Please note that these dates are subject to change. 

Hosted by Lindsey Nanney
University of North Carolina Wilmington

About the DHCT
The Department Head Certification Training (DHCT) is a highly structured certification program for emerging leaders in kinesiology who aspire to be department chairs or administrators of Kinesiology and related programs at their college or university. The intent is to brand emerging leaders and administrators with NAKHE’s imprimatur in leadership. Enrollment in the DHCT is by application and acceptance only.

The DHCT is held every other year alongside the Leadership Development Workshop (LDW). This year's LDW/DHCT is July 5 - 8, 2026, in Wilmington, NC.

About the LDW
The intent of the NAKHE Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) is to bring kinesiology leaders together to brainstorm solutions to complex problems facing higher education. The LDW is part of NAKHE’s Leadership Institute, which fosters, promotes, and sustains mentoring and networking opportunities for higher education professionals.

About Wilmington
Wilmington is a port city in North Carolina. It’s known as a gateway to Cape Fear Coast beaches like Wrightsville, with its strong surf, and Carolina, with its long boardwalk. Part of downtown’s Historic District, the Riverwalk is lined with restaurants, galleries and shops. It runs along the Cape Fear River, where the Battleship North Carolina is moored. Artifacts on the ship explore WWII naval combat history.

About Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach is located on Pleasure Island, about 12 miles south of Wilmington International Airport. The beach town is part of the Wilmington metropolitan area. It's a charming, family-friendly coastal town known for its retro, vintage vibe, bustling boardwalk, and scenic Atlantic beaches. It features one of the last remaining boardwalks on the East Coast, complete with amusement rides, arcades, and iconic, long-standing, local eateries. The town is popular for its laid-back atmosphere, fishing, surfing, and proximity to nature, including the 761-acre Carolina Beach State Park and its unique, native Venus flytraps.

Hotel Information
Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront
100 Charlotte Ave
Carolina Beach, NC
Phone: 800-321-2211
Hotel Website

Group Rate Reservation Link: TBA
King Standard Room Rate: $269
Reservation Cutoff Date: Friday, June 5, 2026

Individual Reservations:
Individual attendees may make reservations for the workshop directly with the hotel prior to June 5, 2026. Guests can call reservations at (888) 616-4655 or use the hotel-provided group link for online group reservations. When calling, all guests must identify themselves as Group members to obtain the Group’s rate. Hotel will accept reservations from attendees after the Cut-Off Date, and/or for dates up to 3 days before or after the Event dates, only on a space- and rate-available basis.

Reservation Guarantee:
All reservations must be accompanied by a first-night room deposit plus the applicable state and local taxes, or guaranteed with a major credit card. The hotel will not hold any reservation unless secured by one of the above methods. If a guest wishes to cancel a reservation, the deposit is refundable if notice is received at least 72 hours prior to the day of arrival and a cancellation number is obtained.

Parking:
The Hotel provides parking at a daily fee of $9.00 per room, plus tax, for registered hotel guests, with 1 vehicle per sleeping room. Parking charges will be billed to the individual guest’s room folio. Guests in these reserved and paid sleeping rooms are considered registered guests. Parking in the Hotel’s lot is only available to registered Hotel guests. Unregistered guests attending functions are not permitted to use the hotel's parking facilities. Additional paid parking is available in the nearby Town of Carolina Beach and private parking lots at guests’ own expense.

Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
Distance from hotel: 18.5 Miles
Phone Number: +1 910-3414333
Airport Website

Ground Transportation

• Shuttle Service: The workshop hotel does not provide shuttle service.
• Uber & Lyft: Both operate at ILM. The designated pickup area is located curbside outside of Baggage Claim. You can request a ride on-demand or use "Uber Reserve" to schedule up to 90 days in advance.
• Taxis: Cabs are readily available at a dedicated taxi rank outside the arrivals hall. Notable local providers include Wilmington Taxi and Pyramids Taxi.
• Rental Cars: Rental counters are conveniently located inside the terminal near the baggage claim area. The rental car lot is situated directly across from the terminal. The major rental car agencies, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Alamo, all serve ILM. A specialty rental service, Baker Automotive, also offers rentals on-site.
• Wave Transit: The local bus system serves the airport via Route 207, connecting ILM to downtown Wilmington. Buses typically run every hour on weekdays.

2026 DHCT Tentative Registration Fees

Fee		Cost
Member Registered by 5/1/2026		$225
Member Registered by 6/1/2026		$275
Member Registered after 6/1/2026		$325
Registration Closes 6/30/2026
Registration Limited to 5 People

Not a member of NAKHE but want to participate in the DHC Training?
Join NAKHE here!

Tentative Schedule:

Sunday, July 5: Dept Head Certification Training 4:00-5:30 PM; Welcome Reception 6-7 PM; Dinner on your own 7 PM until
Monday, July 6: Workshop Activities 9 AM-5 PM; Dinner on your own
Tuesday, July 7: Workshop Activities 9 AM-1 PM; NAKHE Board Meeting 1:00-2:00 PM; Enjoy the afternoon.
Wednesday, July 8: No planned activities. Depart or recreate.

For further information, contact:

Chris Wirth
Department Head Certification Training Coordinator
cwirth@uwf.edu 

Lindsey Nanney
Leadership Development Workshop Coordinator
nanneyl@uncw.edu 

Tim Brusseau
Leadership Institute Chair
tim.brusseau@utah.edu