This narrative study examined the experiences of senior leaders as they described their involvement in a successful merger within higher education. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six senior leaders from merging colleges in the Midwest. This study utilized efficiency theory as the theoretical framework. Transcripts and research data were analyzed using an inductive process to identify new insights and themes (Richards, 2015). Five main themes emerged: leadership, culture and collaboration, value creation, communication and support, and challenges. These findings were considered in relation to existing literature and revealed the importance of strong leadership in achieving a successful merger. Findings illustrated that institutional values and cultures have a direct impact on the level of collaboration and cooperation that leaders can expect from employees. Findings also identified the importance of both financial and non-financial value creation and that communication is a main factor supporting merger success. This study's findings revealed that challenges related to synergy shortfalls, culture, and geographic distance differ substantially from the literature. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]