Casey Self, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 12 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• NACADA Membership Committee Chair (2005-current) —
  • Goals to increase NACADA membership and retain current members
  • Specific goals identified to increase specific underrepresented groups within NACADA
• NACADA Council Member (2002-2005) —
  • Assisted in process of implementing new NACADA organizational structure
  • Key team member in addressing specific operational issues for NACADA Council
• Commission & Interest Group Division Elected Representative (2002-2005) —
  • Key team member in creation and implementation of division
  • Key team member  in creating policies and procedures for division operations
  • Facilitated division meetings for first three years in existence
  • Successful in securing budget resources for division and implementing policies and procedures for disbursement of these resources
• Chairperson, LGBTA Concerns Commission (2000-2002) —
  • Continued active membership
  • Promoted conference workshops and web page resources to assist in educating NACADA members regarding LGBT issues

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

• NACADA Regional Conference Presentations:
  • "The Spirit of Academic Advising: Making a Commitment to LGBT Students", Region 10 Conference, Sedona, AZ, 2003
  • "Getting Up To PAR: Numbers Speak Louder Than Words", Region 10 Conference, 2000 (Best of Region Presentation)
  • "GLB Advising: It Doesn't Have To Be A Red Hot Topic", Region 10 Conference, Tempe, AZ, 1997
• Attended State Advising Conferences: Feb 2002-ASU West; Oct 2003-Laughlin, NV; Feb 2005 - Maricopa Community College
• Co-chairperson, Arizona Academic Advising Articulation Task Force - Spring 2003-Spring 2005

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current member, NACADA Summer Institute Advisory Board — assisted with review and redesign of curriculum
• Current member, NACADA Publications Advisory Board
• Member, Membership Committee
• Selection Committee Member, Awards Committee, 2002-2005
• National Conference Task Force member, 2004

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current member: Advising Administration Commission, Multicultural Concerns Commission, Advising Student Athletes Commission, LGBTA Concerns Commission

Other:

• NACADA Summer Institute Faculty Member (2005) - Presentations on "Undecideds I and II" and "Advising Administration"
• Attendance at nine NACADA National Conferences - 1996, 1998 - 2005
• NACADA Administrators' and Assessment Institutes participant - 2005
• 2003 Service to Commission Award, LGBTA Concerns Commission
• NACADA National Conference Presentations:
  • "Involvement in NACADA: Building Your Bridge to Professional Success" Panel Member, Cincinnati, OH 2004
  • "LGBT 102: Making a Positive Impact for LGBT Students and Staff", Salt Lake City, UT 2002
  • "Rainbows Over Cyberspace: LGBTA Concerns Commission Web Site", Ottawa, Canada, 2001
  • "Getting Up To PAR: Numbers Speak Louder Than Words", Orlando, FL, 2000 (Best of Region Presentation)
  • "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Orlando, FL, 2000
  • "Looking Through Lavender Lenses", NACADA Pre-Conference Workshop, Denver, CO, 1999
• NACADA Summer Institute participant - 1997
• Arizona State University Academic Advising Activities:
  • Council of Academic Advisors member 1994-present
  • Advising Administrators Board - 1996-present
  • University Retention Task Force - Academic Advising Representative, 2004 - present — Supervise large academic advising unit focusing on exploratory/undeclared majors and transfer students.

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?

During my tenure as the elected representative for the Commission & Interest Group Division, my primary goal was to provide leadership for many individuals to accomplish the following major tasks:

1. Create and implement strong operational and organizational guidelines for our new division.
2. Promote the significance and validity of the commissions and interest groups in helping NACADA to meet our strategic plan goals.
3. Utilize former chairpersons to create a critical steering committee to assist in our division goals.
4. Implement a strong leadership core for the division with our two division representatives and Executive Office liaison.
   . Represent our division at each NACADA Council meeting, bringing forward critical issues and needs for the division.  One key accomplishment was gaining Council and Board approval for the creation of a budget source for our division.

While serving as the chairperson for the LGBTA Concerns Commission my primary role was to assist our commission in meeting the established group goals:

1. EDUCATE the NACADA membership about the myths and concerns that confront gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students.
2. ENCOURAGE conversations amidst the NACADA membership about sexual orientation and gender identification and its relationship to issues in advising, education/career planning, curriculum, and retention.
3. ESTABLISH a supportive environment where advisors can discuss and address homophobia and heterophobia in their institutions and in NACADA.
4. ENABLE NACADA LGBT folks the opportunity to network with each other at regional and national conferences.
   

During my tenure our group maintained a strong membership and provided a number of workshops and presentations at most regional and all national NACADA conferences.

• 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?

NACADA should continue to utilize the regions, commissions & interest groups, committees and task forces, and other "grass roots" entities to address the strategic plan.  The Board of Directors and Council rely heavily on our new organizational structure that encourages members at all levels to assist the organization in meeting our strategic goals.

As NACADA continues to grow in membership, specific attention needs to be devoted to the following priorities:

• Diversity - As we become more diverse as institutions and as individuals, NACADA must continue to improve ways to meet the needs of members and institutions who represent the variety of backgrounds, cultures, institution sizes and types.
• Professional Development -NACADA is the primary source of professional development for advisors. We must explore new and innovative opportunities to offer this development to our members in a variety of cost-effective ways.
• Community Building/Networking - Because we are a large organization, we must continue to develop strategies that allow individual members to have a sense of belonging in NACADA. Building and maintaining our NACADA communities and networks deserves specific attention.

I believe my previous experiences and knowledge gained from participation as a commission chair, division chair, NACADA institutes and conferences, and various committees listed above, I am able to represent the broad interest of NACADA and our members.

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

My twelve years of membership with NACADA have been significant in my personal and professional development, and I would relish the opportunity to reciprocate by providing leadership as a board member. As a supervisor of a large advising unit, I also recognize the tremendous value of a national organization that identifies and meets the needs of advisors at all levels. NACADA validates the professionalism of academic advising.  Administrators across higher education institutions have come to rely on NACADA to provide direction and assistance in creating academic advising programs on their respective campuses.  I believe I can be a strong, positive voice in providing leadership for our organization as a board member.

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

My past academic advising experiences at three different institutions have prepared me to represent many advising perspectives:

• University of Northern Colorado —
  • Undergraduate peer academic advisor during summer orientation programs.
• Western Illinois University —
  • Graduate student advising experiences with student athletes and business majors
• Arizona State University —
  • Academic advisor for exploratory/undeclared majors in large advising unit and residence hall satellite office.
  • Supervisor and administrator for large, high volume academic advising unit.
  • Member and co-chair of state-wide academic advising task force that included all public university and community college institutions in Arizona.
  • Member of Arizona Program Articulation Steering Committee that provided oversight of state transfer model (two years).
  • University Retention committee member representing all academic advising efforts at ASU.
  • Supervisor of Director of newly created ASU Transfer Center and Alliance Advising office.
  • Supervisor of advising unit utilizing academic advisors as instructors in freshmen success courses.