As an active member of the Research Committee, I have helped deliver the pre-conference workshop on research in advising at national and regional meetings, and have contributed revisions to the presentation. In collaboration with other members of the Research Committee, I contributed to the investigation of adviser and administrator perspectives on research in advising. I am particularly proud of my involvement in establishing and organizing a Common Reading program at the annual meetings.

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 Research Committee should continue to build on the important work begun in the past several years:

• Continue to encourage advising practitioners to engage with literature and build a scholarly foundation for their work (through Common Reading and exploration of additional strategies).
  
• Continue to work closely with potential advising scholars via several outlets, including the newly implemented two-day research symposium and expansion of the research registry. Going forward, we should explore the viability of future expansion of the symposium into an institute or annual retreat. In addition, NACADA resources such as the registry and research grants will continue to play an important role in the committee's strategic efforts to support scholarship on academic advising, and we should continue efforts to make these resources more widely publicized.
  
• Continue to seek opportunities to highlight research relevant to academic advising (through conference keynote selections and other venues).

In addition, there are several related areas in need of attention. In particular, I would encourage our committee to:

• Clarify the role and content of the pre-conference workshop at national and regional meetings.
  
• Work with NACADA leadership to address annual conference proposal submission guidelines and review criteria in an effort to increase the number and quality of presentations based on scholarship.
  
• Increase dialogue with Institute Advisory Board members to continue to build a clear connection between research and issues that impact administrators and assessment in academic advising.
  

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

I am interested in serving in this leadership position because I am invested in helping the field of academic advising grow into a distinguished scholarly field, built on a foundation of theory and scholarship generated by its practitioners as well as others who study higher education. The Research Committee has contributed significantly to the recent growth within the field, and I believe I have the energy and disposition to help the Research Committee continue to contribute at a high level. I have benefited greatly from involvement in NACADA, and have found my involvement with Research Committee initiatives particularly fulfilling; I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to NACADA through leadership in the Research Committee.

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: 5 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

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

• Presenter at regional conferences
  
• Served on Region 2 awards selection committee 

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, Research Committee, 2007-current
  
• Common Reading sub-committee founding member, 2008-current
• Member, NACADA Journal Editorial Board (2009-2012)
  
• Keynote Speaker sub-committee member
  
• Member, Infusing Research Throughout NACADA Task Force
  

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member: Theory and Philosophy of Advising Commission, Commission on Undecided & Exploratory Students, Assessment of Advising Commission
  

Other:

• National conference presentations:
  • Schulenberg, J.K., & Lindhorst, M.J. (2009). Academic Advising in Higher Education: Historical Myths Affecting Current Practice and Theory. Paper presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education meeting, Vancouver, B.C.
    
  • Larson, M.E., Bermudez, G., & Schulenberg, J.K. (2009). Common Reading: A Forum for Professional Development. Poster presented at the NACADA Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.
    
  • Aiken-Wisniewski, S.A., Black, I., Naylor, S.M., Schulenberg, J.K., & Smith, J.S. (2008). Understanding Research in Academic Advising: Advisors and Administrators Speak Out, Paper presented at the NACADA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
    
  • Schulenberg, J.K. & Lindhorst, M.J. (2007) Advising is Advising: Moving Beyond Analogies to Describe our Profession. Paper presented at the NACADA Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD. Sponsored by the Theory and Philosophy of Advising Commission.

• Advising publications:
  • Schulenberg, J.K., & Lindhorst, M.J. (in press). The Historical Foundations and Scholarly Future of Academic Advising. In P. Hagen, T. Kuhn & G. Padak (Eds.), Scholarly Inquiry in Academic Advising San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
    
  • Schulenberg, J.K., & Lindhorst, M.J. (2008). Advising is Advising: Toward Defining the Practice and Scholarship of Academic Advising. NACADA Journal, 28(1), 43-53.

• Am active member of Penn State's local advising community. This activity includes multiple local presentations, organization of a local common reading program, and service as chair of the Division of Undergraduate Studies' Research and Assessment Team.