Greetings UMR-ACUHO,

As we keep moving Full Steam Ahead, I’m excited to share new updates and opportunities from across our region. Whether it’s preparing for our signature events, celebrating regional achievements, or creating new spaces for professional growth, this is an energizing time to be part of UMR-ACUHO.

Stay Connected with Your Regional Community

As we begin a new membership term and look ahead to the fall, we’re focused on growing engagement and building connections. Following UMR-ACUHO on social media is a great way to stay informed, celebrate successes across our region, and share your own stories about why this community matters to you. Whether you’re engaging with posts, contributing your perspectives, or encouraging colleagues to get involved, your voice helps strengthen our collective impact.

Summer Planning & Conference Updates

This summer, UMR-ACUHO was well represented at the ACUHO-I Annual Conference & Expo. While there, we hosted our regional reception, bringing colleagues together to connect, share experiences, and celebrate our vibrant community. We also spent time building new partnerships with exhibitors and gathering fresh ideas to help strengthen the resources and opportunities we offer across the region.

Our leadership team and committees also recently gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska to continue planning for the 2025 Annual Conference in Omaha. Many thanks to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s housing team for their hospitality and support. During our time together, we approved budgets, finalized conference logistics, and set the stage for a dynamic conference experience this October. You can now view the full conference schedule and explore our new conference website to start planning your participation.

Looking ahead, UMR Day in late July will bring even more exciting announcements, including details on conference registration, hotel room blocks, committee updates, and opportunities to run for leadership positions. To make sure your institution is ready, we encourage you to complete your annual membership registration for the 2025–2026 fiscal year as soon as possible. Having your membership up to date before UMR Day helps ensure a smooth registration process and keeps your team connected to everything our region has to offer.

And finally, we’re excited to share that we’ve begun exploring new ways to invest in member engagement—including an upcoming collaboration with Gallup that we’ll unveil during UMR Day. Stay tuned for more details about this initiative designed to elevate your professional experience and strengthen our regional community.

Resources, Recognition, and Connection

This month, engagement opportunities continue in full force. You can now access the recording of June’s inspiring webinar with Dr. Gregory Thompson, register for July’s Roundtable discussion, and dive into the latest issue of Perspectives. The UMR-ACUHO In Summary podcast also has new episodes ready to stream, offering fresh insights into the field.

Don’t forget—scholarship opportunities are still open to help support your professional development goals, and nominations are now being accepted for the Drake Martin Commitment to Social Justice Award and the Graduate Student Social Justice Action Award. These recognitions are a meaningful way to honor colleagues and amplify the commitment to equity in our field.

Investing in UMR-ACUHO is investing in yourself. Whether you’re joining a webinar, submitting an article, applying for a scholarship, or simply connecting with colleagues, we’d love to have you along for the ride.

In partnership,

Carrie Fitzwater
UMR-ACUHO President