For this conference, we invite faculty and students to reflect on how change and innovation have shaped their teaching, classrooms, and university experiences. Change is inevitable—how can we continue to teach, support, and inspire one another amidst the ongoing evolution of higher education? In this dynamic social and educational climate, how can family science educators serve as agents of change—both inside and outside the classroom? What role can we play in fostering resilience, equity, and innovation within our institutions and communities? We are teaching at a time in history when things are rapidly changing, our responsibilities are expanding, and it often feels like society and our place in the world is morphing right before our eyes.
Navigating Changes – How are you managing University changes (budget cuts, increased responsibilities, expanding workloads, greater demands, etc.)? How have changes affected your program, your classes, and your work/life balance?
Students Changing – Our student population is evolving and changing. What new challenges and opportunities does the current generation of students pose (new learning styles, life experiences, support needs)? Has the increase in non-traditional students influenced your classroom strategies, policies, and interactions? Have you noticed a rise in mental health concerns such as trauma, anxiety, and the need for accommodation among your students? How do you adjust your pedagogy to account for the changing demographics and needs of students?
Technological Changes – Lastly, how we deliver classes and course material is changing, as the use of innovative technology has become the norm. Do you teach online, Hybrid, and ITV classes? Do you have e-office hours, live web-based discussions? What videoconferencing platforms have you found most useful? Share your best practices with us. Given the current societal climate, how can family science faculty reshape teaching and learning and be agents for change (in/out of the classroom)?
Conference Registration Information
2026 Teaching Family Science Conference Registration:
Registration prices include breakfast and lunch on conference days, as well as an evening boat excursion with dinner.
- $350 — non-member conference registration
- $325 — current member conference registration ($25 member discount)
- $375 — current member registration + 1 year conference renewal
- $175 — student registration (includes conference meals, boat tour dinner, and 1 year of FSA membership). Current undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students only. Must provide proof of enrollment.
To check your Family Science Association membership status, you can log in to your member account here.
Please review the Conference Code of Conduct and Duty of Care before registering for this event.
Travel and Accommodations
Location: Our 2026 conference will take place in beautiful Wilmington, NC. Downtown Wilmington has a wide array of local eateries, breweries & distilleries, as well as pubs, shops, and museums. Visitors can also enjoy the Battleship North Carolina, Cape Fear Riverboats, and the Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure beaches.
Travel: The nearest airport is Wilmington International Airport (ILM), located 7 miles away and approximately 8 -10 minutes from Hotel Ballast. A complimentary airport shuttle is available from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm by calling the hotel on arrival for a shuttle pick-up.
Accommodations: The conference will be held at Hotel Ballast Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Located on the pedestrian-friendly Wilmington Riverwalk, Hotel Ballast offers a prime downtown location. Footsteps from the hotel are two miles of waterfront scenery featuring outdoor cafes, 200 nearby shops, narrated tours, and stunning sunsets. Hotel amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, a library and study, an art gallery, a 24-hr fitness studio with Precor® training equipment, an outdoor swimming pool, a concierge, and 24-hr sundries. There are two on-site restaurants: Board and Barrell Coastal Kitchen and Sugo Italian Steakhouse, plus a coffee shop, Buffalo Bayou Coffee.
Room rates are $179 historic or $214 river for single/double occupancy. There is an additional $10.00 fee for each additional adult beyond two per room. Please note that the tax/fees for Hotel Ballast Tapestry Collection by Hilton are currently 13%. The conference rate will be available for shoulder dates prior to and after the event, depending on availability.
Parking fees: Overnight Parking $22.00/day; Valet Parking $27.00/day. Based on business demands at the time of the event, parking in the lots is not guaranteed for non-overnight guests. Additional parking facilities are available across the street & close by.
Conference Proposal Submissions
Conference proposal submissions are now closed.
Proposal submissions should include the following:
- Type of proposal (paper or poster)
- Title of proposal
- Information for all authors: Name, Title, Affiliation, Email, ORCID number (if applicable)
- A short abstract (150 words) that includes the issue, significance, and how the proposal aligns with the conference theme
- A long proposal (600 words or less, not including charts/tables/graphs) that includes ways to address the issue/proposed solutions, research questions, innovative content, assessment or theoretical model, analyses, preliminary findings, contributions to the field, implications for research and teaching practices, content, activities and/or assessment.
- References page (upload)
- Optional: Charts, tables, graphs
Student Poster Award
- Two Student Poster Awards will be recognized at the conference, one for the best undergraduate proposal and one for the best graduate proposal.
- Proposals must be submitted by the deadline and indicate on the submission that the first author is a student.
- A Student Poster Award committee will evaluate proposals and choose the winners.
- Student awardees will be contacted by March 1st.
- Winners will receive complimentary conference registration and will be formally recognized during the event.
Please note that at least one author from the submission must register for the conference. Failure to register may result in the cancellation of your presentation.
Conference Committee and Policies
Conference Co-Chairs:
- Dr. Meeshay Williams-Wheeler mwwheele@ncat.edu
- Teresa Brooks Taylor, MA, HS-BCP taylort@mail.etsu.edu
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations on or before April 10th, 2026 will receive a 50% refund.
No refunds are available after April 10, 2026, however, the registration can be transferred to another attendee without any fees. To change registration, email us at webmaster@familyscienceassociation.org
Code of Conduct/Conference Policy:
The Teaching Family Science conference is an inclusive space where Family Science colleagues can share and inspire innovative and creative approaches to teaching, learning, and practice. The smaller nature of our conference allows for discussion, reflection, and sharing of feedback, and it is our hope and expectation that this format leads to mutual respect in knowledge creation within a diverse community.
The Family Science Association Executive Board has created a Conference Code of Conduct in order to clarify expectations for attendees.
COVID-19 Statement:
As of now, the conference organizers do not expect that COVID-19 will interfere with conference proceedings. However, the pandemic has taught us that public health situations and considerations are dynamic – often in unexpected ways. Please know that the conference organizers recognize this and will be as transparent and communicative as possible in the event of unexpected changes to conference protocols. There is a possibility that attendees may be asked to adhere to additional health and safety protocols as required by the hotel or the conference organizers to provide a comfortable and safe atmosphere. If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to the conference organizers at conference@familyscienceassociation.org.
Please read through the Conference Duty of Care Statement for more information about expectations regarding potential public health considerations.
