OPAL Professional Learning Day 2026

Welcome 

"Leading Well:  Self. People. Places."

Speaker: Anna Fitch Courie, Chief Well-Being Officer at Clemson University

Anna Fitch Courie is an Army wife, nurse, keynote speaker, university faculty, and author of seven titles. Anna's 25+ years in the healthcare field include experience in public and private health promotion, wellness, well-being, and organizational health. She is a passionate advocate for the health of people, communities, and organizations, and loves to create innovative solutions to meet their health and wellness needs. Anna currently serves as the Chief Well-being Officer at Clemson University. Formerly, she was the Director, First Responder Wellness, with FirstNet, Built with AT&T, and also worked with the U.S. Army as the Health Promotion Policy and Evaluation Officer for the Commander's Health Promotion Council process. Anna is a graduate of Clemson University (BSN), the University of Wyoming (MS), and Ohio State University (DNP). She is a board-certified public health nurse and certified community wellness advocate. In her spare time, she fights cancer, consults in public health, facilititates retreats, writes books, and blogs for Living Compass Ministries, ChristWalk, 50 Dyas of Fabulous, Earth and Altar, and Lent Madness. Anna loves her family, Clemson football, traveling, reading, and hiking. Home is wherever God sends her. 

Conflict Resolution/De-escalation

Speaker: Travis Durham, Sr., Director of Student Engagement & Accountability at Tri-County Technical College

Travis Durham is an innovative education administrator and seasoned conflict-resolution practitioner dedicated to improving student outcomes through research-informed strategies, inclusive practices, and relationship-centered leadership. Currently serving as Director of Student Engagement & Accountability at Tri-County Technical College, Travis leads institution-wide initiatives that promote belonging, accountability, and student success. Travis's career also includes roles in school-based mental health, child welfare, and educational leadership, where he supported vulnerable populations navigating high-stress and high-conflict situations, including roles as: School-Based Mental Health Services Supervisor, Intensive Foster Care and Clinical Services Coordinator, Director of Related Educational Services at South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, Assistant Principal and Executive Director of Student Services for Asheville City Schools, and Certified Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Trainer. Travis also holds South Carolina Principal and Superintendent licensure and is a Certified Leadership Trainer with the John Maxwell Team, as well as a Certified College Achievement Alliance Trainer. His academic background includes an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, a Master of Social Work (MSW), a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), and an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Alverno College. 

Panel: Conflict in the Workplace

Participants: Travis Durham, Sr., Director of Student Engagement & Accountability at Tri-County Technical College; Blair Hinson, Director, Oconee County Public Library; Kasey Swords, Interim Director of Library Services at Anderson University (Mediator)

Birds of a Feather Sessions

1. Administration
2. Archives
3. Circulation
4. IT
5. Makerspace
6. Programming
7. Research & Instruction
8. Technical Services

Closing

Please fill out our survey to share your feedback and help make future Learning Days a success! Click the link below or use the QR code. 

OPAL Professional Learning Day 2026 Survey