Kathie Sindt
	Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
	Platform Statement: Highlight the goals you accomplished and the work you did while serving as a Unit Chair within this Division.

As Region 2 Chair this past year, I believe my most significant accomplishments have been the revisions to our web site and my efforts to make clear to our region members how the regional steering committee operates and the work we do.  I have made strides to make our web site a history of our region, including steering committee meeting minutes and space for the states to post updates.  I've recently launched a Region 2 listserv, am currently creating a past history of the leadership of the region, and am working with my steering committee to revise our by-laws to clarify language and reflect our current regional practices.

I am also proud of the work accomplished with the regional conference co-chairs last year to ensure that we had a profitable regional conference after we have a significant budget deficient in the year prior to my becoming region chair. In addition, our region has had four NACADA-Sponsored State Drive-Ins since I became region chair and while I can't take much credit for that, I enjoyed my role mentoring my state representatives who needed assistance in accomplishing this task.

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 believe one of the most important goals of the Regional Division in meeting the strategic plan of the Association is to continue to provide professional development opportunities at the local level.  State and regional activities are sometimes the only access that advisors have to professional development activities and with tight institutional budgets around the country, I believe strengthening the organization's ability to offer high-quality, low-cost, in-person events at the local level is vital to its long-term success.  

In addition to the knowledge presented to attendees at regional events, the hands-on professional development gained by presenters, event organizers and volunteers, and member of regional committees should not be underestimated to the value of the continuing success of the Association.  One of the hardest things at the regional level is the difficulty in maintaining regional activities as leadership changes within the region governance.  While each region has models and practices for helping create smooth transitions, I think improving our practices here are essential for continuing to improve the variety, quality, and number of professional development opportunities we have at the regional level.  Continuing to find ways to lower the learning curve for new members of our steering committees, conference committees, and region chairs is vital in order for them to have time to expand activities at the regional level.  As Regional Division Representative, I hope to assist region chairs in this task and stress the importance of support at the national level for the training of new leaders working with the regions.    

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

While I have had the opportunity to serve NACADA at the national level and through involvement at the commission level, I love the work that NACADA does at the regional level.  This is my favorite "level" of NACADA involvement.  Many advisors never have the opportunity to attend a national level conference or institute and only know NACADA through regional/state conferences or electronic resources.  It is at the regional level that many people can be actively involved in the organization and develop practical skills.  It's been a fantastic leadership development opportunity for me personally and I have loved seeing the professional growth in the steering committee members with whom I have worked.  

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. 

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 8 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved

• Chair, Mid-Atlantic Region 2, 2008-2010

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

• Region 2 Awards Chair, April 2007-October 2008
  
  • Changed our awards submission process to allow for electronic submission
    
• Presenter at 2 Regional Conferences:
  
  • Co-presented: (Preconference) Global Advising: Electronic Advising for Incoming Freshman, Pittsburgh, PA, 2008.
    
  • Co-presented: Summer freshman advising: Does it work?  Virginia Beach, VA, 2004.  
    
• Co-Organizer, NACADA Sponsored Maryland State Drive-In at Johns Hopkins University, 2003

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, Annual Conference Advisory Board, 2009-2011
  
• Hospitality Chair, Annual Conference Committee (Baltimore), 2007
  
• Awards Selection Committee, Summer Institute Scholarships, 2006-2008
  
• Member, Member Career Services Committee, 2006-2008
  

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member: Advising High-Achieving Students Commission (formerly interest group)
  • Co-wrote proposal to move the interest group to commission status
    
  • Co-wrote vignette for advising a high-achieving student for a NACADA training video
    
  • Chairing a committee to define high-achieving students for the commission 
• Current Member: Engineering and Science Advising Commission
  • Member, Resources Review and Recommendation Committee (work just beginning)

Other:

• Designed Johns Hopkins portal for new undergraduate students in Arts and Sciences and Engineering with 3 other staff members and remain active in its updates- 2008-present
  
• Member, Joint Administrative Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures, Johns Hopkins University, 2007 - present
  
• Presented at 3 NACADA Annual Conferences - 2003, 2005, 2009
  
• Wrote 2 book reviews for NACADA - 2005 and 2007