Calling all faculty, staff, and students: Still plenty of time to submit a proposal!
Inver Hills Community College is holding the Annual Research Conference (ARC) 2026 Wednesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Fine Arts building on the college’s campus in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
The Annual Research Conference (ARC) is a chance for Inver Hills students, faculty, and staff to showcase their work and projects. This year’s ARC theme is From Curiosity to Connection: Research for a Stronger Community. The conference provides participants an opportunity to improve skills such as communication, organization, public presentation, active listening, and the importance of questioning general assumptions and basic argumentative structures.
This year’s keynote speakers are Christine Smith, MA, Creating More Sanctuary founder, and Pete K. Wong, a 2025 CAAL Ignite grantee. See below for more information.
College faculty, staff, and students are invited to present projects at the conference. The ARC 2026 Committee—with co-chairs Marika Reese, social justice studies faculty, and Katherine Olson, communication faculty—is now accepting submissions for poster or room presentations. Presentations can be related to the theme, but all topics are welcome. Staff and faculty can present their own work and/or encourage students to present their work.
The deadline to submit a proposal to present is Friday, April 10, 2026. Projects do not have to be completed by the time of signup, but you will be asked for a title and 50-word summary to go into the ARC 2026 program. Please fill out the submission proposal form with details about your poster or presentation and select your preferred time slot.
Submissions are due by Friday, April 10, 2026.
SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
WHAT: Annual Research Conference 2026
From Curiosity to Connection: Research for a Stronger Community
WHO: Inver Hills Students, Faculty, and Staff
Keynote speakers: Christine Smith, MA, and Pete K. Wong
WHEN: April 22 and April 23, 2026
WHERE: Fine Arts Building
Inver Hills Community College
2500 80th Street East
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
Maps & Locations
Campus Map
ARC 2026 Schedule of Events
ARC 2026 Keynote Speakers
Christine Smith, MA
Creating More Sanctuary Founder
Topic: From Inner Work to Collective Care: Creating More Sanctuary
Submissions are due by Friday, April 10, 2026.
SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
Pete K. Wong
Courage in Chaos Founder and Creator
Feel What You Feel—Building Connection Through Curiosity
Annual Research Conferences of yore galleries
Annual Research Conference 2016: WEDNESDAY
Annual Research Conference 2016: THURSDAY
Annual Research Conference 2017: WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
Annual Research Conference 2018: WEDNESDAY
Annual Research Conference 2018: THURSDAY
Annual Research Conference 2019: WEDNESDAY
Annual Research Conference 2019: THURSDAY
Annual Research Conference 2023: WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
Annual Research Conference 2024: WEDNESDAY
Annual Research Conference 2024: THURSDAY
Annual Research Conference 2025: WEDNESDAY
Annual Research Conference 2025: THURSDAY
Learn more about the Inver Hills Annual Research Conference 2026 by contacting:
Marika Reese
Social Justice Studies Faculty
Annual Research Conference 2026 Committee Co-Chair
marika.reese@inverhills.edu
651-450-3669
Katherine Olson
Communication Faculty
Annual Research Conference 2026 Committee Co-Chair
katherine.olson@inverhills.edu
