Ph.D. Alumni Research Conference
Planned for December 10–11, 2026, the inaugural conference will bring KU Business doctoral scholars together to share research, spark ideas and strengthen connections between doctoral alumni and current students.
Register to attendAbout the conference
KU School of Business Ph.D. Alumni Research Conference
December 10–11, 2026
Capitol Federal Hall, Lawrence, Kansas
The KU School of Business will host its inaugural two-day Ph.D. Alumni Research Conference in December, bringing together doctoral alumni and current students to exchange ideas, present research and build meaningful connections across generations of KU Business scholars.
The conference highlights alumni and doctoral student research and includes a keynote from a distinguished expert.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Charly Edmonds at cedmonds@ku.edu by November 19, 2026.
Call for submissions
The KU School of Business doctoral program invites doctoral alumni to submit research papers for presentation at the inaugural conference.
The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2026. Please submit papers electronically in Microsoft Word or PDF format to cedmonds@ku.edu.
Tentative Agenda: Thursday, December 10 | |
|---|---|
| 11–11:30 a.m. | Check-In |
| 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Welcome and Lunch |
| 1–1:30 p.m. | Alumni Engagement Discussion |
| 1:30–2 p.m. | Break |
| 2–3 p.m. | Innovations in Business and Ph.D. Education The purpose of this session is to create space for mutual learning—both for us to learn from our doctoral alumni and for alumni to learn from one another. Together, we will explore strategies for engaging undergraduate and master’s students in research and increasing awareness of the doctoral program as a viable and rewarding path. We also will examine innovative approaches to addressing the current challenges facing business Ph.D. education. Discussion questions:
|
| 3–3:15 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15–4 p.m. | Paper Presentation I |
| 4–4:15 p.m. | Break |
| 4:15–5 p.m. | Paper Presentation II |
| 5–6 p.m. | Keynote Speaker |
| 6 p.m. | Dinner and Presentation of Inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award |
Tentative Agenda: Friday, December 11 | |
|---|---|
| 9–9:45 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 10–10:45 a.m. | Paper Presentation III |
| 10:45–11 a.m. | Break |
| 11–11:45 a.m. | Paper Presentation IV |
| 11:45 a.m.–12 p.m. | Break |
| 12–1:30 p.m. | Lunch and Doctoral Student Presentations
|
| 1:45–2:15 p.m. | Paper Presentation V |
| 2:15–3 p.m. | Break |
| 3–3:45 p.m. | Paper Presentation VI |