Tom Brown, Thomas Brown & Associates, St. Helena, CA

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 23 years
Regional Activities/Offices Held, including accomplishments achieved while in office: Chaired or co-
chaired three regional conferences. Private college/university representative to Regional Steering Committee.
National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office: Vice-President for Commissions-provided leadership to Commissions and Interest Groups through first phase of NACADA's reorganization, including collaborating and encouraging to elevate several interest groups to Commissions, including the GLBT Commission.  Multicultural Concerns Commission Chair and Co-chair-continued to provide leadership and direction to a commission that seeks to support those working with multicultural student populations, while at the same time supporting advisors of color to be fully integrated into every level of NACADA, academic advising, and the field of advising.  Pacific Region Representative-provided leadership as part of a region where an academic advising association existed prior to establishment of NACADA, and worked with regional membership to integrate the then newly created Pacific Region into the NACADA structure.  Private Institutional Type Representative and Private Doctoral Institutional Representative-in addition to ensuring organizational representation and response to needs of private colleges and universities in NACADA's early years, also organized a conference of the "most selective" private institutions as part of an effort to ensure wider institutional-type participation in NACADA and organizational responsiveness to all student cohorts. Co-chair, 1990 National Conference on Academic Advising (Anaheim)-In addition to being the largest academic advising conference to that point in NACADA's history, this was the last national NACADA conference that was completely planned and organized without benefit of an Executive Office.
Committee Activities and Accomplishments: National Conference Planning Committee (1989 and 1990);
Task Force on Advisor Development; Summer Institute Advisory Board; NACADA Consultants Bureau.
Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments: See Multicultural Concerns Committee Chair and co-chair activities listed under national offices held.
Other: 2000 Service to NACADA Award; Keynote Speaker, 1999 National Conference on Academic Advising; Keynote Speaker, 2001 N4A Conference; Keynote Speaker--Regional Conferences of Regions 2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10; Plenary Session Speaker, 2000 Freshman Year Experience Conference; Chair, Prelaw Advisors National Council; Presented numerous workshops, concurrent session papers at regional and national NACADA Conferences; Summer Institute on Academic Advising Faculty (1987-present)-presenting general sessions on Advisor Development, Evaluation/Assessment, Recognition and Reward; Contributing Author, Noel Levitz Advising for Student Success; Participant-NACADA Training Video; Authored or co-authored several chapters and a NACADA Journal article related to advising students of color in higher education.

I have spent my life as an academic advisor, an advising administrator, and a student and academic affairs educator, most recently as Dean of Advising Programs and Special Programs at Saint Mary's College of California. I left my institutional position in higher education in order to have the freedom to share my experiences, my discoveries, and my struggles with colleagues on campuses across the nation, as they advise students and work to develop, implement, and evaluate effective programs and systems.  Nonetheless, I continue to be an educator and an advisor, seeking to be a light in the labyrinth for students and for those who work with them.

In addition to responding to the broad diversity of our membership, NACADA must understand the needs of, and communicate effectively with, our faculty colleagues.  I believe that my broad experience in higher education and service in NACADA will serve us well as advising continues to be recognized for the powerful impact it has on learning, student success, and institutional mission and goal achievement.  As a Board member, I will continue to advocate for NACADA as we seek to enhance the achievement and success of all students who are the center of our work.