Student Success Summit 2026 - Student Success Center

Join us on February 10–11, 2026 for a statewide conference focused on fostering student success across Alabama and beyond.

With this year’s theme, “Holistic Approaches to Student Learning,” we’ll explore innovative strategies and best practices that support every aspect of the student experience—from mental health and resilience to accessibility, equity, and belonging.

Whether you’re a faculty member, administrator, advisor, or student services professional, the Student Success Summit is your opportunity to collaborate, learn, and lead.

Student Success Summit 2026 at Jacksonville State University

Conference Details

Dates:
Tuesday, February 10 – Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Time:
Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. each day
Closing remarks end at 4:30 p.m.

Location:
Houston Cole Library, 11th Floor
Jacksonville State University Campus

Registration Fee:
$150.00 per attendee

Registration

Last day to register: January 9, 2026

Keynote Speakers

February 10

Dr. Robin McGill
Deputy Director for Academic Affairs
Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE)

Dr. Robin McGill serves as Deputy Director for Academic Affairs at the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). As the agency’s chief academic and student success officer, she manages a broad portfolio of work that includes academic program review, work-based learning, college access initiatives, sponsored programs, and state authorization for distance education. She represents public higher education on numerous statewide committees, including as a member of the Alabama STEM Council, the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways (ACCCP), and the Articulation and General Studies Committee (AGSC). Prior to joining ACHE in 2019, Dr. McGill worked as Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner. She earned her PhD in Classical Literature from Brown University, and she holds an MLitt from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland), and a BA from the University of Georgia. Before moving into higher education administration, she was a faculty member at Wheaton College (MA), where she taught courses in literature, languages, and history.

February 11

Dr. Melissa Shields, NBCT
Assistant State Superintendent
Alabama Department of Education

Dr. Melissa Shields serves as the Assistant State Superintendent of Student Learning for the Alabama State Department of Education. Prior to this role, she led the ALSDE Office of School Improvement, where she and her team worked closely with schools and districts around the state to close gaps and improve outcomes for students. Dr. Shields has coordinated with community and industry partners across the state to align resources and human capital with the unique needs of area schools, particularly in areas of attendance, mental health, and foundational wellness.

Dr. Shields brings over 30 years of experience in education, including 16 years as a language arts and history teacher. At the district level in Etowah County, she supervised multiple departments, including Curriculum, Instructional Technology, Library Media, School Improvement, and English Learners. She earned her doctorate from the University of Alabama, with a focus on curriculum and school reform, and has maintained National Board Certification in Language Arts since 2000.

She and her husband, Scott, have two daughters, one granddaughter, and another on the way. Outside of her professional work, Dr. Shields enjoys writing and spending time outdoors.