Make friends and strengthen relationships at NIRSA 2022

NIRSA Annual Conference attendees are sure to learn and be inspired by the diverse presenters and invited speakers that take the stage at each year’s program of sessions and seminars. But attendees also highlight—year in and year out—the opportunity to make friends and strengthen relationships as one of their top reasons for attending NIRSA’s flagship learning event. Beyond the impromptu hallway conversations and post-session deep dives, planned networking socials are a major highlight of a conference experience.

Conference organizers are excited about the lineup of networking opportunities that are planned for this year’s event. When you register for NIRSA 2022, here are just a few of the networking highlights that you can look forward to in Portland, OR:

Breakfast and connections

A new twist on the familiar favorite of “Take a student to lunch, meet a mentor for life” event, the Student Leadership Team will help facilitate “Breakfast and Connections” on Thursday, March 31 from 9:30am-10:30am in the Expo Hall, immediately following the Mainstage Session. This is an excellent opportunity for attendees to interact with the great minds in our association and share their passion for collegiate recreation.

NIRSA socials

All NIRSA socials are free for Annual Conference attendees. Must-attend events for many returning attendees, socials like the Founders People of Color Social and the LGBTQ & Allies Social, sponsored by PLAE and Life Fitness. The All Conference Social, also sponsored by PLAE, will treat attendees to some local Portland flavor; the event will be hosted at The Redd, a historic venue in Portland’s Central Eastside district. Let your body move to the sounds of the local Portland band Groove Cabin while noshing on locally sourced bites, sipping on a cup of famous community chai, or imbibing in a local IPA, and be sure to get a treat from Portland’s favorite donut truck Pip’s. At The Redd, 100% of rental fees go back the community.

Career building

Even if you are not looking for your next job at the 2022 Annual Conference, the Career Services Center is a great spot to build your network of potential supervisors and benefit a future job search. This year, the CSC focuses on career preparation and coaching. Opportunities include:

• Resume reviews (resumes can be dropped off and picked up later or attendees can sit with the resume reviewer for live, in-person reviews)
• Mock interviews
• Mentor program sign-ups

The CSC also provides a job fair, half-hour informational sessions, and reservable space for interviews or other small-group networking.

New for 2022

NIRSA is planning a dedicated networking space for attendees to meet new friends and catch up with colleagues. Throughout the conference, the N-Zone will have a range of activities to provide attendees with a fun, low-pressure space to grow their peer community.  There will be two lounge spaces in N-Zone as well.  One specifically for Students and another area for staff from a small program or 2-year school.  Keep an eye on the NIRSA 2022 website as activities will be posted soon.

Regional Meetups

As we move beyond the pandemic, NIRSA is committed to inclusive and accessible avenues for members to engage with NIRSA leaders and stay up to speed on your membership organization. With this in mind, membership meetings, such as the Annual Meeting of Members and Regional Connections will continue to occur virtually. The long standing ‘Regional Connection Meetings’ at the NIRSA annual conference are evolving to focus on celebrating and networking with peers. Attend your NIRSA region’s ‘Regional Meetup’ on Tuesday, March 29 at 5:30pm Pacific, 8:30pm Eastern to celebrate award recipients, catch up with old friends, and meet some new ones!

NIRSA Campus Rec & Wellness Expo

Not only is the Campus Rec & Wellness Expo the place to see the latest and greatest in products and services for campus rec facilities, it’s also your opportunity to build your list of industry partners. Expo vendors are eager to meet you and discuss the potential to partner in serving your campus community now and into the future. On average, one in six exhibitors are new to NIRSA—so don’t miss out on the cutting edge and the standard bearers for the profession.

Great activities like the Unified Sports Experience Hoop Shoot, fitness forum sponsored by Life Fitness, Teqball, free-throw contest, and more will give visitors ample opportunities to enjoy some fun recreation while exploring some of the hottest products and services on show from leading campus recreation and wellbeing companies.

Turn colleagues into friends at NIRSA 2022

Join your peers from across the Association in Portland this spring as the profession reconvenes, reconnects in-person, and moves forward together! Early bird registration for NIRSA 2022 runs through Wednesday, February 16. Register today to take advantage of discounted rates and to receive access to the best selection of hotel rooms.