Josh Smith
	Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
	Platform Statement: Highlight the goals you accomplished and the work you did while serving as a Unit Chair or Division Representative. In addition, highlight your involvement in all areas of the Association, demonstrating your experiences that make you qualified to serve in this position on the NACADA Board of Directors.

It has been an honor to serve in the leadership roles as Chair of the Research Committee and Elected Administrative Division Representative to the NACADA Council. As Chair of the Research Committee I was able to build upon the strong foundation created by my predecessors. They began to forge a close partnership with the NACADA Journal Editors and incoming and outgoing Presidents of NACADA. My colleagues on the committee worked tirelessly to revise Research Presentations to broaden the appeal of research to more members. Additionally they volunteered to create and support initiatives to expand the purview of research in the organizations. For example, Common Reading Program, Cultivating Scholars Program, and Research Symposium resulted in exposing hundreds of advisors and administrators to scholarship in advising. As Chair of the Task Force on Infusing Research throughout NACADA and as a member of the NACADA Council I continued to advocate for increasing access and support for scholarly inquiry in academic advising. During my first year on the Council, Advisory Boards were added under the umbrella of the Administrative Division. While this transition had some challenges, it has provided the Division with an opportunity to understand and coordinate professional development initiatives and align activities to intentionally address the Strategic Goals of the NACADA.

What do you believe are the most important goals and initiatives for the Association in meeting its strategic plan and what do you feel you can contribute to this position in meeting these goals and initiatives?

I am impressed with NACADA's ability to lead into the 21st Century. There are three particular areas where this has been evident including the name change to include the Global Community, an increasing commitment to recognizing and appreciating diversity, and the increased attention to research in the field of advising. I am committed to supporting and expanding NACADA's commitment in these three areas. As NACADA moves beyond its name change, I will encourage the Board and Council to study various advising and counseling models that differ from our approaches in States. Additionally we need to expand research and programming that supports college students attending American universities and colleges as well as the impact of the "study abroad" experience. These are two areas that are currently lacking in the advisor literature. The organization has adopted a stance on diversity that is sufficiently inclusive. However I want to encourage the organization to continue its efforts to attend to historically underrepresented groups and designed professional development and support programs that intentionally address the inherent inequities in higher education. Finally I will continue to build on the momentum to increase the amount and quality of research conducted and published in the field of academic advising. Specifically I would like to see more research papers presented at regional and Annual Conferences. Additionally, within five years I would like to 25% or more of the research articles published in the NACADA Journal authored by academic advisors.

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

One of the motivating factors for accepting the nomination to Board is to pay back NACADA for all it has given me personally and professionally. NACADA was the first professional organization that I joined and I have continued to participate actively over the past 7 years. I recall being welcomed kindly by the Region 1 Conference Chair. Similarly I met and was encouraged to contribute my research interests by many high profile NACADA members at first Annual Conference I attended.  I remain impressed by the simultaneous collegiality and professionalism within NACADA. This is an organization that works tirelessly to create conditions for leadership while maintaining the highest standards of excellence.  The skills I gained from being an academic advisor taught me more about being a faculty member than all of my graduate courses in Educational Psychology. I learned to listen rather than lecture, to empathize rather than preach, and to work together rather than go it alone.  I look forward to working with others on the Board to serve the membership of NACADA and advance academic advising to its rightful place as a scholarly field of study.

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: 9 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• Elected Representative, Administrative Division, NACADA Council, 2008-2010
• Chair, Research Committee, 2006-2008

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

• Presented Research Primer, Region 5 Conferences
  
• Presented Research Papers, Region 1 and 5 Conferences
  
• Facilitated Research Symposium at Region 4 Conference, 2009  

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Chair, Task Force on Infusing Research throughout NACADA, 2007-2008
   

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member: Faculty Advising Commission, Assessment of Advising Commission, High School to College Advising Interest Group   

Other:

• Member, Intrusive Advising Action Group at IUPUI (2008-2009)
  
• Member, Advising Council at IUPUI (2008-present)
  
• Chair, Program Review and Assessment Committee at IUPUI (2008-present)
  
• Member, NACADA Journal Editorial Board, 2008-2011
  
• NACADA Outstanding Advisor Award-2004
  
• Presented research papers and Writing for NACADA presentations at several Annual Conferences