I attended my first NACADA regional conference as an older than average graduate student.  I immediately felt at home with NACADA and have been hooked ever since.  I have served Region Six as the Region Conference Co-Chair for the 2009 Region Conference in Fargo/Moorhead and as a conference proposal reader in 2008.  In the eleven years that I have been a member of NACADA I have attended either the National or Region conference and some years have been fortunate to attend both.  

I have had the privilege to work with many Region Six colleagues as a member of the Region Six Steering Committee which has helped me to gain an understanding of the needs of other institutions in our region.  In hosting last year's Region Six conference I had the opportunity to meet many other members and hear their success stories and concerns.  

I have been fortunate to have had the chance to work with Pat Mason-Browne, our current Region Six Chair, and I feel we will continue to collaborate on goals and initiatives for our Region if I am elected to the Chair position.

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?

I believe the critical goal for our region is to continue to develop ways to provide professional development opportunities for our members in a cost effective manner in light of reduced budgets. Pat Mason-Browne and the Steering Committee have started some initiatives in this area by using region funds to provide scholarships for attendance at conferences and webinars.  I would work towards continuing these initiatives.  

Another goal I would work towards is to develop a format for members to share professional development information/ideas with other region members in an effort to meet our professional needs in a more cost effective manner. This could include a quarterly update from the region via our list-serve or possibly a forum on the Region Six web site.  

It will be important to continue to market the benefits and cost effectiveness of a NACADA membership to sustain and grow our membership in Region Six. I would like to continue working toward increasing the diversity of our membership.  We have been increasing our Canadian membership and I would like to see that continue.  NACADA is an organization that provides valuable personal and professional growth opportunities and we need to continue to promote these benefits.  

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

I have been so impressed with my colleagues in Region Six and have had such a great experience working with others outside of my own institution that I would enjoy the opportunity to continue these experiences as the Region Six Chair. As Conference Co-Chair I was fortunate to work with other Region Chairs and members of the Executive Office and their encouragement was just what I needed to move forward in running for the Region Six Chair.

NACADA has been a wonderful resource for me and I would like to give back to the Association by serving in this leadership position.

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. 

It took me 15 years of working in the business world to finally figure out that my true passion was to work with students.  I entered the world of higher education as a second career and I have found the field of academic advising to be a rewarding career choice over the past 11 years.  

I would be honored to utilize my experience in business and higher education to serve the membership of Region Six as Region Chair.

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA 11 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

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

• Member, Region 6 Steering Committee, 2008-present
  
• Co-Chair, 2009 Regional Conference in Fargo/Moorhead
  
• Proposal reader, 2008 Regional Conference
  
• Presenter, Regional conferences in 2008 and 2009
   

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member: Small Colleges and Universities, Probation/Dismissal/Reinstatement Issues Interest Group, Liberal Arts Advisors Commission, Advising and Academic Coaching Interest Group
• Served as conference proposal reader for Small Colleges and Universities Commission

Other:

• Presented at annual conferences in 2008 and 2009.  
  
• Co-presented a pre-conference session at the annual conference in 2008.
  
• Completed the Graduate Certificate Program in Academic Advising through Kansas State University in 2007.
  
• Taught graduate courses in Counseling and Student Affairs as an adjunct faculty member.