About this Event
2026 SEA Conference Theme: Schools as Microcosms: Mirrors of Society, Engines of Change
Conference Dates: February 20 – 22, 2026
Asilomar, CA
Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. Natasha Warikoo, Stern Professor in the Social Sciences, Tufts University
- Dr. Mitchell Stevens, Professor of Education and (by courtesy) Sociology, Stanford University
To describe schools as microcosms is to recognize that society’s struggles and aspirations have always been etched into their walls. From battles over segregation and integration to contemporary debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion, schools often reflect the defining conflicts of their times. They reveal, in concentrated form, the inequalities and hierarchies that structure social life beyond the classroom, mirroring the tensions that roil our politics and communities more broadly. To see schools as microcosms, then, is to understand them not simply as institutions of learning but also as arenas where the values, conflicts, and contradictions of society are made visible, contested, and, at times, transformed.
Even as they mirror broader injustices, schools have also provided footholds for progress. At their best, they are engines of change that widen access, model inclusion, or nurture the imaginations of young people to see beyond the limits of the present. Beyond that, schools can be spaces to forge solidarity, experiment with new practices, and pilot ideas that ripple outward.
This call invites you to wrestle with this tension by sharing research that not only reflects how schools mirror societal dynamics but also offers a window into schools as sites where new ideas, possibilities, and practices can take root. To that end, we seek submissions that:
- Illuminate how schools reflect broader social patterns (e.g., inequality, migration, neighborhood change, shifting cultural norms).
- Analyze the mechanisms through which policy, curriculum, finance, and accountability reproduce or disrupt inequality.
- Examine immigration and demographic change, boundary-making, and belonging in school communities.
- Trace organizational processes (e.g., culture, leadership, isomorphism, metrics) that shape everyday life in schools.
- Center student, educator, and family agency—coalitions, counterpublics, and solidarities that reimagine schooling.
- Advance theory or methods that help us see schools as both mirrors and engines (comparative, mixed methods, novel data).
The Sociology of Education Association (SEA) 2026 meeting features papers that explore these and related topics in educational contexts broadly defined. We include theoretical, empirical, and methodological contributions across data sources, levels of analysis, and research traditions.
For more details on our conference theme, visit the conference website HERE.
SEA Email List: Subscribe to the SEA email list to receive announcements about future SEA meetings and activities: https://groups.google.com/a/isber.ucsb.edu/g/sea
For more information on the Sociology of Education Association, please visit our web page and Facebook page:
https://seassoc.wordpress.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SociologyOfEducationAssociation
FAQs
What are my transportation and parking options getting to the event?
Parking is available free of charge at Asilomar for those who drive (they have parking lot maps at the registration desk). Attendees have several airport options: Monterey (MRY), San Jose (SJC) and San Francisco (SFO) are the most popular. From MRY, you can take a cab/Uber to Asilomar. From SJC or SFO, you can take the Monterey Airbus Shuttle. Many SEA attendees elect to rent a car, particularly when traveling in groups. Registrants also have the option to participate in the SEA Carpool. More details to come.
What housing and meal accommodations are available for the event?
A dedicated website is available for attendees to book their hotel rooms online. Single- and double-occupancy rooms are available. SEA attendees may also use the online reservation system to request a roommate.
The nightly rates below are per person based on the occupancy type and includes all meals and all applicable fees & taxes. An additional one-time processing fee of $20 per person will be added to all reservations. Meals begin with dinner on the arrival date and end with lunch on departure date, and all meals are included with your housing fee.
- Single Occupancy: $337.35 per night
- Double Occupancy: $224.61 per person per night
- Attendee with Guests: $337.35 + $111.86 per additional adult + $78.99 per youth (3-12 years old) per night
Here is more information about the lodging and meals at Asilomar.
If Asilomar sells out for the weekend, please consider making reservations at the Pacific Gardens Inn, the Rosedale Inn or the Deer Haven Inn. Both establishments offer lodging close to Asilomar.
What is the structure of the conference?
The conference starts on Friday afternoon and ends with lunch on Sunday. During that time there are a series of panel presentations (typically with 4-5 papers per panel) and a dedicated time slot for attendees to visit with poster presenters to discuss their research projects. There are also evening presentations by keynote speakers following the group dinners on Friday and Saturday. There are no concurrent sessions, which means everyone attends all of the sessions, which are held in the same room. This along with the shared meals and times for informal socializing during breaks and after the keynote sessions provides many opportunities for conference attendees and presenters to get to know each other. A link to this year's program will be available at the SEA website.
What is the theme of the conference?
This year's theme will run throughout all presentations, including the two keynote addresses. The deadline for submissions has passed.
Do graduate students have to pay to attend SEA?
Yes. All graduate students, regardless of whether they are presenters, or if they've received an award, do have to pay to register for SEA. This fee is significantly less than the fees for other attendees.
Are there mentoring opportunities at SEA?
Yes! As a part of our annual meeting, we are hosting a thematic mentoring breakfast that will allow graduate students and post-docs to engage with professors and researchers to discuss a variety of topics such as research funding, work-life balance, and much more. We are currently seeking mentors across all levels of experience as we recognize that there are advice and meaningful connections that can exist as early as the first year in careers. If you are interested in engaging in the mentoring breakfast this year, either as a mentee or as a mentor, please indicate your interest in the registration form.
Can I update my registration information?
Yes. You can update your registration information at any time by going to your Eventbrite account.
Can I register on-site?
No. There is no system for registering on-site, and the WiFi at Asilomar can be a bit unreliable for accessing this Eventbrite page during the conference itself. Please make sure to register via this Eventbrite page in advance.
What if I want to register on behalf of someone else?
If you are registering on behalf of someone else (e.g., administrator registering a faculty member; faculty member registering students), make sure to register with the **intended attendee’s name and email address**, not your own.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
No. No paper ticket is needed.
Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Contact the SEA Conference Registrar, Hannah D'Apice at [email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Asilomar Conference Grounds, 800 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, United States
USD 87.21 to USD 172.57
