Join us Monday, January 11, 2027
The Winter Conference creates dedicated space for Bates employees to invest in their own growth and well-being, while connecting with colleagues from across campus. Through shared learning and practical experiences, the Conference reinforces the value of every individual, the impact of every role, and the connections that make Bates, Better Together.
Conference Registration, through Eventbrite, will be open to all employees. Click here to register November 9 – December 4!
Our Conference
The Winter Conference is a half-day event, running twice on Monday, January 11, 2027.
When registering, employees will choose:
1) Their Time Slot: Choose either the morning or afternoon session.
2) Their Conference Focus: Select one of three learning tracks.
Continue reading for more information about each of the tracks and a detailed schedule for each session.
Our Learning Tracks
Employees will register by choosing one of three learning tracks- each available in the morning and afternoon session. Each track features two focused workshops, with everyone joining together for the opening and closing keynotes.
Community
Community is a fundamental human need that directly impacts how we function and how we thrive at work and at home. This track is designed for employees who want to break out of departmental silos, build meaningful, cross-campus connections, and understand the science of belonging.
Workshops in this track:
1) The Importance of Community: A Science-Based Approach
Join colleagues from the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning (CITL) to explore the science behind social connection. Discover evidence-backed insights into why a strong sense of belonging is essential for your overall health, well-being, and daily workplace experience.
2) The Community Exchange: Discovering your Campus Partners
Meet with campus partners from CITL, The Harward Center for Community Partnerships, Athletics, Theatre & Dance, and the Museum of Art for a dynamic community exchange. Gain valuable insight into your colleagues’ work, discover the diverse roles that shape our campus, and uncover new ways to get involved across the Bates community.
Resiliency
Resiliency is the ability to sustain yourself through the demands, challenges, and changes of life. This track is designed for employees looking for practical ways to manage their energy, navigate stress, and build habits that support their well-being over time.
Workshops in this track:
1) Fuel your Day: The Art and Science of Energy Management
Join HR colleagues Mike Milliken and Dana Bosse for an exploration into time andenergy management. Learn practical tools to manage your time and energy in sustainable ways and avoid burn out.
2) Tiny Habits, Big Changes
In this workshop, facilitated by Wellness Coach Shelby Turcotte from Shelby Trained, learn how to achieve your goals using the simple design of building tiny habits. Have a New Years goal, or wondering why you haven’t hit those goals of the past? Come learn to sustainably work towards your achievements.
Impact
Impact can be exercised in all directions. It isn’t about authority, a job title, or managing others – it’s about how we build trust, influence team dynamics, and lead from right where we are. This track is designed for employees who want to strengthen team trust, learn from campus mentors, and expand their contribution across campus.
Workshops in this track:
1) Establishing Trust by Overcoming Invulnerability
Join HR’s Lauren Danie-Briggs to explore Patrick Lencioni’s fundamental dysfunction of a team: Lack of Trust. Learn about vulnerability-based trust, what it looks like, and real ways to build it on your team. You don’t have to be a manager to build trust- come learn how.
2) The Leadership Roundtable
Join us for an open, candid discussion as campus leaders reflect on their career pathways, the skills that shaped their success, and insights you can apply to your own journey.
Our Keynote Speakers
Leigh Weisenburger
Vice President for Institutional Affairs and Secretary to the Board of Trustees
Bates College
Leigh Weisenburger oversees and supports a variety of institutional initiatives and projects on behalf of the President. As secretary to the Board of Trustees, she facilitates the strategic planning and execution of the Board’s priorities.
Prior to joining the Office of the President, Leigh worked in Admission for more than 20 years. She joined Bates Admission in 2004 and was appointed dean of admission and financial aid in 2012 – the first woman to serve in that role. Promoted to vice president of enrollment in 2021, Leigh led a team of 30 colleagues through a period of heightened national reputation and
remarkable enrollment success for Bates – repeatedly breaking application records, increasing selectivity, and broadening demographic diversity. A graduate of Smith College, Leigh majored in American Studies, captained the lacrosse team and played field hockey. Dedicated to many vital Maine institutions and organizations, Leigh is treasurer of the YWCA of Central Maine’s board of directors, a member the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute Leaders Network, the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital’s NICU Family Advisory Council, and the Chewonki Foundation’s Maine Coast Semester Advisory Committee.
David Newkirk
Co-Founder of Inner Signal
David Newkirk is a career and workplace advisor, speaker, and co-founder of Inner Signal. He works with professionals navigating workplace dissatisfaction, conflict, and career transitions, and with organizations to improve how people communicate, solve problems, and relate to one another at work.
Before co-founding Inner Signal, David spent more than 30 years in business, including senior roles at Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab and serving as a CEO and board chair. Along the way, he became increasingly interested in how differently people can experience the same situation, and how those experiences shape what happens between them.
That perspective is central to his work today. Whether someone is dealing with a difficult workplace relationship, a team struggling to communicate, or a job that no longer fits, David helps people understand the experiences and patterns shaping how they see the situation, respond to it, and affect the people around them. In his work with employees and managers across Maine state government, that approach has helped people handle difficult conversations and conflict, strengthen working relationships, and work with and lead others more effectively.
In his closing keynote, David will explore the experiences we create and receive through the ordinary moments of working life, and what can change when we become more aware of what we bring into those moments.
Bates is committed to creating an inclusive event. If you require accommodations, such as an interpreter or specific accessibility support, please reach out to Lauren Danie-Briggs, Director of Employee Experience, at 207-786-6433 or ldaniebriggs@bates.edu.