Reflections Post-NACEP 2025: The Power of Community in Facing Struggles and Successes

NACEP’s Annual Conference is my favorite time of year. I ran the dual and concurrent enrollment program at Ohio’s Hocking College, prior to joining DualEnroll this past spring, so the NACEP conference was always an important outlet for me. Being able to surround myself with like-minded colleagues from all over the country provided a rejuvenating break from my demanding day-to-day workload that felt never ending.

Now, being a part of the DualEnroll team, I get to help that same group of people, that I feel so connected to, find solutions to their problems. While my move from community college to software solution has been quite the transition, it’s already been so rewarding.

Some of my biggest takeaways from NACEP's 2025 conference, only reinforce the importance of this work:

1. Dual and concurrent enrollment growth is not slowing down.

Dual and concurrent enrollment numbers continue to grow year over year, bringing more opportunities to high school students across the US. But as much as this increased interest and accessibility is a celebrated byproduct of the work and dedication of NACEP members, it also presents significant growing pains for dual and concurrent enrollment staff.

2. Colleges need more internal support.

This one isn’t new in 2025, but almost everyone at NACEP talks about how their concurrent enrollment programs are run by a small team facing the pressures of doing everything. Our NACEP members care so much, but it’s also frustrating to feel undersupported by the wider system and without proper resources to enable success. Colleges need more internal support from other departments and school leaders.

3. Budget cuts are impacting and impeding colleges, especially community colleges.  

Despite dual enrollment growth, many colleges are facing budget cuts. This keeps concurrent enrollment teams from expanding their programs, hiring more support staff, and implementing better processes. It can feel like a herculean task to somehow support continued growth while continuing to provide a positive experience for students and staff. This shouldn’t be the case, and I want to do what I can to help alleviate this issue.

4. Having this shared space is so valuable.

This NACEP community is full of amazing people who care deeply about this work. I loved being able to meet current and potential clients in-person. It gave us an opportunity to connect in a more organic and meaningful way. It’s so valuable to be able to tap into the ideas, ambitions, and shared struggles among members. I’m so appreciative of NACEPs various events and smaller state meetings that help drive improvement and move the needle in our industry.
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Being at NACEP in my new role for the first time was bittersweet, but I loved it. I believe wholeheartedly in what NACEP stands for and the support they show to all of their members.  It was great being able to meet with old colleagues and build new relationships along the way in my new capacity.

This year’s NACEP further clarified my purpose at DualEnroll. I want to continue to be a resource for on-the-ground concurrent enrollment staff in whatever ways I can. I certainly can and will continue to do this by helping colleges learn more about if and how using DualEnroll could be the right move. But I also want to continue to work in the NACEP community to have important conversations with other members to understand the most pressing issues and provide a variety of resources to help.

I am so looking forward to all of the events and connections to come.

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this year’s NACEP conference, I’d love to hear them. 

And if you’d like to learn more about how DualEnroll can help alleviate your team's heavy lifting to ensure program success, please reach out. I’ve experienced the difference of running a program before and after implementing DualEnroll, so I know the realities and benefits first-hand.