Interested in Becoming a Mentor?

Interested in Being a Mentor? 

Benefits

  • Expand your comfort zone: collaborate with NACADA members from a wide range of institutions
  • Meet inspirational members interested in contributing to the future of NACADA
  • Give back to NACADA
  • Help colleagues understand how NACADA works
  • Enrich your mentoring skills through participation in a structured program
  • Assist colleagues as they work to meet their professional goals
  • Increase your connection to NACADA
  • Waiver of Annual Conference registration fee to attend ELP Orientation
  • Recognition of program completion 

 

MEET the EMERGING LEADER CLASSES

Mentors say... 

  • My experience as an Emerging Leader mentor has been one of the highlights of my career. I have learned as much from my mentee as I hope he has learned from me. We have a supportive relationship that allows us to challenge each other to fulfill our potentials as leaders in, and contributors to, the field of advising. Our relationship will not stop at the end of the two years in the ELP. Instead, we have built a trust and rapport that I treasure and am committed to continuing to nurture for life.

Jennifer Bloom, University of South Carolina-Columbia, 2007-2009 Class 

Requirements 

The requirements for Mentors are: (subject to change) 

  • Be a NACADA member at the time of application
  • 2 year mentorship period
  • Monthly online meetings
  • Orientation attendance
  • Agree to participate in personal and program evaluation and assessment
  • Must secure institutional support to be a part of the program. 
  • Must be either a current or past NACADA Leader. This can be at the regional, national, and/or international level; in an elected or appointed position (chair of a committee, advisory board, task force, Region, Advising Community); and/or a leader in the research and/or publications arenas. 
  • Must be willing to provide guidance and support for a cohort of Emerging Leaders.

Interested in Being a Mentor?

Benefits

  • Expand your comfort zone: collaborate with NACADA members from a wide range of institutions
  • Meet inspirational members interested in contributing to the future of NACADA
  • Give back to NACADA
  • Help colleagues understand how NACADA works
  • Enrich your mentoring skills through participation in a structured program
  • Assist colleagues as they work to meet their professional goals
  • Increase your connection to NACADA

MEET the EMERGING LEADER CLASSES

Mentors say...

  • Over the past several years, I have had the extraordinary good fortune of working with two 'leaders in training.' This experience has been life altering for me in the sense that I have had the opportunity to meet a number of truly wise and talented people whose commitment to the profession, to their own professional development, and to each other is a lesson in humility and dedication. Some value added to becoming an ELP mentor: from these two relationship-building / mentoring experiences, I have made two dear friends for life. Please join the ELP, if not for yourself, then for the future of the Association.
    Jayne Drake, Temple University, 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 Classes
  • Although this might sound like hyperbole, put simply, this is the most innovative and rewarding program we have put together. You can really make a difference in the lives of new leaders and familiarize them with the guiding principles of NACADA while simultaneously learning from the Emerging Leaders new trends in advising. In my experience, I find the half-hour that I speak with my mentee every Friday morning to be very invigorating. They are the future of the organization.
    Kazi Mamun, University of California-Riverside, 2009-2011 Class
  • My experience as an Emerging Leader mentor has been one of the highlights of my career. I have learned as much from my mentee as I hope he has learned from me. We have a supportive relationship that allows us to challenge each other to fulfill our potentials as leaders in, and contributors to, the field of advising. Our relationship will not stop at the end of the two years in the ELP. Instead, we have built a trust and rapport that I treasure and am committed to continuing to nurture for life.
    Jennifer Bloom, University of South Carolina-Columbia, 2007-2009 Class
  • Rewards are for both the mentor and leader; successful leaders have all had “someone” in a formalized program or not encourage and nurture them to achieve the things they have. Set the stage for the next generation of advisors and leaders in our association.
    Jo Anne Huber, University of Texas-Austin, 2007-2009 Class
  • I chose to apply to the Emerging Leaders Program as a Mentor to give back to someone else. I have been fortunate enough to have numerous mentors in my life that have positively impacted my professional development... Mentoring always seems to me to be a fluid experience. As we mentor our students, staff, colleagues, so too do they mentor us. In some instances the differences in experience can be so marked as to ensure that the flow of information and support is in one direction, but I believe that individuals open to the mentoring process will find out that they can learn from their leaders. The act of mentoring causes us to stop and take stock of our own values, the paths we choose, and what we still have to learn.
    -Karen Sullivan-Vance, Western Oregon University, 2007-2009 Class
  • I knew that I needed to apply to be an ELP Mentor but I hesitated for many years because I didn't know if I could commit the time that was necessary. Now that I am a mentor, I can't believe I waited so long! It has truly been one of the best professional experiences in my career. My mentee  and I talk on a regular basis and have become great friends. I am grateful for having the opportunity to "mentor" her but I have gotten as much out of the experience as she has.
    JP Regalado, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2011-2013 Class
  • Although I heard past mentors say the same, I was surprised by how much I felt encouraged to grow by witnessing [my mentee's] example. Seeing her drive, enthusiasm, and undaunted courage has been an inspiration for me in many challenging moments both personally and professionally... . I am honored to have had an opportunity to help and support her during the past two years.
    Laura Mooney, Florida Atlantic University, 2010-2012 Class
  • When I first signed up to be a mentor, I thought of it as a gift I was giving the association; in reality, I have been the one who has received the benefit... I have gained at least as much as I have given. Each time [my mentee] and I talk, I feel rejuvenated – reminded of why we do what we do.
    Karen Archambault, Drexel University, 2012-2014 Class
  • I came into my ELP role with an expectation of myself as investing in a future leader of a NACADA, reflecting on my own professional development to assist another, and realizing further leadership development. I have experienced so much more. This experience has stretched me to grow as a professional and share my experience and knowledge with another. I have learned a tremendous amount through the perspective of another. I would encourage others to serve as a mentor.
    Patricia Griffin, Fort Hayes State University, 2013-2015 Class
  • The mentor role provides opportunity for growth in sometimes unexpected ways. Mentoring another professional requires reflecting on your own career and experiences. It is good to have a structured program that provides space for that type of reflection. Another benefit is spending time with a newer professional whose level of enthusiasm and energy is contagious.
    Jennifer Hodges, New Mexico State University, 2013-2015 Class
  • A lifelong friendship has begun, and I have increased enthusiasm for both my actual job and within NACADA. I have learned much more from my mentee than she has learned from me, and I can only hope she has enjoyed the experience as much as I have.
    Carol Pollard, University of North Texas, 2014-2016 Class
  • I had no idea what to really expect from my ELP involvement. I saw the testimonials and people told me 'you would make a great ELP mentor!' but I did not see myself in that role because I thought mentors in ELP had to be all things to all people. Through intentional and thoughtful interviewing and pre-conference activities and meetings, I realized that I did have a contribution to make. Once we met in person at the annual conference, I understood the process ... This program helped increase my confidence, helped me blossom in my role with NACADA, and provided me with the mechanism of giving back to the organization that has given me so much.
    Teri Farr, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2015-2017 Class
  • Serving as a mentor for the Emerging Leaders Program has probably been my favorite role in all of my NACADA involvements. I see the Emerging Leaders Program as transforming the diversity of NACADA’s leadership by investing in the chosen leaders. What could be better than being part of that?
    Kathy Davis, Missouri State University, 2014-2016 and 2016-2018 Classes
  • Having been an Emerging Leader myself, ELP has been a huge part of my professional journey in NACADA, and I am so glad to get to share this part of my path with a new Emerging Leader as well. Being able to give back to the association in this way is important to me, and being paired Leonor has made it seem easy because she has been so prepared and willing to create opportunities but also embrace them.
    Cecilia Olivares, University of Missouri, 2018-2020 Class
  • Perhaps the biggest gift the ELP gives participants is the time and space to talk through NACADA leadership—whether discussing our own leadership paths, increasing the diversity of leaders, or sustaining leadership over time. In my time as a leader and mentor, and since, I have been able to connect—through Zoom, FaceTime, e-mail, Facebook—not only with a cohort of 20 colleagues, but to their colleagues and the entirety of past ELP participants as well. The program’s influence extends long past the graduation days of its Emerging Leaders.
    Erin Justyna, Texas Tech University, 2015-2017 Class
  • While it is not a surprise given the nature of the NACADA organization, I think the overall vibe within the ELP program is extraordinary. The levels of encouragement and support among members of all ELP classes are evident. Being a part of a group where others are willing and excited to help each other grow and attain goals does not occur often in some campus environments, where political positioning and competitiveness sometimes prevail. The ELP program is especially valuable for those individuals who may not be able to get this type of support and encouragement elsewhere.
    Pamela Stephens, Fairmont State University, 2018-2020 Class
  • This has been an edifying experience for me. I’ve been an advisor and major professor for many graduate students over the years, but the mentorship focus of that experience was different from this. The Emerging Leader I worked with is a polished emerging professional, and I’ve grown from my interactions with him. It has also been great to connect with the other Emerging Leaders and Mentors in our class. I’ve been able to expand my NACADA connections, and that is always a positive.
    Kerry Kincanon, 2020-2022 Class

Requirements

SPECIAL NOTE: The NACADA Emerging Leaders Program has been thriving for 15 years. In consultation with the ELP Advisory Board and NACADA’s Executive Director, we have decided to pause the ELP program for 2023. We will take some time to assess the program. We thought this a good time to look at the origin of the program, its structure and curriculum, and glean feedback from ELP participants and members to see what opportunities exist to enhance the program into the future. Once complete we intend to restart the ELP after this hiatus. We anticipate the next ELP class will begin 2024-2025.


The requirements for Mentors are: (subject to change)

  • At the time of application, must have been a (general) member of NACADA for at least two years and be a current member.
  • Must secure institutional support to be a part of the program.
  • Must be either a current or past NACADA Leader. This can be at the regional, national, and/or international level; in an elected or appointed position (chair of a committee, advisory board, task force, Region, Advising Community); and/or a leader in the research and/or publications arenas.
  • Must be willing to provide guidance and support for assigned Emerging Leader in the creation of a written plan.
  • Must agree to provide feedback on Emerging Leader's progress reports.
  • Must agree to a two-year mentorship period, and a total of 2 1/2 years with the program (which includes preparatory assignments over the summer prior to the leader-mentor pairing and program Orientation, at which the pairing will take place).
    • Must be willing and able to attend monthly online meetings in the Zoom environment during the four months (June, July, August, September) prior to the mentorship period to discuss preparatory assignments and become acquainted with potential mentors. (Date/times will be determined after the class is selected.)
    • Must be willing and able to attend the Orientation session, which will be held on-site at the Annual Conference. This session serves as the kick-off to the 2-year mentorship period
  • Must agree to conduct evaluation of Emerging Leader and program at the end of each year and report those evaluations to NACADA.
Those selected for the program are encouraged to attend additional Annual Conferences, where on-site networking opportunities will be provided for the current classes. At the Annual Conference which takes place at their completion of the program, Emerging Leaders and their Mentors are recognized for their accomplishment at an Awards Ceremony.