Conference Information
The UAA Conference will be held at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center in Ogden, Utah, from May 27-28, 2026.
Register for 2026 UAA Conference
Keynote Speakers
We are excited to introduce Dr. Richard Hydo and Kael Pope as our keynote speakers on Wednesday, May 27, and Tim Border on May 28! Come join us for knowledge and fun.
Dr. Richard Hydo
Dr. Richard Hydo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a UAMFT-approved supervisor, and a Certified Family Life Educator. He is an Assistant Professor in the Social Work program in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Prior to joining the faculty at Salt Lake Community College, he taught full-time for seven years at Utah Valley University within the Family Science, Social Work, and Master of Marriage and Family Therapy programs.
Dr. Hydo met his wife during his first semester of graduate school at the University of Utah. Together, they are the proud parents of two chatty and inquisitive daughters and a rambunctious, energetic son. Dr. Hydo’s hobbies include spending quality time with his family in the mountains, sightseeing God's Country in his vintage RV, and exploring his Hawaiian roots with Ohana on the islands.
Kael M. Pope
Raised on a small ranch in Southern Idaho, Kael M. Pope developed a strong work ethic, a deep sense of community, and an early appreciation for resilience. These values have carried him through a career dedicated to helping others, shaping systems of care, and guiding future behavioral health professionals.
Kael began his academic journey at Salt Lake Community College, where he played basketball and—most importantly—met his wife, Ashley. Over the past decade, Kael has held multiple leadership positions in behavioral health, including serving as Clinical Director at ARDU Recovery Center and Renaissance Ranch. As a professor at SLCC, he is committed to elevating the quality of care in the substance use disorder treatment field by preparing students to be ethical, effective, and well-prepared for real-world challenges.
Tim Border
Tim Border has been a professor at Weber State University in the Department of Professional Sales since 1992. Over the last 30 years, Tim has consulted many Fortune 500 companies and government agencies throughout the world in the areas of sales, customer service, and leadership. He has also owned several successful businesses and has extensive field experience in sales and negotiations.
Tim loves writing music and has written over 20 original songs that have been recorded on his CD, “Whatever You Dream.” He has participated in over 100 extreme sports, such as going inverted on his wakeboard and racing motorcycles in the desert. He lives by the mantra “go big or go home."
Hotels
Book by April 27, 2026 to get UAA Pricing
Hilton Garden Inn Ogden – UAA Group Booking Link
Hampton Inn & Suites Ogden - Utah Advising Association
Courtyard Marriott - group rate for Utah Advising Association
Conference Scholarship Application
The conference scholarship application is closed for the 2026 event.
Eligibility:
First-time UAA Conference attendee or first time UAA Conference presenter registered for the 2026 Conference.
Award Amount:
The scholarship will cover the two-day $175 conference registration fee.
Required Obligations:
Scholarship recipients will be required to volunteer at the conference. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jamie Kearra at jamie.kearra@utahtech.edu
Application Deadline:
closed
Scholarship Recipients
Check back for 2026 recipients.
Past Conferences
2024 UAA Conference Program (pdf)
Contact your UAA Governing Board Representative with questions, comments, or concerns.
