José-Luis Riera, Vice President for Student Life, has been selected as chair of the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference, the premier gathering of student affairs professionals in the country. The conference will be held March 7–11, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

As chair, Riera will guide the strategic direction and programming of the event, hosted by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), which attracts thousands of student affairs leaders worldwide.

“This is an extraordinary honor, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our profession at such a meaningful level,” Riera said. “Student affairs has always been about empowering students and communities to thrive. The 2026 conference will be a space to celebrate our impact and critically examine the ways we must continue to grow and adapt.”

The conference will focus on elevating the role of student affairs in institutional strategy, centering the people who make this work possible, and developing new pathways for student success. All areas that reflect Riera’s leadership. Since becoming Vice President in 2018, he has advanced initiatives that expand mental health resources and use data-informed practices to better support UD’s diverse student body.

“Dr. Riera’s leadership continues to elevate the student experience at the University of Delaware, and this national appointment is a testament to the impact he’s made,” said Interim President Laura Carlson.

“This is not just a recognition of my work, but it is also a recognition of the incredible things we are building at UD,” Riera said.

More information about the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference is available at https://events.naspa.org/e/2026-naspa-annual-conference