Keynotes & Workshops

I design and facilitate interactive experiences for groups and gatherings of every size that help people and organizations move confidently through change, cultivate innovation, strengthen team dynamics, and translate strategy into action. 

To discuss ideas and logistics for speaking engagements, workshops, and retreats, please reach out to me via the contact form on this site or at Hilary.Lichterman@gmail.com  

University of South Carolina | Division of Student Affairs & Academic Support | Aspire & Advance Conference 

"Curiosity: Your Superpower for Disrupting the Ordinary" | Opening Keynote + Concurrent Session 

July 2025 

"Hilary L. Lichterman’s keynote, Curiosity: Your Superpower for Disrupting the Ordinary!, delivered for the University of South Carolina’s 2025 Aspire & Advance Conference, is a vibrant, engaging exploration of curiosity as a core leadership and personal growth competency.

From the opening “Curiosity Check-In,” Dr. Lichterman set a participatory tone, encouraging attendees to reflect on their own mindset. She blends personal narrative drawing from her own “Curiosity Journey” and playful metaphors like Curious George with research-based concepts, from Stefaan van Hooydonk’s Global Curiosity Institute framework. This creates a balance of warmth, humor, and academic credibility.

Hilary contextualizes curiosity as an antidote to conformity, a catalyst for disruption, and a necessary tool in adapting to higher education’s evolving challenges. As a speaker, she demonstrates a strong command of her material and a personable delivery style. Her blend of professional expertise, relatable anecdotes, and genuine enthusiasm positions her as both an educator and a motivator. She manages to make a the concept of curiosity feel urgent, actionable, and tied to measurable leadership impact.

Hilary delivers a keynote that is inspiring, intellectually grounded, and immediately applicable. Her framing of curiosity as a “superpower” is more than catchy it is substantiated by research, lived experience, and practical strategies. This presentation would resonate not only with higher education professionals, but with any audience navigating change, seeking innovation, or aiming to cultivate more engaged teams."

~ Alicia Bervine, MHR, Executive Director of Human Resources for the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support at the University of South Carolina 

University of Puget Sound | Human Resources-sponsored Day of Learning

"Shifting the Sound: Curiosity as a Catalyst for Innovation" | 3-hour Workshop 

January 2026 

"Hilary recently visited our campus to facilitate a keynote address and breakout session on how curiosity is an untapped superpower that can fuel innovation, inspire connection, and add a bit of fun to every day. Hilary was a delight to work with - a true partner as we designed the event to ensure it met the needs of our participants. She is thoughtful, creative, collaborative, and deeply knowledgeable about curiosity. In the time since her visit, I've heard people talk about how they continue to lean into curiosity across all roles of our campus community." 

~ Alana Jardis Hentges, Learning & Development Manager in Human Resources, University of Puget Sound  

University of Portland | Division of Student Affairs  & Inclusive Excellence 

 "Mission in Motion: Aligning Evidence, Story, and Strategy to Advance the Student Experience" | 3-hour workshop 

December 2025

"Hilary partnered with our Division at the University of Portland to help us deepen our leadership practice through curiosity, meaningful assessment, and thoughtful evaluation. She challenged us to ask better questions and to see data not just as metrics, but as stories about people, impact, and systems. Her facilitation brought clarity and focus, helping us understand how to translate good data into compelling narratives that can guide decision-making and strengthen our work. Hilary’s approach blends intellectual rigor with genuine care, making complex evaluation work both accessible and energizing. She has a gift for connecting people, ideas, and systems in ways that move organizations forward. We are better leaders and storytellers because of her partnership." 

~ Dr. Alvin Sturdivant, Vice President for Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence, University of Portland 

Consultant and External Program Reviewer 

University of South Carolina, Division of Student Affairs & Academic Support, Strategic Advisory for 18-month Curiosity in Action Project (July 2025 – Present)

University of Utah, Housing & Residential Education, External Review on Curricular Approach (Jan. 16-17, 2018)

Florida Atlantic University, Division of Student Affairs and Housing and Residential Life, External Reviewer of Residential Curriculum (May 21-23, 2017)

North Carolina State University, University Housing and College of Education, External Reviewer for Students Advocating for Youth (SAY) Village (February 23 – 24, 2017)

I was very impressed by Hilary’s professionalism, thoroughness, and eye for detail. Her evaluative report provided exactly what we needed as we plan for the future of the SAY Village experience. She connected seamlessly with everyone, from 4th graders to college students, faculty, and staff, and was easy to talk to, creating a process that felt supportive rather than intimidating.  Hilary asked thoughtful, pertinent questions about SAY’s structure, objectives, and trajectory, and her succinct, detailed verbal review at the end of the site visit was well received by the committee. Overall, we could not have asked for a better review experience. In my opinion, Hilary possesses superior skills as a reviewer and will be an asset to any institution seeking external assessment. ~ Robin McWilliams, Director, Students Advocating for Youth, College of Education, North Carolina State University

Training and Facilitation 

Syracuse University, Office of Student Living, Residential Curriculum Training (July 13-14, 2022)

Texas State University, Housing & Residential Life, Residential Curriculum Training (January 22-23, 2018)

While at Texas State University, in my role as Assistant Director, I had the opportunity to bring  Hilary to campus for a multi-day residential curriculum training and development session for our team.  Hilary was an engaging and dynamic facilitator who immediately connected with our team and me. Her communication was strong and consistent before, during, and after the session, which made the entire experience seamless and impactful. She brought clarity, energy, and practical insight to our Residential Curriculum planning and training, and our staff left feeling motivated and better equipped in their work. I would highly recommend Hilary to any team looking for a thoughtful, organized, and inspiring presenter.  ~ Nina Pereira, formerly the Assistant Director at Texas State, and currently Director of Residential Education at the University of Arizona.

Syracuse University, Office of Residence Life, Residential Curriculum Training (May 22-23, 2017)

North Carolina State University, University Housing, Residential Curriculum Workshop, Part II (Feb. 21, 2017)

North Carolina State University, University Housing, Residential Curriculum Workshop – Part I (January 4, 2017) 

Dr. Hilary Lichterman provided exceptional guidance and leadership as a consultant for our residential education team at NC State. Through two highly engaging, day-long sessions, she helped our staff navigate significant organizational changes while building a strong foundation for our residential curriculum. From the very beginning, she took the time to truly understand our unique challenges and goals, by meeting with our planning team prior to her first arrival to ensure she had a solid understanding of what we needed in our consulting visits. Dr. Lichterman's interactive facilitation exercises were both engaging and inspiring—she created a space where our team could think deeply and collaborate authentically. Her thoughtful preparation, clear communication, and ability to tailor her approach to our specific goals helped ground our work and gave us confidence to move forward with clarity and alignment. Dr. Lichterman brings an impactful partnership, expertise, and care to her work, and I happily recommend her as a consultant and trainer. ~ J. Kala Bullett, JD, formerly the Associate Director for University Housing, NC State, and currently Senior Director of Residential Education at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill