"Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges, and Paving Pathways"

A group of four student panelists speaking at the Transfer Pathways Summit

2025 Transfer Pathways Summit

Friday, June 6, 2025
8 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET

Alumni Hall
4227 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (View Map)

Register Here >>

Summit Overview

Are you passionate about supporting community college and transfer students?

The second-annual transfer summit is for people like you—and will include higher education practitioners, scholars, and students from across Pennsylvania and surrounding states.

Our goal is to create more transfer-friendly practices for students enrolled in four-year institutions. The event is offered by the Pitt School of Education, Office of the Provost, and Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Benefits

  • Engage in lively conversations on trends, promising practices, and action steps
  • Learn about the common concerns and challenges faced by community college students during the transfer process
  • Gain actionable insights from keynote speakers on strategies for improving transfer in your institution

Who Should Attend

  • Community college leaders and practitioners
  • Community college students
  • College faculty focused on study of higher education systems
  • Academic advisors
  • Admissions staff
  • Graduate students

Supporting Transfer Students

Over 100 people are expected at the 2025 Transfer Pathways Summit.

All are welcome as we work on strategies to improve transfer-friendly cultures at Pitt — and beyond.

read a recap of last year’s summit >>

Transfer Pathways Summit ballroom shot from above

 Schedule At a Glance

TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION
8 – 9 a.m. Continental Breakfast and Check-in Connolly Ballroom
9 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks 7th Floor Auditorium
9:15 – 10 a.m. Opening Keynote Address:
Frank Harris III, San Diego State University		 7th Floor Auditorium
10 – 10:15 a.m. Coffee Break Cathedral Views
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Transfer Student Panel 7th Floor Auditorium
11:15 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee Break Cathedral Views
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Luncheon Keynote Address:
Manny Smith, EdVisorly		 Connolly Ballroom
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. General Session/Colloquium TBD
1:30 – 2 p.m. Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks Connolly Ballroom
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Engagement and Action Planning Connolly Ballroom

Keynote Speakers

 

Opening Keynote

9:15 – 10:00 a.m.
7th Floor Auditorium

Dr. Frank Harris III
Professor
Co-Director, Community College Equity Assessment Lab
San Diego State University College Education

Dr. Frank Harris III is best known for his expertise in racial equity in postsecondary education and has made important contributions to knowledge about college student development and the social construction of gender and race in college contexts. His work prioritizes populations that have been historically underrepresented and underserved in education, and he has obtained extramural funding for his research including serving as PI or Co-PI on 34 grants and contracts totaling more than $2.5 million.

Dr. Harris’s career in higher education began in 1999. Before joining the faculty at San Diego State, he worked for nearly a decade as a student affairs educator and college administrator in student crisis support and advocacy, new student orientation programs, multicultural student affairs, academic advising, and enrollment services. He also served as an adjunct professor of speech communication at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

Manny Smith headshot

Luncheon Keynote

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Connolly Ballroom

Manny Smith
Founder and CEO
EdVisorly

Manny Smith graduated from the US Air Force Academy as a first-generation college student and served as a technical product manager in the US Air Force, developing satellite systems and software. Influenced by his experiences, Manny pursued an MBA at UC Berkeley. where he founded EdVisorly, a platform to uplift community college freshman and sophomores with clear and accessible pathways to complete their bachelor’s degree at 4-year universities.

In addition, Manny serves as a Major in the United States Air Force reserves, supporting high potential students in pursuing their dream of attending the US Air Force Academy.

Transfer Student Panel Session

10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
7th Floor Auditorium

The Transfer Student Voices Panel amplifies the voices of students who have transferred to Pitt from community colleges and other 4-year institutions. The Panel will illuminate the transfer experience through the lens of students, shedding light on their journey and discussing effective strategies to support transfers as they navigate and acclimate to a new campus environment.

General Session and Colloquium

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Location TBD

Please check back soon for more information

Frequently Asked Questions

The Transfer Pathways Summit is free to all participants. Advance registration is requested to help with planning purposes.

Paid parking is available at the University’s Solider & Sailors Garage at 4390 Bigelow Boulevard, Pittsburgh PA, 15213.  The garage is located a block away from the venue.

Additional paid parking is available on metered spaces on Fifth Avenue and the surrounding streets.

Three hotels are located within walking distance to the venue:

Visitors to the University of Pittsburgh participating in the summit have two options for guest Wi-Fi access:

  • Eduroam Guest Wi-Fi is the best option for visitors from UPMC and other Eduroam-affiliated institutions. No time limits or additional device configuration required.
  • Pitt Guest Wi-Fi (Anyroam) provides access for alumni, parents, and others who do not have an Eduroam affiliation for up to one year. One-time device configuration is required after you arrive on campus.

COMPARE GUEST WI-FI OPTIONS

The Transfer Pathways Summit was created by Dr. Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher, Professor and Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the Pitt School of Education. It  is a partnership among the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, Office of the Provost, and Pitt Admissions.

There were more than 125 attendees at the 2024 Transfer Pathways Summit. Among them were:

  • Higher education officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
  • Leaders from community colleges in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Warren, and Westmoreland counties
  • Representatives from Pitt’s central admissions office, the Provost’s Office, and academic schools across the University.

The Transfer Pathway Summit will provide the following food options:

  • Complimentary continental breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m.
  • Catered lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Coffee, tea, and water throughout the day

Have Additional Questions?

Please contact Megan Brennan at meb201@pitt.edu

Register for the Summit

Don't miss your chance to learn and work with others focused on supporting community college transfer

Register Here
Back to Top