Leif Olsen is a Student Success and Retention Specialist and EAB Navigate360 Program Owner at Iowa State University, where he leads institution-wide initiatives that connect student success strategy, technology, data, and human-centered systems design. His work focuses on helping faculty and staff confidently adopt complex tools and processes by creating learning experiences that emphasize purpose, context, and real-world application rather than simply teaching procedures.

Guided by a "No Wrong Door" philosophy, Leif has helped build a coordinated network of support spanning more than 100 campus areas, making it easier for students to access the right resources at the right time. His expertise includes systems implementation, change management, coordinated care, faculty and staff development, data enablement, and the design of scalable support models that strengthen both engagement and retention.

For the award-winning Cyclone Support training initiative featured in this session, Leif partnered with learning design experts at Artha Learning to reimagine traditional systems training through storytelling, realistic simulations, and AI-enhanced practice opportunities. Together, they transformed a complex software rollout into a learner-centered experience that helped staff and faculty understand not only how to use the system, but why their actions matter for student success.

A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and Association for Talent Development (ATD) Master Performance Consultant, Leif is passionate about building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating sustainable systems that help both people and organizations succeed.