The Human Touch in a Digital World: Our Roles are Essential
The Human Touch in a Digital World: Our Roles are Essential
The ACUM Advising Conference is a free two-day conference open to all staff in advising and student support positions. Presenters and attendees will engage in dialogue about how elements of the conference themes show up in advising practice or personal and professional development for both students and advisors. We look forward to creating space to collaborate with colleagues from all of U-M’s campuses.
A special thank you to Perry Fittrer, LSA Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education and Student Academic Affairs, and Angela Dillard, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, for sponsoring this year's conference.
This year's conference will take place across two days in a mix of in-person and virtual events. Registration is now open!
Stay tuned for a detailed schedule.
Stay tuned for a detailed schedule.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions at acum.advising.conference@umich.edu.
2026 Keynote Speaker
About Jennifer
Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author of two instant New York Times bestsellers, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It and Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, both published by Penguin Random House.
Wallace is the founder of The Mattering Institute and co-founder of The Mattering Movement, a national nonprofit advancing mattering practices in K–12 schools. She serves on the Advisory Board for Making Caring Common at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was a guest lecturer for NYU’s Fall 2025 course, Education, Mattering, and the American Dream.
A maternal mental health advocate at Calm, Wallace also consults for Netflix, is a BCG BrightHouse Luminary, and has partnered with The LEGO Group on its global “Play Unstoppable” campaign, addressing perfectionism and fostering confidence through play.
Wallace began her journalism career at CBS’s 60 Minutes, where she was part of a team awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Excellence in Journalism. She contributes to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post and frequently appears on national television to discuss her work.
She serves on the board of the Coalition for the Homeless in New York City, where she lives with her family.
2026 Conference Planning Committee
Allison Edelbrock
aedelbr@umich.edu
Lauren Taylor
lntaylor@umich.edu
Kayla Harteg, Chair
Will Daniels
Hannah Morch
Steven Plunkett
Matthew Turner, Chair
Brandyn Jordan
Hannah Morch, Chair
Rob Gordon
Kayla Harteg
Catie Lawrence
Matthew Turner
Lauren Taylor, Chair
Carolyn Schaub, Chair
Andreea Del Rio Duarte
Rob Gordon
Kayla Harteg
Hannah Morch
Allison Edelbrock, Chair
Will Daniels
Brandyn Jordan
Interested in joining the committee? Reach out to acum.advising.conference@umich.edu.