Speaking Center
NACC Excellence at the Center Conference 2025
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The University of Southern Mississippi’s Speaking Center is proud to host the 24th annual meeting of NACC’s Excellence at the Center Conference on April 11-12, 2025 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The theme for this year’s conference is:
Voices of Impact: Shaping Public Speaking, Empowering Leaders, and Elevating Communication Excellence |
Our theme allows the opportunity to show that communication centers not only hone
students' abilities to effectively communicate, but also serve as incubators for leadership
development, cultivating confidence, and assisting in the inspiration of others through
communication. We encourage submissions that show the role of communication centers
advancing excellence in communication and creating a culture of clear, persuasive,
and ethical discourse.
Submission Information
We invite all who are interested in participating and attending to submit a proposal for NACC’s Excellence at the Center Conference by March 14, 2025.
All submissions must include:
- Title
- Presenter’s name(s) & affiliation(s)
- Abstract
- Indication of modality (face-to-face or virtual)
Paper presentations are of an original research paper that investigates a problem from an empirical or theoretical perspective. Submit an abstract of 300 words by March 14, 2025 to NACCatUSM@gmail.com. The completed paper must be submitted by April 4, 2025. Please label the subject line “NACC Paper.” If the paper is exclusively authored by undergraduate or graduate students please label the subject line “NACC Student Paper.”
Student authors may present and facilitate discussion on their original communication center case studies. Submit an abstract of no more than 300 words by March 14, 2025 to NACCatUSM@gmail.com. Please label the subject line “NACC Student Case Study”.
Panels include a discussion led by up to five participants on specific themes or issues relevant to communication centers. Panel proposals should include a description of how attendees will be invited to participate. Please submit a proposed title for the session, a 150-word abstract and a list of participants with contact information by March 14, 2025 to NACCatUSM@gmail.com. Please label the subject line “NACC Panel.”
Special slot(s) for GIFT presentations will be included at the 2025 conference based on interest. Individuals and small groups are encouraged to share unique, novel and/or effective approaches to teaching students, consulting with students, and/or communication center work. Please submit a title for the GIFT with a 150-word abstract by March 14, 2025 to NACCatUSM@gmail.com. Please label the subject line “NACC GIFT.”
Workshop sessions can be geared toward new or experienced staff and consultants. This is an opportunity to provide training on any communication center-related topic. Workshops that offer creative strategies and materials that can be adapted for use at other centers are especially encouraged. Please submit a proposed title for the session, an agenda for the workshop, and a 150-word abstract by March 14, 2025 to NACCatUSM@gmail.com. Please label the subject line “NACC Workshop.”
“Poster” presentations are a chance to share creative work that you have produced. These could include but are not limited to online teaching units, videos, and social media campaigns. This will be one session, based on interest, hosted in our Speaking Center where people can wander around and look at the “posters” (could be posters, but also PowerPoints, slideshows, pictures, videos, etc.) and have more one-to-one or small group interactions. Please submit a 150-word abstract and file attachment or URL of the creative work by March 14, 2025 to NACCatUSM@gmail.com. Please label the subject line “NACC Poster Presentation.”
Registration Information
Faculty: $150
Student: $75
Virtual Faculty: $90
Virtual Student: $45
In-person registration will include dinner on Friday night, lunch on Saturday, and an NACC Conference t-shirt.
Travel Information
Hattiesburg is known as the Hub City because it was the center of important railroad line crossings. It is still a very easily accessed location in Mississippi, sitting at the intersections of Interstate 59 and US Highways 49,98, and 11.
The main campus of The University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS. Use 118 College Dr. or the intersection of N. 33rd Ave and Pearl St., Hattiesburg MS 39406 as a destination for online mapping and GPS devices.
- Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport is 12.4 miles from the conference location.
- Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is 68 miles from the conference location.
- Jackson-Evers International Airport is 92 miles from the conference location.
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is 122 miles from the conference location.
Hattiesburg Amtrak station is located 2.8 miles away from the conference location.
Parking passes are $2 per day and can be purchased in person or online.
There are several hotels close to campus depending on your price range. I have included tentative prices for a double room at several locations during the conference dates for, but they may change slightly as we get closer to the event.
- Avid by IGH is $117 per night
- Fairfield Inn & Suites is $115 per night
- TownePlace Suites Hattiesburg is $142 for a one-bedroom or studio or $212 for a two-bedroom suite per night
- Marriott Courtyard Hattiesburg is $146 per night
- Hotel Indigo is $232 per night
Contact Information
Amanda Walsh, Interim Director, Speaking Center
Amanda.walshFREEMississippi