Patricia Handy, Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 4 years

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

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

• Volunteer and participant at Region 4 regional conferences

Committee Activities and Accomplishments:

• Editorial Reader for NACADA monograph, Advisor Training: Exemplary Practices in the Development of Advisor Skills

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Proposal reader for Advisor Training and Development Commission, 2003 NACADA National Conference (Dallas)
• Proposal reader for Assessment of Advising Commission, 2004 NACADA National Conference (Cincinnati)
• Current member, Advisor Training and Development Commission and Small Colleges and Universities Commission
• Current member, Advising Fine Arts Students Interest Group and Theory & Philosophy of Advising Interest Group

Other:

• Participant, Academic Advising Administrator's Preconference Workshop, Region 4 Conference, 2003
• Attended NACADA National Conferences in 2004, 2003 and 2002
• Attended 2001 Summer Institute on Academic Advising

Platform Statement:

I have been a member of NACADA for the past 4 years, since my role changed from Liberal Arts Faculty to Professional Advisor. During that time, I have been an active member in the Commissions for Advisor Training and Development and Small Colleges and Universities, serving as editorial reader for the recent NACADA monograph on Advisor Training: Exemplary Practices and proposal reviewer for both the 2003 (Dallas) and 2004 (Cincinnati) National Conferences, and an advocate for Fine Arts institutions.

When I first joined in 2001, I was conscious that a tension existed between NACADA's dual constituencies of Faculty and Professional Advisors. However, over the past 4 years, I have seen our perception of mutual strengths increase. The Advisor Training and Development Commission is in a unique position to weld our membership together. However, I am acutely aware that the training and professional needs of Faculty and Professional advisors differ, as do needs of advisors in small or large institutions and in specialized learning environments.

Whether through articles in the NACADA Journal, participation in Conference sessions, or electronic communication, I will work to facilitate the higher education training and professional growth that helps all of us teach our students. I am honored to be nominated for this position and look forward to working with commission members.