MDCC Hosts 2026 MELA Retreat, Bringing eLearning Professionals Together for Collaboration and Innovation

MOORHEAD, Miss. (Sept. 23, 2026) — Mississippi Delta Community College recently hosted the 2026 Mississippi eLearning Association Retreat, bringing eLearning professionals from across the state together for three days of professional development, collaboration and networking.

Held Sept. 15-17 at MDCC’s Charles W. Capps Jr. Technology Center in Indianola, the retreat centered on the theme “Empowering Every Learner: Using Technology to Personalize and Engage.”

The retreat featured presentations and discussions focused on technology, online learning resources and strategies for supporting students and faculty. Sessions included presentations from Instructure, Copyleaks, Brainfuse, Cidi Labs, Cengage, Aspire EDU and SmarterServices, along with committee presentations, meetings and opportunities for attendees to connect and share practices from their institutions.

MDCC Coordinator of eLearning Sarah Buchanan said hosting the retreat provided an opportunity for professionals from throughout Mississippi to learn from one another while strengthening relationships among institutions.

“Hosting the 2026 MELA Retreat was a wonderful opportunity for Mississippi Delta Community College,” Buchanan said. “Bringing eLearning professionals from across Mississippi together gave us the opportunity to exchange ideas, explore new technologies, and learn from one another. What makes MELA so special is the collaboration and relationships that are built among our institutions. We all share the same goal—to find innovative and meaningful ways to engage our students and help them succeed.”

Buchanan said one of the retreat’s greatest benefits was seeing how other institutions are using shared technologies and resources in different ways.

“We gained valuable insight into how other colleges within the consortium are using many of the same programs and resources in different and innovative ways to support their students and faculty,” she said. “We also met directly with several of our vendors, learned more about the products and services currently available to the consortium, and discovered features and tools we may not have been fully using. The retreat gave us new ideas and practical strategies that we can take back to our individual institutions and put into practice.”

In addition to professional development sessions, the retreat gave attendees an opportunity to experience the culture and musical heritage of the Mississippi Delta. On Wednesday evening, participants visited the B.B. King Museum and later gathered for dinner at historic Club Ebony in Indianola.

The retreat concluded Thursday with a group photo, a Quality Committee presentation on Dropout Detective and the MELA business meeting.

MDCC Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Valarie Morgan, who welcomed attendees during the retreat’s opening session, said the event reflected the college’s commitment to collaboration and innovation in teaching and learning.

“It was an honor for Mississippi Delta Community College to host educators and eLearning professionals from across our state,” Morgan said. “This event showcased the very best of who we are: a culture of excellence, collaboration, hospitality, and student-centered innovation. I am especially proud of Sarah Buchanan and the entire eLearning team for their outstanding leadership in creating meaningful opportunities for professional growth and connection. The positive feedback from our guests affirms the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students and reinforces MDCC's commitment to advancing teaching and learning throughout Mississippi.”