Build your own website at WordCamp US, Aug. 16–19

Whether you’re showcasing your research, highlighting your teaching, promoting a lab or program, or building your professional presence, a personal website is one of the most effective ways to share your expertise and connect with colleagues, collaborators and the broader community.

This August, WordCamp US is coming to downtown Phoenix, bringing together web professionals, designers, developers, educators, and creators from around the world.

If you’ve never built a website before, the WordPress 101 and WordPress 202 learning tracks are designed specifically for beginners. In just a few hours, you’ll learn the fundamentals of creating, publishing and managing a modern website with the goal of walking away ready to build one of your own.

We know many faculty and staff will be balancing activities related to the start of the semester during this time frame. The good news is that the WordPress conference tracks are designed so you can invest just part of a day and leave with the knowledge and confidence to build a website of your own. In particular, there are WordPress 101 and 202 learning tracks that are offered during all four days of the event, so pick a date and tine that works best for you.

Several of the learning track sessions will be led by web developer Steve Ryan, who builds WordPress experiences for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and has spent years helping students and faculty publish on the web.

These sessions provide a practical starting point for just about any kind of website you might want to create, including:

• A personal portfolio.
• A research or lab website.
• A resume site.
• A blog.
• The foundation for your next startup.

Learn from the people who build the open web

Beyond the beginner sessions, you’ll have access to talks and workshops covering accessibility, AI, content strategy, design, development, and open source collaboration. You’ll also have opportunities to meet professionals from companies across the WordPress ecosystem and to get one-on-one help from experienced WordPress contributors at the Happiness Bar.

The conference also begins with two experiences you won’t find at most technology conferences. On Contributor Day (Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026), attendees work side by side with the people who build WordPress by contributing code, improving documentation, testing new features, translating content, or simply learning how a global open source project comes together. No experience is required, and no technical knowledge is needed to get started.

Then on Showcase Day (Monday, Aug. 17, 2026), you’ll discover how universities, nonprofits, businesses, publishers and agencies use WordPress to power everything from personal portfolios to large-scale digital experiences.

Whether you’re interested in building your first portfolio website, exploring open source software, or learning how web professionals design and deliver digital experiences, WordCamp US offers an approachable and affordable opportunity to learn, connect, and create.

Questions about the event can be directed to [email protected].