Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 9 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office: N/A

Regional Activities/Offices Held, including accomplishments achieved while in office:

• Member, Region 6 steering committee, 2002-2004
• Chair, 2002 Region 6 conference — It was the first time NACADA ever partnered with a tribal college. Of the 35 tribal colleges nationwide, Region 6 has 18 within its borders. If NACADA is to reach out to tribal colleges, Region 6 must take the leadership role.

Committee Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, NACADA Diversity committee, 2004-2005
• Member, NACADA Electronic Publication Awards Committee, 2000-2001

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Co-Chair, Native American and Tribal College Interest Group, 2003-present
• Current member, Technology in Advising Commission and LGBTA Concerns Commission
• Current member, Native American and Tribal College Interest Group and Study Abroad Advising Interest Group
• Initiated the Native American and Tribal College Interest Group following the successful regional partnership with tribal colleges in 2002 for the Region 6 conference.
• Member, Technology in Advising Commission Steering Committee, 2000-2002

Other:

• Have attended the last 8 NACADA National Conferences and presented since 1999.
• 2001 NACADA Outstanding Advisor Award winner

Platform Statement:

During my seven years with NACADA, I have been active in regional and national conferences presenting on topics like diversity, LGBTA issues, advising Native Americans and using technology in advising. I have supported and initiated both national and regional attempts to increase participation of under-represented groups in NACADA. For example, in 2002, I co-chaired the only regional NACADA conference ever to partner with Tribal Colleges and in 2003, I founded and co-chaired the Native American and Tribal College Interest Group.

I think that the best way to improve NACADA's diversity is by starting at the regional level. We need to ask each region to identify populations currently not being served, develop strategies for greater inclusion, and implement initiatives for better serving uner-represented populations in the future. We need to see more presentations regionally and nationally to better show case 'best practices' for improving diversity and inclusion. Also, we need to ask NACADA commissions and special interests groups to encourage their members to think more inclusively in planning presentations and initiatives.