 Region Chair
Rachel Singleton is the Academic Coordinator in the College of Forest Resources' Academic Advising Center at Mississippi
State University, where she directs all undergraduate advising
activities. She has over 26 years of academic experience in advising
practices, teaching, recruiting, advisor development, student
organizations, scholarships, and working with peer advisors. She has
advised many groups including undergraduates, graduates, military
students, transfer students, athletes, business majors, education
majors, science and technology majors, natural resources majors, at
risk, non-traditional, high achieving students, and special needs
students. Rachel's recent activities in NACADA include membership on
the Awards, Membership, and Member Career Services Committees; service
on the Region 4 Steering Committee as State Representative for
Mississippi; service as 2009 Region Conference Co-Chair. Rachel was
instrumental in the success of the first NACADA Research Symposium and
has presented at national, regional, and state conferences. She received
a Certificate of Merit for Electronic Publication from NACADA in 2003,
Outstanding Advisor Awards in 2008 from NACADA and Region 4, and Region
4's Joyce Jackson Volunteer Award in 2010. Rachel's primary goal as
Region Chair is to ENGAGE as many Region 4 advisors as she can reach in
the resources available through NACADA. Engaged advisors transfer into
successful and engaged students!
 Florida Representative
Scott Larson is an academic advisor with the University of Central Florida, working with their community college partnership program through the university’s regional campuses. He has worked as an academic advisor for six years, with the last five years in his current role. He was an advisor at Lake Sumter Community College for his first year of advising. Prior to academia, Scott worked in the automotive sector of Detroit, but went to college as Detroit’s auto industry began to decline. He earned his BS from Central Michigan University and his MA from Western Michigan University, both in Philosophy. He is currently working towards his doctorate in Sociology. Scott has presented at several NACADA conferences, talking about how partnerships are good for the students, advisors, and colleges.
Florida has an advising blog at: http://www.floridaacademicadvisors.worldpress.com
 Georgia Representative
Erin Weston serves as an academic advisor in the School of Nursing at Georgia College & State University. In that role she advises all pre-nursing students, oversees admission into the nursing program and coordinates the pre-nursing residential learning community. Erin graduated from Kent State University in 2001 with a B.A. in History and in 2004 with an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel. Her professional interests in NACADA include Technology in Advising and Health Professions Advising.
 Alabama Representative
Joan Williams currently works at the
University of North Alabama as the Assistant
Director of the Office of
Diversity and Institutional Equity and as an Advisor in the College
of
Nursing. She assists current and prospective students with academic
counseling. Joan has been involved in NACADA since 2004. Her NACADA
activities include: 2009 Certificate of Merit Award for Outstanding
Advising; Elected Alabama State Liaison; 2010 Chair of Alabama State
Conference; Attended State and Regional Conferences; and served on the
2008 and 2009 Regional Conference Evaluation Committees.
 Mississippi Representative
Jennifer Bennett serves as an
academic advisor in the Academic Support Center
at the University of
Mississippi (Ole Miss). In that role she advises and works with at-risk
students, undecided/exploratory students, and health professions
students. She also oversees the FABI - Freshman Attendance-Based
Initiative - program which focuses on first year integration into
college through attendance. Jennifer also teaches one class per Fall and
Spring terms: in Fall, first year seminar for freshmen; and in Spring, a
study skills seminar for freshmen on academic probation. Jennifer
graduated from Ole Miss in 2003 with a B.A. in English, in 2007 with a
M.A. in Higher Education, and will graduate from Ole Miss in Fall 2011
with a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. Her professional
interests include: technology in advising, undecided/exploratory
students, and working with at-risk students.
 Caribbean Representative
Courisse Knight
 Communication Coordinator
Joshua Johnson serves at the Coordinator for Academic Relations at the University of Central Florida in the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. In his current role, Joshua advises hospitality, event, and restaurant management majors, works with local high-school hospitality programs, and represents the college at industry trade shows. He has been an academic advisor for eight years. Joshua graduated from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio in 2000 with a B.A. in Communications Studies and Public Relations and in 2002 with a M.S. in Higher Education. Joshua has been active with NACADA since 2008 and has presented at regional and national conferences. Most recently, he served on the planning committee for the 2010 National Conference as Hospitality Chair.
 Technology Coordinator
Jimmie Hardin currently serves as the undergraduate Advisor for the school of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. As Professional Development committee chair of the Georgia Tech Academic Advisor Network’s executive board, Jimmie has had the opportunity to share his background and passion for technology use in advising with fellow advisors and colleagues. Jimmie received his Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Business, Communications, and Technology in 2007 and a Master’s of Science in Instructional Technology in 2010 both from Mississippi State University.
 Financial Coordinator
Vicki Mann has been an academic coordinator in the College of Business at Mississippi State University and a member of NACADA since September, 2006. She advises Finance, Business Economics, Real Estate Finance, and Risk Management, Financial Planning, and Insurance majors. Vicki received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University in May, 2004.
 2013 Conference Co-Chair
Carolyn Cawthon, a NACADA member since 2007, joined The University of Southern Mississippi in January 1980 and currently serves as the University’s Academic Advising Coordinator. Carolyn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Education degree from Southern Mississippi. In 1997, she was hired as the Senior Academic Advisor for the College of Business and in 2002 she became the Coordinator of Undergraduate Academic Services for the College of Business. In 2006, Carolyn was hired to serve as the University’s Academic Advising Coordinator. In addition, she has taught University 101 classes to incoming freshmen. Carolyn served as Conference Chair for the 2009 Mississippi Advisors Meeting and has been an active participant in NACADA Annual Conferences since 2007.
 2013 Conference Co-Chair
Twillia Morgan, a NACADA member since 2007, joined The University of Southern Mississippi in September 1998 and currently serves as the Coordinator of Academic Services for the College of Arts & Letters. She began her time at Southern Miss as the Executive Administrator in the University Bookstore in 1998. In December of 2002 Twillia became the Records and Advisement Specialist in the College of Arts & Letters. Twillia received the Staff Council award as Staff Council Member of the Month in July 2006. In addition to serving as the College of Arts & Letters Academic Advising Administrator, she has served on many university committees including: Staff Council from 2007-2011, the University Scholarship Committee, and the Committee on Committees. Twillia served on the 2009 Mississippi Advisors Meeting Committee and has been an active participant in the NACADA Annual Conferences since 2007.
 2013 Conference Co-Chair
Michelle Templeton, a NACADA member since 2007, joined The University of Southern Mississippi in September 2001 and currently serves as Assistant to the Dean for Undergraduate Programs for the College of Business. Michelle earned an Associates of Arts degree from Jones County Junior College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Performance and Recreation with an emphasis in Exercise Science from Southern Mississippi. In 2006, she was hired as the Senior Academic Advisor for the College of Business and later that year became the Assistant to the Dean for Undergraduate Programs for the College of Business. Michelle served as Conference Co-Chair for the 2009 Mississippi Advisors Meeting and has been an active participant in the NACADA Annual Conferences since 2007.
 2012 Conference Co-Chair
Jose Rodriguez is the co-chair of the 2012 Region Conference. He is part of the inaugural class of the Emerging Leaders Program and has served in several leadership positions. He was the chair of the 2010 National Conference in Orlando, FL and is the current chair of the Webinar Advisory Board. In 2006, Jose received Best of Region for his presentation entitled, “Breaking Bad News to Students: Delivery is Key”. He went on to present at both national and regional conferences and has also presented two webinars on the topic. Jose is currently the Assistant Dean of the Honors College at Florida International University. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Miami and is pursuing his doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at FIU.
 2012 Conference Co-Chair
Lourdes Acevedo is the co-chair of the 2012 Region Conference. She joined Florida International University in 2004 as a Project Coordinator for the Title V Grant. In 2007, she was appointed Director of the Invitational Scholars Program, which assists first-generation students with academic advising, mentoring, and financial support. Lourdes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication in 1983 and a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership in 2006. She is also a Florida certified teacher in Middle Grades Language Arts and Social Studies and ESOL K-12. Lourdes worked as a classroom teacher, high school career specialist and career advisor at Valencia Community College before moving back to Miami.
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