National Conference for Engaged Scholarship on Hidden Student Populations
Our Mission:
NCHP creates a translational research space to identify and address critical issues impacting students with foster care experiences and other social journeys that often lead to being hidden in the system of higher education.
In our Conference space, we value:
- Diversity of perspectives represented by different voices, approaches, disciplines, and experiences
- Multidisciplinary collaboration that creates new knowledge, relationships, and teamwork
- Innovative approaches in the translation of research to practice
- Experiential knowledge through honoring those with lived experience
- Commitment to just policies and practices for college students
Upcoming
2024 In-Person Conference
The National Conference for Hidden Student Populations (NCHP) will be held from February 28 - March 1, 2024, at the University of Texas – San Antonio.
Registration will open soon!
Call for Proposals
- Team Leaders. Become a team leader of a multidisciplinary research team.
- September 1, 2023, Deadline (notifications by September 15)
- Submit here your proposal to become a team lead.
- Note: If you completed an RFP for Research Team Lead, you do not need to also complete the Research Team Member information.
- Team members. Become a new multidisciplinary research team member.
- October 13, 2023, Deadline (notifications by October 31)
- Submit here your proposal to become a team member.
- Note: If you completed an RFP for Research Team Lead, you do not need to also complete the Research Team Member information.
- Presenters – Traditional research. Present an original empirical work.
- October 31, 2023, Deadline (notifications by November 10)
- Submit here your proposal for a traditional research presentation.
- Presenters – Arts-Based research. Present an arts-based work.
- October 31, 2023, Deadline (notifications by November 10)
- Submit here your proposal for an arts-based research presentation.
Request to be on the email list for announcements by emailing your information to
Ongoing support provided by the Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences, and the OSU Christine Cashel Professorship in Higher Education and Student Affairs.
NCHP Fellows
A small group of colleagues served as the guiding committee for the 2020 inaugural National Conference for Engaged Scholarship on Hidden Populations. United through their emerging expertise and commitment to better understanding the diverse lived experiences of students on college campuses, dedication to inclusivity, and commitment to establishing multidisciplinary collaborative space, these individuals were honored with the distinction and title of NCHP Fellow. The Fellows group were contributors to the Conference’s initial success, are current champions of its work, and are committed to providing a foundation of support for its future.
Working Definitions
Hidden populations: Students who are not visibly identifiable, experience or perceive a lack of voice in higher education processes and systems and who are often resistant to self-identifying (typically because of fears about social judgment and/or labeling). Although our knowledge continues to evolve, current examples of hidden populations include students with foster care or other out-of-home experience, survivors of sexual violence (including sex trafficking), justice-involved students, Third Culture Kids, those recovering from drug or alcohol addiction and those facing housing insecurity.
College: All types of degree-granting educational institutions including two-year, four-year, public, private, faith-based, tribal, etc. Students may be college bound, current college students or college graduates.
Past Conferences
2022 Conference
The National Conference for Engaged Scholarship on Hidden Student Populations (NCHP) was held September 14-16, 2022, at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The in-person conference included empirical research presentations, both traditional and arts-based. New research teams were seated and completed planning for research to be conducted for the 18 months following the conference. The conference was sponsored by:
- Bridging Success, Foster Youth ASU, Arizona State University
- Christine Cashel Professorship in Educational Leadership, College Student Development, Oklahoma State University
- Ferguson College of Agriculture, Oklahoma State University
- Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, Arizona State University.
Planning Team: Kerri Kearney, Jennifer Geiger, Lori Tiller, Megan Piel, Royel Johnson, Lisa Will, Justine Cheung, and Lisa Schelbe.
2021 Virtual Conference
Due to impacts from COVID-19, the National Conference for Engaged Scholarship on Hidden Student Populations was held virtually on September 15 and 16, 2021, and included research updates from pre-existing conference research teams and additional original, empirical research presentations.
Planning Team: Kerri Kearney, Jennifer Geiger, Lori Tiller, Megan Piel, Royel Johnson, Lisa Will, and Liz Neria.
2020 Conference
The National Conference for Engaged Scholarship on Hidden Student Populations was the first of its kind dedicated to this interdisciplinary area of study. The inaugural conference was held on February 19-20, 2020, in Washington, D.C., and included research presentations and networking activities. Six research teams were established to design and conduct research. Financial support was provided by the Spencer Foundation.
Planning Team: Kerri Kearney, Jennifer Geiger, Lori Tiller, Megan Piel, Royel Johnson, and Lisa Will.