Sarah Buchanan Named MELA President-Elect; MDCC to Host Annual Retreat

MOORHEAD, Miss. (Aug. 31, 2026) — Mississippi Delta Community College Coordinator of eLearning Sarah Buchanan has been selected to serve as president-elect of the Mississippi eLearning Association, or MELA, recognizing her leadership and experience in online education.

As president-elect, Buchanan will help provide leadership for the association while preparing to assume the role of president. Her responsibilities include attending association meetings, serving as an acting member of the Administrative Committee, fulfilling the duties of the president when needed and establishing and operating technology for MELA's virtual and in-person meetings. She is also responsible for planning and organizing the association's annual retreat.

The retreat will bring eLearning professionals from all 15 of Mississippi's community colleges to Mississippi Delta Community College in September, when Buchanan and MDCC host the annual MELA Retreat.

During the multiple-day retreat, members will exchange ideas, discuss how their institutions approach online learning and share strategies for addressing common challenges. Participants also meet with technology vendors to discuss products and programs currently used by the colleges, learn about updates and explore new tools that could enhance online teaching and learning.

"This year's theme is 'Empowering every learner, using technology to personalize and engage,' so I feel that it represents what this retreat is all about," Buchanan said. "By bringing eLearning professionals together to collaborate, share ideas and explore innovative technologies, we can continue finding new ways to engage our students and support their success."

Buchanan began brainstorming ideas for the retreat in October and moved into more detailed planning in January. Preparations have included securing presenters and sponsorships from vendors, coordinating meals, reaching out to local businesses for door prize donations and developing the agenda for each day of the event.

MDCC Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Valarie Morgan said Buchanan's appointment as president-elect reflects both her longstanding commitment to the college and her contributions to online education.

"We are incredibly proud of Sarah Buchanan and the outstanding leadership she provides to our eLearning department at Mississippi Delta Community College," Morgan said. "For more than two decades, Sarah has been a dedicated advocate for student success, faculty support and innovation in online learning. Her selection as president-elect of the Mississippi eLearning Association is a well-deserved recognition of her expertise, professionalism and commitment to advancing eLearning across our state.

"We are grateful for the opportunity for Sarah to serve in this leadership capacity and know that both MELA and its members will benefit greatly from her experience, vision and collaborative spirit."

Buchanan has served MDCC for 23 years and currently oversees the day-to-day operations of eLearning, working to ensure the college's online courses provide students with a quality learning experience. She also provides training and support for eLearning instructors and helps faculty stay current with software, technology and resources used in online education.

She also supports and maintains Canvas, MDCC's learning management system, and assists faculty and staff in using technology to enhance teaching and learning.

A graduate of MDCC, Buchanan earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from the college before earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi Valley State University and a Master of Business Administration from Delta State University.

Through her leadership with MELA and her work at MDCC, Buchanan continues to focus on using technology and collaboration to strengthen online learning opportunities and support student success throughout Mississippi.