Sandy Meyer, Penn State University, University Park, PA

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 2 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

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

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member — Advising Student Athletes Commission, Multicultural Concerns Commission, Undecided & Exploratory Students Commission

Other:

• Twenty years experience advising student athletes
• President, National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A), 2005-2006
• Presenter, NCAA Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, 2006
• Presenter, D1A CHAMPS Life Skills Conference, 2006
• Presenter, N4A National Convention, 2006
• Presenter, National Consortium for Academics and Sport (NCAS), 2006
• Recipient, Houghton Mifflin "Promoting First-Year Student Athlete Success Excellence in Instruction Award", 2005
• First-Year Enrichment Coordinator for student athletes at Penn State

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?  

My role, so far, has been to offer expertise to Commission members on advising student-athletes and encouraging resource sharing to mutually benefit both full-time athletic/academic advisors and campus academic advisors (not in athletics). I've been a member of the Commission for two years and a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) for 20 years.

• 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?

At the Indianapolis NACADA convention, an NCAA/NACADA initiative was announced. When discussed at the Commission meeting, some members voiced their apprehension about entering into this partnership. Educating Commission members about areas in which they might not have a lot of expertise given that their primary advisees on their respective campuses are not student athletes should be a priority. In addition, a steering committee to formulate a strategic plan was assembled. On that committee, I will be representing Region II.

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

Having worked with student athletes for 20 years, I am definitely qualified to serve in this position. As Past President of the N4A and a member of its Executive Board for the past 13 years, I have gleaned a wealth of information to assist me in advising student athletes. I have successfully interacted with Penn State's college advising units, especially the Division of Undergraduate Studies, in assisting student athletes formulate their educational plans. Serving as chair of this Commission will allow me to share my expertise and guide the group toward its goals.

• 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. 

A former English instructor and Basic Writing Coordinator at Penn State, I have worked as a developmental educator, both in the English Department and with student athletes, for over 25 years. Given the NCAA academic reform legislation now in effect, making sure that student athletes have an opportunity to fully explore majors/careers before their third year is imperative. Campus academic advisors' roles will become increasingly more important, and this Commission's members should have an opportunity to influence future academic reforms given their expertise.