Glenn Kepic
	University of Florida Gainesville, FL
	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.

Being actively involved as a NACADA leader in the Regional Division, Commission and Interest Group Division, and various Committees and Task Forces has allowed me to view NACADA from the inside out. I have consistently been impressed with the leadership of NACADA and often surprised about how open the association is to new ideas and input from all members. Through my various leadership roles, I have had the opportunity to work with numerous members and have been fortunate enough to take their concerns and ideas to the highest level of NACADA leadership. Specific accomplishments include: Expanding Region 4 to include the entire Caribbean, leading a team of 10 international members in examining the implications of the "Internationalization of NACADA" and producing a 41 page report on the subject, assisting Region Chairs in meeting the needs of the members of their regions, and representing the Regional Division as the elected member on the NACADA council.

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?

The Board of Directors has spent a great amount of time refining the Strategic goals over the last few years. We are now beginning to see the entire association embrace the plan, and all divisions of NACADA appear to be working toward shared goals. All five Strategic Goals are equally important to the continued success of NACADA. I believe one of the biggest issues in the coming years will be to "Address the academic advising needs of higher education globally". With the growing number of international members in the association and the high level of interest in academic advising world wide, NACADA is in the envious position of being recognized as the global leader in the field. We must learn how to manage this growth and balance the needs of our international community while also maintaining the high level of service we provide to our domestic members.

We also need to further expand the body of knowledge in the field of advising through continued research. I would like to support the second strategic goal by encouraging and working with members at every level to examine their practices and analyze the data from specific initiatives for inclusion in NACADA related publications. It is often through this type of research that we are able to demonstrate the importance of academic advising to our administrators.

Lastly, NACADA is working hard to "Promote diversity within the association", but we can always do better. I would strive toward more inclusion of a diverse membership and leadership. Diversity in this sense includes all underrepresented populations such as: ethnic minorities, faculty advisors, advising administrators, graduate students, advisors from underrepresented states/regions, and international members.

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

My previous experiences in NACADA have provided a solid foundation for this leadership role. Through my work in different divisions, task forces, and committees, I have had the opportunity to learn the structure of the association, review the by-laws, understand the strategic goals, but most importantly meet numerous advisors from around the world. My most recent position of a council member confirmed my desire to serve on the Board. I enjoyed participating in Council meetings and joint meetings with the Board of Directors. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that board members do not have to be "stuffy administrators", but instead are real people with rich NACADA experiences who care deeply about the future of NACADA. It is an absolute honor and joy to accept this nomination to serve on the Board.

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. 

One of the reasons I became an advisor is because of the tremendous foundation and support NACADA provided me during graduate school. My participation in NACADA is what keeps me going today as a professional advisor. I believe the NACADA leadership should include us "common folks". I am not an administrator, dean, or director. Although I have taken on some administrative responsibilities, I am still a professional advisor, and I represent the vast majority of NACADA members. I believe in leading by example, and I wish to serve as a mentor to new members, and demonstrate the fact that NACADA is an open association that seeks participation and leadership from all members. NACADA has provided me with so many professional opportunities and personal friendships that I feel the best way to show my appreciation is to give back through serving as a member of the Board.

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 15 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• NACADA Southeast Region 4 Chair, 2002 - 2004
  • Expanded Region 4 to include all of the Caribbean area (previously just included Puerto Rico) in addition to AL, FL, GA, MS
• Council Member, Regional Division Elected Representative, 2006 - 2008
  • Actively participated in all Council and Board Meetings conducted at mid-year and Annual Conferences. Served as member of the Selection Committees for the 2007 and 2008 Service to NACADA Awards, Virginia N. Gordon Awards, and Pacesetter Awards.

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

• Best of Region Award: Presentation at 2005 NACADA Regional Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL
• Chair, Florida Drive-in Conference, April, 2001
• NACADA (Region 2) New Professional Award Recipient, 1995
• Regional Presentations:
  • "Working With Helicopter Parents", 2008 NACADA Region 4 Conference, Mobile, AL
  • Co-Presented "Parents: Friend or Foe", 2005 NACADA Region 4 Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Co-Presented "Current Trends in Florida Higher Education" and "Orientation for New Members", 2003 NACADA Region 4 Conference, Pensacola, FL
  • Presented "Probation, Dismissal, and Reinstatement", 2002 Region 4 NACADA Conference, Pine Mountain, GA
  • Presented "CLAS Readmission Program", 2000 NACADA Region 4 Conference, Orlando, FL
  • Presented "Second Chances: Advising Probationary and Readmitted Students", 1999 NACADA Region 4 Conference, Jacksonville, FL

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, International Task Force, 2008-2009
  • Continue to examine the "Internationalization of NACADA" charge
• Chair, International Name Change Task Force, 2007-2008
  • Led a team of 10 international members in producing a 41 page report analyzing the implications of the "Internationalization of NACADA" and a possible association name change
• Member, Professional Development Committee, 2006-2008
  • Actively participated in all Committee meetings and made recommendations on advancing the professional development role of NACADA
• Member, NACADA Publications Advisory Board, 2005-2007
  • Reviewed all current and past publications and made recommendations on the direction of future publication needs

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, NACADA Commission & Interest Group Division Steering Committee, October 2004-October 2006
• Chair, Probation, Dismissal, and Reinstatement Issues Interest Group, 2000-2002
• Current member: Liberal Arts Advisors Commission (since 2000), Advising Student Athletes Commission
• Current member: Probation, Dismissal, and Reinstatement Issues Interest Group (since 1998), Large Universities Interest Group

Other:

• Attended the last 13 NACADA National Conferences, 1996-2008
• Selected as a mentor for the NACADA Emerging Leader Program, 2007-2009
• NACADA Summer Institute Scholarship Recipient, 2002
• NACADA Outstanding Advisor Award, 2000
• NACADA Outstanding Advisor Publication Certificate of Merit Recipient, 1997, 1999
• University of Florida awards:
  • University of Florida Productivity Award, 1999
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Advisor of the Year, 1998-99, 2006-2007
  • University of Florida Academic Advisor of the Year, 1998-99, 2006-2007
  • University of Florida Advisor Workshop Co-Chair, 2008
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences representative to the Undergraduate Advising Council 2008-2009
• National Presentations:
  • 6 Presentations and 2 Preconference Workshops at National Conferences
• Keynote Addresses:
  • 2007 Academic Advisor Professional Development Workshop, McNeese State University, Lake Charles LA.
  • 2006 Utah State University Advising Conference, Logan, UT.
• Author of an article for the NACADA Clearinghouse