Student Conferences

Student Conferences

Welcome to AISNE Student Conferences!

AISNE student conferences create a place to center middle and high school students of color.

Hosted by AISNE member schools, these events have fostered connections, celebration, and leadership opportunities for more than 30 years.

The annual conferences lift up the voices and experiences of student identities often marginalized in independent schools and serve to build community, knowledge, and skills through workshops, keynotes, and student-to-student learning, sharing, and socializing. Students of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome to participate in the conferences. Both conferences focus on a range of issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Each conference strives to be responsive to student needs and interests; lead schools develop unique themes and learning goals annually in partnership with a Steering Committee made up of AISNE members. 

Read on to see upcoming student conferences, learn how to become a lead school, and meet our Steering Committee. If you have any questions about AISNE Student Conference, please email info@aisne.org.

AISNE’s Middle School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference

  • Starting in 2024, this conference will be offered each year on the first or second Saturday of February.
  • Workshops vary from year to year and place primary emphasis on racial equity and racial identity development. 

AISNE’s High School Students of Color Conference

  • Starting in 2024, this conference will be offered each year on the first or second Saturday of April.
  • This experience is designed with a majority of spaces and offerings for BIPOC attendees. 
  • A limited number of white allies who have the maturity and understanding of the purpose of the conference may be invited to participate in the experience.

AISNE intends for both of its student conferences to cultivate student leadership opportunities and be a positive, educational, and social experience for all participants. In coordination with the Lead Schools, AISNE encourages as many students as possible to attend these events and works carefully to ensure a safe, joyful, and inclusive conference experience.

Upcoming Conference Dates & Lead Schools

Middle School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference

  • 2025: February 8 | Regis College, Weston, MA | Info & Registration
    • Thank you to The Carroll School for serving as the Lead School!

High School Students of Color Conference

  • 2025: April 5 | Regis College, Weston, MA | Info & Registration
    • Thank you to The Cambridge School of Weston for serving as the Lead School!

Apply to Be a Lead School

Interested in applying to become a lead school? We are now accepting applications for future conferences. Fill out a Lead School Application and submit it to ray@aisne.org. Our Student Conference Steering Committee reviews all submitted applications for future years. 

Our Community Leaders 

AISNE’s Student Conferences are made possible by the generosity, hard work, and dedication of our regional community.

Ray Cross | Student Conference Coordinator
Ray Cross is Director of Community, Equity and Belonging at St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, Rhode Island. In his role as AISNE’s Student Conference Coordinator, he leads the programming, volunteer coordination, and community engagement efforts needed to make each event a vibrant and engaging learning environment for our students.

Contact Ray at ray@aisne.org.

The Student Conference Steering Committee provides general oversight of the event. Its work includes, but it is not limited to, the following:

  • Develop, administer, and update conference policies and procedures. 
  • Consider and approve the applications of prospective Lead Schools.
  • Review annual budgets from each Lead School.
  • Provide general oversight of the promotion and development of the Conferences in AISNE schools.
  • Encourage leadership and community for individual students, teachers, and schools in AISNE’s network.

2024-25 Steering Committee Members
Thank you to the following AISNE members for their service on this committee.

  • Princess Sirleaf Bomba, Director of Equity, Community & Belonging, The Wheeler School
  • Alile Eldridge, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, The Park School
  • Dr. Laniesha Gray, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Shady Hill School
  • Kristi Jacobi, Associate Director of Auxiliary Programs, St. Marks School
  • Lisa Muñoz, Director of Equity, Justice, and Belonging, Dublin School
  • Osamagbe Osagie, Director of Equity and Inclusion, The Carroll School
  • Kevin Pajaro-Mariñez, Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion, Phillips Exeter Academy
  • Lisa Palmero, Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, The Cambridge School of Weston