2026 Virginia Conference on Introductory History Courses

The American Historical Association will hold the Virginia Conference on Introductory History Courses on Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC) in Richmond. With support from New American History and Bunk History at the University of Richmond, VMHC, and other partners, this two-day, regional conference facilitates conversations among educators who teach introductory history courses, whether in secondary schools, community colleges, or four-year universities.

• Leading Historians and History Educators
  Attend presentations and workshops led by accomplished historians and innovative history educators from across the region.

• State of History Education in Virginia
  Explore current developments in state education policy with implications for K–12 public schools and higher education.

• Teaching with Primary Sources
  Discover classroom-ready materials from the Library of Congress and organizations in the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Consortium.

• Funding Opportunities
  Learn about regional grant opportunities available through the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Mid-Atlantic and US Territories Region at the AHA and discuss potential project ideas with program staff.

•  Share Resources and Ideas
  Join conversations with instructors teaching introductory US and world history across the region, and exchange resources and effective teaching strategies.

• Supporting Student Success
  Explore approaches for helping students navigate the transition from high school to college-level history courses and expectations.

Free parking will be available onsite for attendees, with validation from the Museum.

Here is the current schedule for 2026 Virginia Conference on Introductory History Courses, subject to change. More information will be added as we confirm the details.

Friday, August 28

9:00–9:15        Welcome

9:15–10:30      AM Plenary: America 250 Was Just the Beginning

10:30–10:45    AHA Initiatives

Transition to breakouts

10:55–11:45    Concurrent Sessions 1

11:55–12:45    Concurrent Sessions 2

12:45–2:15      Lunch and Exhibits

2:20–3:20        PM Plenary: Strengthening History Education in Dual Enrollment Survey Courses with Open Educational Resources and Digital Humanities

3:30–4:15        Concurrent Sessions 3

Saturday, August 29

9:00–9:20        Recap and Preview

9:20–10:20      AM Plenary: The Civic Value of History Courses

10:20–10:40    Recent AHA Activities

10:55–11:45    Concurrent Sessions 4

11:55–12:45    Breakout: Making History Indispensable

12:50–2:20      Lunch and Exhibits

2:25–3:15        Closing Plenary: Setting an Agenda for Introductory History Courses

Featured Speakers

Edward Ayers has been named National Professor of the Year, received the National Humanities Medal from President Obama at the White House, won the Bancroft, Beveridge, and Lincoln prizes in American history, served as president of the Organization of American Historians, and is president emeritus of the University of Richmond. He has written nine books on the history of the United States. Today, he is executive director of New American History, an online effort based at the University of Richmond designed to help students and teachers from K12 through college explore and more fully understand the nation’s history.

 

Andrew Koch, CEO of the Gardner Institute, has devoted nearly 35 years to advancing access, learning, and success in higher education. The child of immigrants, he is committed to redesigning educational systems so the American Dream is accessible to all students. An American Studies historian, his research examines how higher education shapes democracy and culture, with particular attention to educational inequities. His latest book, Transforming the Gateway Course Experience, was published by Routledge in 2024. His forthcoming book, Transforming the Graduate Student Experience, will be published by Johns Hopkins University Press in fall 2026.

 

 

Sponsors

We are grateful for our sponsors, whose generous support make this conference possible.