Since 2007, the NACADA Emerging Leaders Program has encouraged members from diverse backgrounds to get involved in leadership opportunities within the organization. Each year, 10 Emerging Leaders and 10 Mentors are selected for the two-year program in which the Leaders and Mentors work closely to connect the Leaders to the areas of the association they are interested in and develop a plan for continued involvement and growth in the association. Leaders selected receive a $1,500 stipend to assist them with travel to NACADA conferences, institutes, and seminars.
With the program now entering its ninth year, many members of the Emerging Leaders classes have served in elected and appointed positions as chairs of NACADA regions, commissions, interest groups, committees, advisory boards, and task forces. Emerging Leaders initiated the Career Advising Interest Group and the Advising at HBCUs Interest Group. A number of Emerging Leaders have presented (some with their Mentors) at regional, annual, and international conferences, and many have served on region, C/IG or conference steering committees. Emerging Leaders have served as chairs or co-chairs of regional conferences, and one chaired our 2010 Annual Conference in Orlando. Emerging Leaders have written for the NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources and NACADA books, taken part in Webinar broadcast presentations, and been awarded NACADA Research Grants. Ten Emerging Leaders have moved on to become Mentors in the program, and this October, Erin Justyna will become the first Emerging Leader to take a seat on the NACADA Council as the Commission and Interest Group Division Representative! Several have shared their stories in Academic Advising Today articles, which may be found linked from the Program homepage. To learn more about the contributions of our ELP Classes, visit the Accomplishments webpage.
The 2013-2015 Emerging Leaders and Mentors (pictured below), who began work at the 2013 Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, have been diligently pursuing their goals over the past two years and look forward to receiving their Certificates of Completion at this year's conference in Las Vegas, where they will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony.
Emerging Leaders Program Advisory Board Chair Cecilia Olivares (University of Memphis), herself an “Emerged” Leader, is pleased to announce the 2015-2017 NACADA Emerging Leaders and Mentors.
Emerging Leaders
Brandan Lowden (Pikes Peak Community College) Breanne Flores-Conteras (Texas A&M University-Kingsville) Fai Howard (Edinboro University) Jared Burton (University of Arizona) Jonelle Golding (Michigan State University) Joshua Adams (Texas Woman’s University) Kyle Ross (Eastern Washington University) Marcus Peanort (Montgomery College) Meagan Hagerty (University of Minnesota) Stephanie Kraft-Terry (University of Hawaii at Manoa)
Mentors
Erin Justyna (Texas Tech University) Hilleary Himes (Pennsylvania State University Kathy Earwood (Kennesaw State University) Kimberly Smith (Virginia Tech) Laura Mooney (Florida Atlantic University Melinda Anderson (Virginia Commonwealth University Nathan Vickers (University of Texas at Austin) Sandy Waters (Old Dominion University Teri Farr (University of Illinois) Yvonne Halden (University of Manitoba)
New Emerging Leaders and Mentors will meet at the Annual Conference in Las Vegas to create partnerships and begin development, conversation, and group-building. Partners will develop goals pertaining to leadership in NACADA over the next six months and continue their work together over the two-year program.
Visit the Emerging Leaders Program website for more information.
