2025 Student Access Summit

Future Focused: Recognizing What Works, Reimagining What’s Next

Nov. 17, 2025 | The Campbell House, Lexington

Quick links: Registration | Speakers

You're invited to be part of a groundbreaking moment in education! CPE is hosting its first-ever Student Access Summit, and you won’t want to miss it. This dynamic event brings together educators, leaders and change-makers from across Kentucky's education sectors to collaborate on expanding access to postsecondary opportunities for all students.

You'll gain practical strategies, tools and resources to help students navigate the transition to and through college successfully. Plus, we’ll spotlight innovative solutions and celebrate real progress in closing access gaps. Be part of the movement shaping the future of student success!

Who would benefit from attending?

• K-12 access professionals (counselors, college/career advisors, FRYSCs, special education directors, dual credit coordinators, etc.)
• Campus student support professionals (advisors, admissions and enrollment counselors, TRIO staff, disability resource center coordinators, etc.)
• Secondary/Postsecondary administrators
• Professionals working with low-income families, first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and adult learners

NEW! K-12 participants can earn EILA Credit

We’re excited to share that K-12 participants who register and attend can receive 6 hours of EILA credit. Certificates will be distributed after the event.

Agenda and Location/Lodging

The draft agenda for this in-person event is now available! Programming will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:15 p.m. ET. Download it here. The full agenda will release after the call for proposals close.

It will take place at The Campbell House located on South Broadway in Lexington. There is not a lodging block associated with this event; however, rooms can be reserved at the hotel at: https://www.thecampbellhouse.com/accommodations.

How can I register?

Registration for this in-person event is limited. Registration fee of $200 includes access to all sessions, networking opportunities, continental breakfast and hot lunch.  As of Oct 6, only 75 slots remain, so register today! 

Registration options

1. Pay by credit card on our kentucky.gov secure site. Please note that payment is required before registration is confirmed. A copy of the receipt will be emailed to the payee upon completion; you will also have the option to download a copy.
2. K-12 professionals may request to pay by check by emailing Heather Faesy. Please include the names of the registrants in the email and she will follow up with next steps.

Featured Speakers

	Dr. Erwin Hesse, Director of the Center for Innovation in College Admission for the National Association for College Admission Counseling, is a first-generation college graduate and brings more than 15 years of experience that spans higher education and the private sector. Hesse co-founded Admissions Gambit, an educational coaching service for high school students, college transfers, and graduate students. He holds a doctorate in education from Johns Hopkins University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Baltimore, and a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Maryland. He is also a 2023 Obama Foundation USA Leader, a Johns Hopkins University Leadership Fellow, and a 2022 recipient of a NewSchools Venture Fund grant to pilot admission consulting for first-generation, low-income youth.
	Jennifer Montgomery, 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and Kentucky Middle School Teacher of the Year, is a a 7th-grade English teacher at Eminence Independent Middle School. For the last two decades, Montgomery has been combining her love for literature with her desire to foster empathy and student agency. She ignites students' passions and gets them invested in their learning through real-life experiences. Montgomery earned a bachelor of arts in English from Asbury University and a master of arts in English education from the University of Kentucky. She is also working to attain an additional certification in English as a Second Language to better meet the needs of English language learners in her school.
	Dr. Joshua Sparks is a lecturer of Statistics and Data Science at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a proud alumnus of GEAR UP Kentucky. He was named the 2025 GEAR UP Alum Leader of the Year during the National Council for Community and Education Partners (NCCEP) Conference, which honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment, and advocacy for GEAR UP and its mission to support first-generation, low-income students in their pursuit of higher education. Sparks, a first-generation college student, has earned multiple bachelor’s degrees from Eastern Kentucky University, master’s degrees from the University of Toronto, The George Washington University, and Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D. in Statistics from The George Washington University.

Call for Proposals is Closed

The Call for Proposals closed on October 3.  The committee will make its decisions and inform those selected to present at the Summit no later than October 15th. 

Questions about the conference?

If you have any questions regarding the event, please email heather.faesy@ky.gov.