Debbie Nakashima, Hawai'i Pacific University, Honolulu, HI

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 15+ years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• Interim Chair, Pacific Region 9, November 2006-October 2007

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

• 2006 Conference Co-Chair, Regions 8 & 9, Honolulu, HI

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current member — Advising Administration Commission, Advising Transfer Students Commission, Small Colleges and Universities Commission, Theory and Philosophy of Advising Commission

Other:

• Hawaii Pacific University campus activities —
  • Member, Undergraduate and Graduate Curriculum Committees
  • Member, General Education Committee
  • Participated in University wide Retention Program

Platform Statement:

• Highlight your previous involvement within this unit that will help you in leading this unit. What roles have you played within this particular unit as a member thus far?  

Being an advisor for 20 years and now an administrator has given me a wonderful experience in working with students, and learning from NACADA has been an important part of my professional development, especially in the early years when advising was not completely embraced as a career. I feel that my experience with planning the Regional Conference in 2006, and the experience that I will gain from this current term as interim chair will be invaluable to providing leadership to Region 9.

As a longtime member of of NACADA, I have been fortunate to see this organization grow to where it is today. I have worked to encourage advisors in Hawaii to join NACADA and involve themselves in professional development opportunities. As an administrator now at my institution, I encourage new advisors to join NACADA. My goals are to encourage more advisors from Region 9 to join, become involved and gain the same valuable experience that I benefited from. I also would like to work on updating the Region 9 by-laws and ensuring that Region 9 provides the same professional development activities in the future that encourages our growth as advisors.

• What do you believe are the most important goals and initiatives for this unit in meeting the strategic plan for both the unit and the Association?

I think that the involvement of all levels of advisors, including community colleges, is an integral part of helping to make Region 9 grow and embrace the mission of NACADA. Providing and sharing resources by our members is crucial to Region 9 being a viable group in NACADA. We are divided by oceans and many miles and need to work on developing ideas to make our region members feel connected to each other. By sharing information that members have with each other at conferences and through other venues, I think that we can work on the growth of academic advising on each of our campuses.

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

I have benefited over the years from my membership in NACADA and at this point in my career feel that I can give the effort needed to benefit other Region 9 members. I also want to encourage the younger advisors to become involved and embrace their profession as a viable career.

• 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.