Sessions of 2026 Connection Conference: Chris Drake
Drake, Chris
Director, Student Success
Chris Drake serves as the Director of Student Success for The W. A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University, where she partners with students and faculty to ensure learners have the resources and support necessary to complete their coursework and ultimately earn their degrees. In her role, she oversees curriculum processes, student programming, and college initiatives, while also teaching academic and career readiness courses for business majors. Chris holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Arizona University, along with a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism and advertising, and her research focuses on the intersectionality of student identities and academic success.
Sessions:
[5809] Building Bridges: Connecting K–12 and Higher Education in Business Education
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Westin La Paloma
- Business and Marketing Education
NAU's W. A. Franke College of Business faculty will offer wide-ranging perspectives on how students experience the transition from K–12 business and CTE programs into collegiate business pathways. This conversation-driven session invites educators to explore questions related to academic preparation, emerging expectations in business fields, student readiness, and the evolving dynamics of business education. Rather than prescribing specific practices, the panel will create space for open dialogue about how K–12 and higher education can better understand one another’s contexts and support students as they develop the academic and career-ready skills needed for future opportunities.
[5813] The Extra Step: Inspiring Skill Development for Business Students
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Westin La Paloma
- Business and Marketing Education
Business classrooms play a powerful role in shaping confident, capable future professionals, yet many students enter college or the workforce without a clear understanding of the foundational soft skills they need to succeed. Developing these skills begins with identifying strengths, recognizing areas for growth, and learning to communicate qualifications effectively. This session explores how educators can guide students beyond academic knowledge toward the personal strategies and behaviors that give them the “extra” needed to stand out. Using a career-readiness ladder as a scaffold, the session highlights how each rung, skills, mindsets, and real-world experiences, helps students climb toward academic and professional success.
