"Did anybody teach y'all how to conference? Or did it just come to you naturally?"

That’s the question that kicks off our very first episode — and the answer from all four of your hosts is a resounding no.

Academic conferences are essential to building a career in higher education, but almost no one explicitly teaches you how to do them well. The norms, the politics, the networking, the unspoken expectations—it’s all part of the hidden curriculum that College Consigliere exists to unpack.

In this episode, Will, Nikki, Erin, and Michelle share their own first conference experiences (including some genuinely mortifying stories), offer practical advice for grad students and early-career faculty, and answer the question: what do you actually love about going to conferences?

In This Episode

How each of your hosts navigated their very first conference—from undergraduate road trips to accidentally explaining someone’s own book back to them.

Why going to a conference before you present can make a huge difference.

What to do if you’re shy, anxious, or returning to in-person conferences after years away.

How to approach faculty whose work you admire (spoiler: just do it—our field is kind).

What “networking” actually means in practice and how to ask for introductions without it feeling weird.

The social and emotional reality of conferences: reconnecting with old friends, finding your affinity spaces, and discovering “the people who get you”.

A lightning round of best advice for presenters.

The Lightning Round: Best Advice for Presenters

Erin: Go to the conference before you present if you possibly can—or at minimum, find someone who’s been there and ask them about the culture of that specific conference. Norms vary wildly, and they’re rarely written down anywhere.

Michelle: Do not go over time. Practice your presentation. If the session chair isn’t keeping time, ask a friend or fellow presenter to signal you at the one-minute mark.

Will: If you’re using anything digital, download it to your computer before you arrive. Conference hotel internet will fail you. Every time. Do not attempt to stream a video, load a webpage, or link to anything without a local backup.

Nikki: Make sure you eat a real meal before the evening receptions.

Do you have a question or a situation you’re not sure how to navigate? Submit it anonymously at collegeconsigliere.com—we read everything, and we may just answer it on a future episode.