2026 Conference

S.W.C.A. ~ Speak. Work. Connect. Advocate.

• Speak — Giving voice to ideas, experiences, and stories
• Work — Honoring the labor of teaching, research, mentoring, and service
• Connect — Building relationships across institutions and communities
• Advocate — Using communication to support students, communities, and the future of higher education

Communication That Matters

Save the Date

Friday, April 17, 2026
Glendale Community College
Language Arts Building Courtyard | Glendale, AZ

Registration Link: Register Here

The Southwest Communication Association (SWCA) invites Communication faculty, students, scholars, and community partners to participate in SWCA 2026.

SWCA brings together: Whether you are a first-time presenter or a long-time participant, SWCA is an accessible, mentoring-centered conference designed to support scholarship, teaching, student development, and professional connection.

The Southwest Communication Association (SWCA) is a one-day state conference paired with a public speaking contest that brings together:

• Full-time and part-time faculty
• Undergraduate and graduate students
• Community colleges and universities
• Scholars, teachers, practitioners, and community partners

Whether this is your first conference or your favorite annual tradition, SWCA is a welcoming, mentoring-centered space to try ideas, share work, learn together, and build community.

A Conference Designed for Students

Because SWCA is a state conference, it is an ideal entry point for students who are new to presenting. Students are encouraged to present:

• Papers in progress — projects do not need to be complete
• Early versions of research they are developing for theses, capstones, or class assignments
• Work they plan to submit later to regional and national conferences such as NCA, Western States, or other disciplinary conferences

SWCA provides a supportive environment where students can practice presenting, receive feedback, and strengthen their work before presenting on larger stages. For many students, SWCA is their first conference presentation and often the moment they begin to see themselves as scholars, professionals, and members of the communication discipline.

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Full day Preliminary Schedule

• Public Speaking Contest: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Lunch & Networking
• Conference Panels & Paper Presentations 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• COM Advocates Roundtable: The State of Higher Education
• Awards & Closing Session

Call for Submissions — Start Thinking Now

• Undergraduate student papers
• Graduate student papers
• G.I.F.T.S – Great Ideas for Teaching Students
• Works-in-progress
• Panels, roundtables, and teaching sessions
• First-time presenters
• Faculty papers –(Full and Part-time faculty; Maricopa faculty can earn FPG)

Students do not need a completed paper to present. SWCA is designed as a developmental conference where students can share ideas, practice presenting, and receive meaningful feedback.

Submission Deadline: April 10, 2026

Send submissions to:
Marie Baker-Ohler
Northern Arizona University
marie.baker-ohler@nau.edu

Come speak.
Come share your work.
Come connect across institutions.
Come advocate—for students, for programs, and for the future of communication.

We hope you and your students will join us for SWCA 2026. 

SWCA Public Speaking Contest

Friday, April 17, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Glendale Community College – Language Arts Building

The SWCA Public Speaking Contest is a central and energizing part of the conference and provides students an opportunity to present speeches developed in their communication courses.

Contest Highlights

• Cash awards for top speakers
• Any speech type welcome (informative, persuasive, special occasion, advocacy, etc.)
• Advocacy-focused speeches especially encouraged and aligned with this year’s theme
• Speeches from COM classes are welcome and encouraged
• 8-minute time limit
• Contestants present the same speech across three rounds
• Speech & Debate team members are not eligible
• Family, friends, and faculty are welcome to attend

For many students, the public speaking contest becomes a transformative experience—where classroom work becomes public voice.

Registration Link: Register Here

Call for Papers/Programs: link 

Are you planning to judge the speech competition? Please bring a device to complete the judging form.