Call for Proposals

There are two opportunities for presenting at the 2027 AKA Leadership Workshop: 

1) Presentation at one of the concurrent Pre-Workshop sessions (Undergraduate Education Network and Graduate Education Network)
2) Poster presentation at the Leadership Workshop

Submissions will be accepted until September 14, 2026. The Program Committees will review the submissions, and presenters will be notified of acceptance. Please note, you may submit more than one presentation (keeping in mind that the pre-workshops run concurrently).

NOTE: If you are accepted as a presenter, you must be prepared to pay for registration, travel, and hotel accommodations on your own. AKA does not provide waived or discounted registration for presenters.

All presenters must be registered for the workshop or pre-workshop in which they are presenting. You can present as a Non-Member, but will be required to pay the Non-Member Registration Fee.

2027 AKA Leadership Workshop Poster Session

AKA Theme:  The Impact of Technology on the Future of Kinesiology

Theme Overview: Rapid advances in technology (e.g., artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality applications, wearable technology, etc.) have the potential to impact numerous aspects of kinesiology education and research in the near future. The purpose of this workshop is to explore these technological advances in detail to prepare current and aspiring leaders in kinesiology with best practices for a promising future.

Date:               Thursday, January 28, 2027

Time:               5:30 PM – 6:30pm (CST)

Call:              We are seeking engaging and forward-facing poster proposals that address the application of novel technologies in kinesiology, including (but not limited to):

1. Student success, mentoring/advising, retention and time to graduation (Undergraduate and/or graduate)
2. Faculty hiring, recruitment, retention, and mentoring
3. Faculty success related to student development (e.g., teaching learning, advising strategies), scholarly impact (e.g., research advancement, community engagement), and staff development and effectiveness
4. Online education
5. Student experiences (e.g., study abroad, community engagement, research)
6. Strategic planning for faculty and student success (e.g., unit, college, program assessment, external accreditation, outcomes from processes)

Guidelines:      Proposals should be connected to the theme of the workshop and include:

1. Title
2. Name, institutional affiliation, and e-mail address of author(s)
3. Description of the poster presentation (up to 150 words).

Submission:   Proposals are due by September 14, 2026

If you have questions, please contact the program chair, Damon Andrew (dandrew@fsu.edu)

Note: If accepted, the dimensions of your poster should be no larger than 44 x 44

2027 AKA Graduate Education Network Pre-Workshop

AKA Theme: The Impact of Technology on the Future of Kinesiology

Date:               Thursday, January 28, 2027

Time:               2:00 PM – 5:00pm (CST)

Call:               The 2027 AKA Graduate Education Network Pre-Workshop will explore the following topic:

Technology and the Future of Graduate Education in Kinesiology: Recruitment, Innovation, Career Pathways, and Mentorship

We are seeking interactive and engaging proposals that explore the impact of technology on graduate education in kinesiology and address one or more of the following topics:

1. Graduate enrollment, recruitment, retention, and student funding
2. Innovative graduate program structures and delivery models
3. Career pathways and professional development beyond traditional professions
4. Faculty mentorship, advising, and graduate student success

Guidelines:      Successful proposals will include:

1. Description of the presentation (150 words). Presentations time will vary based on number of accepted abstracts.
2. Two (2) learning outcomes for session participants

Submission:   Proposals are due by September 14, 2026

If you have questions, please contact the Graduate Education Network Chair, Matthew Mahar (mmahar@sdsu.edu).

2027 AKA Undergraduate Education Network Pre-Workshop

AKA Theme: The Impact of Technology on the Future of Kinesiology

Date:               Thursday, January 28, 2027

Time:               2:00 PM – 5:00pm (CST)

Call:               The 2027 AKA Undergraduate Education Network Pre-Workshop will explore the following topic:

The Future of Undergraduate Education in Kinesiology: Innovative Pathways, Career Preparation, and Program Growth

Undergraduate kinesiology programs are being asked to respond to changing student interests, workforce needs, enrollment pressures, accreditation requirements, and new educational technologies. We are seeking interactive and engaging proposals that examine how programs are addressing these challenges and preparing for the future. Proposals may address one or more of the following topics:

1. Accelerated and integrated degree pathways, including the benefits and challenges of developing 4+1, B.S./M.S., and related programs
2. Diverse career pathways for kinesiology graduates, including how programs can prepare students for careers beyond the traditional physical therapy pathway
3. Professional accreditation and credentialing, including the opportunities, challenges, and implications associated with CAAHEP/CoAES and NSCA/CASCE accreditation
4. Undergraduate recruitment, enrollment, and retention, including strategies for attracting students to kinesiology and supporting their progress toward graduation
5. Online and technology-enhanced education, including AI and effective approaches to pedagogy, student engagement, experiential learning, and assessment

Guidelines:      Successful proposals will include:

1. Description of the presentation (150 words). Presentation time and format will vary based on number of accepted abstracts.
2. Two (2) learning outcomes for session participants

Submission: Proposals are due by September 14, 2026

If you have questions, please contact the Undergraduate Education Network Chair, Brandon Alderman (alderman@kines.rutgers.edu).