May 28, 2025 — While many universities’ campuses quiet down as summer approaches, Marist University will be a hub for academic and industry leaders from around the world to convene summits, trainings, and working sessions on a wide variety of issues.

More than a dozen groups are making Marist their destination this summer, diving into issues ranging from the future of AI and cutting-edge forms of play therapy for children, to scripting the next Broadway hit and examining U.S. history through the lens of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s leadership and policies.

“Marist is proud to be a convener of leading industry and community groups and to offer an intellectually stimulating environment that fosters learning, innovation, and analysis of critical issues,” said Dr. Catherine Gunther Kodat, Provost and Dean of Faculty at Marist. “Our faculty are expert scholars and practitioners, and the tremendous amount of activity on campus this summer reflects Marist’s growing stature as a guide and thought partner on important issues facing society.”

This summer, Marist will welcome visitors from across the country and around the world—further solidifying the University’s growing national and international reputation. The university’s state-of-the-art facilities, expert faculty, and picturesque riverfront campus provide a vibrant and inspiring setting for these critical conversations and events. Highlights of the summer schedule include:

Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

• Scholarly Research in Literary Journalism (May 28–30): Up to 100 scholars worldwide from the International Association for Literary Journalism Studies will convene on campus for their 19th annual conference. Previous host cities included Sydney, Australia; Gdansk, Poland; Vienna, Austria; and Santiago, Chile.
• Cutting-edge Forms of Play Therapy (June 5–7): Marist’s graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will host The New York Association for Play Therapy (NYAPT), bringing social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, and others together to explore new and innovative ways to use various forms of play—including video games—to support effective therapy techniques for children and adults.
• Trends and Challenges in MBA Studies (June 9-10): Marist’s MBA Program will host the Mid-Atlantic Association of Colleges of Business Administration and convene a forum to discuss student advisement and support to maximize the value of MBA studies and explore how emerging technologies are impacting this popular advanced degree that can propel careers across industries.
• Artificial Intelligence Summit (June 18): The Hudson Valley AI Summit will unite leading thinkers and industry innovators to discuss the future, and responsible use, of artificial intelligence. Speakers include leaders from IBM, Amazon, Meta, and the Marist+AI Committee.
• Hudson Valley Workforce Development Conference (June 27): Community Nexus is convening business leaders, community members, caregivers, and academic leaders to discuss transforming workforce development throughout New York State, including economic innovation and employee recruitment and retention.
• New York Stage and Film Summer Season (July 11– Aug. 3): New York Stage and Film returns for its celebrated Summer Season at Marist, as over 100 artists, screenwriters, and performers spend the summer on campus working on, and performing, upcoming plays, film scripts, musical pieces, and other creative endeavors.
• The Great Depression, New Deal, and WWII (July 20–23): The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in conjunction with Marist’s Long Reach Society are hosting high school history teachers from around the country to explore this watershed period in American history and its impact on the world’s political, strategic, and economic makeup. A special feature of the event will include a visit to the nearby FDR Presidential Library and Museum.
• College Admission Counseling Summer Institute (Aug. 5-8): The New York State Association for College Admission Counseling is bringing together high school and college admission counselors from across New York for professional development workshops and to explore how to support access for all students and families seeking a college education. 

Want to be part of the conversation? Events are often open to the Marist community, offering unique opportunities to engage with thought leaders, gain new insights, and explore timely topics right here on campus. Keep an eye on the Marist calendar and participate in the dialogue shaping our future.

Interested in holding an event at Marist University or tapping into the expertise of Marist faculty and staff to convene discussions on important issues? Learn more by visiting the university’s Event Services.