Volunteer Leadership Conference

4 – 6 p.m. | Check-In Welcome Reception at Whitaker Hall Atrium (networking opportunity)
Enjoy refreshments and live music as you and your fellow volunteers check in for the conference.

5:30 – 6 p.m. | Updating the WashU Brand and Increasing Familiarity With Our University at Whitaker Hall Auditorium

6 – 6:45 p.m. | Welcome Cocktail Reception at Kemper Art Museum

6:45 – 8:45 p.m. | Dinner and Remarks at Tisch Park

7:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Breakfast at Frick Forum (networking opportunity)
Start the day with this great opportunity to connect with fellow volunteers in an informal, social setting.

8:15 – 9:15 a.m. | Campus Trolley Tour

9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Keynote Session at Emerson Auditorium

11:15 – 12:15 p.m. | Breakout Session No. 1 at Knight and Bauer Halls

• WashU Finance 101: Fueling Our Future, Enriching Our Legacy
• Dialogue Across Difference: An Interactive Workshop
• Transformative Solutions: Exploring the Center for the Environment

12:30 – 1:45 p.m. | VLC Lunch at Knight Hall Anheuser-Busch Dining Room

2 – 3 p.m. | Breakout Session No. 2 at Knight Hall

• Meet the Trailblazers: A Panel Discussion With Our Newest Deans
• Charting a Debt-Free Future: Understanding the “No Loan” Initiative at WashU
• WashU Neuroscience Session

3 – 6 p.m. | Eliot Society Family Day Overlooking the Great Forest Park Balloon Race at Tisch Park

September 20-21, 2024​. Registration begins at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 20. The conference ends with the Great Forest Park Balloon Race and Eliot Society Family Day from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, September 21.

Washington University Danforth Campus

The Volunteer Leadership Conference (VLC) is designed to recognize the exceptional contributions of volunteers, and ensure that volunteers are well-versed on the university’s strategic priorities.​ The two-day event will be filled with engaging workshops offering targeted training and strategic planning, meaningful networking opportunities with fellow WashU volunteer leaders, and the chance to hear directly from university leadership on priorities and initiatives that will shape the future of WashU.

Volunteer leaders, including APAP leadership team; Regional, Professional, Industry, and Shared Interest and Cultural Networks chairs; Eliot Society volunteers; Alumni Board of Governors members; and Regional Cabinet chairs and committee members, are invited.

Please plan to bring your entire family to enjoy the fun-filled fall weekend in St. Louis! Everyone is invited to attend the Eliot Society Family Day on Saturday, September 21, from 3-6 p.m., with an exclusive party overlooking the Great Forest Park Balloon Race. There is a wide-range of family-friendly activities throughout the St. Louis-area on VLC weekend, so you may want to plan to stay through Sunday.

If you need childcare support during your visit, we can help make recommendations. Please email vlc@wustl.edu for more information.

There is no cost to attend the VLC! Hotel stays and transportation costs are the responsibility of the attendee. A limited amount of funding is available to help offset the cost for those who require financial assistance to travel to the VLC. Reimbursement is available on a first come, first served basis for hotel or air transportation only. Please fill out the Conference Travel Subsidy form to apply. 

Registration is now open! Register online or call or call 314-935-3155.

Yes! You will have the opportunity to select the sessions you would like to attend.

Special rates for VLC weekend are available at The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis, Clayton Plaza Hotel, and The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Reservations must be made by August 30, 2024, to secure discounted rates. Learn more and make your reservations!

Parking information will be sent out with the meeting confirmation.

Please email us to let us know if you have any accessibility needs, and a staff member will follow up.

Friday, Sept. 20 | 5:30 – 6 p.m.
East End

Mike Bulthaus, Associate Vice Chancellor for University Marketing

University Marketing & Communications, working in partnership with academic and business units across the university, have updated WashU’s brand to be distinctive, consistent, and foundational, increasing peoples’ familiarity with WashU among the nation’s top universities. Join us as Mike Bulthaus shares insights into the extensive re-branding process and what lies ahead!

Friday, Sept. 20 | 6 – 6:45 p.m.
Kemper Art Museum

Celebrating Our WashU Students

Kick off the conference with this engaging welcome cocktail reception, where you will have the opportunity to connect with current WashU students. Learn more about our students’ groundbreaking research, innovative projects, and exciting future endeavors. Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and drinks while fostering meaningful connections and gaining insights into the cutting-edge initiatives shaping the university.

Friday, Sept. 20 | 6:45 – 8:45 p.m.
Tisch Park

Remarks by Dr. Anna Gonzalez: Creating the Best-in-Class Student Experience

Enjoy dinner and insightful conversation with Anna Gonzalez, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, as she shares her innovative approach to enriching student life. Known as “Dr. G” to many of her students, she brings three decades of higher education expertise to her role, with research interests focused on first-generation and immigrant students, equity, student affairs administration, higher education policy, governance, and finance. 

Saturday, Sept. 21 | 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Emerson Auditorium

Intersections of Public Health: Charting the Course
Panel Moderated by Beverly Wendland

Start your day with a compelling morning session with opening remarks by Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, followed by a panel discussion led by Beverly Wendland, Washington University’s provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. This panel of university leaders will delve into the collaborative initiatives shaping the School of Public Health, WashU’s first new school in a century. Explore the dynamic intersections between public health and academia as we navigate the path forward.

Saturday, Sept. 21 | 11:15 – 12:15 p.m.
Knight and Bauer Halls

WashU Finance 101: Fueling Our Future, Enriching Our Legacy
Amy Kweskin, Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Amy Kweskin will provide an informative overview of the university’s finances, with special focus on the pivotal role of the university’s endowment in advancing WashU’s mission and impact. She will discuss the management strategy for WashU’s financial assets, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the university’s resources.

Dialogue Across Difference: An Interactive Workshop
Mark Kamimura-Jiménez, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion

This transformative workshop, led by Mark Kamimura-Jiménez, introduces the innovative new Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) course offered to WashU students. DxD fosters communication and collaboration by equipping students with the tools to engage in honest and productive dialogue across diverse identities and perspectives. Through this interactive exercise, you will experience firsthand how DxD is preparing students to flourish among people with differing priorities and ways of seeing the world with empathy, civility, and understanding.

Transformative Solutions: Exploring the Center for the Environment
Dan Giammar, Walter E. Browne Professor of Environmental Engineering and director, Center for the Environment          

Join us for an enlightening presentation by Dan Giammar, as he dives into the university’s visionary plans for the Center for the Environment, an interdisciplinary environmental research hub. Professor Giammar, an esteemed educator and active researcher, will offer insights into the center’s vision to address complex environmental challenges by mobilizing the research and creative capacity of WashU and the strength of interdisciplinary partnerships. His presentation will showcase the university’s dedication to creating a healthier planet for all.

Saturday, Sept. 21 | 12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
Anheuser-Busch Hall

Preparing Students for Career Success: Unlocking Opportunities at the Center for Career Engagement
Norma Guerra Gaier, Associate Vice Chancellor for Career Development and Education

Join us for lunch with Norma Guerra Gaier, associate vice chancellor for career development and education at Washington University. With more than 30 years of experience in the field, Gaier leads the newly reimagined Center for Career Engagement. Discover how this innovative hub provides equitable access and services for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to support their career journeys. Under her leadership, the center serves as a catalyst for robust career exploration and preparing students for post-graduation success.

Saturday, Sept. 21 | 2 – 3 p.m.
Knight Hall

Meet the Trailblazers: A Panel Discussion With Our Newest Deans

Explore the journey of academic leadership with WashU’s newest deans: Stefanie A. Lindquist, Nickerson Dean of the School of Law; Dorian Traube, Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School; and Michael Mazzeo, dean and Knight Family Professor of Olin Business School. Get firsthand perspectives on their experiences and visions for leading their respective schools, from fostering innovation to enhancing the student experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with our dynamic leaders and learn more about their exciting plans for the future.

Charting a Debt-Free Future: Understanding the “No Loan” Initiative at WashU
Ronné Turner, Vice Provost for Admissions & Financial Aid

Ronné Turner will share the transformative impact of WashU’s decision to become a no-loan institution. This major financial aid policy, which replaces need-based loans for undergraduate students with scholarships and university grants, ensures that all admitted students can pursue a WashU education by helping to remove financial barriers and the burden of debt. This is a great opportunity to explore how WashU is shaping its future through equitable education access and meaningful financial aid reform.

WashU Neuroscience Session

Discover how WashU scientists are pioneering advancements in neuroscience research and education in this engaging session exploring how their cutting-edge work will impact our future.