Deep Data: Moving Beyond Disaggregation to Close Equity Gaps
Janet S. Oh is the founder of the Deep Data and Data-Forward Leadership frameworks, practical, equity-centered approaches to using data with intention. Her work grew from her service as Senior Director of Institutional Research and Professor of Psychology at California State University, Northridge. A graduate of Pomona College and UCLA, she speaks and writes on data storytelling, equity strategy, and cross-campus collaboration.
Wednesday keynote
Andrea P. Neal-Smith, Ed.D.
Vice Provost for Academic Engagement, Norfolk State University
The Signals Were Always There: Moving From Data-Rich to Action-Ready
Andrea P. Neal-Smith leads student-success and class-to-career initiatives across advising, learning communities, summer bridge and transitions, undergraduate research and mentorship, career-connected learning and employer engagement, writing support, transfer student success, and support for student parents and Pell-eligible students. A first-generation college graduate and scholar-practitioner, she has secured and led more than $8.5 million in externally funded initiatives.
Your Hosts
Meet the CSRDE team
Nicole Watkins, Ph.D.
Director
Brittnee Madden
Office Manager / Conference Coordinator
Tim Bennett
Media Specialist / Membership Coordinator
CSRDE
Board of Advisors
Jared Tippets
Vice President of Student Services
Southern Utah University
Kyle Ellis
Director of the Center for Student Success and First Year Experience
University of Mississippi
Blake Cannon
Chief Analytics Officer
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Heather Kelly
Director of Institutional Research
University of Delaware
Sarah Kyte
Senior Research Scientist, Student Success & Retention Innovation
University of Arizona
With Appreciation
Sponsors & Exhibitors
We appreciate the organizations supporting NSSR 2026. Select a logo to visit the organization’s website.
Monday welcome receptionIncluded with registration
Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar; guests may attend for the published guest fee.
Tuesday & WednesdaySocial hours
End-of-day networking time with drinks on your own.
ThursdayBest Practices Awards Breakfast
Included with conference registration.
Conference Rooms
Hotel maps
Use the floor buttons to switch maps. Select a map to open it at full size.
Lobby level
Welcome
Welcome to NSSR 2026
Dear NSSR Participant,
Welcome to the 22nd annual National Symposium on Student Retention. On behalf of the Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange at the University of Oklahoma, thank you for joining us in Norfolk. This week offers time to connect with colleagues who share your commitment to student success, exchange research and practical strategies, and build professional relationships that continue after the symposium.
CSRDE hosted the first NSSR in Dallas in 2005 to create a national space where higher-education professionals could share evidence, ask difficult questions, and learn from one another. The work you do remains critical to your institutions and to the students you serve, and we are grateful to gather with you again.
This program brings together peer-reviewed papers, facilitated discussions, coffee talks, tutorials, posters, pre-conference workshops, and plenary sessions. Thank you to every presenter, reviewer, advisor, sponsor, exhibitor, and participant whose work makes the symposium possible.
The CSRDE team is here to help. Please introduce yourself, ask questions, and make the most of your time with colleagues in Norfolk.
Enjoy the symposium!
Nicole Watkins, Ph.D. Director, CSRDE
About the Host
About CSRDE
The Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange at the University of Oklahoma helps four-year institutions use shared evidence to strengthen student success. Institutional members participate in retention and graduation data exchange, receive comparative reports and online peer data, and gain access to learning resources that support campus decision-making.
Digital Conference Guide
Guidebook
For the mobile conference guide, download Guidebook and search for nssr2026. The guide includes speakers, abstracts, schedules, and conference information.
Keep the program on your home screen, retain My Schedule on this device, and use the schedule and hotel maps when conference Wi-Fi is unavailable.
No app store or account is required.
Program Overview
Session formats
Paper
Research-based presentation supported by a paper that proceeds through peer review and may be published in the Proceedings.
Facilitated Discussion
A moderator introduces a topic, poses questions, and devotes most of the hour to structured participant discussion.
Coffee Talk
A facilitator briefly introduces a timely topic and guides an informal exchange among participants.
Tutorial
A practical, participatory session that teaches a skill, method, procedure, or approach.
Poster
An informal visual presentation for emerging findings, program designs, and preliminary research.
Pre-Conference Workshop
A half-day interactive learning experience with clear objectives, activities, and an experienced instructor.
Current Program
Presentation tracks
Membership
CSRDE resources
Data exchange
Institutional members share retention data and receive comparative reports and access to online peer data.
Webinar Wednesdays
Live student-success presentations are offered from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central Time. Member benefits vary by membership level, and nonmembers may register for individual webinars.
Sourcebook
Building Bridges for Student Success: A Sourcebook for Colleges and Universities brings together research, models, methods, and practical strategies across five parts, 34 chapters, and 70 contributors.
NSSR
Members receive discounted registration for NSSR and participate in a national network of institutional researchers, advisors, faculty, administrators, and student-success professionals.
Visit the dedicated sponsors and exhibitors page to see their logos and learn more about each organization.
Looking Ahead
NSSR 2027
The Call for Proposals for the 23rd annual National Symposium on Student Retention is expected to open in January 2027. The 2027 location and dates will be announced at csrde.ou.edu.
