I genuinely love the idea of professional conferences. Rooms filled with other people who speak the same strange language of your current occupation. Piles of glossy printed materials and fun swag to stuff in your branded totebag. Traveling around the country (or world)–or at least to the large event spaces around the country/world. But then the blinding glare of the flourescent light starts to normalize and reality kicks in. Too many sessions to choose from.

Overuse of buzzwords by presenters and your fellow conference-goers. Awkward group lunches (particularly if you, like me, have any degree of social anxiety and are terrible at “work appropriate” small talk). Being stuck inside for days on end breathing recycled air…

Needless to say, I was both excited and terrified to attend my first AAHE annual meeting this past June. Normally in larger convenings I’m able to choose when I could be visible or anonymous. With the AAHE convening, it would be just a small group of people whom I’d never met or even communicated with via email. Would there be a Rocky Horror Picture Show -style initiation ritual

All of my fears/concerns about the event quickly vanished before even setting foot in the first event venue. Chatting awkwardly with other attendees on the shuttle from our hotel to the Logan Center affirmed that I should stop worrying; AAHEians are warm, friendly folks who are excited to take a newbie in under their wing.

Within the first few seconds (yes, seconds) of the opening session I couldn’t believe that it had taken this long to find this group! It was remarkable to hear about all of the other arts programs taking place around the country–their similarities and differences to my own–as well as the common struggles we all faced at our respective institutions.

Now that I have one national meeting under my belt (#expert) I want to pay it forward for the soon-to-be-newbies with some helpful tips:

1. Be your authentic self: AAHE is a small group–there’s no room for posing. Our schools may have friendly (or not so friendly) rivalries, but we arts administrators in higher education need to stick together and lift each other up. AAHE is also a very casual group; don’t feel obligated to wear your finest “business casual” (but maybe save your lime green wedges for another event–see #2.)
2. Comfy shoes: Our particular meeting agenda involved a lot of walking and climbing stairs. (I easily hit my 10k step goal each of the two days.) Make sure that you’re ready to move around and schlep all your stuff with you. If you have mobility needs let your meeting host know (if not already prompted in the RSVP.)
3. Ask questions: One of the things I regret from this year’s meeting is not asking one simple question at the start of the event. To me it felt silly–the kind of thing I was supposed to know working in the arts (#impostersyndrome). No one in AAHE is expected to be perfect, all-knowing folks. Everyone is there to learn from each other and share/steal ideas. Ask that seemingly silly question.
4. Take time for yourself: The small, intimate nature of the AAHE national meeting can be overwhelming on many fronts: socially, intellectually, physically (#somanystairs #logancenter). Take a few minutes at least once a day for stillness. Your brain and body need time to absorb all of the information and relationships in which you’re immersed.
5. Stay in touch with the people you met: The point of attending AAHE is to establish and deepen connections within our niche (but growing) field. Keep the conversation going, whether it’s on the group forums, via email, phone, or at smaller regional gatherings.

I hope to see you at a future AAHE event!