

The national submission process for the NCHC annual conference is highly selective, with hundreds of students and faculty submitting proposals each year.

“A presentation at the NCHC conference provides each individual with a unique opportunity to showcase the work being done in honors across the globe. However, each presenter also impacts the culture of the network, providing other honors colleagues a chance to discuss the topic, exploring collaborations, research, and innovation,” said Mary Beth Rathe, NCHC Executive Director.

While in Texas, these Honors College faculty members will have the opportunity to network with honors students and faculty from across the country, celebrate the unique community created by honors education, and explore the city of Dallas through NCHC’s signature experiential learning projects.

The National Collegiate Honors Council is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support and enhance the community of educational institutions, professionals and students who participate in collegiate honors education around the world. NCHC members total nearly 800 institutions from the United States and around the world. Professional and organizational affiliate memberships are also available. More information can be found at nchchonors.org.