More than 100 gather for SEE’s Inaugural Symposium

The Society for Experiential Education hosted its inaugural SEE Symposium on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The virtual Symposium drew more than 100 attendees from more than 84 institutions and organizations. It featured 28 presenters from 18 institutions and organizations from both the United States and Canada. 

Drs. Paul Gaszak (SEE Board of Directors, 2019-2025) and Luke Berryman (SEE Board of Directors, 2025-Present) co-chaired the Symposium. For several years, SEE’s Board of Directors discussed the idea of holding a mid-year event between the Society’s annual conferences. In September 2025, at the Annual Conference in Niagara Falls, the Board reviewed and approved a proposal to launch the Symposium that was submitted by Gaszak.

“The annual conference is an amazing event,” said Gaszak. “The Society hosts smaller events throughout the year, and we saw an opportunity to  bring our entire community together between conferences. The Symposium was designed to bridge that gap.” 

The concurrent sessions showcased current research, scholarship, and best practices in experiential education. Additionally, the Symposium provided more access for students to present on their work in the field. Each concurrent session block had at least one student presenter. “As we developed the Symposium for the online format, we saw it as an opportunity for access for those who may not be able to attend the annual conference, including students,” said Gaszak.  

A special thanks to PebblePad for their sponsorship and Dr. Gail Ring, PebblePad’s Director of Service and Learning Projects and Head of Customer Success, for joining during the Welcome and Closing sessions. 

The initial feedback on the 2026 event was very positive and one attendee noted, “[The Symposium] was the perfect timing and length! Loved being able to engage in the virtual zoom format.” The feedback will be used to improve future SEE events.

Keep an eye out for the 2027 Symposium date, tentatively scheduled for February 2027. Luke Berryman, PhD, 2026 Symposium Co-Chair and current Board Member, will lead the development of the 2027 event. “It was thrilling to help lay the foundation stone of the SEE Symposium this year,” Berryman said, “and I look forward to building on it in 2027 and beyond.” 

About the Society of Experiential Education

For more than 55 years, the Society for Experiential Education has connected educators, scholars, and practitioners engaged in experiential education. Through convening, scholarship, professional learning, and publication, SEE supports inquiry and practice grounded in experience across higher education and community settings.

SEE’s vision is to broaden the perspectives and voices shaping experiential education, so they reflect the practitioners and learners who engage in the field.