The Power of GEAR UP Leadership: Highlights from the 2026 Directors’ Summit

Last week, over 160 senior GEAR UP leaders gathered in San Antonio and three days later left with more than just notes.

The 2026 GEAR UP Directors' Summit held March 1–3 at the St. Anthony Hotel, brought together the people who give GEAR UP programs direction: principal investigators, directors, assistant directors, and others carrying the responsibility of keeping these programs strong. The goals were clear — build meaningful relationships, learn from peers, and tackle challenges together.

Sunday's optional welcome set just the right tone. No keynotes, no slides — simply good conversation and the chance to connect with colleagues from across the country who understand this work firsthand. It was an easy reminder that some of the most valuable moments in a gathering like this happen before the formal programming even begins.

From there, the Summit leaned fully into collaboration. Structured problem-solving sessions addressed challenges that come up repeatedly across GEAR UP programs: developing directors, gaining organizational buy-in, innovating student and family programs, maintaining compliance, and recruiting and retaining staff.

Peer consulting gave everyone the opportunity to put their real challenges on the table and receive thoughtful, written feedback from multiple colleagues. In addition, attendees surfaced their own topics for roundtable discussion, so the conversations stayed grounded and relevant.

For many, it was the kind of support they wished they'd had from the start — as one participant put it, "I wish I had this 6 years ago, when I was starting up as the GEAR UP Director. Talking to other directors and receiving feedback on an issue that we all experienced, is helpful in understanding the process and being able to lean on."

That kind of peer-driven exchange points to something larger. Strong programs start with strong leadership. The coordinators, educators, and frontline staff who bring GEAR UP to life every day are well served when the people guiding their programs have the support, tools, and connections to lead well. The Summit was built around exactly that.

Thank you to our reception sponsor, Vernier, and our coffee break sponsors, Texas Instruments and Student Success Agency.