Carol Ann Baily, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 14 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• Chair, Commission on Advising Adult Learners, 1999-2001 — instituted the Commission website and online Commission newsletter.

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

• Presenter at Region 3 Regional Conference, 2002-2006
• Member, Region 3 Conference Committee, 2006
• Chair, State Drive-in Conference (TN), 2004

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, National Conference Task Force, 2004-2006
• Member, Transition Task Force, 2001-2003

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, Commission on Advising Adult Learners, 1993 to present
  • Created and edited Commission newsletter, 2001-2003
  • Webmaster of Commission website and editor of online newsletter, 1999-2003
• Current Member — Advising Graduate & Professional Students Commission, Distance Education Advising Interest Group
• Recipient, 2005 Service to Commission Award, Advising Adult Learners Commission
• Steering Committee Member, Commission & Interest Group Division, 2002-2004

Other:

• Presenter at National Conferences, 1995 to present
• Founding Board member, Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE)
• Recipient, Eckerd College's William H. Kadel Distinguished Alumni Award, 2004
• Recipient, Middle Tennessee State University's King-Hampton Award for service to women, 2004
• Recipient, Middle Tennessee State University's Distinguished Educator in Distance Learning Award, 2004  
• Recipient, ANTSHE Excellence in Service Award, 2003

Platform Statement:

• Highlight the goals you accomplished and the work you did while serving as a Unit Chair or Division Representative. In addition, highlight your involvement in all areas of the Association, demonstrating your experiences that make you qualified to serve in this position on the NACADA Board of Directors.

My primary service in NACADA has been through the Commission on Advising Adult Learners. I became active while working on beginning a Commission newsletter to keep Commission members informed of activities in between National Conferences. When I assumed the role of Chair of the Commission, I developed the Commission website with many resources for advisors serving the needs of adult learners. The newsletter was also posted online to save mailing and printing costs.

During the time I served as Commission Chair, under the old NACADA structure, I served on the Board as a Commission Chair. I participated in that capacity in the discussions of the restructuring of the organization and the streamlining of the Board as a strategic body looking to the vision of the organization.

Following the Commission Chair position, I joined the Steering Committee for the Commission and Interest Group Division where I worked with chairs of many commissions and interest groups, training them in their duties and helping them accomplish their goals within the organization.

At the same time, NACADA began to restructure and I served on the Transition Task Force to direct the various facets of NACADA that needed to make shifts as we adjusted to the new ways of working. As a recent member of the National Conference Task Force, I have participated in shaping changes in the national conference format, working with others to inaugurate discussion and panel sessions, hot topic sessions, etc.

These broad experiences in all aspects have prepared me to serve on the Board of Directors.

• What do you believe are the most important goals and initiatives for the Association in meeting its strategic plan and what do you feel you can contribute to this position in meeting these goals and initiatives?

I believe that the first goal of NACADA needs to be to meet the needs of our members in professional development. Although we accomplish this goal through regional and national conferences, special institutes, the new degree program, and our publications, the Board of Directors provides the forward thinking, the long-range vision to find new ways to meet those needs in the future.

The Board should also explore the cutting edge ways to strengthen and develop the body of knowledge in academic advising. The Board seeks new ways of championing the role of academic advising. In all of these endeavors, the Board also seeks contributions of members of diverse populations.

I have a strength in strategic planning, allowing me to see patterns for our future. I would like to be part of the Board of Directors to envision where NACADA should go and then figure out how we can get there. My strengths match directly this important role of the Board of Directors.

I also have a knack for communication. I believe that once the Board has determined the vision for NACADA's future, then the Board needs good communication skills to share that vision with the entire organization. I look forward to taking on that role and further serving NACADA in this capacity.

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

I have enjoyed my service to the Commission, to the Council, to the Board in the former structure, and to the various task forces on which I have had the privilege to serve in the past fourteen years. I look forward to putting those experiences and my personal strengths in strategic planning and communications to positive use in the NACADA Board of Directors.

• Provide any additional comments or information (either personal or leadership-related) that you want potential voters to know about you that is not covered elsewhere in your platform information.