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Challenging the Paradigm Conference

UNCW/3C Collaborative

The Challenging the Paradigm Conference 2025, at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Watson College of Education will be hosted on February 27-28, 2025. Our theme and presentations this year are focused on Programming that leads to sustainable jobs and career readiness, understanding neurodiversity and differently abled students, faculty and staff.

The Challenging the Paradigm Conference will feature plenary presentations for all attendees.

Topics include: 

  1. Collaborative partnerships with other institutions and organizations
  2. Out-of-the-classroom wrap-around services and support
  3. Faculty and staff professional development programs and initiatives to increase awareness and skillsets for working with neurodiversity
  4. Existing programs and approaches to supporting students inside and outside of the classroom

The conference registration is $150.00 and food is provided during the conference times. We will be reviewing proposals for a final agenda and will make it available on the website. We look forward to connecting with colleagues and expanding our networks around our important work for the success of our students.

Registration online >

We have two amazing keynote speakers this year who will share their experiences and hope for the future. We look forward to their collaboration and messaging about successful work in creating pathways for all students.

We look forward to broadening our networks and getting to know you. Please contact us should you have questions at hennningd@uncw.edu, or by phone (910) 859-4889.

Conference Agenda

Keynote Speakers

Dr. James Stocker

James Stocker is an associate professor of special education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Prior to his appointment at UNCW in 2017, Jim garnered over 15 years of practitioner experience as a public-school teacher and behavior analyst.  His research focuses on academic interventions, STEM education, applied behavior analysis, and inclusive practices. He served as co-principal investigator on two National Science Foundation grants that involved delivering educational programming in STEM to students from underserved and underrepresented populations. He is currently focused on building training programs in behavior analysis to support the strengths and needs of neurodiverse learners.

Dr. Tracy Mancini

Dr. Tracy Mancini became the sixth president of Carteret Community College on June 1, 2020, after having served as the College’s chief academic and student development officer and SACSCOC accreditation liaison for four years. 

Her community college career began when she taught as an adjunct English instructor at Durham Technical Community College in 1994. She went on to teach English, Humanities, and Religion full-time at Durham Tech, eventually serving as chair of the English & Communications discipline and dean of Arts, Sciences, & University Transfer.  She is a member and club service coordinator of the Beaufort Ole Towne Rotary and a proud member of Leadership Carteret’s Class of 2018. She is first vice president of the Gamma Zeta chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma education sorority and a member of the Beaufort Woman’s Club.

Dr. Mancini earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the College of William and Mary. Her graduate degrees include a Master of Arts in English from the University of North Florida, a Master of Theological Studies from Duke University, and a Doctor of Education in Community College Executive Leadership from Wingate University. 

Born in northeast Philadelphia and raised in Vineland, New Jersey, she has lived in North Carolina since 1993. Dr. Mancini and her husband, Norris Cotton, reside in Beaufort and enjoy books and movies, entertaining, kayaking, gardening, keeping up with family, and doting on their dogs, Mudge and Buddy.