Orlando, Florida
Incorporated in 2002, HP Education Fanon, Inc., is the longest-running producer of
high-quality conferences for scholars and fans of the Harry Potter novels. Prior
to HPEF's first event, the Harry Potter aficionado was limited to gatherings in living
rooms, coffee shops, restaurants, and bookstores. That all changed in 2003.
Nimbus-2003, held during the summer heat of July in Orlando, Florida, marked the
beginning of a series of highly successful events, attended by scholars and fans
from over a dozen countries. The success of Nimbus was repeated with each subsequent
event: The Witching Hour in 2005, Lumos 2006, Prophecy in 2007, and Portus 2008.
Past guests at HPEF events include Jim Dale, Chris Rankin, Henry Jenkins, Monique
Trottier, George Beahm, Tim Kirk, Tom Morris, Lev Grossman and Judith Krug.
HPEF is committed to producing high-quality events that combine a professional and
academic focus with the light-hearted spirit of the Harry Potter series for scholar
and fan alike. By bringing these two seemingly disparate groups together, HPEF fosters
learning and exploration of the Harry Potter novels and phenomenon from the perspectives
of a broad spectrum of disciplines. HPEF’s events have attracted attendees from all
over the globe, including the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Peru, Brazil, Mexico,
the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Finland, Malta, the Philippines, Malaysia, China,
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and many other nations. Its activities span the range
of academic and fan interests, making HPEF’s conferences truly Magical Events for
Scholars and Fans.
That tradition will culminate the weekend of July 15-18, 2010 when HPEF returns to the city of its origins: Orlando, Florida. Infinitus 2010 will take place at the Universal Orlando Resort, home to the much-anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction in Universal's Islands of Adventure. Attendees, both new and veterans alike, will find themselves surrounded not only by like-minded scholars and fans, but by the vision of J.K. Rowling's magical world itself.
The current voting members of the Board of Directors are Bekki Olivieri, Rob Ihinger, Barbara Purdom, Aziza Aba Butain, and Mike Steele. The non-voting advisory directors are Debbie Duncan, Deb McLain, Audrey O’Connor, Heidi Tandy, Emeritus President Lee Hillman (AKA Gwendolyn Grace), Mary Ellen Maple, Jenn Racek and Amy Vezza. Emeritus Board Members include Peg Kerr (author of The Wild Swans and Emerald House Rising), Dr. Philip Nel, Steve Vander Ark (AKA "Lexicon Steve"), John Walton, Carlisle Kraft Webber, Dr. Catherine Schaff-Stump, Willene Wadkins, Dan Myers-Power and Penny Linsenmayer.
