I was stationed aboard nuclear submarines in the 1970's and 1980's, with only so much classroom work to get prepared for this sort of duty. The submarine school that I had gone to did not prepare me to be submerged for weeks or even months at a time. That was brought to my attention by my peers and supervisors, telling me what to expect and how to handle difficult situations. These warriors had given me so much wisdom and experience before I had reported to my first sub, that I was now ready to deal with anything that might come my way. 

Continually, I had passed along my knowledge and wisdom to the younger men that I was mentoring now and they had passed their experience onto others. You can see where I'm going with this. Any sort of formal education really cannot prepare you in ways for what may be expected of you or even unexpected when you are submerged into the great vast areas of the seven seas.

Academia can be thought of in this regard. We all learn in different ways than others and need to reach out to someone that has been there and can help in whatever capacity that may arise.

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?

To successfully continue with the mentoring of younger brains and their trials and tribulations to get their degrees. To help when and where we can to make sure that education is a good thing and not just a way of life for most.  Anyone can get a degree, but to be successful and get a degree, takes a little more work and effort. I want to make sure that I am there to help with the goals of this office and not make others feel pressured to be successful.

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

I want to help others achieve the same educational goals that I have set for myself and to continue setting higher goals year after year. I can really get in touch with this program as to how I had been mentored and pushed to succeed in my prior military years.

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. 

President Obama would surely agree that he was mentored to do what he had done in his earlier years. Does anyone just wake up one morning and say, "Hey, I think I will run for President today!" No way, they were groomed and mentored to do work that will bring them to that point and push themselves harder and harder to achieve this milestone.

I want others to know that we are not alone in this world. There is always someone there that can say, "Been there, done that."

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 5 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

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

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member: Peer Advising and Mentoring Commission, Multicultural Concerns Commission, Small Colleges & Universities Commission, Advising Transfer Students Commission

Other:

• Have been working with our international veteran students that leave school for their military obligations and the smooth transition back to academic life.
• Run workshops and events to honor these students.