Sanford Relationship Science Summit
Advancing Human Development Through Relationships, Well-Being, and Collective Action
The Sanford Relationship Science Summit brings together leading voices from education, healthcare, youth development, philanthropy and research to explore how relationships shape human potential.
More than just a conference, the Summit builds on National University’s leadership and the legacy of T. Denny Sanford, creating new opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and collective impact.
The Summit is a working session for action – connecting research, partnerships, and practical strategies to strengthen relationships, belonging, well-being and outcomes for children, families, educators and communities.
The Inaugural Summit
Held at the Sanford Consortium in La Jolla, CA on October 1, 2026, the summit featured working sessions on building relationship-centered ecosystems, relationships as the foundation for learning and well-being and scaling impact through leadership and systems change.
The sessions were led by national leaders across sectors including education, out-of-school time, health care, and researchers.
Check out the full line up and their bios below.
Our Partners
Thank you to our 2026 partners for helping make the inaugural Relationship Science Summit a success.
Framing Our Relationship-Centered Work
This paper provides a shared framework for how relationships shape learning, belonging, and well-being. Its call to action is clear: study the science, put it into practice, and mobilize it for impact. National University and Sanford Harmony are proud to share Creating Harmonious Communities: Relationship Science for Learning, Belonging, and Human Flourishing. Special thanks to Nick Yoder, Ph.D., Mark. D. Milliron, Ph.D., Doug Fisher, Ph.D., Terrell Strayhorn, Ph.D., and Scott Page for bringing this work to life.
The Future of the Summit
The conversations that began at the inaugural Summit are only the beginning. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, the Summit is helping build a growing network focused on advancing healthy relationships, belonging, and well-being.
As new partnerships and ideas emerge, the Summit will continue to serve as a forum for learning, collaboration, and shared progress. Stay connected to join this growing leadership network and be among the first to learn about additional Summit dates.
We will host our next Relationship Science Summit in New York on February 25, 2027, at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus. Stay tuned for more details.