Bonner Network:
Join us on
June 15-18, 2025
The Bonner Foundation is thrilled to partner with the University of Richmond to host the 35th Anniversary of the Bonner Program embedded within the longer 2025 Bonner Summer Leadership Institute (SLI). Teams of student leaders, staff, and faculty from the Bonner Network are invited to join us from June 15-18 for this celebration and national conference. Additionally, we invite the president or another senior leader from each campus to join us for celebratory and networking opportunities from June 15-16. Senior leaders, visit this page for the unique schedule and to register for the two day event.
The Bonner Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) is the largest annual gathering of the Bonner Network. We anticipate 350-400 Bonner staff, students, faculty, field leaders, representatives from national partner organizations, alumni, and others across the Bonner Network. Below, you can find information about registration, housing, how to propose a workshop, and other details.
schedule
The 35th Anniversary Celebration will begin the evening of Sunday, June 15 and conclude with a celebration luncheon banquet on Monday, June 16. The Celebration will include Presidents and other senior leaders from the Bonner Network, and will feature interactive activities to honor the history of the Bonner Program and our collective work. After lunch on Monday, June 16, the Summer Leadership Institute will continue until the late morning on Wednesday, June 18. During this time, we’ll include additional professional development tracks, inspirational programming, elective workshops, and special immersion opportunities with historical and partner sites in the city of Richmond. This tentative schedule will continue to change. Please stay tuned for updates.
registER BY MAY 2
As usual, campus teams should register here. Please review the following options.
Student leaders, staff, and faculty will be provided with lodging on campus. Our housing at the University of Richmond will include suite-style rooms. All administrators will have a single room within a suite. Student leaders will mostly be housed in doubles in suites, with limited availability of single rooms. There is also an option to register without campus housing. Most meals are included, with the exception of dinner off campus in Richmond on Monday evening (with the option for some to stay and dine on campus, should they choose). Please note that attendees should arrange own transportation to and from Richmond and campus. See information below.
Registration Types and Rates:
Administrator or Faculty Registration - Single Room in Suite - $350
Student Registration - Single Room in Suite - $350
Student Registration - Double Room in Suite - $285
Off Campus Registration - No room provided but includes meals - $235. We do have a block of rooms reserved at the nearby Westin Hotel. Use this link to access that special rate. (Note: the last day to book using this room block is Friday, May 23.)
Note: President or Senior Leader Registration - $150 for the 35th Anniversary Celebration. Please register on the separate page here, featuring information about the June 15-16 event. Senior Leaders will also find information about how to book a room at the Westin Hotel using the special rate ($159/night) for the event.
University of Richmond and Bonner Foundation staff and student planning committee for the 2025 Summer Leadership Institute
TRAVEL
The host campus, University of Richmond, is located in Richmond, Virginia. There are a variety of travel options for getting to and from campus including plane, Amtrak train, and car. Campus teams will need to travel to and from the University of Richmond on their own.
The University of Richmond's street address is 410 Westhampton Way, University of Richmond, VA, 23173.
FLYING
Richmond International Airport (RIC) is located twelve miles northeast of the city of Richmond and it approximately thirty-minutes (driving/taxi) from campus. Taxi and rental car service are available within the airport.
DRIVING
If planning to drive, we recommend carpooling where possible. Specifics on parking will be provided before and upon arrival. It may be helpful for campus teams to have a vehicle to participate fully in Richmond immersion activities.
train
Amtrak serves the University of Richmond via its Staples Mill Road station (RVR) or its historic Main Street Station (RVM). Both are approximately fifteen-minute (driving/taxi) minutes from campus. Taxi and rental car services are nearby.
More information on transportation options can be found here.
EXPLORE RICHMOND
The capital of Virginia, Richmond is a dynamic and growing city. From the Virginia State Capitol to Hollywood Cemetery and Evergreen Cemetery to the old tobacco warehouses to Jackson Ward, a Harlem of the South, Richmond’s past is an important site of exploration and engagement. Richmond continues to grapple with its racist past, surfacing erased stories of indigenous and enslaved people and highlighting legacies of resistance and liberation. The mighty James River runs through the city, with a series of city parks and trails, Class Five rapids, and more. Residents love restaurants, farmers markets, local products, and innovation. To learn more, explore some of the resources provided by the University of Richmond’s Bonner Center for Civic Engagement.
The 2025 Bonner Summer Leadership Institute encourages attendees to take advantage to explore Richmond through formal programming and informal opportunities. Whether food, arts, nature, history, or culture – see what the University of Richmond recommends to visitors.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Bonner staff member for questions related to:
General: Liz Brandt, Director of Community Engagement at liz@bonner.org
Registration: Clifton Davis, Operations and Special Projects Coordinator at cdavis@bonner.org
Faculty, Presidents, and Senior Leaders: Ariane Hoy, VP at ahoy@bonner.org or Rachayita Shah, Director of Community-Engaged Learning at rshah@bonner.org
Elective Workshops: Jen Gonzalez Reyes, Program Manager at jengr@bonner.org