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Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference

February 19-21, 2026 • Dallas, TX

Hosted by Bethune Cookman University and University of Central Florida

Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference

About the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference

The educational and professional opportunities at the Emerging Recreational Sports Leadership (ERSL) Conference fall within the spectrum of broad-based to in-depth — from mock interviews with established collegiate recreation administrators to presentations on the changing landscape of recreational sports careers in our current economy.

In 1992, the office of intramural sports at the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale established the first ERSL Conference to encourage a strong future of leadership for minority students in the field of collegiate recreation. The goal of the ERSL Conference has ever since been to provide minority students who are interested in careers in collegiate recreation with the tools and network connections needed to succeed in this dynamic field.

With educational programming, opportunities for mentorship, and a platform for career networking, this unique conference empowers young minority students with the skills and knowledge that lay the foundation to building meaningful careers in the field of collegiate recreation. The ERSL Conference encourages diversity in our association in an effort to better reflect the populations and demographics that NIRSA members serve.

Conference room with participants sitting in chair towards front of the room where speaker is presenting
  • A mix of live and on-demand sessions will be launched from February 1-19, 2021.

  • Registrants will have access to all recordings through April 2, 2021.

  • Mock interviews will help you prepare for finding the right career path.

Apply for a Scholarship to Attend the ERSL Conference

The NIRSA Foundation is excited to offer 20 scholarship opportunities for students and professionals in campus recreation to attend the 2026 ERSL Conference.

This year, the Founders Endowment will fund 6 scholarships for students and professionals working at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), honoring the 20 individuals from 11 HBCUs who came together for NIRSA's first Annual Conference in 1950. The Gartenberg Endowment will support 2 scholarships for racial or ethnic minority students. The remaining scholarships are made possible through the NIRSA Foundation's scholarship endowment.

Eligible individuals are encouraged to apply by October 31 for the chance to have their ERSL Conference registration fees covered. All applicants will be notified of their selection status via email by December 1.

Please note: NIRSA membership is required for professional scholarship recipients but not for students. Individuals who received a 2025 ERSL scholarship are not eligible to apply this year.

The NIRSA Foundation Scholarship Endowment provides 12 scholarship opportunities to students and professionals working in campus recreation at a HBCU, in honor of the 20 individuals from 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities who convened NIRSA's first Annual Conference in 1950. The Gartenberg endowment is also funding 2 scholarships for ERSL in 2025.

The scholarship application period has closed. Applicants will be notified via email of their selection status by December 20, 2024.

Applications will be accepted September 1 – October 31, 2025

NIRSA Foundation

Presentation Proposals

Theme: Rebuilding a better future together through community and shared values

Presentation proposals should align with NIRSA's eight core competencies, and the Program Committee has selected the following three competencies to focus on for this upcoming ERSL Conference:

  • Programming
  • Philosophy & Theory
  • Personal & Professional Qualities

NIRSA professional and student members who submit proposals and are among the first to have their proposal selected will serve as lead presenters and will receive a courtesy time preference. This means they'll have the option to select the day and time they would like to present, which is definitely a reason to get excited! The deadline for these priority submissions is Friday, December 3.

You don't want to miss out on this fantastic chance to share your knowledge! Submit a presentation proposal by the Friday, December 10 deadline for all submissions!

We are currently accepting presentation proposal applications!

Presentation proposals will be accepted through November 4, 2024. Accepted proposals will be announced in early January.

Presentation proposals are no longer being accepted. Accepted proposals will be announced in early January.

Presentation proposal applications will be accepted from October 6-November 3, 2025. Accepted proposals will be announced in late November. Check back soon for details!

The presentation proposal deadline has passed. Accepted proposals will be announced in early January.

Conference Schedule

Time Agenda
8:00am-12:15pm Preconference National Mall Tour: MLK Statue, Lincoln Statue, Washington Monument
9:00am-1:15pm Preconference Museum Tour at the National Museum of African American History
11:00am-2:00pm HBCU Summit
5:30pm-6:30pm Registration/Check-in
6:30pm-8:00pm Opening Keynote, Herman Williams Award Ceremony
8:00pm 75th Anniversary Party
Time Agenda
8:30am-9:30am Registration/Check-in
9:30am-11:20am Session blocks 1 & 2
11:30am-1:00pm Take a Student to Lunch Break
1:15pm-2:00pm Campus Athletic Facility/Yard Tour
2:15pm-4:15pm Session blocks 3 & 4
4:15pm-4:30pm Group photo
4:30pm-5:30pm Mock Interviews/Professional Development
6:30pm Conference Social
Time Agenda
9:30am-10:00am Closing Ceremony/Giving of Flowers
10:00am-11:50am Session blocks 5 & 6

Schedule subject to change
Last Updated: January 17, 2025

Registration

Registration will open in mid-October 2025

Registration Pricing & Details

Pricing details will be posted in October 2023.

Early Bird Price on or before January 8, 2025
(includes 3 meals)		 Regular Price after January 9, 2025
(includes 3 meals)
Student Premier Member* $95 $110
Student Member $110 $125
Student Nonmember $130 $145
Professional Premier Member* $155 $170
Professional Member $180 $195
Professional Nonmember $220 $235
Associate Member $215 $245
Associate Nonmember $355 $395

*Individual members who are on staff of an institutional member school are considered Premier Members. Students who attend an institutional member school are considered Student Premier Members.

The term "member" refers to those with a current NIRSA membership both at the time of registration and throughout the conference. If you are unsure about your individual membership status or your institution's membership status, please send an email to membership@nirsa.org.

Preconference Activities

The deadline to register for preconference activities is Friday, February 14, 2025.

HBCU Summit 

February 19, 2026
2:00-5:00pm
HBCU Summit Initiatives:
  1. Enhance engagement of professionals and emerging professionals in collegiate recreation
  2. Surface opportunities, challenges, and issues that HBCU's face in collegiate recreation
  3. Create awareness among non-HBCU professionals regarding the similarities and differences that HBCU programs have to other programs
  4. Provide additional opportunities for professional development
  5. Foster opportunities for graduate assistantships and develop pipelines for emerging professionals in the field
  6. Increase engagement within NIRSA through institutional and professional memberships that will provide resources to assist HBCU programs
Cost: Free (Registration required)

National Mall Visit

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
8:00am-12:15pm

Join colleagues on a true Washington D.C. experience by visiting the National Mall, including a visit to the Martin Luther King statue, the Abraham Lincoln statue, and a trip to the top of the Washington Monument. ERSL Committee members will guide attendees on this trip, taking the metro as we explore the Nation's capital. Please be aware that there is a 25–30-minute walk to the nearest metro station, you're encouraged to eat breakfast and bring snacks. Dress comfortably for walking, as this is an outside activity in February. Transportation, and a box lunch are included. There is a maximum capacity of 55 for this event. 

Cost: $40 per person on/before January 17, 2024

National Museum of African American History and Culture Tour

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
8:30am-1:15pm

In the Nations hub for museums, The museum of African American History and Culture hosts about 17 current exhibitions. Please be aware that there is a 25–30-minute walk to the nearest metro station, you're encouraged to eat breakfast and bring snacks. Dress comfortably for walking, this is an inside activity. Transportation, and a box lunch are included. There is a maximum capacity of 50 for this event. 

Cost: $40 per person on/before December 11, 2024

Conference Hotel

Residence Inn by Marriott Dallas Las Colinas

950 West Walnut Hill Lane Irving, Texas, USA, 75038 • 972-580-7773 • Website • Map & Directions

Rates & Reservations

ERSL Room Rate (February 18 – 21, 2026): $109 + tax per night with complimentary breakfast and parking

Attendees can make reservations online no later than Wednesday January 28, 2026, to confirm the discounted group rate.

NIRSA encourages all attendees to reserve their hotel accommodations within the NIRSA room block. NIRSA relies on strong room block usage to secure ample meeting space, increase negotiation leverage for future institutes, and offset event expenses.

Proximity to Dallas College – North Lake Campus

The hotel is approximately 1.5 miles away from Dallas College. This is about a 5-minute drive, or a 30-minute walk.

Roommates

Looking for a roommate? The best way to match with a roommate is to post that you are looking for one in the 2026 Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference Connect Community, once registered you'll be added to the community.

Airport

The best airport to fly into is Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). It is about 10 minutes from DFW to the host hotel.

Herman Williams Founders Outstanding Service Award

Learn about the Herman Williams Founders Outstanding Service Award and how to nominate your colleagues rooted in honoring innovative leadership toward the achievement of substantial improvements of minorities in the field of collegiate recreation. 

Nomination deadline: December 2, 2024

Calvin Diggs

Kevin "KMart" Martin, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
2025 Herman Williams Award recipient 

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Sponsorship Opportunities

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Matrix logo
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Continuing Education (CE) Credits

Attendees can earn CEs to apply toward the Student Affairs Educator Certification. Select sessions will offer CE credits. Check back in January for full details!

Student Affairs Educator Certification, Approved CE Program

Special thanks to the 2021 Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Committee

  • Candice Douglas, ERSLC Co-Chair, Western Kentucky University
  • Kevin Martin, ERSLC Co-Chair, University of California-Riverside
  • Charles Judkins
  • Corbin Ross, UCLA
  • Anja Shelton, Austin Peay State University
  • Trevon Walker, Texas State University
  • Deja'Nay Gilliam, University of California-Davis
  • Chrystina Wyatt

The 2021 ERSL Conference is a NIRSA CEU Approved Provider Program. The program(s) identified with a CEU value meet the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Registered Collegiate Recreational Sports Professionals (RCRSP) designation. RCRSPs are responsible for tracking CEUs earned. Email registry@nirsa.org with questions.

ERSL Conference group photo

Contact

For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of Learning, Brittany Rejda.