Modern Governance for Higher Education: Convene at ACEx2026

WASHINGTON, DC – Convene recently concluded its participation in ACE Experience 2026 (ACEx2026), held February 25–28 at the Grand Hyatt Washington and hosted by the American Council on Education. The four-day convening brought together higher education leaders, including presidents, chancellors, trustees, and senior administrators, to discuss the sector’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.

Throughout the event, attendees explored topics such as public trust in higher education, policy shifts, technological change, and the future role of universities in society. Key gatherings, including ACE on the Hill, the ACE Annual Meeting, and the Women’s Network Leadership Conference, created space for leaders to exchange ideas, engage with policymakers, and collaborate on strategies for institutional resilience.

At Booth 111 in the Solutions Hub, attendees met with Craig Henderson, Convene’s higher education board governance expert for North America, who spent the event connecting with campus leaders about the evolving needs of university boards. Craig works closely with colleges and universities across the region to help modernize board operations and strengthen governance through technology.

Throughout the conference, Craig spoke with presidents, senior administrators, and governance leaders about managing board meetings and committee work. Many institutions shared similar challenges, from preparing board materials efficiently to ensuring trustees have timely access to the information they need to make strategic decisions.

“Higher education leaders are balancing a lot right now, from policy shifts to public trust and institutional transformation,” Craig explained. “Strong governance plays a critical role in helping boards stay aligned, informed, and ready to act on the decisions that shape their institutions.”

Convene supports these goals through a secure, centralized digital boardroom where leadership teams can manage board materials, collaborate across committees, and use AI-powered tools to generate meeting summaries and track action items.

Reflecting on the event, Craig added, “What stood out to me at ACEx2026 was how focused leaders are on making governance more effective and transparent. Technology has a real opportunity to simplify the process so boards can spend less time on logistics and more time on strategy.”

ACEx2026 reinforced the importance of strong governance in shaping the future of higher education, and Convene is proud to support institutions working to lead that future with clarity and confidence.

Ready to modernize your board governance? Schedule time with Craig Henderson to see how Convene supports colleges and universities today.