Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 16 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• Elected Member, Board of Directors (2005-08)
• Chair, Member Career Services Committee (2003-05)
• Chair, Advising Graduate and Professional Students Commission (2001-03)
• National Board Member (2001-02)

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

• Keynote Speaker, NACADA Region 3 Conference (2006)
• Keynote Speaker, NACADA North Carolina Drive-in Conference (2006)
• Attendee, Numerous Region V Conferences

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Chair, Bylaws Task Force (2006-07)
• Member, NACADA Advisor Certification Task Force (2002)
• Member, NACADA Professional Development Committee (2001-05)
• Member, Awards Committee (2002-04)
• Advisory Board Member, NACADA Advising Administrators' Institute (2001-03)

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Co-founder and Member, Appreciative Advising Potential Interest Group (2006-present)
• Member, Health Professions Advising Interest Group

Other:

• Member, University of Illinois Academic Advising group (IlliAC) since 1990.
• Faculty member, NACADA Summer Institute (2003 and 2005)
• Keynote Speaker, numerous speeches across the country about the importance of academic advising
• Presenter, numerous presentations at NACADA national and regional conferences

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.

I am probably most proud of my work as Chair of the Member Career Services Committee. The Member Career Services Committee had disbanded a few years before, so I worked with the Executive Office and the President of the Board to reinstitute the Committee. We became a presence at each of the National Conferences and offered career advising, resume and cover letter critiques, and more to our members. These services continue to be offered to this day.

Chairing the Advising Graduate and Professional Students Commission was a delight because this small, but mighty group of advising professionals is so passionate about serving their students.

Serving on the Board of Directors this past year has been an honor. At the Indianapolis National Conference, President Campbell asked me to chair a special Bylaws Task Force. I am enjoying working with a group of nine NACADA members to ensure that our bylaws are up-to-date and accurate. We intend to have any updates to the bylaws ready to be reviewed by the membership at the 2007 NACADA National Conference.

• 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 strategic plan for the organization should be a living, breathing document that is carefully assessed and updated as necessary. I believe I can help lead the Board to update the strategic plan to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our members. Those of you who have attended my Appreciative Advising presentations know that Appreciative Inquiry is the theoretical infrastructure for my leadership style. Appreciative Inquiry seeks to build on the best of an organization and create positive goals for the future and then work hard to accomplish those goals. To this end, as President I would make it a top priority to interact with and listen to constituents from all different institution types and all different roles. Your input is absolutely essential to ensuring that NACADA and the organization's strategic plan are meeting the needs of our members. My appreciative approach to leadership will enable me to positively impact the future direction of NACADA.

My goals for the organization if elected include:

1. Increase the diversity within the organization and within the leadership structure.
2. Ensure that the professional development needs of advisors are met.
3. Provide more tools (i.e. white papers on hot topics related to advising) that advisors can use.
4. Elevate the visibility of academic advising and the important roles that academic advisors play amongst campus leaders and nationally.
5. Ensure that NACADA remains a member-driven organization.

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

I am running for this position because I truly believe that academic advisors contribute so much to the success of our students. NACADA is such an important resource to advisors and advising administrators throughout the country that I want to provide leadership and work with the Board to ensure that as an organization we are doing everything we possibly can to advance the field of academic advising and meet the needs of our members. I will serve as a passionate advocate for the field of advising and for our members. In addition, throughout the years NACADA has provided me with so much inspiration and so many professional development learning opportunities, I feel an obligation to attempt to give back to the organization that has given me so much.

• 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 have been fortunate in my career to serve my institution, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in many different roles. I was a Graduate Advisor in the Transition Program (for underrepresented minority students with low ACT and/or high school ranks), an undergraduate Academic Advisor for 5 years at the Institute of Aviation, and currently serve as an Advising Administrator at the College of Medicine and as a Faculty Advisor for Higher Education Administration Master's and Doctoral students in the College of Education. I have taught a graduate-level course on Academic Advising at the University of Illinois and the University of Louisville. This breadth of experience in advising will allow me to represent professional advisors, advising administrators, and faculty advisors with equal passion and understanding of their roles.

In addition, although I work at a large research university, I have a deep and abiding respect for the multitude of institution types that our members represent.  I realize how important it will be for me as President to proactively seek out the needs and opinions of members from all institution types. One way to do this is to make sure that leadership appointments deliberately involve people from all backgrounds and institution types. Being an inclusive organization where everyone is valued and leadership opportunities are available to everyone is a top priority.

In closing, it would indeed be an honor and privilege to serve NACADA as President. Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy.