Franke Honors Presents Recent Successes at 2025 NCHC Conference
From undergraduate research to community engagement, transformative programs are shaping the future of Honors education.
In early November, a group of Franke Honors students, faculty, and staff attended the 2025 National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) Conference in San Diego, CA. The theme of this year’s conference was Charting Partnerships and Collaborations to Inspire Honors, celebrating 60 years of the council.
NCHC brings together Honors educators and students to share innovative pedagogy, research, and community-building strategies. Over 100 Honors programs and colleges from across the United States attended the conference in San Diego.
"The best part of NCHC was seeing how deeply all of these programs care about student experience,” said Dr. Robert Stephan, Franke Honors Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Dr. Stephan and Dr. Trevor Hedberg, Franke Honors Assistant Professor of Practice, presented the interdisciplinary work happening in several Franke Honors courses: HNRS 216-001: Living Poetry / The Poet's Life & Work, HNRS 195J-004: Personal Finance: Lessons in Patience and Frugality, and HNRS 203H-001: Art & Borders. Each course provides opportunities for students to experience hands-on learning and engage with complex problems, as well as collaborating with campus and community partners. Stephan and Hedberg discussed concrete strategies for attendees in designing student-centered, transdisciplinary projects in their own Honors courses.
"It was clear from interacting with faculty, staff, and students at NCHC that what we offer in the W.A. Franke Honors College is really unique and impactful — even in comparison to other honors programs around the country," said Dr. Hedberg. "I believe our continuing efforts to grow our programs in Health and Human Values, Creative Intelligence and Innovation, Civic Leadership, and Future Earth Resilience will only make us stand out further."
Faculty members Dr. Nadia Alvarez Mexia and Kat Riesing, along with staff Tere Weiler, also led a session at the conference showcasing the Franke Honors Bridging Borders series, an ongoing project that has created and sustained meaningful spaces for Arts & Humanities students in Honors at the University of Arizona. Since fall 2024, the team has secured funding for students to lead workshops, exhibitions, and artistic initiatives which cultivated partnerships and collaborations among their fellow students, staff, and faculty. Projects have included tortilla press printmaking, an augmented reality/photography exhibition, zine workshops, artist panels, and more.
In addition to faculty and staff presentations, Franke Honors students Gabi Arroyo and Andrea Hernandez had the opportunity to share their perspectives as involved students in HSI initiatives.
"NCHC is a great platform while strengthening our presence as part of the national Honors community," said Dr. Alvarez Mexia, co-founder of the HSI-Honors Consortium at the University of Arizona. "It was truly inspirational to observe the participation of Franke Honors students, share time with colleagues from this and other colleges, and present our efforts in creating unique opportunities, including leading national initiatives such as the HSI-Honors Consortium in collaboration with other institutional partners."
Both Arroyo and Hernandez have worked closely with Dr. Alvarez Mexia regarding the HSI-Honors Consortium.
"One of the most impactful sessions I attended was one where Gabi and I discussed important honors topics with a room full of deans. Even though we were among the few students present, our perspectives were valued, and I learned that my voice carries power and deserves to be heard," said Hernandez.
Hernandez also serves as President of the student group Nepantla, and participated in a panel session where faculty, staff, and students had the opportunity to learn, reflect, and share practices and ideas about Honors colleges and programs in HSIs. She shared how student organizations like Nepantla strengthen the sense of belonging within honors communities and serve as a vital resource for Hispanic and multicultural identities in honors education.
"Engaging in conferences like NCHC helps cement Franke as the premier Honors college in the country,” continued Dr. Stephan. “With everything from transdisciplinary academic programs to cutting edge mentoring programs, we're not just participating in the conversation, we’re leading it.”
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