Eagle Summit deemed a success

Committee co-chair and Director of the Office of Academic Success Chantel Merchen said more than 120 Chadron State College employees attended the second annual Eagle Success Summit. Attendees included 46 faculty from each academic school and 75 staff from 16 different departments.

“We strive to provide professional development opportunities to help each other innovate, collaborate, and connect to further support our students, and ourselves in the work that we do every day,” Merchen said.

Merchen said the committee wanted to celebrate faculty and staff at the start of the term, a time of new beginnings.

Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson, who spoke to students the day before, was the keynote speaker for the Success Summit.

“Dr. PBJ provided motivation to everyone,” Merchen said. “We believe this event supports our strategic initiative to boost morale, invest in our faculty and staff for professional development, and support our initiatives toward student success. We also think it is a great way to have fun with each other and show gratitude to those we work with.”

Each year when the summit concludes, Merchen said she challenges attendees to think about what they learned and how they can apply it to their work.

“I think learning from each other not only provides continuous improvement, but it also improves understanding of what other campus offices do, how they do it, and why,” she said. “I am a firm believer that you should enjoy what you do and who you work with, and I think the summit supports both ideas.”

Committee member and Digital Graphic Designer Daniel Binkard said he was pleased with the event.

“We received a great selection of presentation proposals in the spring, and the variety we had provided a balance of information that supported us as employees and educators. These presentations are a good way of reminding us that, regardless of our role at CSC, we have such an important role in guiding the students toward success,” Binkard said.

Binkard said he overheard positive comments about Buckner Jackson’s presentation.

“Every time we have a chance to discuss our strengths and opportunities, it’s a plus. If we can have those discussions with co-workers we don’t normally see, that’s even better,” Binkard said.

Binkard said the committee will soon begin to plan the 2027 Success Summit.

START Academic Advisor Amy Halverson said attending the summit was rewarding.

“The most useful session for me was Chelsea Turner’s presentation on Student Wellbeing. It aligned closely with the summit’s overall focus on supporting student success through collaboration, awareness, and understanding the needs of our students. What resonated most with me was the emphasis on viewing student success through a holistic lens,” Halverson said.

Halverson said Turner highlighted many factors that can impact a student's academic performance, retention, and overall college experience.

“She reminded us that student wellbeing extends far beyond the classroom. The session reinforced the importance of being attentive to students' needs, connecting them with available resources, and working collaboratively across campus to support them.”

Halverson said one idea from the workshop by Dr. Nathan Favaloro and Dr. Teri Marrow she expects to use in her job is a set of strategies for employee burnout prevention.

“Their discussion on positive stress management, effective communication, and creating a healthy work environment was especially meaningful. The session reinforced the importance of recognizing stress early and responding to it in productive ways.”

Halverson said she believes by practicing positive stress management and intentional communication, she can maintain her wellbeing, build stronger connections with others, and contribute to an environment where both employees and students can thrive.

“Throughout the summit, presenters emphasized the value of understanding the diverse needs of those we serve and working together across campus to create a positive and supportive environment,” Halverson said. “As an academic advisor, I interact with students daily who may be facing academic, financial, personal, or transitional challenges. The sessions reminded me that supporting students effectively begins with creating meaningful connections, practicing positive communication, and helping students access the resources they need to succeed.”

The training also highlighted the importance of continuous learning, innovation, and campus-wide cooperation, according to Halverson.

“By applying what I learned, I can contribute to a more welcoming and supportive experience for students and visitors while fostering positive working relationships with colleagues. Ultimately, the summit reinforced CSC's commitment to student success and wellbeing and provided practical tools that will help me better serve our campus community,” she said.

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