Summer Conference

Clifton Strengths Institute
Summer Conference

Stretch Your Strengths Where Strengths Started

Clifton Strengths Institute Summer Learning Series

Strengths Based Development: From Start to Finish

Are you building a strengths-based mindset on your campus? Are you passionate about strengths-based sciences in your workplace or startup? Are you eager to share your story and learn best practices from talented students, faculty and staff? Join us for our Clifton Strengths Institute Summer Conference as you deepen your knowledge, learn from others and advance your strengths practices.

You’re invited to the Clifton Strengths Institute Summer Conference, designed for higher education leaders and champions of strengths-based programming in their community. This conference includes a variety of thought-provoking sessions designed to highlight excellence in strengths-based education on campuses and in the workplace.

Check Back for 2025 Info

Who Should Attend

The Clifton Strengths Institute Summer Conference is best suited for:

Anyone intrigued in unique strengths and talents in others

Higher education admin, looking to bring Strengths to your campus

Young professionals interested in your own career development

Anyone interested in developing your own strengths and potential

Anyone looking for new ways to connect with students or colleagues

Anyone wanting to create engaging and new ways to implement staff development

Anyone looking for tangible takeaways you can apply with your team

2024 Conference Speakers

Kathy Farrell

James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and Professor of Finance

Learner | Analytical | Responsibility | Intellection | Arranger

Dr. Kathy Farrell became the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business on December 1, 2017, after serving nearly one year as interim dean. As dean, Farrell led an inclusive strategic planning process to help guide the college with a new mission, guiding principles and strategic initiatives. Several mission-focused goals have been accomplished including donor support for six endowed faculty chairs, implementing the Seacrest Teaching Fellows program, launching the Nebraska Family Business Initiative and increasing free tutoring for business students. The college's connection with Nebraska's business community expanded with new online graduate programs to answer workforce demands and continuing education for professionals and custom programs through the Center for Executive and Professional Development. Currently, she spearheads strategic initiatives such as developing a new law and business major, aligning scholarships with enrollment goals, and creating a program to foster a culture of engagement and recognize highly-engaged students.

An experienced academic and business leader, Farrell served as associate dean for four years and chair of the Department of Finance for two years prior to serving as Dean. She also serves on the board of directors of Lincoln-based organizations Nelnet, Inc., Assurity, Inc. and Bryan Health.

After joining the College of Business in 1993, she began teaching corporate finance and banking for over 20 years. She received the Distinguished Teaching Award and the University Distinguished Teaching Award along with achieving tenure in 2001 and full professor in 2009.

Farrell’s research interests include executive compensation, executive turnover and succession and other corporate governance issues. Her publications have appeared in such journals as the Journal of Business, Journal of Accounting and Economics, Journal of Corporate Finance, Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, National Tax Journal, Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Financial Research and others.

Prior to earning her Ph.D. in finance from the University of Georgia, Farrell was an auditor for KPMG Peat Marwick in Baltimore and Atlanta and earned the designation of Certified Public Accountant (inactive). She received her bachelor's degree from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.

Paul Allen

Founder of Ancestry.com

Paul Allen was the founder and CEO of Ancestry.com. After a successful exit, he went on to start multiple mission-driven, high-growth tech companies including MyFamily.com and FamilyLink. He then spent five years at Gallup as its Global Strengths Evangelist helping millions of people discover their strengths. In all of this, Allen's mission is to leverage technology to help humans flourish.

At Soar, Allen assembled a world-class team of technologists to ensure humans have a chance to self-determine their relationship with artificial intelligence in ways that uplift and empower.

Emily Lorenz, Ph.D

Survey Methodologist & Consultant, Gallup

Achiever | Learner | Positivity | Maximizer | Input

Emily Lorenz, Ph.D., is a survey methodologist and consultant at Gallup. She leads the research design and data collection strategy for Gallup’s ongoing quantitative and qualitative measurement of the U.S. workforce, and advises Gallup clients on how to quantify answers to their most pressing questions.

Breakout Sessions

Maximize Your Strengths: A Workshop for Reflection, Connection, Vision and Well-Being

Kaitlin Ferris, Assistant Director, Clifton Strengths Institute

Strengthening Student Success: Integrating CliftonStrengths into Campus Culture

Alyson Lenz, Assistant Director, Clifton Strengths Institute

Leadership Lessons Revisited: Wisdom from Don Clifton

Tim Hodges, Ph.D., Executive Director, Clifton Strengths Institute

Charge Into Engagement

Ted Neitzke, Ph.D., CEO of CESA 6 and host of The Smart Thinking Podcast

Gallup’s Latest Research on Work, and a Life Well-Lived

Emily Lorenz, Ph.D., Survey Methodologist and Consultant, Gallup

Dream Big: Integrating Strengths Into Your Campus/Organizational Culture

Mike Finnegan and Katie Buehler, Kansas State University

Travel Accommodations

Hotels Airport Lincoln Activities Campus Visitor Parking

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this conference offered in a virtual format? No, this will be an in-person event.
Am I required to take the CliftonStrengths assessment before? No, taking the CliftonStrengths assessment is not a requirement for this conference.

Contact

Clifton Strengths Institute Conference Team
csiconference@unl.edu
402-472-2035
HLH 115
P.O. Box 880405
Lincoln, NE 68588-0405