Alumni Summit

On April 10, 2026, we will hold our fourth annual Alumni Summit. While the previous summits brought alumni in careers and with passions related to sustainability, curiosity, and respect, the 2026 summit will introduce students to alumni who are demonstrating integrity in their careers and extracurricular interests. 

We look forward to welcoming alumni back to campus to speak with students and faculty in this conference-style summit. Alumni presenters will speak on topics of their choice and reflect on integrity during three presentation sessions, and students will have a plethora of opportunities to ask questions and interact with presenters.

Matthew (Matt) Hickling’s path into healthcare did not begin with a clear plan. It began with a dream that looked very different. As a student-athlete, he believed his future would remain in sports. Like many athletes approaching their senior year, he imagined the possibility of playing at the Division I or even semi-professional level. When the reality of that path began to shift, he found himself facing a question many students encounter: What comes next? At the time, the answer was far from clear. Because athletics had shaped so much of his life, he initially explored careers that would keep him connected to the world he knew, including becoming a sports agent.

What followed was a journey he never anticipated. Through new experiences, mentors, and an openness to unexpected opportunities, Matt discovered a passion for healthcare that ultimately led him to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Since then, his work has expanded far beyond traditional clinical practice. He has worked in community and public health settings, contributed to pediatric and adolescent mental health initiatives, and is involved in leadership roles focused on healthcare operations, education, revenue cycle strategy, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in medicine. Matt approaches speaking not as a lecture, but as a conversation. Drawing from real experiences, he offers an honest look at healthcare that differs greatly from what many people see portrayed in shows like Grey's Anatomy or The Pitt.

More importantly, his story is about navigating uncertainty. Through storytelling and discussion, Matt explores how patience, integrity, and curiosity can guide decisions over time, often leading to opportunities far beyond what we initially imagined when we are first asked to decide what our future should look like.