Programming for Early Career Professionals
The 2026 NIRSA + IDEA® World Conference & Expo is a chance to sharpen your skills, expand your network, and get practical ideas you can take home and implement right away.
Whether you’re in your first full-time role or making the jump from graduate assistantship to professional staff, you’ll find sessions, peer connection, and career development opportunities designed to help you grow with confidence.
Ready to join us in National Harbor? Use our Convince Your Boss resources to show how attending NIRSA + IDEA® World will support your development and your department’s goals.
Springboard your career
Industry fundamentals
A back-to-basics series of sessions will offer foundational practices, emerging insights, and new ways to support student success, wellbeing, and community—whether on the field, in the facility, or behind the scenes.
Extended workshops
In-depth two-hour workshops that go beyond traditional presentations, give you the chance to actively engage, share ideas, and collaborate with peers. You’ll dive into real-world scenarios, tackle challenges hands-on, and walk away with concrete tools and strategies you can immediately apply in your work.
Grow your professional cohort
Connect with and learn alongside colleagues from all sectors of campus recreation and from across the broader fitness and wellness industry, including personal trainers and coaches, group fitness instructors, wellness professionals, club and studio owners, mind-body professionals, nutritionists, and dietitians.
“My very first NIRSA Conference was a fantastic experience! It was great meeting several new people, seeing some old faces, and learning about new topics to take back to campus to help me excel in my current role.”
– Dylan Scott, Coordinator for Facilities & Operations at Penn State University
Content Highlights for Early Career Professionals
Explore the session schedule to learn more about this content and more!
Tuesday, April 7
8:00am-12:00pm
Intramural Sports Foundations & Future Trends Preconference Workshop
Wednesday, April 8
NIRSA + IDEA® World Career Fair
Wednesday, April 8 – Thursday, April 9
90-Minute Roundtable Discussions on a variety of key topics
Wednesday, April 8–Friday, April 10
Fundamentals Track
This track includes foundational sessions like:
Leveling Up: From Ideas to Outcomes
Outdoor Recreation: Alternative Spring Break Connecting Students to Nature While Giving Back
A Masterclass in Intramural Supervisor Meetings
Keeping Fitness Fun: What Draws People to Exercise & How to Keep Them Coming
Don’t Miss
In addition to the opportunities listed above, early career attendees are encouraged to take advantage of mainstage speakers, educational sessions, and social events throughout the week—every connection counts!
“I had a great time at the NIRSA Conference! It’s always great to reconnect with friends and colleagues that I have built relationships with, while expanding my professional development through learning.”
– AJ Henderson, Sport Programs Coordinator at Florida Gulf Coast University
Stay Tuned for More
Additional details—including any early-career-focused meetups, recommended sessions, and career development opportunities—will be added as they’re finalized.
