UCEA25 Recap
UCEA25 Convention
Fostering Leadership Resilience Through Collaboration and Community
Dear UCEA,
The 2025 UCEA Annual Convention brought together educational leaders, scholars, and graduate students in San Juan, Puerto Rico to share research, strengthen practice, and deepen community. Guided by the theme Fostering Leadership Resilience Through Collaboration and Community / Fomentando la Resiliencia de Liderazgo a través de Colaboración y Comunidad, the Convention centered the importance of collective care, meaningful partnerships, and resilient leadership in a complex educational landscape.
Across plenary sessions, capacity-building opportunities, research presentations, and informal moments of connection, participants explored how collaboration and community can sustain leaders, advance equity, and strengthen educational systems. We are grateful to everyone who contributed their time, ideas, and presence to make the 2025 Convention a powerful space for learning and belonging.
Below, you’ll find a space for Convention photos—once albums are available, you can link them here so members can revisit highlights from the week.
Stay UCEAwesome,
UCEA Headquarters Staff and the 2025 Convention Planning Committee
Convention Photos
General Sessions Highlights
Opening General Session
From Colonial Legacies to Collaborative Leadership
We extend our sincere gratitude to Patricia Virella for delivering a powerful and deeply contextualized Opening General Session at the 2025 UCEA Annual Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This keynote examined how historical legacies, policy shifts, and community leadership intersect to shape educational resilience in Puerto Rico.
By centering community voice and collaborative leadership, this session grounded the Convention in place-based understanding and set a reflective and purposeful tone for the days that followed.
General Session II
Elevating Practitioner Voices
General Session II highlighted the lived experiences of practitioners working across diverse educational contexts. Panelists shared how collaboration, relationship-building, and culturally grounded leadership practices foster resilience within schools and communities.
This session reinforced the importance of bridging research and practice, emphasizing that sustainable leadership is strengthened through shared learning and collective action.
General Session III
UCEA Presidential Address: Kasserian Ingera de la Comunidad
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to UCEA President Karen Stansberry Beard for an inspiring Presidential Address that centered leadership preparation as a collective responsibility grounded in care, community, and justice.
Drawing on Indigenous and global knowledge traditions, the address invited the UCEA community to reflect on how leadership can nurture student well-being, strengthen community ties, and sustain resilience across contexts.
WATCH GENERAL SESSION III VIDEO
Jackson Scholars Network
Celebrating the Jackson Scholars Network Research Convocation
We are proud to highlight the Jackson Scholars Network Research Convocation at the 2025 UCEA Annual Convention. This gathering showcased the scholarly contributions of Jackson Scholars and created space for rich dialogue, critical feedback, and collective learning across research communities.
The Convocation reflected UCEA’s ongoing commitment to advancing equity-oriented scholarship and supporting scholars whose work addresses pressing issues in educational leadership, policy, and practice.
Julie Laible Memorial Session for New UCEA Jackson Scholars
The Julie Laible Memorial Session for New UCEA Jackson Scholars was a meaningful and reflective gathering that honored Julie Laible’s legacy while welcoming the newest cohort of Jackson Scholars into the UCEA community.
This session affirmed the importance of mentorship, community, and collective responsibility in nurturing emerging leaders committed to educational equity and justice.
Barbara L. Jackson Scholars Recognition Ceremony and Reception
We were honored to celebrate the Barbara L. Jackson Scholars during the Recognition Ceremony and Reception at the 2025 Convention. This event recognized scholars’ achievements and their ongoing contributions to the field of educational leadership.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in uplifting and celebrating the excellence, commitment, and impact of the Barbara L. Jackson Scholars.
WATCH Jackson Scholars Recognition Ceremony
Special Events
UCEA 2025 Awards Luncheon
The UCEA community gathered to honor the 2025 UCEA Awards recipients at the annual Awards Luncheon. This event celebrated outstanding leadership, scholarship, and service across the UCEA community.
We extend our appreciation to the presenters, honorees, and attendees who made this luncheon a memorable and meaningful celebration.
UCEA Past Presidents Reception
The Past Presidents Reception provided a welcoming space for connection, reflection, and celebration of leadership across generations within UCEA.
We are grateful to all who joined us in honoring the contributions and legacies of UCEA’s past presidents while strengthening community ties.
UCEA Committee Fireside Chat
The UCEA Committee Fireside Chat offered an opportunity for open conversation and shared reflection on issues shaping the organization and the broader field of educational leadership.
Thank you to the Executive Committee members and attendees whose engagement made this session both thoughtful and collaborative.
UCEA–Wallace Foundation Symposium on Educational Leadership
The UCEA–Wallace Foundation Symposium explored themes of equity, culturally responsive leadership, and leadership development across the professional trajectory of school principals.
This session highlighted research-informed perspectives and invited participants to consider how policy, preparation, and practice can be aligned to advance equitable leadership.
UCEA Annual Banquet
The 2025 UCEA Annual Banquet brought the community together for an evening of celebration, connection, and shared joy. Attendees enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere that reflected the spirit and creativity of the UCEA community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in closing the Convention with such a memorable celebration.