APEE 50th Meeting Information

Program Schedule

The complete program schedule for the APEE 50th Meeting will be available to view in early 2026. The program schedule will display all events scheduled for the conference program. Admission to all scheduled conference events will be included in the conference registration fee.

Opening Reception and Dinner
Sunday, April 5, 2026

Adam Smith Award
Richard K. Vedder | Ohio University

APEE will present the 2026 Adam Smith Award to Richard K. Vedder, Distinguished Professor of Economics Emeritus at Ohio University. APEE will recognize Rich for his extensive record of scholarly achievement in areas related to the APEE mission. Rich’s most recent book Let Colleges Fail: The Power of Creative Destruction in Higher Education (Independent Institute, 2025) will enhance the exploration and discussion of the APEE 50th Meeting theme The History of Private Enterprise Education.

Herman W. Lay Memorial Award
Richard J. Stephenson

APEE will also present its 2026 Herman W. Lay Memorial Award to Richard J. Stephenson. APEE will recognize Richard for his entrepreneurial success and commitment to private enterprise education through his longstanding philanthropy at Wabash College, particularly to The Stephenson Institute for Classical Liberalism.

Plenary Panel Discussion
Monday, April 6, 2026

The Past, Present, and Future of APEE

Join moderator Matt Kibbe (Co-Founder and President, Free the People) and APEE leaders past and present for a discussion about the Association’s early years, how it has evolved, and where APEE is going.

  • J.R. Clark | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
    Probasco Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise Emeritus
    APEE Distinguished Fellow and Secretary/Treasurer Emeritus

  • Gerald Gunderson | Trinity College
    Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of American Business and Economic Enterprise Emeritus
    APEE Distinguished Fellow and Editor, The Journal of Private Enterprise (1986-2006)

  • William Luther | Florida Atlantic University
    Associate Professor of Economics, College of Business
    APEE President, 2024-25

Awards Luncheon
Monday, April 6, 2026

APEE will present its 2026 membership awards at the Awards Luncheon:

Undergraduate Research Competition and Reception
Monday, April 6, 2026

The 2026 Undergraduate Research Competition will feature poster presentations from several students during an all-conference reception following the end of the first day’s breakout sessions.

Plenary Lecture
Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Work Hard, Play Hard: A History of The Association of Private Enterprise Education
Marcus Witcher | West Virginia University

The evolution of APEE from a small group of free enterprise chairs into an international organization with over 350 active members has involved hard work, dedication, and some luck. Marcus Witcher will explore the personalities that made the growth and success of APEE possible. Drawing on thirty oral interviews, he will recount some of the key moments of the organization’s history and explore why APEE means so much to so many people.

All registrants to the APEE 50th Meeting will receive a complimentary copy of Work Hard, Play Hard: A History of The Association of Private Enterprise Education.

Business Luncheon
Tuesday, April 7, 2026

APEE will present the 2026 Undergraduate Research Competition Awards and conduct its Annual Business Meeting. Robert Lawson (Southern Methodist University) will deliver the 2026 Presidential Address.