Ruth Darling, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 17 years
Regional Activities/Offices Held, including accomplishments achieved while in office: 1988-Assisted with coordination of first Mid-South Regional NACADA Conference, University of TN; served as Chair, Program Selection Committee.
National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office: Vice President, 2002-2003-
successful transition of committee structure to Administrative Division with chairs; full membership and
strategic goals for each committee. Chair of NACADA Council, 2002-2003-convened first Council meeting under new governance structure.  Vice President for Member Services, 2001-2002. External Relations Committee Chair, 1997-2001-developed external relations policy and established relationships with faculty based groups presenting on behalf of NACADA at national meetings. Co-chair, 1995 National Conference Committee, Nashville, TN-initiated poster session program format.
Committee Activities and Accomplishments: Chair, Administrator Professional Development Task Force,
2000-2001; Member, Summer Institute Task Force, 1999; Member, NACADA Membership Task Force, 1998; Member, NACADA Scholarships and Awards Committee, 1998; Co-Chair, Pre-Conference Program,
1993 National Conference Committee, Atlanta, GA; Co-Chair, Pre-Conference Program, 1992 National
Conference Committee, Louisville, KY.
Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments: Member, Advising Administration Commission and Advising Student Athletes Commission. Member, Theory and Philosophy of Advising Interest Group.
Other: Leader for NACADA Leadership Program, 2000-current (formerly called Mentor Program);  NACADA program presentations at related professional national meetings (AGLS, FFRW of AAHE); Program Presentations at National NACADA Conferences; NACADA National Awards-Student Publication Award Winner, Faculty Advisor Handbook, Winner.  Other Professional Affiliations-AAHE, AGLS, N4A, ACPA, NCAA (appointed to national Div. I AEC Cabinet and Academic Consultants Board); Twenty-three years of professional experience in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs at a research university and community college.

As NACADA members, we all share a common belief in the role academic advising plays in student learning and development and in student success and persistence to graduation.  My goal as President will be to develop and initiate programs/services to enhance the status of advising within higher education and challenge all NACADA members to consider themselves as leaders/participants of a diverse community who represent an activity central to the overall mission of college learning. I will propose and support initiatives to:

• Fully implement the new organizational structure with the goal of collaborative leadership based on sound principles of strategic planning and professional ethics;
• Provide members with comprehensive and current resources, information and support for their own practice and professional/career development;
• Expand leadership development opportunities that address our members' diverse needs and enhance the association;
• Enhance external recognition of the value of academic advising programs by expanding outreach to other organizations where administrators and faculty gather;
• Continue to emphasize the importance of research to both theory and practice, and seek data important to strengthen the place and practice of advising on campuses;
• Keep central to our thoughts and actions the growth, development and learning of the students attending our colleges and universities.