The Hope Institute Co-Sponsors the 3rd Annual Character Convening

Participants from 18 higher education institutions from around the United States recently attended a two day Higher Education Character Convening in Orange Beach, Alabama to deepen their knowledge of character development and to network with faculty from other higher education institutions.  The convening was sponsored by Character.org, The Hope Institute, Kern Family Foundation, and Samford University’s Orlean Beeson School of Education. The four founding universities of the convening- Lipscomb, Samford, University of Alabama, and University of Tennessee-Knoxville- planned the event to include keynote speakers, topic and research breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. 

The event’s keynote speakers included Marvin W. Berkowitz, co-director of the Center for Character and Citizenship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis; Arthur Schwartz, president of Character.org; and David Ian Walker, director of the Center for the Study of Ethical Development at the University of Alabama. Each keynote focused on a different area of character implementation in higher education.  The topic and breakout sessions were presented by conference attendees selected by a peer-reviewed convening committee. Session topics included research on character education, practical wisdom, fostering core values, leading with character, and how to infuse character into the curriculum. Every attendee at the convening played a significant role in sharing knowledge, inspiring others, and truly growing as a family. We look forward to our next “family reunion” at the 4th annual Higher Education Character Convening which is planned for Sept. 25-27, 2023, at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

written by Dr. Kara Chism