Publicly Engaged Solutions to 21st Century Societal Grand Challenges — Illinois Leadership and Innovation

2026 Public Engagement Summit

Agenda

Time Session Speaker
8–8:45 a.m. Registration and Networking Breakfast
8:45–8:50 a.m. Welcome Wanda E. Ward, Ph.D. Executive Associate Chancellor for Public Engagement, Office of Public Engagement
8:50–9:45 a.m. Chancellor Conversation on Public Engagement and Related Strategic Directions Charles L. Isbell, Jr., Ph.D. Chancellor
Moderator: Eva Pomerantz, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology and Gender and Women's Studies; Director, Center for Social & Behavioral Science; and Co-Chair, Illinois Strategic Planning Steering Committee
9:45–10 a.m. Overview of Summit Themes Wanda E. Ward, Ph.D. Executive Associate Chancellor for Public Engagement, Office of Public Engagement
10–10:10 a.m. Summit Roadmap Steven Anderson, Ph.D. Professor and Dean Emeritus, School of Social Work
Chancellor Senior Advisor for Public Engagement, Office of Public Engagement
10:10–10:20 a.m. Break
10:20–11:20 a.m. Breakout Session 1
Breakout presentations
Breakout themes by room

Societal Grand Challenges

Public engagement initiatives addressing complex societal issues through research and community partnership.

Rooms
Badgers Wolverines

Ethical & Sustainable Partnerships

Building strong, equitable partnerships that support long-term collaboration between universities and communities.

Rooms
Hawkeyes Hoosiers Buckeyes

Rapid Response Collaboration

How universities and community partners respond to emerging needs in rapidly changing environments.

Room
Boilermakers
11:20–11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Breakout Session 2
Breakout presentations
Breakout themes by room

Societal Grand Challenges

Public engagement initiatives addressing complex societal issues through research and community partnership.

Rooms
Badgers Wolverines

Ethical & Sustainable Partnerships

Building strong, equitable partnerships that support long-term collaboration between universities and communities.

Rooms
Hawkeyes Hoosiers

Rapid Response Collaboration

How universities and community partners respond to emerging needs in rapidly changing environments.

Room
Boilermakers

Measuring & Communicating Impact

Evaluating engagement outcomes and communicating results to demonstrate impact.

Room
Buckeyes
12:30–2 p.m. Choose Your Lunch Experience:

Buffet served in the Fighting Illini Room.
Participants may choose their preferred dining experience.

Collaborative Lunch
Fighting Illini Room
Facilitated networking and discussion tables
Facilitators:
Claudia Lutz, Ph.D. & Martin Wolske, Ph.D.
Reflective Lunch
Boilermakers Room
Self-guided engagement. Interactive poster exploration from 1:15-1:45 p.m.
2–2:30 p.m. Health Care Innovation Initiative Dr. Mark S. Cohen Dean, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Carle Health
Professor of Surgery and Biomedical and Translational Sciences
2:30–3 p.m. Re-imagining Extension Matthew Vann, Ph.D. Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences
Director, Illinois Extension
3–3:10 p.m. Break
3:10–4:10 p.m. Breakout Session 3
Breakout presentations
Breakout themes by room

Societal Grand Challenges

Public engagement initiatives addressing complex societal issues through research and community partnership.

Rooms
Badgers Wolverines

Ethical & Sustainable Partnerships

Building strong, equitable partnerships that support long-term collaboration between universities and communities.

Rooms
Hawkeyes Hoosiers

Rapid Response Collaboration

How universities and community partners respond to emerging needs in rapidly changing environments.

Room
Boilermakers

Measuring & Communicating Impact

Evaluating engagement outcomes and communicating results to demonstrate impact.

Room
Buckeyes
4:10–4:20 p.m. Break
4:20–4:30 p.m. Future Directions in Public Engagement and Concluding Remarks Wanda E. Ward, Ph.D. Executive Associate Chancellor for Public Engagement, Office of Public Engagement
Office of Public Engagement
504 Swanlund Administration Building
601 E. John St., MC-304
Champaign, Illinois 61820
(217) 333-3378
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