THE ABX LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
November 9–10, 2026
Old Town Alexandria, VA
The Alexandrian Hotel
WHO SHOULD ATTEND ABX?
IDEAL PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE:
College and university presidents
Board chairs and trustees
Chief financial officers
Senior leaders engaged in governance and institutional strategy
The ABX Leadership Summit is designed for leaders responsible for the strategic direction and financial sustainability of their institutions.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
Day 1: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026
Peer Council Sessions
Closed-door, small-group conversation among people holding the same seat. Candid, off-the-record, and driven by what the room brings.
Opening Reception
An evening in Old Town Alexandria. Time with peers before the working day begins.
Day 2: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2026
Opening Keynote
Barbara Gellman-Danley, President, HLC
An Accreditor’s View of Business Model Transformation
Roundtable Topics
Structural Issues & Comprehensive Pathways
Supporting the President during a Time of Change
Strengthening and Protecting the Mission while Eliminating Structural Deficits
Luncheon Keynote
Dr. Paul LaBlanc, President Emeritus, Southern New Hampshire University
The Strategic Role of Artificial Intelligence
Roundtable and Breakout Sessions
Institutional Transformation in Practice: A University Case Study.
A New University System: Case Study
Governing at the Pace of the Market
Strengthening & Protecting the Mission through Financial Resiliency
Capital Strategies for Growth and Transformation
Closing Comments
Victor Hu, Managing Partner and Co-Founder – Lumos Capital
A NEW ERA OF GOVERNANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
The Alliance for Board Excellence will convene at the ABX Leadership Summit. This gathering brings together a select group of industry leaders to navigate the most significant challenges facing higher education today.
COME ENJOY OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA
OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
BARBARA
GELLMAN-
DANLEY
PRESIDENT
Higher Learning Commission
PAUL
LEBLANC
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Southern New Hampshire University
VICTOR HU
MANAGING PARTNER
AND CO-FOUNDER
Lumos Capital Group
RICK
BEYER
CHAIRMAN
Core Education PBC
REGISTRATION DETAILS
ABX Members
The conference registration fee is complimentary with your institution's ABX Membership.
Click here or use the Register Now button below to confirm your attendance. Seating is limited.
WHY ABX EXISTS
HIGHER EDUCATION IS IN A PERIOD OF UNPRECEDENTED DISRUPTION
Declining enrollments, structural deficits, technological transformation, and declining consumer confidence are forcing institutions to rethink how they operate and how they are governed.
Presidents are often caught between the burden of legacy systems and the urgency of building institutions that can thrive in the future. At the same time, governing boards are being asked to move beyond traditional oversight and become active strategic partners in institutional transformation.
A new fiduciary and governance standard is also emerging. Boards must govern at the pace of the market and support presidents in navigating complex strategic decisions that will shape the future of their institutions.
Yet many presidents and boards are navigating these challenges without a trusted community of peers to share strategies, examine new governance models, and learn from institutions actively pursuing change.
The Alliance for Board eXcellence (ABX) was created to fill that gap.
ABX brings together presidents, trustees, and senior leaders to exchange ideas, explore a new governance playbook, and strengthen the partnership between boards and institutional leadership in a time of profound change.
