Jennifer McCaul
	Grand Valley State University Grand Rapids, MI
	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?

At the regional level I have most recently served as the co-chair of the Great Lakes Region V 2008 conference held in Grand Rapids, MI. This position also allowed me to be a part of the region steering committee. I was able to work with a team of colleagues from across the region to organize, plan, and develop a conference which served nearly 400 advising professionals. I would like to build on this experience to continue to make the regional conference and other activities within the region a success.

At the state level I was part of a multi-institutional steering committee to develop the Michigan Academic Advising Association (MIACADA). As part of this organization I was part of the team which developed structure, governance, goals, and plans for this new statewide allied organization. After the organization was accepted as an allied organization I served in multiple leadership roles over the past several years, including President in 2006-2007.

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 the most important goals for Region 5 are:

• To promote and advance NACADA membership within the region
• To increase the diversity of membership within NACADA and the region through the Emerging Leaders initiative
• To increase the opportunity for professional development for all members in the region through programming and the grants process
• Promoting the practice and quality of academic advising.
• Maintaining lines of communication between NACADA and state and allied advising organizations.
• Administering the Region V budget and ensuring the continued fiscal health of the region

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

NACADA has provided a place for me to meet people who have the same passion for working with students and improving advising on our campuses. It has also provided me with opportunities to learn and develop from some of the leading experts in this field. This organization has provided so much to me that I see this as an opportunity for me to give back as I continue to develop in my career. I have been involved in professional organizations for many years and have served in multiple leadership positions. I understand the time and energy commitments that this role will require and I am willing to put forth the required efforts to achieve the desired results.

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. 

I am the Director of the College of Community & Public Service Undergraduate Advising Center at Grand Valley State University. I have had wonderful opportunities at GVSU and through NACADA to develop advising practices and processes on our campus. I am also a Doctoral Candidate at Western Michigan University in the area of Higher Education Leadership. It would be my pleasure and privilege to serve the members of Region 5 in 2009-2011. If you have any questions regarding my nomination, plans or commitment, please do not hesitate to contact me at mccaulj@gvsu.edu or by phone 616-331-6890.

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 6 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

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

• Co-Chair: Great Lakes Region V Conference 2008
• Regional Steering Committee Member (as conference co-chair) 2006-2008
• Participant & Presenter: Great Lakes Region V Conference 2006
• Great Lakes Region V Scholarship Recipient 2006
• Participant & Presenter: .Michigan Academic Advising Conference, 2005
• Steering Committee member to start up Michigan Academic Advising Association (MIACADA) 2005
• MIACADA Annual Conference Chair 2006
• MIACADA Communications Chair (web, newsletter, listserv) 2005-2006
• MIACADA President 2006-2007
• MIACADA Past President 2007-2008

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Volunteer Coordinator, Silent Auction, 2008 National Conference, Chicago, IL

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, Advising Administration Commission, Assessment of Advising Commission, Theory & Philosophy of Advising Commission, Advising Transfer Students Commission
• Former Member: Probation/Dismissal/Reinstatement Issues Interest Group, Pre-Law Advising Interest Group

Other:

Other involvement in NACADA -

• Outstanding New Advisor, Certificate of Merit 2005
• Participant:
  • Advising Administrators' Institute 2007
  • National Conferences 2004-2008 (also served as a volunteer every year)
  • Advising Summer Institute 2003
• Presenter: Learning Reconsidered and Advising: Stacking the Deck for Transformational Learning. National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), 2005 Annual Conference. Las Vegas, NV. October 2005.

•  Publications:

• (2007). Review of the book Identity, Learning, and the Liberal Arts. The Journal of the National Academic Advising Association, 27(1).
• (2005). Review of the book Student academic services: An integrated approach. The Journal of the National Academic Advising Association, 25(1), 97.

Other Organization/Association Involvement-

• Michigan College Personnel Association (MCPA)
  • Member - October 2002 - Present
  • Web Administrator 2005-2008
  • Co-Chair - MCPA Road Show: The Helicopter Parent from Annoyance to Ally 2007
  • Newsletter Co-Editor 2006-2007
  • Chair - Communications Committee - MCPA 2006 Annual Conference
  • Co-Chair - Communications Committee - MCPA 2005 Annual Conference
  • Co-Chair - January 2005 Drive-in Conference - Learning Reconsidered: Supporting Transformational Learning
  • Special Events Planning Committee - MCPA 2004 Annual Conference
  • Member at Large - Elected for 2004-2006 term
• American College Personnel Association (ACPA)
  • Member April 2004 - 2008
  • 2007 ACPA/NASPA Joint Meeting Program Reviewer
  • 2006 Leadership Educator's Institute (LEI) Program Reviewer

Presentations-

• Careers in Higher Education. GVSU Women's Commission, Allendale, MI. January 2008. Invited Panelist.
• Assessing Fit, Organizational Culture, and Campus Climate. Student Educators International - American College Personnel Association (ACPA) & NASPA 2007 Joint Meeting. Orlando, FL. April 2007. Invited panelist for professional development workshop series.
• The PhD Path: Is it for you? Panel Presentation. Michigan College Personnel Association (MCPA) 2006 New Professionals Institute, Allendale, MI 2006. Invited panelist.
• Academic and Faculty Advisors Working Together: A "Rocking" Combination. National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) 2006 Great Lakes Region 5 Conference. Cleveland, OH. April 2006. Selected individual presenter.
• There is an "I" in Team! Grand Valley State University Leadership Summit. Allendale, MI. February 2006. Selected individual presenter for a regional student conference on leadership.
• Integrating Experiential & Service Learning into the Classroom: Teaching to the Whole Student. Grand Valley State University Faculty Teaching & Learning Conference. Allendale, MI. January 2006. Invited co-presenter for institutional conference for faculty development
• Leadership Audits: A Campus-wide Assessment of Leadership. Michigan College Personnel Association (MCPA) 2005 Annual Conference. Lansing, MI. October 2005. Selected individual presenter for annual conference.
• Learning Reconsidered and Developmental Advising: Working toward transformational learning. Michigan Academic Advising Conference. Lansing, MI. May 2005
• Current Trends in Higher Education. American College Personnel Association (ACPA) 2005 Annual Convention. Nashville, TN. April 2005. Invited panelist for professional development workshop series.
• The leadership challenge: An overview of Kouzes' and Posner's model. Grand Valley State University Leadership Summit. Allendale, MI. February 2004. Invited individual presenter for a regional student conference on leadership.
• The Fish! Philosophy: Get your organization swimming in the right
  direction. Grand Valley State University Leadership Summit. Allendale, MI. February 2004. Invited individual presenter for a regional student conference on leadership.
• The leadership challenge: An overview of Kouzes' and Posner's model. Grand Valley State University Leadership Summit. Allendale, MI. February 2003. Invited individual presenter for a regional student conference on leadership.