SXSW EDU 2025 Advisory Board Recommends: Sessions on Continuing Education, Equity, and More

When building your schedule, it can be helpful to get some inspiration from other attendees. So, to offer a helping hand, #SXSWEDU 2025 Advisory Board members have shared which sessions they are looking forward to and why.

With focuses on continuing education and equity, discover which sessions Advisory Board members are looking forward to this March.

Find your next favorite session based on these Advisory Board recommendations:

Andy Bell

Chief Executive Officer, Thinkery

What tracks are you interested in?

Accessibility & Inclusion | Community Initiatives | Equity & Justice | Future of Tech | Leadership for Tomorrow | Startups & Investment | Teaching & Learning

What’s a session you’re excited to attend and why?

Building Education for a Radically Different Future - We are seeing innovation at unprecedented levels and speed in every sector but education, which is leaving our students unprepared for this dynamically changing world. Bold conversations around innovative new models for learning are critical.

What are you looking for in the sessions you choose to attend and why?

I'm looking for new models and approaches that help us prepare ALL students to thrive with a particular focus on innovation, and equity. From game-changing AI in learning to bold strategies for humanizing pre-K-12 education, I'm looking for sessions exploring transformative community based ideas.

Dr. Noreen Barajas-Murphy

Higher Education Ambassador, CDW

What tracks are you interested in?

Future of Tech | Policy & Advocacy | Teaching & Learning | Work Reimagined

What’s a session you’re excited to attend and why?

Do Students & Society Still Value Higher Ed? - This session includes panelists discussing the Gallup and Lumina Foundation’s State of Higher Education 2024. This significant research on the perceptions of the value of postsecondary education is essential in understanding the waning trust in colleges and universities. I am looking forward to hearing perspectives from Lumina and Gallup in the hopes of making an informed case for the value of postsecondary degrees.

What are you looking for in the sessions you choose to attend and why?

Postsecondary education is up against so many challenges, real and perceived. I am hoping to hear from researchers, solutions providers, and others invested in addressing the challenges that colleges and universities face in attracting students to their campus as well as providing a degree that will help graduates enter the workforce prepared for a relevant career. I also look forward to conversations with others committed to advancing equitable access to degrees and certifications that support social and economic mobility to underestimate adults.

Emily Kotecki

Museum Consultant, High Beam Strategies

What tracks are you interested in?

Arts & Storytelling | Future of Tech | Leadership for Tomorrow | Teaching & Learning

What’s a session you’re excited to attend and why?

The Art of Empathy: NYU x Whitney Museum Collaboration - The purpose of a collaboration is to cross-pollinate ideas and compliment each other's strengths so that we can build something greater together than we could alone. This session of NYU Medical students increasing their observational and critical thinking skills by looking at art will be fascinating.

What are you looking for in the sessions you choose to attend and why?

I look for sessions that are within museums and libraries so I can connect with other innovators in my field while also going to sessions about topics that are outside my usual focus in order to absorb new ways of problem solving, collaborating, or working with audiences.

Jacquie Gardy

Virtual Engagement and Materials Development Specialist, Office of English Language Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State

What tracks are you interested in?

All of them!

What’s a session you’re excited to attend and why?

Tools for Teachers to Become Digital Accessibility Designers - As a materials developer and editor, I believe it's crucial to ensure that digital resources, especially teacher-created ones, cater to physical, sensory, and cognitive differences. This session will provide invaluable insights into how free tools funded by the U.S. Department of Education can help teachers design innovative and flexible digital materials. By participating, I will enhance my ability to support all students, especially those with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to education.

What are you looking for in the sessions you choose to attend and why?

In the sessions I plan to attend, I am primarily looking for opportunities to learn from others, stay up to date with educational practices and policy, and discover new ways to assist and enhance my current work. I aim to learn from professionals in different sectors to gain diverse perspectives and insights. Additionally, I am keen on exploring potential ways to collaborate and create partnerships, as I believe that cross-sector collaboration can lead to innovative solutions and greater impact.

Juanita Soranno

Founder & Executive Director, CodeConnect

What tracks are you interested in?

Community Initiatives | Future of Tech | Startups & Investment | Work Reimagined

What’s a session you’re excited to attend and why?

Cleveland’s Collective Impact Approach to Career Pathways - I’m thrilled to learn about how the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium is connecting the dots between education and workforce systems to serve 30,000 students. Seeing this level of collaboration in action—where cross-sector partners come together to create real opportunities for underserved communities—is exactly the kind of work that fuels my passion. I can’t wait to hear their insights on scaling impact and building sustainable pathways for young people.

What are you looking for in the sessions you choose to attend and why?

I’m looking for sessions that highlight bold, scalable solutions to equity challenges, particularly those that bridge education, workforce, and technology. I’m drawn to stories of cross-sector collaboration and practical strategies that empower underrepresented communities to thrive. For me, it’s all about finding actionable insights and inspiring ideas that I can bring back to my own work, where creating opportunities and driving impact are at the core of everything I do.

Matthew Cohen

Managing Director, Cohen Strategy Group, LLC

What tracks are you interested in?

Equity & Justice | Health & Wellbeing | Startups & Investment | Work Reimagined

What’s a session you’re excited to attend and why?

Future-Proofing America: Building a Strategy for Talent - I’m excited about this session because it aligns perfectly with my professional priorities and passions. The focus on developing a non-partisan strategy to enhance U.S. economic competitiveness by fully utilizing talent from all backgrounds resonates with my commitment to driving inclusive economic mobility and building pathways toward good jobs. I’m particularly interested in the emphasis on practical steps to harness diverse talent, foster cross-sector partnerships, and create a blueprint for the future of work. It directly connects to my experience supporting CEOs and leadership teams in identifying opportunities, solving challenges, and establishing key partnerships.

What are you looking for in the sessions you choose to attend and why?

I’m looking for sessions that push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and offer practical, actionable insights. I want to be in spaces where fresh perspectives on education, training, and economic mobility are explored. I’m drawn to sessions that can give me transformative ideas I can apply to my work—ideas that drive real impact at scale.

Don’t Miss Out On SXSW EDU 2025

Register and book your hotel today to break new ground in education through compelling sessions, in-depth workshops, mentorship, film screenings, trailblazing competitions, a dynamic expo, networking opportunities, and so much more at SXSW EDU from March 3-6, 2025.

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Photo by Andy Wenstrand.