Stephanie Crouch
	University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
	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?

I have been an interested and active member since 2003 and helped Virginia Hueske when she was the chair of this Commission. I have attended each commission meeting except the two years I was unable to attend the conference due to scheduling conflicts.

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?

Each year the Commission Chair expresses hope that we can maintain communication within the Commission during the year and encourage our members to present at upcoming national and regional conferences. I believe technology is at a level that we can finally achieve this goal. I hope that we can share best practices, form collaborations, and help each other create organizations that promote professional and graduate student services within each of our institutions year round.

In addition, it is imperative that we, as a commission, keep the specific needs and issues of graduate and professional education before the NACADA organization so as to fully participate, contribute, and benefit from the organization. Advising graduate and professional students is often different than advising undergraduate students, but we share many of the same challenges.

Finally, just as assessment and accountability are the new challenges for undergraduate advisers and administrators, we as graduate and professional student advisers need to begin examining our own procedures and prepare a plan for reasonable evaluation, rather than wait for a policy to be thrust upon us.

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

As an active member, it is my time to take responsibility and be willing to serve the commission. I would also like to get to know more of the commission's members and this would be a way to encourage a more robust community willing to share problems and solutions.

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 held many leadership positions on my own campus and in other organizations. I believe in collaborative leadership and will encourage everyone in the commission to become involved in the conversation at the level they are comfortable. I may even ask you to stretch that comfort level at times - but not too much. I promise.

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 6 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved

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

• Served on Region VII Conference committee - Hospitality Chair, March 8-10-2007
• Presented at the Region VII Conference, March 2007

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Active member of the Advising Graduate and Professional Student Commission since 2003.
• Member: ESL & International Student Advising Commission, Theory & Philosophy of Advising Commission, Ethics & Legal Issues in Advising Interest Group

Other:

• Attended NACADA National Conferences, 2008, 2005, 2004, 2003 
• Presented at the 2004 National NACADA Conference.