2026 WACES Conference
WACES 2026 Conference
Reno, Nevada
October 8-10, 2026
Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa
We hope you'll join us for our 2026 WACES conference in Reno! This year's conference programming centers on themes of inclusivity, accessibility, indigeneity, and immigration — and we are thrilled to welcome keynote speaker Diaz Dixon, who will deliver "Presence, Purpose, and Practice in a Changing World," a timely message about leading with trust, clarity, and human connection in complex systems.
Conference Agenda At-A-Glance (subject to change)
Thursday, October 8th
9:30am-5pm: Registration
10am-3pm: Pre-conference (add-on required)
12-1pm: Break (Lunch on own)
1-3pm: Pre-conference sessions #3 and #4
5:30-8pm: Presidential Opening Reception - Bocce Bundox (food provided)
Friday, October 9th
7:30am-5:30pm: Registration
8am-5:15pm: Education & Roundtable Sessions
8:30am-2pm: Panel Sessions
9am-12:45pm: Poster Sessions
10:30am-12pm: Keynote session — “Presence, Purpose, and Practice in a Changing World” presented by Diaz Dixon
12:30p-2:45pm: Grad student Lounge & Panel
3-4pm: Career Fair
5:30-8p: DEIA Creative Showcase & Reception (RSVP required; food provided)
Saturday, October 10th
8am-5:30pm: Registration
8:15am-5:15pm: Education & Roundtable Sessions
10am-3:30pm: Poster Sessions
12-1:30pm: Business and Awards Luncheon (add-on required; food provided)
5:15pm: Conference concludes
Hotel Block: Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa
Rooms at the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa are $249/night. Space is limited, so we encourage you to book early! Reserve Your Room
For ADA accessible room requests or reservation support, contact Janet Cuna at jcuna@renaissancereno.com
Interested in volunteering at the conference? Students can apply to volunteer at the conference in exchange for complimentary registration. Applications are due June 30 — if you're applying, we recommend waiting to register until volunteer decisions are confirmed in July. Call for Volunteers
Interested in sponsoring the conference? Access our sponsorship prospectus and learn more HERE
Visit our website or email WACESconference@acesonline.net for more information.
We look forward to welcoming you to Reno this October!
Featured Speakers
Assistant Professor
Professor of Counseling and Extension Mental Health Specialist, Emerita at the University of Nevada, Reno
Assistant Professor
Owner, Performance Driven Consulting
ACES Executive Director
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Executive Director, Clinical Operations and Community Outreach