2026 Panhandle Academic Libraries Conference

The eighth annual Panhandle Academic Libraries Conference is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CST) at Pensacola State College in Pensacola, Florida. View the conference LibGuide for more information.

Keynote Speaker: Captain Chandra Newman (read her bio)

Breakout Sessions:

• Shonda Knight, Executive Director of Community and Media Relations, Leon County Sheriffs Office, Author of My Omnilocks
• Dr. Erin Shaw, University of Central Arkansas, Bridging the Gap between Secondary Media Centers and Academic Libraries
• Pamela Monroe, Library Director, Leroy Collins Leon County Public Library, Second Floor Library Renovation Plan
• Dr. Chris Levesque, The University of West Florida, Transcribathon Results
• Regina Burgess, Executive Director, PLAN, America’s 250th Anniversary Resources
• Sarah Snider, Librarian, Gulf Coast State College, Using Gamification to Enhance Your Library Sessions
• Michelle Finley, Head of Circulation and Operational Support, The University of West Florida, Loaning Technology in Your Library: A Student-Centered Approach to Policy
• Jules Bailey, Health Sciences Librarian, Florida State University, and Kyung Kim, Program Director for Social Sciences, Florida State University, Campus and Community Outreach: Tabling at a Health Fair
• Kirsten Bedford, Social Sciences Library Associate, Florida State University, and Kyung Kim, Program Director for Social Sciences, Florida State University, Promoting AI Literacy Through Library Collections: A Case Study of Print and Digital Book Displays

We’re also having a pre-conference event at Historic Pensacola Village on April 9th!

Biography of Keynote Speaker, Captain Chandra Newman

Captain Chandra Newman is a native of Inverness, Florida. She enlisted in the Navy May 2001 and commissioned from Officer Candidate School in November 2002 after completing a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Troy State University in Education, summa cum laude. She earned her wings of gold August 2004. Newman graduated from the Naval War College earning her Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies focusing on Eurasia and has completed the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Executive Education program.

Newman’s assignments started with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 including 2005 Pakistan Earthquake Relief operations in Kashmir and detachments onboard USS Bataan (LHD-5), USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), USS Iwo Jima, (LHD-7) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). She served as an Aviation Safety Officer and Standardization Officer at HSC-2 and provided Presidential support to Camp David. Newman was the Assistant Navigator of the Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) earning Officer of the Deck and Command Duty Officer Underway qualifications. She served as the Operations Officer Department Head at HSC-25 in Yigo, Guam. Her tour included Detachment Officer in Charge for Operation Damayan and Talisman Saber as well as joint operations with U.S. Army 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion in the Republic of Korea. In her joint tour, she was the Executive Officer of U.S. European Command C4 Directorate and Joint Cyber Center.

Newman commanded HSC-5 Nightdippers of CVW-7, deploying around the world with Carrier Strike Group 12 and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) earning the 2019 Battle “E” supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Sentinel.

More recently, Newman was a Secretary of Defense Executive Fellow with Raytheon Intelligence & Space in Arlington, Virginia integrating with the Vice President of Maritime Dominance and the Vice President of Strategy, Campaigns, and Analysis. Newman most recently served as Naval Aviation’s Leadership, Education, Growth, Advocacy, Culture and Youth Outreach (LEGACY) Director at CNAF Headquarters.
Newman assumed command of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Nov. 15, 2024.

Her personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), as well as additional unit and personal awards.