2019 Conference

The HxA 2019 Conference convened over 430 HxA members, community leaders, administrators, philanthropists, and students to discuss key issues at the core of HxA’s mission: open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement in the academy. 

The conference took place on June 20-21, 2019 at the Sheraton Times Square New York, with a program focused on advancing discourse, providing tools, offering solutions, and fostering heterodox-positive cultures on campuses and in disciplines. The 2019 conference was larger that the previous year’s, both in scope and attendance, and provided attendees with a mix of stellar speakers, panelists, and moderators to hear from, while also emphasizing skill-building workshops and collaborative time.

The conference featured many memorable sessions, including a keynote by Lynn Pasquerella, President of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Pasquerella spoke about restoring public trust in education in what she sees as a post-truth era and followed up with a conversation with Jennifer Senior of the New York Times. 

The following day, among many panels and workshops, conference attendees heard one more keynote address. Bestselling author and Harvard Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker explained why open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement matter beyond the academy. He made the case that healthy colleges and universities equip citizens, scientists, policymakers, parents, and others with the habits of heart and mind that go far beyond just education and advance humanity as a whole. 

The conference featured a variety of panels on other topics, including which ideas gain entrance into the academy and why, the relationship between viewpoint diversity and other types of diversity, and success stories of how heterodoxy has been implemented in big and small ways on campuses throughout the country. A complete copy of the conference program can be downloaded here and all conference sessions can be viewed here. 

The conference would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. 

Campbell Family Foundation 

Wayne Olson and Sandra Miller

Gerry Ohrstrom

Daniel Shuchman, Let Grow 

The Paul E. Singer Foundation

Shulman Family Charitable Fund