Training, Development and Service Excellence
Staff Directory
- Training, Development and Service Excellence
301 Allied Drive
Coastal Science Center 164
Conway, SC 29526
843-349-6438 - Campus Map
- TDSE Home
Eileen Soisson
Executive Director
Coastal Science Center 167
843-349-2686 | esoisson@coastal.edu
Eileen Soisson has been with Coastal Carolina University since January 2012 Eileen created the Feel the Teal® Service Excellence Initiative for CCU in 2012 and that initiative was responsible for building a stronger sense of community and culture among Coastal Carolina University's faculty, staff, students, alumni, and all stakeholders through providing the infrastructure and service training needed. In 2018, Soisson co-authored the book Elevating Customer Service in Higher Education: A Practical Guide in 2018 and was elected the first president of the Association for Service Excellence in Higher Education (ASHE), a new professional organization she has been instrumental in starting. Prior to joining CCU, Soisson was president and owner of The Meeting Institute, a leadership and customer service training company.
She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with an undergraduate degree in recreation, parks and tourism management, and she earned a Master of Business Administration from Coastal Carolina University. When Soisson is not at CCU, she is actively involved with her community through the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and in 2018 won the Chamber’s Volunteer of Year Award. Family is of the utmost importance and she is married to Stephen and proud mom to Casey, 11.
Nick DeStefano
Service Excellence Program Coordinator
Coastal Science Center 169
843-349-6928 | ndestefan@coastal.edu
Nick joined Carolina University in June 2011 as resident director in University Housing. His next role on campus was in the Office of Student Life as the coordinator for leadership education. While with Student Life, DeStefano became one of the first employees to get involved with Feel the Teal and attend training in 2012. He recognized the essential role of Feel the Teal in improving CCU's campus culture and climate and began to volunteer as a Feel the Teal facilitator for two of the training modules. DeStefano officially joined the team in Training, Development and Service Excellence in February 2016. His role focuses on providing an engaging and educational customer service training program for student workers. He is also responsible for facilitating many of the training modules for faculty and staff.
DeStefano earned a Master of Science in organizational management from Misericordia University in Dallas, Penn. When he is not at CCU you can find Nick coaching athletes at a local CrossFit gym or hanging out with his wife Megan and two little boys, Calvin and Cooper
Gracia Gavin
Compliance Training Coordinator
Coastal Science Center 170
843-349-2068 | ggavin@coastal.edu
Grace Gavin joined the TDSE team in January 2018 as coordinator of University mandatory and compliance training. These training courses provide a safe work environment and ensure legal and regulatory compliance. She also facilitates the New Employee Orientation for new staff members to help prepare new employees to successfully transition to the University culture and environment. Prior to joining CCU, Grace was a staff member of the Training & Development department at BlueCross BlueShield of SC for TRICARE, a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. She graduated from Petra Christian University in Surabaya, Indonesia with a B.A. in English Literature and earned her MBA from Webster University. She has been a volunteer for the American Red Cross since 2005 as a member of the Disaster Relief Services. She plays the piano and listens to classical music. She speaks five languages, loves gardening, cooking, traveling and running road races.
Connie Glidden
Training Coordinator
Coastal Science Center 171
843-349-2796 | jglidden@coastal.edu
Connie originally joined CCU in February 2001 in the Continuing Studies Department. She worked as an event planner with the Elderhostel and Summer Kids Camp programs. She then transferred to the Alumni Office in 2003 as an Alumni Office Coordinator during the inaugural football season for CCU. She planned events for alumni for the home and away games during the first football season. In 2004 Connie left the University to pursue a master’s degree in Corporate and Professional Communication with Radford University in Radford, VA. Connie also received her bachelor’s degree in speech communications with a concentration in public relations from Radford University.
Prior to returning to CCU, she taught communication courses at Horry-Georgetown Technical College for twelve years including public speaking and oral communications. She returned to the CCU family in August 2018 and currently serves as a Training Development Coordinator in the office of Training, Development, and Service Excellence Department. When Connie is not at work she loves to travel with her husband Frank and spend time with her family
Vanessa Folk
Administrative Coordinator
Coastal Science Center 168
843-349-2068 | vfolk@coastal.edu
