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.

Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Register Now
Cost: $59 Per Person

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 CliftonStrengths 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

Agenda
8:30 - 9 a.m.	Check-in
9 - 9:50 a.m.	Opening Session
10 - 10:50 a.m.	Breakout Session 1
11 - 11:50 a.m.	Breakout Session 2
12 - 1:15 p.m.	Lunch and Keynote
1:30 - 2:20 p.m.	Breakout Session 3
2:30 - 3:20 p.m.	Breakout Session 4
3:30 - 4 p.m.	Closing Remarks

2025 Conference Speakers

Additional speakers will be announced soon

Lawrence Chatters, Ph.D

Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Capacity, Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Input | Strategic | Achiever | Communication | Futuristic

Lawrence Chatters is a visionary leader and strategist dedicated to fostering institutional transformation and expanding opportunities through strategic partnerships.

He serves as the senior vice president of strategic initiatives and capacity at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, where he leads national efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In this role, he oversees strategic initiatives, grant administration, and transformative partnerships aimed at enhancing enrollment growth, student retention, financial sustainability, and faculty development. Through Project HBCU Capacity Building, Chatters works to create a stronger and more sustainable future for HBCUs nationwide.

Prior to joining Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Chatters served as the director of community partnerships and strategic initiatives at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he played a key role in strengthening university-community collaborations, leading institutional initiatives and expanding student opportunities. He also made a significant impact in Nebraska Athletics as the executive associate athletic director for strategic initiatives, where he led student-athlete development programs and pioneered the Red Carpet Experience, a program that provided thousands of Husker fans with free access to athletic events.

Chatters holds a Ph.D. and a master's degree in counseling psychology from Nebraska.

Kathy Farrell, Ph.D

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

Learner | Analytical | Responsibility | Intellection | Arranger

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., Bryan Health, and Lincoln Community Foundation, among other nonprofit boards and committees..

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.

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.

Ted Neitzke

CEO and Agency Administrator, Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 6, Mayor of Port Washington, Wisconsin

Strategic | Futuristic | Activator | Positivity | Learner

Ted Neitzke is a lifetime educator and has served at high levels of leadership in schools in the United States. He is known for his work with employee engagement, strategic planning and solutions for the workplace. His focus on strengths, collaboration and process has allowed for others to find success.

Neitzke is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and works with organizations to support their success. His leadership has supported international recognition in employee engagement, regional recognition in strategic excellence, and local recognition for service and nonprofit support.

He is the creator and host of The Smart Thinking Podcast, a weekly podcast filled with stories and processes to support leadership everywhere.

In addition to his professional obligations, Neitzke is also the mayor of Port Washington, Wisconsin. He has many titles but his favorites are: son, brother, husband, father and uncle.

Breakout Sessions

Breakout sessions will be announced soon.

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 required for this conference, but completing it beforehand can enrich your experience.

Contact

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

Clifton Strengths Institute Summer Conference