Research Symposium Faculty

Joshua Smith, Ph.D. is the Associate Professor for Educational Psychology at the Indiana University School of Education and Director of the Center for Urban and Multicultural Education.  Josh’s research examines educational transitions including the transition from high school to college. He also partners with schools and community-based organizations to evaluate educational programs on student outcomes and organizational effectiveness.  He is active in NACADA, having served as the Chair of the Research Committee from 2007-2009 and is a current member of the NACADA Journal Board.   He also serves as NACADA's Vice President on the Board of Directors.

Sharon A. Aiken-Wisniewski is the Asst. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Adj. Asst. Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy at the University of Utah. She entered academic advising in 1989 holding positions at The University of Arizona, Weber State University, and The University of Utah.  She views academic advising as a strategic tool in connecting students to campus opportunities that produce an extraordinary educational experience.  She has presented over 60 presentations at state, regional, and national advising conferences as well as delivering keynote addresses for state and institutional advising conferences.  In addition to these presentations, she has facilitated presentations and presented papers at conferences sponsored by the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the Midwest Qualitative Research Association, the American Educational Research Assn. (AERA), the First Year Experience and Students in Transition, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).  Within NACADA, her leadership positions have included the NACADA Board of Directors, Research Committee, and the NACADA Assessment Institute.  Sharon is a consultant for the NACADA Consultants and Speakers Service and a contributor to various NACADA publications such as the Assessment Monograph (2nd Edition), Scholarly Inquiry in Academic Advising Monograph, the NACADA Journal, and Academic Advising Today.  She grew up in Vermont and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, a M.S. in International Relations from Troy State University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. Her hobbies include hiking, digital photography, gardening, cooking, reading, traveling, and blogging. 

Previous year's faculty info:

Kathleen Shea Smith, Ph.D. is the Assistant Director of Advising First at Florida State University and leads the Advising First Center for Exploratory Students.  She has worked in the field of academic advising since 1989 and maintains a commitment to scholarship within her advising practice.  On a mission to validate the critical work of academic advisors, Kathleen strives to support NACADA members who are ready to embark upon the research journey.  Kathleen completed her doctoral studies in Higher Education, and in 2005 received the NACADA Student Research Award for her dissertation on academic advising and freshman student retention.  Kathleen is a member of the Research Committee and is NACADA’s Florida State Representative.

Wendy Troxel, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations at Illinois State University, teaching graduate-level research methods courses in both quantitative and qualitative designs, as well as courses in program evaluation and assessment.  In 2008 she was the recipient of the Manahan Family Award for Excellence in Teaching.  Previously she served the campus as the Director of the University Assessment Office.  Troxel serves on the Editorial Board of Planning and Changing Journal, the Board of Directors for The Hoenny Center for Research and Development in Teaching, and is a member of the NACADA  Research Committee.

Dr. Ruth Darling serves as Assistant Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and as adjunct professor in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences – College Student Personnel. As Assistant Provost, Dr. Darling’s responsibilities include the Student Success Center, the Student Services TRIO Program, the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships, undergraduate academic appeals, coordination of university academic advising, and coordination of university tutoring and learning assistance programs. Dr. Darling is past President of NACADA and has received the National “Service” to NACADA Award. Currently, she serves on the NACADA Journal Editorial Board and the NACADA Consultants Bureau. Darling has served as a faculty member for the NACADA Administrator’s Institute, Summer Institute, the Assessment Institute and the NACADA/NCAA Institute on Student-Athlete Success.