Rich Robbins, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 9 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• Administrative Division Elected Representative, 2004 to present — initiated division-wide protocol for timing of solicitation of new committee members
• Member, NACADA Council, 2004 to present
• Chair, NACADA Research Committee, 2002-2004 — translated pre-conference workshops on "Conducting Advising Research" and "Writing a NACADA Grant Proposal" to Power Point; initiated the presentation of these workshops at majority of Regional conferences in addition to the National conference; initiated the timing of committee members rotating off of the committee; developed a description of requirements to serve on committee in order to be qualified to review grant proposals and respond to research questions; collaborated with NACADA Journal editors to develop initial combined presentations at National conference.

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

• Kansas Academic Advising Network Chair, 1998-1999
• Region 7 Conference Planning Committee, 1997-1998
• Kansas Academic Advising Network Conference Host, 1997 and 1998
• Region 10 Conference Planning Committee, 1992
• Over 25 presentations at NACADA regional conferences (regions 7, 3, 6, and 1)

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, NACADA Research Committee, 1999 - 2005
• Member, NACADA Administrators' Institute Advisory Board, 2002-2005
• Member, NACADA Assessment Institute Advisory Board, 2003-2005
• Faculty/facilitator, NACADA Assessment Institute, 2005
• Faculty/facilitator, NACADA Administrators' Institute, 2003 and 2004
• Co-chair, First NACADA Assessment Seminar, 2004
• Faculty/facilitator, NACADA Assessment Seminar, 2004
• Member, NACADA Awards Committee, 2002-2004
• Member, NACADA Teleconference Task Force, 2000-2003
• Member, Revenue Task Force, 2002-2003
• Member, National Conference Planning Committee, 1997

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current member: Assessment of Advising Commission, Engineering and Science Advising Commission, Faculty Advising Commission
• Current member: Advising High Achieving Students Interest Group

Other:

• Member, NACADA Consultants' Bureau, 2001 to present
• Member, NACADA Journal Editorial Board, 2003 to present; 1998-2001
• Current manuscript reviewer for the Journal of College Student Retention
• Editor for NACADA Monograph Number 11 "Giving Advice to Students: A Road Map for College Professionals"
• Professional reviewer for NACADA Monograph "Final Report: ACT's Sixth National Survey of Academic Advising"
• Recipient of 1999 NACADA Research Grant Award
• Recipient of 1998 NACADA/ACT Outstanding Advising Institutional Program Award, Washburn University
• Participant, 1996 NACADA Summer Institute
• Recipient of 2005 Cornell University Kendall S. Carpenter Memorial Advising Award grant
• Member of First-year Student Experience committees, orientation committees, student retention committees, and numerous other advising-related committees at Cornell University (2004 to present), West Virginia University (2001-2004), Washburn University (1996-2001)
• Over 50 professional presentations at state, regional, and national conferences
• Author/co-author of two NACADA Journal articles
• Author of 9 NACADA Journal book reviews
• Professional reviewer for 10 Psychology texts
• Academic Advising consultations at 5 institutions

Platform Statement:

• Highlight your involvement in this unit that will help you in leading this unit. What roles have you played in this unit thus far? 

As noted above, I have served NACADA in various capacities over the past 9 years.  As the current elected Administrative Division Representative, I recently initiated a division-wide protocol for the timing of solicitation of new committee members.  As a Division Representative, I serve on the NACADA Council as well.  As Chair of the NACADA Research Committee from 2001-2004, I translated pre-conference workshops on Conducting Advising Research and Writing a NACADA Grant Proposal to Power Point and initiated presentation of these workshops at majority of Regional conferences in addition to National conference, initiated timing of committee members rotating off of the committee, developed a description of requirements to serve on committee in order to be qualified to review grant proposals and respond to research questions, and collaborated with NACADA Journal editors to develop initial combined presentations at National conference.  I have served as a member of the Research Committee, the Awards Committee, and two task forces, and am a current member of the NACADA Journal editorial board of the NACADA Consultants' Bureau.  I served on the Advisory Boards for both the Administrators' Institute and Assessment Seminar/Institute, as well as faculty for these.  I thus have experience as a committee member and as a group leader, which provide me an undertsanding of both roles.  

In addition, I am a member of the NACADA Consultants' Bureau and several NACADA Interest Groups and Commissions. These experiences have provided me with an understanding of the organization and the membership, and combined with my leadership roles within as well as outside of NACADA I feel I am prepared to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

• What do you believe are the most important goals and initiatives for this unit in meeting the strategic plan for both the unit and the Association? 

As the membership of NACADA approaches 9,000, the most important
goal is to increase membership involvement at the grass-roots levels. In many cases throughout the organization, a small percentage of the membership participates to serve on committees, commissions, interest groups, advisory boards, etc., with many members serving multiple roles.

The new inititative of cultivating the next generation of academic advisors will involve increasing membership participation across the organization, and with the ever-increasing new programming and development opportunities offered by NACADA as well as the strategic plan, it will be essential that more members become involved.  Everyone has talents to contribute, and I will work to promote the importance of participation among members in order to achieve the goals, inititives, and strategic plan for NACADA.

• Why are you interested in serving in this leadership position or what influenced you to run for this leadership position?

As you can see from the list of my service to NACADA above, I have been involved with this great organization in many ways.  However, the amount of time and effort I have put into this organization pales in comparison to what this organization has provided me.  My first experience as an academic advisor was during my master's degree program when my graduate assistantship was as an advisor in a pre-major advising enter.  Little did I know that two decades later I would have advising experience in various capacities at various institutions and that academic advising would be my career.  Yet, even my Ph.D., my teaching career (short-lived as it was), and my professional advising experience do not cumulatively add up to what NACADA has done for me professionally and personally.  I now have the opportunity to give back even more to the organization as a Board member, and play a role in the direction and growth of the organization which has given me so much.  

NACADA continues to grow in membership, professional development opportunities and other benefits for our members, and the considerable effort that has been extended regarding increasing the diversity of our membership (including faculty advisors), partnering with other professional organizations, and developing opportunities for our membership must continue. I would be honored and proud to be part of these efforts as a member of the NACADA Board, and would work diligently to keep the momentum going.

• Provide any additional comments or information regarding your past experiences and qualifications that relate to your candidacy for this leadership position.