Karen Thurmond, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 8 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office: N/A

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

• Region 3 Webmaster and Communication Coordinator — collaborated to produce Region 3 e-news "Midsouth Messenger".

• Co-Chair, 2001 Regional Conference

Committee Activities and Accomplishments: N/A

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Contributed to the "Advising Transfer Students" monograph.
• Current member, Advising Administration Commission, Advisor Training and Development Commission and Advising Transfer Students Commission
• Current member, Theory and Philosophy of Advising Interest Group

Other:

• Presented at NACADA National Conferences, 2004 and 2000
• University of Memphis activities —
  • Campus Retention Committee, 1999-present
  • Chair, First Year Experience Coordinating Team
  • Campus Assessment of Advising, 1999-2001

Platform Statement:

I am grateful to be nominated for a leadership position in Region 3. My experience and qualifications are not impressive. I have done a little writing and thinking about advising. I observe some of the best advisors in the country. One of the most generous is Dr. Frank Dyer, who is retired as an advisor now. Frank introduced me to NACADA. My knowledge was extremely minimal. All I knew was that I liked talking to the students. Who knew that I was advising? Dr. Thomas Caplinger, Dr. David Sigsbee, and Dr. Carl Chando have shared their thoughts and knowledge with me. I commented earlier that I observe some of the best advisors in the country. This is especially true in my association with NACADA. I wish I had the manner of Nancy King and the stature of Virginia Gordon. Perhaps my interest in NACADA has to do with this very wish.

I have a commitment and desire to continue to develop as a leader and an academic advisor. Finally, Rob Mossack and Julie Taylor have taught me that leaders come in all kinds of "costumes."  If elected to chair Region 3, I will aspire to this caliber of leadership.