2026 Hazing Prevention Summit

Hazing Prevention Summit

2026 Louisiana Hazing Prevention Summit

September 17, 2026
Pennington Biomedical Research Center

 

We invite you to join policymakers, higher education leaders, law enforcement, and students for a one-day summit dedicated to addressing hazing at the postsecondary level on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Baton Rouge. Together, we will explore current state laws, review existing policies, and share national best practices for prevention and accountability to help create safer, more supportive student communities. This one-day convening is designed to generate actionable strategies and recommendations to aid institutions in strengthening campus safety across Louisiana.

Agenda

TimeEvent
8:00 AM – 9:00 AMNetworking Breakfast
9:00 AM – 9:15 AMWelcome and Conference Logistics
Dr. Allison Smith, Assistant Commissioner for Student Health and Wellness, Louisiana Board of Regents

Opening Remarks
Misti S. Cordell, Chair, Louisiana Board of Regents

9:15 AM – 9:45 AMThe Lives Behind the Laws: A Fireside Chat with the Families of Max Gruver and Caleb Wilson

Rae Ann Gruver, The Max Gruver Foundation
Urania Wilson, The Caleb Wilson Foundation

Moderated by Rep. Vanessa Caston LaFleur

9:45 AM – 9:50 AMStudent Spotlight: Council of Student Body Presidents (COBSP) Representatives
9:50 AM – 10:05 AMBreak
10:05 AM – 11:35 AMLegislative Crosswalk: Compliance with the ‘Stop Campus Hazing Act’ (SHCA), The ‘Max Gruver Act’, and The ‘Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act’

Moderated by Abigail Boyer, Policy and Prevention Coordinator, StopHazing

11:35 AM – 11:45 AMStudent Spotlight: Council of Student Body Presidents (COBSP) Representatives
11:45 AM – 1:00 PMLunch | Let’s Fix It…If You Want To

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lori Hart, Owner & Founding Partner, The Hart Collective
(from 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM)
1:00 PM – 1:45 PMPrepared for Prevention, Equipped for Accountability: Strengthening Advisor and Hearing Panel Practices

Dr. Jarrod Benjamin, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Albany State University
Martha Compton, Director of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Southern New Hampshire University

Moderated by Dr. Zackeus Johnson, Associate Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Innovation, Louisiana Board of Regents

1:45 PM – 2:00 PMClosing
Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Commissioner of Higher Education, Louisiana Board of Regents
students celebrating after commencement

Educate, Innovate, and Collaborate

The Master Plan

To move Louisiana aggressively forward, the Board of Regents has embraced a robust new attainment goal that calls for 60% of all working-age adults (ages 25-64) in Louisiana to hold a degree or high-value credential by 2030. As we stand on the brink of a new decade, this Master Plan, born of the Board of Regents’ unique charge to guide postsecondary education across the state, will set the foundation to increase opportunity. Our Talent Imperative is to Educate, Innovate, and Collaborate