Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 13 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• NACADA Board of Directors (2006-2009)
• NACADA Membership Committee Chair (2005-2006) - Goals established to increase NACADA membership and retain current members; Specific goals identified to increase specific underrepresented groups within NACADA.
• NACADA Council Member (2002-2005) - Assisted in process of implementing new NACADA organizational structure; Key team member in addressing specific operational issues for NACADA Council.
• Commission & Interest Group Division Elected Representative (2002-2005) - Key team member in creation and implementation of division; Key team member in creating policies and procedures for division operations; Facilitated division meetings for first three years in existence; Successful in securing budget resources for division and implementing policies and procedures for disbursement of these resources.
• Chairperson, LGBTA Concerns Commission (2000-2002) - Continued active membership; Promoted conference workshops and web page resources to assist in educating NACADA members regarding LGBT issues.

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

• NACADA Regional Conference Presentations:
  • "The Spirit of Academic Advising: Making a Commitment to LGBT Students", Region 10 Conference, Sedona, AZ, 2003
  • "Getting Up To PAR: Numbers Speak Louder Than Words", Region 10 Conference, 2000 (Best of Region Presentation)
  • "GLB Advising: It Doesn't Have To Be A Red Hot Topic", Region 10 Conference, Tempe, AZ, 1997
• Co-chairperson, Arizona Academic Advising Articulation Task Force - Spring 2003-Spring 2005
• Attended State Advising Conferences: Feb 2002-ASU West; Oct 2003-Laughlin, NV; Feb 2005 - Maricopa Community College 

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• National Conference Advisory Board member, 2006-2007
• NACADA Summer Institute Advisory Board, 2005-2007 — assisted with review and redesign of curriculum.
• NACADA Publications Advisory Board, 2005-2007
• Selection Committee Member, Awards Committee, 2002-2005
• National Conference Task Force member, 2004

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current member: Advising Administration Commission, Multicultural Concerns Commission, Undecided/Exploratory Commission, LGBTA Concerns Commission
• Recipient, 2003 Service to Commission Award, LGBTA Concerns Commission

Other:

• NACADA Summer Institute Faculty Member (2006) - Presentations on "Career Life Planning," "Working with Parents," " Delivery Strategies," and "Technology in Advising"
• Sponsored NACADA presentation on "Academic Advisors as Allies in Meeting General Curriculum Outcomes" to Association of American Colleges and Universities.
• NACADA Summer Institute Faculty Member (2005) - Presentations on "Undecideds I and II" and "Advising Administration"
• Attendance at ten NACADA National Conferences - 1996, 1998 - 2006
• Participant, NACADA Administrators' and Assessment Institutes - 2005
• NACADA National Conference Presentations - 1999-2006, including:
  • Creating an Effective Advising Program" Pre-conference workshop co-presented with Nancy King, Indianapolis, IN 2006
  • "Involvement in NACADA: Building Your Bridge to Professional Success" Panel Member, Cincinnati, OH 2004
  • "LGBT 102: Making a Positive Impact for LGBT Students and Staff", Salt Lake City, UT 2002
  • "Rainbows Over Cyberspace: LGBTA Concerns Commission Web Site", Ottawa, Canada, 2001
  • "Getting Up To PAR: Numbers Speak Louder Than Words", (Best of Region Presentation) and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Orlando, FL, 2000
• Arizona State University Academic Advising Activities:
  • Advising Administrators Board, 1996-present
  • Council of Academic Advisors member, 1994-present
  • University Retention Task Force - Academic Advising Representative, 2004 - present
  • Supervise large academic advising unit focusing on exploratory/undeclared majors and transfer students.  

Platform Statement:

• Highlight the goals you accomplished and the work you did while serving as a Unit Chair or Division Representative. In addition, highlight your involvement in all areas of the Association, demonstrating your experiences that make you qualified to serve in this position on the NACADA Board of Directors. 

During my tenure as the elected representative for the Commission & Interest Group Division, my primary goal was to provide leadership for many individuals to accomplish the following major tasks:

1. Create and implement strong operational and organizational guidelines for our new division.
2. Promote the significance and validity of the commissions and interest groups in helping NACADA to meet our strategic plan goals.
3. Utilize former chairpersons to create a critical steering committee to assist in our division goals.
4. Implement a strong leadership core for the division with our two division representatives and Executive Office liaison.
5. Represent our division at each NACADA Council meeting, bringing forward critical issues and needs for the division. One key accomplishment was gaining Council and Board approval for the creation of a budget source for our division.

While serving as chairperson for the LGBTA Concerns Commission, my primary role was to assist our commission in meeting the established group goals:

1. EDUCATE the NACADA membership about the myths and concerns that confront gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students.
2. ENCOURAGE conversations amidst the NACADA membership about sexual orientation and gender identification and its relationship to issues in advising, education/career planning, curriculum, and retention.
3. ESTABLISH a supportive environment where advisors can discuss and address homophobia and heterophobia in their institutions and in NACADA.
4. ENABLE NACADA LGBT folks the opportunity to network with each other at regional and national conferences. During my tenure our group maintained a strong membership and provided a number of workshops and presentations at most regional and all national NACADA conferences.

• What do you believe are the most important goals and initiatives for the Association in meeting its strategic plan and what do you feel you can contribute to this position in meeting these goals and initiatives?

NACADA should continue to utilize the regions, commissions & interest groups, committees and task forces, and other "grass roots" entities to address the strategic plan. The Board of Directors and Council must rely heavily on our organizational structure which encourages members at all levels to assist the organization in meeting our strategic goals. This collaborative leadership model fosters more individual and group involvement within NACADA, and promotes inclusive participation by a variety of individuals who represent all communities within NACADA.

As NACADA continues to grow in membership, I believe specific attention needs to be devoted to the following priorities:

1. Diversity - As NACADA becomes more diverse in both institutional and individual representation, we must continue to improve ways to meet the needs of members and institutions who represent the variety of backgrounds, cultures, institution sizes and types. All branches of NACADA, from the Board of Directors to each division, from the President to each individual, must be committed to promoting, enhancing, and celebrating the diversity within our organization.
2. Professional Development -NACADA is the primary source of professional development for advisors. We must explore new and innovative opportunities to offer this development to our members in a variety of cost-effective ways.
3. Community Building/Networking - Because we are a large organization, we must continue to develop strategies that allow individual members to have a sense of belonging in NACADA. Building and maintaining our NACADA communities and networks deserves specific attention. Through my previous experiences and knowledge gained from participation as a commission chair, as division chair, in NACADA institutes and conferences, and various committees, I am able to represent the broad interest of NACADA and our membership as the NACADA Vice President.

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

My thirteen years of membership with NACADA have been significant in my personal and professional development, and I would relish the opportunity to reciprocate by providing leadership as the NACADA Vice President. One of the primary roles for the NACADA Vice President is to work directly with the NACADA Council to implement the NACADA strategic plan. Having served on the NACADA Council for the first three years in its existence, and having served as a Division representative those same three years, my experience will allow me to foster the collaborative leadership and strong relationships between the Board of Directors, the Council, and the Divisions.

As NACADA continues to increase membership in both individual members and institutions, the Board and Council will need to address significant growth issues, as well as sustainability of our organization. Both require that we constantly assess the needs of the members and develop new methods for meeting these needs. While I am certainly not an expert in every aspect of academic advising personally, I believe I can assist in providing the leadership of others who, collectively, can accomplish any goals or address any hurdles or challenges we face.

NACADA is also poised to deliver positive messages and information about academic advising on a global level. Our Canadian colleagues have been a part of NACADA for years on national and regional levels, with a highlight being the host of the NACADA national conference in 2001. As academic advising issues become pertinent across the world, NACADA should be the leader in providing resources and professional development in this arena.

As the NACADA Vice President, I would take my responsibility in providing leadership for these initiatives very seriously.

• 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. 

• University of Northern Colorado -
  • Undergraduate peer academic advisor during summer orientation programs.

• Western Illinois University -
  • Graduate student advising experiences with student athletes and business majors

• Arizona State University -
  • Academic advisor for exploratory/undeclared majors in large advising unit and residence hall satellite office.
  • Supervisor and administrator for large, high volume academic advising unit.
  • Member and co-chair of state-wide academic advising task force that included all public university and community college institutions in Arizona.
  • Member of Arizona Program Articulation Steering Committee that provided oversight of state transfer model (two years).
  • University Retention committee member representing all academic advising efforts at ASU.
  • Supervisor of Director of newly created ASU Transfer Center and Alliance Advising office.
  • Supervisor of advising unit utilizing academic advisors as instructors in freshmen success courses.
  • Supervisor of new Director, ASU Academic Advising Training & Professional Development position.
  • Took leadership role in creating a unified academic advising mission statement for ASU on all 4 campuses, which was endorsed by academic advisors and ASU Administration.