Keynote Speaker
Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson
Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson, known in her community as Dr. PBJ, gives educators the strategies for accomplishing purposeful work without burnout.
Dr. PBJ is an educator of almost 25 years and an Executive Coach for more than 10 years. She holds a doctoral degree in Education Administration, served in executive leadership at colleges and universities, and facilitated leadership training as a faculty member for the Center for Creative Leadership. Dr. Jackson worked in higher education at many levels, from student assistant to President’s Cabinet and is the recipient of several professional awards and accolades.
Dr. Jackson founded EduCare Training and Consulting, LLC through a purpose of pouring in to those who pour out so much. Much of her work is specifically focused on equipping and refreshing educators. Compassionate work can carry a high price tag: your mind, body, spirit and relationships may be in distress as you serve the needs of others. Dr. Jackson leads her community to serve well without paying an ultimate price.
Dr. PBJ is the creator and host of the Disrupting Burnout podcast as well as the author of the Amazon best-seller, Disrupting Burnout: The professional woman’s LIFELINE to finding purpose.
Speaker Application Timeline
Apply to be a conference speaker at #NODAC2026! We are looking for folks who are willing to share their stories, engage with our pillars, and provide avenues for connection and reflection through two different opportunities.
Know someone who would be an incredible Voice of NODA or Featured Speaker? We encourage you to nominate individuals who have powerful stories to share, meaningful insights to offer, and a passion for engaging the NODA community. Whether they bring lived experiences, innovative practices, or visionary leadership aligned with our pillars, your nomination helps elevate voices that will inspire, challenge, and connect conference attendees.
Professional Level Featured Speakers – Announcement coming in the fall!
Continuing the work of the 2025 Annual Conference and the Education Initiatives Committee, we will have four concurrent featured speakers to represent the four professional levels of our conference audience. Whether you are an emerging, advancing, established, or strategic professional, or looking to progress into the next phase of your professional journey, we hope that you will find deep meaning and connection with one of our selected featured speakers for this year’s conference experience.
As an association, we Rise Together through whatever our professional journeys may hold for each of us, and our featured speakers will bring a variety of insights, backgrounds, and lived experiences to share with you as you engage in your own reflection and professional development at this year’s conference. They hope to inspire and encourage attendees to embrace significant moments in their personal and professional lives.