By Leanna Payton
A friend and colleague told me at the last SWACUHO annual conference in February 2026, "You thrive at conferences."
The more I thought about it, the more I realized she was right.
Conferences have played an incredibly significant role in my personal and professional journey. Some of my closest friendships, greatest mentors, leadership opportunities, and favorite memories have all come from conference experiences.
Recently, I had the opportunity to discuss this topic on the Arkansas Student Affairs Association podcast, and it made me reflect on why conferences have always meant so much to me.
I realized that I don't simply attend conferences.
I experience them. I invest in them.
And because of that, they have invested back into me.
It All Started in 2011
I attended my first SWACUHO conference in 2011 as a graduate student. At the time, I had no idea how much that experience would impact my career.
That year, I had the opportunity to present and was fortunate enough to receive Program of the Year. That recognition led to another incredible opportunity: attending the ACUHO-I conference and presenting there.
As a graduate student, those experiences were transformative.
I met professionals who would later become mentors and friends.
I built relationships with colleagues who are still some of my closest friends today.
I began to see the possibilities within our profession and the importance of professional involvement.
Most importantly, I found community.
Looking back now, I realize that conference was not simply an event I attended. It was a defining moment in my professional journey.
Fifteen years later, I have had the privilege of serving in numerous leadership roles and now serve as the Arkansas State Director for SWACUHO. If my first conference taught me anything, it is this: you never know where one conference experience may lead.
Remember Why You're There
It can be easy to become focused on the schedule, educational sessions, and checking off professional development requirements. While those things are important, conferences are so much more than that.
Conferences are opportunities to grow.
They allow us to step away from our campuses and intentionally pour into ourselves so that we can return better leaders, supervisors, colleagues, and professionals.
Some of the most impactful lessons I have learned did not come from a PowerPoint presentation. They came from conversations in hallways, meals shared with colleagues, and hearing someone else's story.
Don't Just Attend—Get Involved
One of the biggest pieces of advice I shared on the Arkansas Student Affairs Association podcast was this:
Do not simply attend conferences.
Get involved.
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Volunteer
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Present
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Serve on committees
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Help with conference planning
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Apply for leadership positions
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Network with others
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Meet and build relationships with corporate partners
Some of the greatest opportunities in my career happened because I chose involvement over attendance.
Organizations like SWACUHO and the Arkansas Student Affairs Association have provided opportunities that have shaped me both personally and professionally. Through these experiences, I have been able to lead, serve, and give back to a profession that has given so much to me.
When you become involved, conferences become more than annual events. They become communities.
Put Yourself Out There
One of the biggest pieces of advice I give to first-time attendees is simple: talk to people.
Do not spend the entire conference with the colleagues you traveled with from your university.
I know it feels comfortable, but some of the best relationships I have built started because I sat at a different table, introduced myself to someone new, or stayed after a session to continue a conversation.
Housing and student affairs are relationship-driven professions.
The person sitting beside you today may become:
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A future mentor
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A collaborator
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A supervisor
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A presenter
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A lifelong friend
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An employee
You simply never know.
Be Where Your Feet Are
One of my favorite reminders is to "be where your feet are."
The emails will still be there. The work will be waiting on us. Allow yourself to be fully present.
Some of the best conference moments happen in the spaces between sessions, at breakfast, in the exhibit hall, or at social activities.
Those moments matter.
Say Yes
Some of the greatest opportunities in my career happened because I said yes.
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Yes to presenting
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Yes to volunteering
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Yes to leadership opportunities
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Yes to meeting new people
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Yes to stepping outside my comfort zone
Conferences have a way of opening doors when we are willing to walk through them. You do not have to know everyone. You do not have to know anyone. You do not have to have all the answers.
You simply have to be willing.
Give More Than You Take
I firmly believe conferences should not only be about what we can gain. They should also be about what we can give.
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Encourage first-time attendees
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Make introductions
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Share resources
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Celebrate others
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Help someone feel like they belong
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Be genuine
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Be grateful for the opportunity.
Many of us are where we are today because someone took the time to invest in us. We should strive to do the same for others.
Follow Up
Do not let the relationships end when the conference does.
Some of my most meaningful professional relationships began at conferences and continued long after everyone returned home.
That is where the real value often lies.
The People Are the Magic
Years from now, I probably will not remember every session I attended or every handout I received.
But I will remember the people.
I will remember the mentors who encouraged me. I will remember the colleagues who became friends.
I will remember the conversations that challenged me to think differently.
I will remember the opportunities that changed the trajectory of my career.
That is why I love conferences so much.
If I truly thrive at conferences, it is because I show up intentionally.
I choose to be involved. I invest in relationships. I say yes to opportunities.
I allow myself to fully experience everything a conference has to offer.
So my advice is simple:
Do not just attend your next conference.
Experience it.
Get involved.
Meet people.
Be present.
Say yes.
Because the true magic of conferences has never been the conference itself.
It has always been the people.
Leanna Payton
Director of Housing & Community Standards at Henderson State University
