Justin Fithian
	Temple University Philadelphia, PA
	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?

Over the last year, as Co-chair of this Interest Group/Commission, I have worked with my fellow Co-Chair, Dana Zahorik, to help gain Commission status. I have been involved with promoting and encouraging communications among the group by providing the listserv with discussion topics to stimulate usage.

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 believe that there are several goals that deserve our immediate consideration as the newest Commission within NACADA. We need to continue to increase the growth in membership we have seen over the last few years within our group. We should look to actively increase awareness of the benefits of Peer Advising/Mentoring as a means of improving both the overall college/university and advising experiences (especially during these times where our schools are asking us to do more with less). Lastly, we will actively solicit all of our members to help us increase the number of proposals/presentations on these topics within their own schools and at both the regional and national levels.

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

I'm interested in this leadership position because I've come to realize that few schools are utilizing this untapped resource within their own populations and I would like to help all of us understand what an asset Peer Advising/Mentoring can be. We know that students are giving advice to one another, sometimes incorrectly, about what classes to take, how to graduate, what dorms to live in, what groups to join and other typical advising/mentoring related issues. I believe that if we can train more students to disseminate the correct information (in both formal and informal settings) we can make the advising and college experience one that they will enjoy and one in which they will actively participate in. One of the overall outcomes of a Peer Advising/Mentoring program that I would like to promote is that we are potentially encouraging, training and creating the next generation of academic advisors/counselors.

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.

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 5 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

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

• Have presented on both Peer Advising and Peer Mentoring at the Pittsburgh Region 2 conference (2008) and at the last 2 Drive-in conferences for Eastern Pennsylvania.

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Co-chair and member, Peer Advising & Mentoring Interest Group, 2007-2008 — worked with Co-chair Dana Zahorik to apply for and be granted Commission status.

Other:

• Presented on Peer Advising/Peer Mentoring at the Chicago National conference (2008)