Refugee Outreach Collective's Annual Conference (ROCAC) 2026

About the conference

Join ROCAC 2026 at Central Michigan University to explore research and advocacy on forced displacement and refugee issues.

The Refugee Outreach Collective (ROC) is proud to host its first ROC Annual Conference (ROCAC 2026) on Saturday 11 April 2026, at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ROC chapter at CMU, this inaugural statewide conference brings together scholars, students, practitioners, artists, humanitarian actors, and individuals with lived experience to explore critical issues in forced and voluntary migration.

Under the theme “Connecting Research and Action Across Michigan: Exploring Migration & Policy,” ROCAC 2026 creates a collaborative platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and applied research. The conference highlights empirically driven scholarship while recognizing the essential role of advocacy, storytelling, and community engagement in shaping migration policy and practice.

We welcome paper, poster, and panel proposals addressing topics including (but not limited to):

• Conflict-, development-, and climate-induced displacement
• Education access and student experiences
• Governance, policy, and post-resettlement integration
• Human trafficking and internally displaced persons (IDPs)
• Structural and social conditions shaping displacement experiences

Conference features

• Keynote/plenary by a leading scholar in migration and governance
• Academic panels and faculty-moderated sessions
• Undergraduate and graduate poster presentations
• Special interdisciplinary panels organized by scholars and practitioners
• ROC roundtables on student leadership, storytelling, ethics, and innovation
• Networking reception

This one-day event aims to foster cross-campus collaboration among ROC chapters and allied institutions, generate actionable dialogue connecting research to practice, and position CMU as a leader in interdisciplinary, community-engaged scholarship.

Event details

• Location: Grawn Hall, Central Michigan University
• Address: 150 E. Bellows Street, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

About the organizer

Refugee Outreach Collective (ROC)
ROC works within universities to leverage resources for individuals that have experience with forced displacement. ROC facilitates educational programming, and direct support efforts to provide resettling and displaced individuals with educational assistance.

Agenda

• 8am to 9am: Registration & Light Breakfast
• 9am to 10am: Keynote Speaker
• 10:15am to 11:15am: Breakout Sessions (Three Concurrent Options)
• 11:15am to 12:30pm: Networking Lunch
• 12:30pm to 1:30pm: Breakout Sessions (Three Concurrent Options)
• 1:45pm to 2:45pm: Roundtable on Immigration & Resettlement Policy in Michigan (Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Commission)
• 3pm to 4pm: Networking and Organization Showcase