New Scholarly Exchange at RSA 2026

October 24, 2025

We’re excited to invite you to a new Scholastic Exchange at RSA 2026 designed to foster connections among RSA members across academic ranks and institutions. The session will take place on Thursday, May 21 at 6:00-7:00pm in Portland.

Created in response to member feedback expressing interest in more opportunities to connect with colleagues across the field, this session brings together RSA members for small-group conversations organized around shared research interests. Prior to the conference, participants will indicate their areas of focus; based on those responses, we’ll form groups that include individuals from different career stages and institutions. Each group will be given a set of guided questions and activities designed to spark conversation around research trajectories, intellectual influences, and possibilities for collaboration.

Recognizing that collaboration and connection must be continually cultivated, this session offers a structured yet welcoming space for members to meet across institutions and career stages. Designed as a low-barrier opportunity for engagement, participation requires no paper, presentation, or prepared materials.

If you are interested in your name being listed as a session participant in the online conference program, please register for the session via this Google sign-up form by November 7. Within two weeks, you will receive an official acceptance email to confirm your participation.

Others are welcome to sign up beyond November 7, but your name may not appear in the program. We also invite participants who decide to join us once they arrive at the conference. Groups will be determined based on the information we receive from advance registration, but there will be time at the beginning of the session to place new attendees into existing groups.

We hope this session expands opportunities for members to engage in and benefit from this year’s conference. Please feel free to reach out to session leaders with any questions:

Mikayla Torres ([email protected]) or

Rachael McIntosh ([email protected])

Share the event flyer!

Copy-and-paste link to Sign Up: https://forms.gle/sAV4fvKWjGSBktX98

Best,

Rachael McIntosh and Mikayla Torres