Conference Themes and Chairs
| Year | Theme | Chair | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Changes in Higher Education: From Surviving to Thriving | Carey Roberts, Dean of Online Programs, College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2022 | The Evolving Roles in Academic Leadership | Hal Strough, Dean of the College of Health and Wellness, Northwestern Health Sciences University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2021 | Preparing for the Future: What's Ahead for Academic Leadership | Lupita Murillo Tinnen, Dean of Academic Affairs, Collin College | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2020 | CANCELLED due to COVID-19 | ||
| 2019 | Collaborative Leadership: Working Together on Common Goals | Carmen Burkhalter, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Alabama | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2018 | It's All About the Students | Nicole McZeal Walters, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, University of St, Thomas | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2017 | Leading from the Middle | Jeff Robertson, Dean of the College of Natural & Health Sciences, Arkansas Tech University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2016 | Meeting the Needs of Today's Students | Chris Boyett, Vice Chancellor, Arkansas State University-Heber Springs and Roger Schultz, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, Liberty Univesrity | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2015 | Making Connections, Building Partnerships | Judy Fellows, Associate Dean, College of Health & Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Louisiana at Monroe | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2014 | Dealing with an Era of Change in Communication and Regulation | Katherine Krieg, Dean, School of Arts, Sciences & Health professions, Our Lady of the Lake College and Merribeth Bruning, Dean, Huckabee School of Education, Ouachita Baptist University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2013 | Leading with Integrity and Accountability | James Machell, Dean, College of Education and Professional Studies, University of Central Oklahoma | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2012 | Leadership in the 21st Century | Ed Ericson, VPAA John Brown University and Sherilyn Emberton, Provost and VPAA East Texas Baptist University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2011 | The Dean | Bette Midgarden, VPAA, Minnesota State University, Moorhead | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2010 | Sustainability In The Academy: Best Practices for Deans | John M. Peek, Provost and Senior Vice President Glenville State College, West Virginia | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2009 | The Promotion of Quality Within and Beyond Campus Borders | Jimmy Ishee, Dean, College of Health Sciences, Texas Woman | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2008 | Emerging Challenges in the Academy | Travis Thompson, Dean, College of Sciences, Harding University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2007 | Building Bridges, Building Teams: Issues of Change for Academic Leaders | Hal W. Fulmer, Associate Provost/Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Troy University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2006 | Instructional Technology for Today | Jeff Arrington, Assistant Provost for Student Learning, Abilene Christian University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2005 | Developing and Evaluating The Dean | Lorene Stone, Dean, College of Humanities and Public Affairs, Missouri State University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2004 | Enhancing Quality with Limited Resources | Colleen Durrington, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Abilene Christian University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2003 | Creative Solutions in Changing Academic Environments | Robert Houston, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Henderson State University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2002 | Balancing Excellence and Access in Higher Education | Michael Westerfield, Provost, Rochester College (MI) | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2001 | Renewing the Deanship: Clarifying Values, Strengthening Outcomes | James O. Standley, Dean, College of Applied Arts and Sciences, Stephen F. Austin State University | University of Central Arkansas |
| 2000 | Preserving Quality in the Academy | Bill Little, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Southwest Baptist University | Texas Woman's University |
| 1999 | Deans as Managers, Collaborators, Traitors: Addressing and Managing Change | Martin Johnson, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Missouri Western State College | Texas Woman's University |
| 1998 | Changing Paradigms: From Teaching to Learning | Jeanine Varner, VPAA, Oklahoma Christian University | University of Memphis |
| 1997 | The Academic Dean as a Custodian of Credibility | Lamar Johanson, Dean, Arts & Sciences, Tarleton State University (TX) | University of Memphis |
| 1996 | Building Quality | Leonard Schulze, VPAA and Dean, Texas Lutheran College | University of Memphis |
| 1995 | Growing the College: From Faculty to Funds, From Curricula to Culture | Wilkes Berry, Associate Provost, Texas Women | University of Memphis |
| 1994 | Assessment in Higher Education: Path To Innovation or Road to Conformity? (last meeting at Oklahoma State University) | Glenn H. Bernet, Jr., Vice President of Academic Affairs Evangel University (MO) | Oklahoma State University |
| 1993 | Preparing Administrators of Today For University of Tomorrow | Dick Cording, Dean College of Liberal Arts, Sam Houston State University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1992 | Renewal Personal, Institutional, Intellectual: Passages in a Dean's Life | Annette Chappell, Dean, Liberal Arts, Towson State University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1991 | Endangered Species: The Dean in a Time of Transition | Don Looser, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Houston Baptist University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1990 | Keeping the Deans Human: Balancing Conflicting Demands | Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., Dean, Arts and Sciences, University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff | Oklahoma State University |
| 1989 | Assessment in Higher Education: Tool of Enhancement or Harassment? | E. Don Williams, Academic Dean, Lubbock Christian College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1988 | Higher Education and the Public Schools: Allies or Antagonists? | Cal Ledbetter, Dean, Arts and Sciences, University of Arkansas - Little Rock | Oklahoma State University |
| 1987 | The Economics of Higher Education | John Churchill, Dean of the College and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Hendrix College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1986 | The Deans and the Students of Tomorrow | John H. Wakeley, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Memphis State University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1985 | Education for the Twenty-First Century: The Professorate, Curricula, and Applied Technology | George T. Tade, Dean, School of Fine Arts, Texas Christian University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1984 | The Role of the Dean in the Search for Educational Excellence | James V. Reese, Dean, Stephen F. Austin State University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1983 | Qualities of Academic Leadership | William J. Watt, Dean, Washington and Lee University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1982 | Funding Realities vs. Academic Quality | C. K. (Bud) Williamson, Dean, Miami University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1981 | The Dean and the Students of the Eighties | Charles E. Martin, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mississippi College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1980 | Academic Job Satisfaction Varieties and Values | Jane F. Earley, Dean, Mankato State University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1979 | Revising the Dean's Sights of the Four R's | A. L. Langvardt, Hastings College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1978 | Liberal Education vs. Career Education: Antagonists or Bedfellows? | Thomas B. Brewer, Dean, East Carolina University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1977 | The Job of the Dean: Present and Future | Lawrence L. Graves, Dean, Texas Tech University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1976 | Faculty Development | C. Robert Haywood, Washburn University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1975 | Problems and Potentialities of Lifelong Learning | Adrian H. Danne, Dean, University of Missouri, Rolla | Oklahoma State University |
| 1974 | New Pressures on the Dean | Dan T. Bedsole, Provost and Dean Austin College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1973 | Evaluating Performance | William L. Stamey, Dean, Kansas State University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1972 | Achieving Academic Quality with Reduced Budgets | Robert H. Farber, Dean, DePauw University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1971 | Accountability | Joe P. Harris, Dean, Southern Methodist University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1970 | Decision-Making on the Campus | Harold J. Haverkamp, Dean, Hanover College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1969 | Changing Roles in the Academic Community | Elsworth P. Woods, Dean, Drake University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1968 | The Challenge of the Next Decade | Robert P. Ashley, Vice President, Ripon University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1967 | Organizational Structures for Improved Intercommunications | Karl E. Limper, Dean, Miami University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1966 | Campus Conflict and Confluence | Leo L. Nussbaum, Dean, Austin College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1965 | Tomorrows Teachers and Professors: Our Responsibility | Alfred R. Neumann, Dean, University of Houston | Oklahoma State University |
| 1964 | The Role of the Academic Dean | Emerson Shuck, Dean, Ohio Wesleyan University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1963 | The Campus Intellectual Climate | Ivan B. Stone, Dean, Beloit College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1962 | Unity and Diversity in Higher Education | Robert B. Kamm, Dean, Oklahoma State University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1961 | Direction in Higher Education, Our Responsibility | H. B. Smith, Dean, Hardin Simmons University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1960 | Building Basic Values | William L. Dunn, Dean, Lake Forest College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1959 | The Excitement of Learning | Frank W. Clippinger, Dean, Drury College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1958 | Evaluation of Student Achievement | Merrill Patterson, Dean, Marietta College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1957 | What is Effective Training? | E. Ray McCartney, Dean, Kansas State College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1956 | Plans and Specifications for Meeting the Challenges of the Next Decade | W. Francis English, Dean, University of Missouri | Oklahoma State University |
| 1955 | The Dean in Initiating and Shaping Institutional Policy | Ernest G. Hildner, Jr., Dean, Illinois College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1954 | The Functions of the Dean: His Duties and Relationships | Wendel S. Dysinger, Dean, Mac Murray College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1953 | The Challenge of the Gifted Student | Emil Leffler, Dean, Albion College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1952 | Emerging Patterns in Higher Education | Emil Leffler, Dean, Albion College | Oklahoma State University |
| 1951 | Defining, Activating, and Evaluating Institutional Objectives | Sidney Hook, Professor Psychology, New York University | Oklahoma State University |
| 1950 | The Evaluation and Improvement of Teaching | Russell M. Cooper, Assistant Dean, College of Science, Literature and the Arts - University of Minnesota | Oklahoma State University |
| 1949 | The Human Element in College Director and University Administration | Dexter M. Keezer, Department of Economics, McGraw-Hill Book Company | Oklahoma State University |
| 1948 | Implementing the General Education Program | Clyde M. Hill, Chairman Department of Education, Yale University Graduate School | Oklahoma State University |
| 1941 | Problems of the Dean | Charles Prall, Commission on Teacher Education, American Council on Education | Oklahoma State University |