About the Summit
The 2026 Grand Challenges Summit is more than a conference, it’s a dynamic gathering of educators, leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across Tennessee who are passionate about creating a brighter future for our state.
From advancing K-12 education, to addressing the devastating impact of addiction, to building stronger rural communities, this Summit is where collaboration meets action.
Together, we’ll seize opportunities to:
- connect with colleagues,
- forge new partnerships,
- and exchange ideas that spark real solutions.
Join us as we learn from one another, inspire bold thinking, and take meaningful steps toward solving some of Tennessee’s most pressing challenges.
2026 Summit Schedule
Day 1 – Tuesday, February 10
10am – 5:00pm CST
- Opening General Session featuring the State of the University Address with UT President Randy Boyd
- Grand Challenges Leadership Panels
- Breakout Sessions
- Artificial Intelligence and Education
- The Rural Health Landscape
- From Opioid Crisis to Overdose Crisis: What’s changed and what’s next?
- Rural Community Development: Creating Capacity and Opportunities
- Outreach & Engagement: Solving Grand Challenges – The Continuum of Outreach and Engagement
- Neurodiversity in the Classroom and Beyond
- Roundtable Discussions and Networking
- KeyNote Address: MoonShot: From Challenge Accepted to Mission Accomplished with City Leadership executive director John Carroll.
- Optional Dinner Groups
Day 2 – Wednesday, February 11
7am – 11:25am CST
- Morning yoga
- Networking and Relationship Building
- Collaboration Escape Room
- Workforce Development and Global Citizenship Education – strengthening Tennessee – Japan partnerships for the future
- The Certainty of Change: How to cope and succeed in a changing world, with Jessi Gold, M.D., M.S.
- Closing KeyNote: MoonShot: To the Moon and Back, with City Leadership executive director John Carroll.
Speaker:
John Carroll is the Executive Director of City Leadership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting, developing, and catalyzing leaders for a growing, improving, and more loving Memphis. His vision for City Leadership is to maximize positive community impact through strategic innovation and community development. Carroll holds a degree in Political Science and Marketing Communications and has professional experience in both Dallas and Memphis. He is married to Hayley, and together they have five children. His work has received national attention, including features on Good Morning America, Today, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Registration – Now ONLY accepting registrations for Day 2
For Day 2 Registration use code GC100
To register for the Grand Challenges Summit, you will need to create a CE Now Profile on the UTHSC CE Now webpage following a short five step process.
Step 1: Go to CE Now: https://cenow.uthsc.edu
Step 2: Select “Create an Account” in the upper right corner of the navigation bar (top green bar)
Step 3: Select “Create New Visitor Account”
Step 4: Fill out User Account information and click “Create New Account”
** Please make sure to save username and password**
Step 5: After logging in using your username and password, click or paste the registration link below in your browser: https://cenow.uthsc.edu/grand-challenge-summit
For internal department transfers, please use this number:
01-1100016-019450-546900-260-0000
Book Your Room for the Summit
Drury Plaza Hotel
1874 West McEwen Drive
Franklin, TN 37067
How to Reserve:
- Visit www.druryhotels.com
- Select your nights
- Enter the special rate code: 10153794
