David Goss
	Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC
	Platform Statement: Highlight the goals you accomplished and the work you did while serving as a Unit Chair within this Division.

Region 3 has had great leadership and honestly one of my main goals when elected chair was simply to continue the good work of my predecessors.

• In support of the Emerging Leaders initiative, we held our first Leadership Institute at the 2008 Region Conference.
• To respond to economic impacts on access to professional development, we are having our first web-based virtual drive-in in North Carolina in November 2009, "Technology to the Rescue: Advising during a budget crisis". Also in the technology and advising vein, we will host a Technology Seminar at the 2010 Region Conference.
  
• We had two successful drive-in meetings in 2008:
  • On the campus of UNC-Charlotte in North Carolina, "Campus Collaborations: It Takes a Campus to Support a Student"        
  • On the campus of Midlands Technical College in South Carolina, "Tools for Advising Special Populations: Some Assembly Required"
    
• The region budget is sound, largely due to two very successful region conferences and the state drive-in meetings.
  
• Despite a dip in region membership this past year, something all regions experienced, overall membership has increased and participation at the state, regional, and national level is strong. I had the opportunity to work with a great Steering Committee and I know the region will continue to benefit from strong leadership and the contributions of its members.
  
  

What do you believe are the Division's most important goals and initiatives in meeting the strategic plan for both the Division and the Association? How do you feel you can be of benefit to the NACADA Council in meeting the Association's strategic plan and initiatives?

I think it is very important to continue to find ways to meet the professional development needs of our members. Tough economic times have made it more difficult for members to travel to state, regional, and national conferences so we have to continue to build on the "NACADA Near You" initiative to bring the benefits of membership to where members are. Utilization of available technology, the webinar series for example, is one way to meet that need. Upgrading the variety of tools and resources on the NACADA web site is another.

We need to continue to champion the role that advising plays on campuses, not only in service to students but also in service to institutions. Successful advising programs rely on effective collaboration between professional advisors, faculty advisors, campus administrators from both academic and student affairs, and students themselves. There is so much good collaborative work being done by members shared at state, region, and national conferences. We need to do everything we can to make sure that their home institutions are aware of the contributions being made and how that positively impacts them.

Our position as a global resource offers great possibilities in what we can learn from our international colleagues and in what they can learn from us. We need to develop a structure that will enable international members to have a "regional" voice and to participate in offering direction to NACADA.

I believe I can benefit the NACADA Council through my enthusiasm for the organization and it's continued growth as a forum and a resource for professional development. I enjoy sharing ideas and participating in healthy debate about how to best meet mutual objectives. I have held leadership positions at the state and regional level, and have served on a national task force and an advisory board.  This has given me experience working with the association at several levels and a good working knowledge of association governance.

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

My involvement with NACADA has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling on both a personal and professional level. I have expanded my knowledge of advising practice, strengthened skills that serve me well in my role as an advising administrator, enjoyed the benefit of enhanced professional standing because of my ties to NACADA and I have made great friends. Giving back to the organization through service in leadership positions is the best way I know to say thank you for all the benefits I have enjoyed and to continue to grow as an advising professional. I believe I have the experience, the desire, and the temperament to successfully represent region concerns to the Council. I am honored to accept the nomination and would be proud to serve if elected.

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. 

Other leadership experiences I have had include:

• 2006-2008 President, Olde North Charleston Neighborhood Council
  
• 2004-2006 Vice President, Olde North Charleston Neighborhood Council

I am also proud to have been a semi-finalist for the 2004 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate award, sponsored by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and Houghton Mifflin Company and to have had the Goss/Duval Endowed Scholarship established by the family of a former advisee at the College of Charleston

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 11 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved

• Mid-South Region 3 Chair, 2007-2009
  

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

• Member, Region 3 Steering Committee, 2000-present
• South Carolina state liaison, 1999-2007
  
• Chair, Region 3 Conference, 2003
  
• Co-presented concurrent session on web based advising portal, 2005 Region 3 Conference in Louisville, KY

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, Assessment of Advising Institute Advisory Board, 2006-2008 - charged with the evaluation of attendee feedback and development of responsive improvements for annual institute
  
• Member, Leadership Orientation Task Force, 2007-2008 - charged with the design and development of an outcomes based, intentional process for new and/or potential NACADA leaders that will introduce leaders to the Organizational Structure, By-Laws, Governance, Policies, and Procedures of the Association as well as to appropriate codes of ethics and conduct.
  

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member: Technology in Advising Commission, Advising Administration Commission, Assessment of Advising Commission, Advising Military Students & Dependents Interest Group
• Past member: Undecided & Exploratory Students Commission
  

Other:

• Chair, Task Force on Advising, Western Carolina University, 2008-2009
  
• Member, Athletics Advising & Tracking Task Force, College of Charleston, 2008
  
• FYE Committee member, College of Charleston, 2007-2008
  
• SACS Accreditation/QEP Team member, College of Charleston, 2006-2007
  
• Attendee, Assessment of Advising Institute, 2006
• Attendee, Advising Administrators Institute, 2005