RAMP 43rd Annual Conference
Feb 5 - 7, 2026
New Orleans, LA
Reimagining Research: AI As A Partner In Educational Transformation
RAMP Is Coming To New Orleans!
More details about Registration to come.
New Orleans (NOLA): A City Like No Other!
Experience the unmatched beauty of New Orleans—where history, music, food, and celebration come together as the heartbeat if a city like no other. From the lively sounds of jazz in the French Quarter to stunning Creole architecture, mouthwatering cuisine, and world-famous festivals, NOLA captivates at every turn. Whether you're strolling under the oak trees, savoring beignets, or dancing in a second line parade, there's no place quite like this place. New Orleans has several nicknames, two of which are the "Big Easy" and “Crescent City” and is known for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene and spicy, singular cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American cultures. Embodying its festive spirit is Mardi Gras, the late-winter carnival famed for raucous costumed parades and street parties. The name of New Orleans derives from the original French name, La Nouvelle-Orléans, which was given to the city in honor of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who served as Louis XV's regent from 1715 to 1723.
New Orleans is in the Mississippi River Delta, south of Lake Pontchartrain, on the banks of the Mississippi River, approximately 105 miles upriver from the Gulf of Mexico. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street. New Orleans has been described as the "most interesting" in the United States, owing in large part to its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage. Additionally, New Orleans has increasingly been known as "Hollywood South" due to its prominent role in the film industry and in pop culture.
The Central Business District is located immediately north and west of the Mississippi. Most streets in this area fan out from a central point. Major streets include Canal Street, Poydras Street, Tulane Avenue and Loyola Avenue. Canal Street divides the traditional "downtown" area from the "uptown" area. Every street crossing Canal Street between the Mississippi River and Rampart Street, which is the northern edge of the French Quarter, has a different name for the "uptown" and "downtown" portions. Other major districts within the city include Bayou St. John, Mid-City, Gentilly, Lakeview, Lakefront, New Orleans East and Algiers.
New Orleans is a center for higher learning. It has the highest concentration of colleges and universities in Louisiana, and one of the highest in the Southern United States, with over 50,000 students enrolled in the region's eleven two- and four-year degree-granting institutions. New Orleans has the third highest concentration of historically black collegiate institutions in the U.S. Higher education institutions in New Orleans include Dillard University, Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, University of New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana, Southern University at New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, University of Holy Cross, Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Delgado Community College, and William Carey College School of Nursing.
New Orleans is in the Mississippi River Delta, south of Lake Pontchartrain, on the banks of the Mississippi River, approximately 105 miles upriver from the Gulf of Mexico. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street. New Orleans has been described as the "most interesting" in the United States, owing in large part to its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage. Additionally, New Orleans has increasingly been known as "Hollywood South" due to its prominent role in the film industry and in pop culture.
The Central Business District is located immediately north and west of the Mississippi. Most streets in this area fan out from a central point. Major streets include Canal Street, Poydras Street, Tulane Avenue and Loyola Avenue. Canal Street divides the traditional "downtown" area from the "uptown" area. Every street crossing Canal Street between the Mississippi River and Rampart Street, which is the northern edge of the French Quarter, has a different name for the "uptown" and "downtown" portions. Other major districts within the city include Bayou St. John, Mid-City, Gentilly, Lakeview, Lakefront, New Orleans East and Algiers.
New Orleans is a center for higher learning. It has the highest concentration of colleges and universities in Louisiana, and one of the highest in the Southern United States, with over 50,000 students enrolled in the region's eleven two- and four-year degree-granting institutions. New Orleans has the third highest concentration of historically black collegiate institutions in the U.S. Higher education institutions in New Orleans include Dillard University, Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, University of New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana, Southern University at New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, University of Holy Cross, Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Delgado Community College, and William Carey College School of Nursing.
Host Institution
Dillard University, New Orleans’s oldest HBCU, will be the host institution for the 43rd Annual RAMP Conference. It is the only University in America with a program in African American material culture and the first HBCU to offer a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts. Dillard University was born of two institutions that served as equity-building engines in the south – New Orleans University and Straight University. On June 6, 1930, the newly formed board of trustees for the new institution proposed a charter for the opening of Dillard University, named for James Hardy Dillard, an educational reformer who promoted racial harmony. Opening its doors in 1935, Dillard University was established to serve as an educational center of excellence in the South. The campus, which remains in its original location, had the unique attribute of being the first HBCU with a sound architectural plan. The new liberal arts university subscribed to the DuBoisian notion of disciplining the mind and stimulating both “the creation of ideas and the development of the higher qualities of the individual.” The University’s seal, which was designed by Dillard, includes the motto “Ex Fide Fortis,” an anchor to represent steadiness, and scales to represent justice. The motto was originally translated by Dillard as “From Confidence Courage.”
Hotel and Travel
The 43rd RAMP Annual Conference will be held at The Hilton New Orleans Hotel/St Charles Ave.,
333 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130.
333 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130.
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Built in 1926 as the Louisiana Masonic Temple, this historic upscale hotel is located on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line and is just blocks from the French Quarter, Central Business District (CBD), and all downtown attractions. The famed Luke Restaurant is n-house. The French Quarter, with Canal and Bourbon Street, is a five-minute walk away. The Mardi Gras Parade passes the hotel’s front doors, and the Arts District and convention center are within a mile.
The hotel has 252 guestrooms (king bed or double beds) and 22 suites. The Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue offers guests the Hilton Serenity Bed, featuring plush-top Serta mattresses and a down duvet and pillows, providing a luxurious sleep experience. Standard room types are available, alongside a selection of suites for increased comfort and space. Standard guestrooms are equipped with alarm clock, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron/ironing board, room service, and safe/safety deposit box. Featured amenities include 24-7 fitness center, on-site dining, complimentary Wi-Fi, 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, and ADA approved rooms.
The hotel has 252 guestrooms (king bed or double beds) and 22 suites. The Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue offers guests the Hilton Serenity Bed, featuring plush-top Serta mattresses and a down duvet and pillows, providing a luxurious sleep experience. Standard room types are available, alongside a selection of suites for increased comfort and space. Standard guestrooms are equipped with alarm clock, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron/ironing board, room service, and safe/safety deposit box. Featured amenities include 24-7 fitness center, on-site dining, complimentary Wi-Fi, 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, and ADA approved rooms.
Conference Hotel Room Rate
The 43rd Annual RAMP Conference guest room rate is $179.00 for a king/double bed plus tax, per night. Rayes quoted are for single or double occupancy. An additional $20.00 + tax per person per room ($20.00 for third guest and $20.00 for fourth guest). The rate includes in-room Wi-Fi. The hotel will honor this rate one (1) day before and after the conference dates.
To ensure you receive the conference special room rate, reservations must be received at the hotel on or before Wednesday, January 21, 2026. After this date, any reservations shall be on an availability basis and at the hotel’s then current available rate. Individual reservations can be made online by accessing RAMP’s personalized web page on the hotel website via this booking link:
To ensure you receive the conference special room rate, reservations must be received at the hotel on or before Wednesday, January 21, 2026. After this date, any reservations shall be on an availability basis and at the hotel’s then current available rate. Individual reservations can be made online by accessing RAMP’s personalized web page on the hotel website via this booking link:
In addition, RAMP participants may contact the hotel at 504-378-2800 and reference the RAMP Conference. Upon booking, you will need to provide your major credit card for guarantee. If you need special accommodation, be sure to request it when making the reservation.
Please Note: After Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the RAMP room rate will no longer be available.
Please Note: After Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the RAMP room rate will no longer be available.
Transportation
The Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue is located eleven miles from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport city. Taxis, shuttles, Uber, Lyft, and car rental services are available at the airport.
Hotel Parking
Discounted overnight valet parking rate is $39.00 plus tax. For day/local attendees, the rate is $20.00 per day plus tax.
