2026 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
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Networking Breakfast |
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome and Conference Logistics Dr. Allison Smith, Assistant Commissioner for Student Health and Wellness, Louisiana Board of Regents Opening Remarks |
| 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | A Shared Commitment Forward: Beyond Legislation to Lasting Culture Change Steve Gruver, Co-Founder, The Max Gruver Foundation Dr. Mari Ann Callais, Founding Partner, The Hart Collective Moderated by Representative Vanessa Caston LaFleur |
| 9:45 AM – 9:50 AM | Student Spotlight: Council of Student Body Presidents (COBSP) Representatives |
| 9:50 AM – 10:05 AM | Break |
| 10:05 AM – 11:35 AM | Understanding Hazing Prevention Requirements in Louisiana: Implementing State and Federal Law Abigail Boyer, Policy and Prevention Coordinator, StopHazing |
| 11:35 AM – 11:45 AM | Student Spotlight: Council of Student Body Presidents (COBSP) Representatives |
| 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Lunch | 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 PM | Prepared 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 PM | Closing Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Commissioner of Higher Education, Louisiana Board of Regents |
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