Region Steering Committee Election

While I am new to NACADA, I have been in faculty advising and primary advising/academic success roles for 8 years.  In previous professional positions, my  natural leadership abilities, professionalism, organizational skills, communication skills, and open-mindedness have led me to be tasked to lead local, statewide, and national committees that were tasked with policy improvement, professional development, and mentoring from K-12 through professional programs.  This work led to the creation of new initiatives aimed at increasing student success, and sharing best practices broadly to new and seasoned professionals to these roles.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community I know firsthand how it feels to be isolated, and unsure if you are welcome in the space you are taking.  As such, I am always working to try to create a safe space for ALL in my classrooms and office.  In this role, I hope to help facilitate the continued work that NACADA has already done to develop policies, programs, and support for academic professionals in best practices in creating those safe spaces for our students to thrive and be seen.

As a senior member of the University Advising Center I have not only had the opportunity to see the growth of the center, but the growth of the advisors and support their professional development and assist in the creation of a mentoring program for newly onboarded advisors that is a year+ long plan/guide with check ins, training, mentoring, and resources provided by senior advisors. This allows promotion of successful advisors through personal connection, professional development and networking. I would love to see this model expanded across region three and collaborate with others to create the best practice for mentoring to best serve our current and incoming advisors across the region.

With 25 years in academic advising and student services, I’ve supported student success and advisor development in multiple roles at Marshall University. As Academic Program Manager of Student Services for the College of Liberal Arts and Chair of the Advising Training and Development Committee, I created a peer mentor/mentee program in 23/24 to foster advisor growth and connections.

Beyond Marshall, I am actively involved in NACADA as a member of the Global Awards and Liberal Arts Steering Committees. I also serve on the WV State Advising Steering Committee and contributed to the 2023 NACADA Region 3 Conference as a planner and reviewer for the 2023–2025 conferences.

I offer experience in leadership, and a commitment to student and advisor success. My collaborative approach, empathy, and organizational skills drive impactful initiatives like Marshall’s mentor program. Active NACADA involvement has enhanced my ability to manage projects and promote professional growth.

I aim to establish a scalable regional mentor/mentee program, expand advisor training, and strengthen collaboration among institutions. My vision is a supportive, thriving advising community that empowers advisors to meet diverse student needs effectively.

My background in advising, educational theory, student development, and curriculum design are strengths that I would bring to this role. I enjoy finding gaps in knowledge and developing workshops or trainings to best serve advisors. If selected for this role, I would envision working with a team to develop innovative and accessible professional development that helps address underdeveloped areas of research/practice for the advising community. I have developed a Framework for Difficult Conversations in Advising. I piloted this workshop at WVU and it reached beyond advising to other stakeholders at the university. I presented this work at the National conference in Pittsburgh this past October. Additional areas of professional development that I believe are prudent for advisors are Avoiding Burnout, Navigating Change Management, and Budgeting for Professional Growth. Academic advisors are a cornerstone to student success; we are on the forefront of student facing issues and development. To develop creative solutions and best serve our students, advisors also need to develop our skills and continue to grow professionally. While my involvement with NACADA has been limited, I am eager to get involved with the Region 3 NACADA!

I have attended many NACADA regional and annual conferences and have had the pleasure of presenting several times. I am eager to become more involved with the organization and members through this role.

I recently completed my Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration where I focused my research on the retention of academic advisors. Professional development has always been an important aspect of my professional life and something that I strive to support and provide for my advising team. My research in advisor retention reinforced the importance of professional development as a contributing factor as to why advisors stay in the profession. My goal is to bring unique and accessible professional development opportunities to the region that encourage advisors to engage now only in their own development but also with the profession. I believe there is outstanding knowledge and skill within our region and would like to provide opportunities for members to collaborate and learn from one another.
 
I am eager to contribute to the region and serve Region 3.  Thank you for your consideration.

I currently work in the School of Business at Wake Forest. I've been working in higher ed since 2011, with a focus on advising and admissions-related roles. My involvement with NACADA began in 2015 when I attended my first regional conference with GWU, where I also had the opportunity to present a poster session. Since then, I've continued to engage with NACADA, and I am currently in the early stages of contributing to the First-Generation Advising Committee. With over 13 years of experience in advising across both private and public institutions, I bring a broad perspective to the role. I have supported a diverse range of students, including traditional and non-traditional learners, and have extensive experience leading advising teams. These experiences have helped me develop strong communication, leadership, and collaborative skills that I believe will be valuable in this committee role. Through my involvement with the NACADA Region II, I hope to expand my knowledge of advising best practices, exchange ideas with fellow professionals, and support initiatives that promote student success. I am eager to contribute to the growth of advising and I look forward to deepening my professional connections while making a meaningful impact