Leadership Conference

ALD’s 2025 Leadership Conference will be held in Alexandria, VA
from Friday, October 24 - Sunday, October 26.

The 2025 Leadership Conference planning is underway. Check back in January for more information.

View presentations from the 2024 Leadership Conference in Chicago, IL.

Leadership Conference FAQs

  • Reusable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, ALD and/or institution-branded clothing, credit card for hotel incidentals

  • There is no dress code, but you are encouraged to wear ALD or institution-branded clothing on Friday, and anything goes on Saturday and Sunday. Remember to check the weather forecast before packing! And hotels can sometimes be chilly, so you may want to have a sweater.

  • TBD

  • All attendees will need a credit card for the hotel to keep on file for incidentals (a hold of $100/per night will show as a pending charge until the end of your stay), even if you do not charge anything to the room. Please reach out to ALD HQ if you do not have a credit card. We recommend that attendees have some money (cash or card) for snacks, activities during free time, and dinner on Saturday night.

  • Join the official ALD HQ GroupMe chat. Email aldconference@nationalald.org to request the link to join.

  • The Westin Alexandria Old Town
    400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314

  • The hotel check-in is 3 pm and checkout is 12 pm.

  • Only valet parking is available at the hotel for $42.00 daily. 6'2" is height limit.

  • The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the King St-Old Town Metrorail station.

    Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 4.4 miles from the hotel and about an 18-minute ride on the Metrorail.

    Washington Dulles International Airport is 30 miles from the hotel and about an hour and 45 minute ride on the Metrorail.

    Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is 41 miles from the hotel.

  • Priority Chapter Registration/Payment: TBD

    Final Deadline for Registration Fees and any additional charges: TBD

    Individual Attendee Information Forms: TBD

    Cancellation without Penalty: TBD

  • TBD

  • TBD

  • TBD

  • We may invite student and advisor-led presentations. The official schedule for the conference is currently under development. Stay tuned for updates.

  • Attempts will be made to notify chapters regarding waitlisted students and advisors as soon as possible but may not be available until mid-September. If requesting funding/travel approval from your institution, we recommend that your request includes all potential student and advisor attendees.

  • Yes, if you need access to the individual attendee information form for your institution’s required documentation you may email aldconference@nationalald.org to request a link.

  • ALD HQ will provide a detailed list of things to do around Alexandria and Washington D.C. closer to the start of the conference including free and paid attractions, stuff within walking distance of the hotel, affordable spots for food and snacks, etc. ALD HQ will also provide sign-up sheets during the conference to help students organize self-led group outings. There will be free time late Saturday afternoon and evening.

  • ALD HQ is working on securing a community service project for during the conference.

  • Rooming for the conference is two attendees to a Two Queen Beds room. ALD Headquarters will make every effort to room student attendees from the same school, of the same pronouns together. If the school sends students with different pronouns, ALD Headquarters will room those students with students from another school, but of the same pronouns.

    Advisors will also be roomed in doubles (Two Queen beds) by pronouns unless they indicate they will be paying for a single room on the individual attendee information form. This form will be sent in September.

    Roommate requests on the individual attendee information form will only be honored if both attendees list each other’s name as a preferred roommate (pronoun matching is not required). Roommate requests are not guaranteed.

    If you have any questions about the rooming policy or would like to submit a request for a group of 3 or 4 students to room together, please email ALD Headquarters at aldconference@nationalald.org for discussion.

  • If you register for the conference but cannot attend, you are required to notify ALD Headquarters so that other attendees may be allowed to attend. If you need to cancel your registration, please notify ALD Headquarters at aldconference@nationalald.org by September 24. Failure to cancel by September 24 will result in forfeiture of your registration fees. Additional charges/payments, such as advisor single rooms or additional nights, may not be refunded.

  • Yes, travel grants are available for chapters to help offset travel costs for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend the conference. Travel grants are to be used for the sole purpose of travel expenses for the 2025 Leadership Conference in Alexandria, VA, 10/24-26, 2024. If awarded a travel grant and unable to attend, the funds must be returned to ALD HQ immediately.


Past Conferences / Educational Session Materials:

2024 - Chicago, IL
2023 - Denver, CO
2022 - Tampa, FL