While I'm a relatively recent member of the Assessment of Advising Commission, I've long had a strong interest in and experience with assessment, including individual advisor assessment, professional advising program assessment, and faculty advising program assessment. I further sharpened my assessment chops at the Assessment Institute and am responsible for assessment for a large (80 person) professional advising unit.

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?

The most important goals of the unit are to provide the membership and association with relevant, meaningful, and sustainable instruments and approaches to assessment. Leaders on campuses throughout higher education are looking for data-rich narratives to help them decide the most effective (cost effective and otherwise) use of funds. Advising programs need to demonstrate not just that students take advantage of services and advisors are making good use of their time (though both are important) but that advising services are furthering campus goals such as helping students become independent learners and retention of students (especially students who have been harder to retain).

Assessing such learning and process/delivery outcomes is difficult, yet vital to our interests, both in surviving budget cuts and providing quality services for our students and colleagues. An effective assessment program gets at the heart of what students learn from advisors, but does so in a way that isn't so time-intensive that it undercuts the very services it assesses. The commission has the lead role in providing tools and ideas that advisors, advising administrators, and institutions can use.

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 particular position because I have a passion for processes that give others the tools to succeed. I enjoy helping students directly, of course -- that is what drew me to advising in the first place. But I find great satisfaction in coming up with systems that help advisors and students make the most of the student experience. Assessment is one of those systems that can and should improve the quality of the services we provide, and I would enjoy the ability to contribute to my profession in this venue.

More generally, I would like contribute to NACADA by assuming a leadership position in part to repay the debt I've owed it and its members for making me a better advisor and administrator. I've learned a great deal by being a part of this organization, and having developed a certain level of expertise, I would relish the chance to share that with others.

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. 

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 12 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

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

• Presenter, Region X conference, 2009
  
• Presenter, Colorado/Wyoming state conference 2008
  
• Conference committee and webmaster, Colorado/Wyoming conference 2008
• Presenter, Region X conference, 2001

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, NACADA Webinar Advisory Board, 2008-Present
  
  • providing input as the WAB tries to move to a more sustainable model
    
  • help in selecting topics for upcoming webinars
    

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member: Assessment of Advising Commission, Advising Administration Commission, Technology in Advising Commission, First-Generation College Student Advising Interest Group
• Member, Pre-Law Advising Interest Group Steering Committee, 2007

Other:

• Annual Conference Presenter, 2009, 2004
• Attendee, NACADA Administrators Institute, 2008
  
• Attendee, NACADA Assessment Institute, 2008
• Attendee, Academic Advising Summer Institute, 2005