Shauna Albrecht is the Advising Center Coordinator  at Montana State University-Northern in Havre, Montana.  Shauna advises students in all majors for their first year.  She serves on the campus’ Retention Task Force and the Academic Advising Committee.  Shauna is from Helena, Montana and moved to Havre for college where she received a B.S. in Business Administration and an A.S. in Agricultural Technology.  She recently completed her MBA at the University of Montana.  Shauna joined NACADA when MSU-Northern opened their Advising Center in 2002.  She has presented at some of the local Drive-In Conferences in Montana.  Shauna enjoys working with the students and helping them find their path in life and finds advising critical in retention and matriculation efforts for all schools.  Her other passion in life is spending quality time with husband Brian and daughter Olivia.

Ana Hernandez Blackstad is the Director of Student Advising & Support Services at Cascadia Community College in Bothell , WA. Ana's responsibilities include supervising the academic advising, Running Start, high school completion, counseling, and disability support services areas. Ana also teaches College 101 during fall and winter quarters.  Prior to joining Cascadia, Ana was the Manager of Online Student Services for WashingtonOnline, a project of the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges . Ana's previous career experience includes residence life, academic and career advising, Web site development, training and online teaching. Ana earned a B.A. in History and Fine Arts from Creighton University and an M. Ed. in Student Development Administration from Seattle University.

Natasha Buis is the Manager of Academic Advising and Recruitment Services at Lethbridge College in Alberta . She has two diplomas and a certificate from Lethbridge College , a Political Science Degree from the University of Lethbridge  and is currently working on her Masters. Natasha is very passionate about Advising and truly believes in the power of education. Natasha has been involved in Academic Advising for 5 years and has been the Manager of her department for the last year. She is currently the Chair of the Canada Interest group with NACADA, enjoys being actively involved with Region 8 activities and presenting at NACADA conferences.

Darren Francis works for the new University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) formerly the University College of the Fraser Valley as our provincial government finally changed our status to reflect our degree programming. He is the Director of the Science Advice Centre with UFV and have worked with UFV for the last 7 years. Darren’s educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Communications from Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. After working as both a Career Advisor for SFU and an Academic Advisor with UCFV he enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising completing in 2005. After completing the program he went on to complete a Master's Degree in Education with a specialization in Enrollment Management. Over the years Darren have slowly increased his involvement with NACADA starting with writing for NACADA's online journal Academic Advising Today. Last spring he travelled to Scotland and presented at the University of Edinburgh at the NACADA Co-sponsored 3rd annual conference on Personal Tutoring and Academic Advising. At the conference he met Charlie and some other NACADA executives including the recently retired Bobbi Flaherty. Darren recently Chaired the NACADA Region 8 conference in Vancouver, B.C. and in addition to being on the NACADA steering committee he was recently elected President of the British Columbia Academic Advisors Association.

Sally Garner serves as an academic adviser in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon. In addition to advising responsibilities, she teaches the journalism transfer seminar and is the voice behind "Quick Question: The jcomm advising podcast." A NACADA member since 2006, she has served on regional conference planning committees and has been a proposal reader for the 2008 annual conference. In 2007, Sally led the NACADA Transfer Student Advising Commission's efforts to provide a vignette for the new Faculty Advising Resource DVD. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband Scott trying new recipes, attending musical theater performances, visiting zoos and aquariums, and challenging each other on Wii games.

 

Karen Gillespie has been an academic advisor in the College of Business and Economics (CBE) at the University o Idaho since 2000.  Although she works with students in many capacities, but primarily advises freshman and sophomore students.  Karen is dedicated to helping students succeed in their academic careers and encourages students to make the most of their education through activities such as involvement with students clubs, study abroad, and service-learning projects.   Karen has coordinated Bus. 100, The Business Profession, an introductory course for business majors.   In 2007 she was the recipient of the UI Excellence in Advising Award and in 2009 she was awarded the Outstanding CBE Staff Award.  She enjoys working with students and helping them to achieve their academic career goals.  Some of Karen's favorite things are  traveling, quilting and gardening.

Tracy Grazley is an Academic Advisor at the University of Montana-Western in Dillon.  She has been at Western for 2 1/2 years.  She has a M.Ed. in Adult & Higher Education from Montana State University-Bozeman.  She has made presentations at two regional conferences and has been on the steering committee for both conferences.  Her background includes a B.S. in Business, a B.S. in Range Science, Park Ranger, Interpretive Guide, and numerous volunteering efforts.

Judi Haskins works in the Academic Advising Center at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.  She advises students from all majors and curriculums, focusing mostly on those who are undeclared or changing majors.  She also teaches a 3-credit First Year Seminar course at MSU and serves on the campus’ Academic Advising Council.  Originally from Plains, Montana, Judi received a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Idaho.  A NACADA member since 1998, Judi first worked in advising at North Idaho College in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.  She has presented at numerous state, regional, and national NACADA conferences, and is credited with starting up Montana’s annual NACADA conferences.  When she’s not exerting her high energy and passion for advising across the state of Montana, she enjoys hiking, camping, and boating with her new husband Ryan.

Nicholas Johnson is Head of the Educational Advising department in Student Services at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and worked as UFV’s Athletics Academic Coordinator from 2008-2009. He has also been Vice President of the British Columbia Academic Advising Association (BCADA) since he was elected to that post in 2008. His professional interests have been focused on academically at-risk students, first-year student transitions, and the effects of parental involvement with students and university professionals. He has presented at NACADA regional and BCADA conferences, and co-authored an article for Academic Advising Today.

Nicholas began advising in 2007, and will be awarded a Certificate of Merit as an Outstanding New Advisor at NACADA’s 2009 Annual Conference.

He earned his degree at the University of British Columbia, specializing in English Literature. In addition to his work, Nicholas enjoys spending time with his family, and indulging in as much football, soccer and basketball as he can.

 

Nicole Kent currently serves as the Assistant Head Advisor for the College of Pharmacy at Oregon State University, advising undergraduate and professional Pharmacy students as well as coordinating orientation programs and Pharmacy School admissions. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Willamette University, and Masters of Education in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University. Nicole has been involved with NACADA since 2003, serving on several regional conference planning committees and as the Region 8 Communication Coordinator. She is currently a member of the national Member Career Services Committee as well. In her free time Nicole enjoys performing with the Willamette Master Chorus, and travel to destinations with palm trees and sunshine!

Kerry Kincannon is currently the Head Advisor of the University Exploratory Studies Program, the academic home for exploring/undecided students at Oregon State University . He holds his undergraduate degree in English from Wayne State College in Nebraska , an MA in English from Ball State University in Indiana , and an Ed.M. in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University . Kerry has been a member of NACADA since 2000. He has presented at numerous regional and national NACADA conferences and has attended the NACADA Summer Institute and the Assessment Institute. He served as program chair for the 2005 Region 8 Conference and has served at the national level on the NACADA Awards Committee and on the Faculty training video advisory board. In his free time, Kerry plays music in two bands, collects music, and attends live shows as much as possible. He also actively celebrates the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Janeanne, and his dog, Melvil.

Brett McFarlane currently serves as the Director of Undergraduate Programs for the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. Prior to Oregon State, Brett served as the Director of Student Services for the School of Business at Portland State University. He has a MS in Postsecondary Adult Education from Portland State University, and a BA in Accounting from the University of Oregon. Prior to re-joining higher education, Brett (an Oregon CPA) served as the Director of Audit for a publicly traded company in the Portland area. His research interests include student persistence, first-year student development, and assessment. Brett has been elected as the incoming Chair (2008-2010) for Region 8 and is an active member of NACADA's Finance Committee. He enjoys travel, running, and any gathering involving food and friends.

Stephen Price has been managing Academic Advising Services at Mount Royal College since June 2004. Prior to his current position, Stephen was an instructor and advisor for the Department Physical Education at MRC for four years and was head coach of the Cougar men’s basketball team. Stephen has been a NACADA member since 2004 and has participated in both the Summer Institute and Annual Conference. Stephen completed his Masters Degree in Education from the University of Victoria. In his spare time, Stephen enjoys whitewater canoeing, hiking and spending time with his family.

Darlene Sampson currently works at The University of Montana’s TRiO Student Support Services program as Advising Coordinator. She has been with TRIO for the past 15 years. Her first indoctrination with TRIO began as an instructor with UM’s Upward Bound Program teaching a career planning class. Armed with a teaching degree from Eastern MT College (Now MSU-Billings) her first teaching experience was on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. While spending five years working in Browning, she also taught at BCC, Browning & Cut Bank Adult Education Programs, and her last year included working as a counselor with BCC’s Teacher Training Program. Additional experience includes working with displaced homemakers and helping farm/ranch hands make a career transition with Rural Employment Opportunities (REO). While at UM, she has also taught a career planning/major exploration class and Freshmen Seminar. In her spare time, she is a chauffeur, chef, schedule planner and organizer, maid, and dance, basketball & soccer mom for two daughters and dear o’l dad!

Kimber Shaw is the Director of Advising and Academic Enhancement at Boise State University . She currently oversees advising for exploratory students, programs for students who are at-risk or experiencing academic difficulty and tutorial programming. In addition, she provides leadership in the ongoing development of UNIV101U, First Year Seminar courses, Learning Communities and university-wide advising policy and process. Kimber has been in the academic advising field and a member of NACADA for 19 years. She has presented at regional and Idaho Drive In conferences, as well as chairing the 1998 Regional NACADA in Sun Valley , Idaho and co-chairing the Idaho Drive In Conference in 2004 and the 2007 Regional in Boise , Idaho . Kimber holds a B.B.A. in Human Resource Management from Boise State University and an M. Ed. in Adult Education from the University of Idaho . Her areas of expertise include student development and transition issues, academic and career advising, training and development of peer advisors, and self-management principles and personal assessment.

Karen Sullivan-Vance is the Director of the Academic Advising and Learning Center at Western Oregon University. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of Puget Sound, a Masters in Education from Oregon State University and is currently working on her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Portland State University. Karen is the Past Region 8 Chair, served as Conference Chair for Portland 2005 and Honolulu 2006 and is the current Conference Chair for Seattle 2010. She has served as Chair of the Liberal Arts Advisors Commission, Chair of Member Career Services and is currently serving on the Finance Committee, the NACADA Nominating Committee and is a mentor with the Emerging Leaders Program. She presents regionally, nationally and internationally on issues pertaining to students at risk, theory, and professional development. Karen's passion is working with promising students that have risk factors.

Kurt Xyst is a lead academic adviser in the office of Undergraduate Advising at the University of Washington and a founding member of UW’s path breaking Individualized Second-year Advising Program (ISAP) and UW Advising Podcast. In 2009 he was the recipient of the first Region 8 Academic Advising Award. Kurt graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Philosophy and holds an M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington. Currently Kurt is in the middle of a PhD program at UW studying the social and cultural foundations of higher education. His research interests are in the areas of ontological and hermeneutic theories about the undergraduate student experience in the research-intensive university.