Roberta 'Bobbie' Flaherty, NACADA Executive Director

Happy New Year! Yes, those of us in academe get to celebrate a second time as we begin the new academic year. This is a time of renewal also, as the majority of our memberships renew in September, and our leadership “renews” at the end of the national conference when our newly elected leaders assume their responsibilities and begin their work for the New NACADA Year.

Through the dedicated work of our members, NACADA has made great strides in promoting advising as a profession, raising awareness of the value of effective advising for our students, and providing professional development for advisors and administrators. With a record membership of over 7800, the Association relies on volunteer leaders to provide ideas, feedback, and leadership.

Complete information regarding the NACADA leadership positions to be elected in early 2005, along with a request for nominations for those positions, is available on the NACADA Web site.

Now is the time to step forward! Nominate yourself or someone you know for a leadership position. Our goal is to provide members with a choice; as such, we need at least two candidates for each position. Whether you are new to the association or a veteran member, check out “About NACADA” on our Web site to select from the myriad opportunities available to contribute to your Association and our profession. Visit with your current region or commission chair about ways you can get involved.

Volunteers are the heart of this Association. Those choosing to volunteer often express as benefits of their involvement – opportunities to learn from others, creation of a network of colleagues for advice and support, professional growth through the exchange of ideas, insight regarding operations at other institutions that can translate to enhancements to their own programs, validation that what they are doing is “right on”, a network for employment opportunities, and most often, new and deep friendships!

The association management literature I read advises that members of differing generations often have different participation goals. Most notably, “baby boomers” tend to participate in an association in a sequential manner, committing to long-term continuous service to the Association. However younger association members tend to be more “cyclical” in their involvement, wanting repeated short and brief involvement (give me a task, I’ll do it, and that’s the end for now). There is a place in NACADA for both. So, no matter how, or how long, you want to be involved, consider starting now.

Check out the leadership opportunities available and volunteer to serve. NACADA needs you!

Roberta 'Bobbie' Flaherty, Executive Director
National Academic Advising Association
 

Member Input Needed!

Two major initiatives of President Darling this year have been the review and revision of the NACADA Core Values for Academic Advising and the development of a NACADA Definition of Academic Advising. Task Forces, chaired by Maura Ivanick and Tom Grites, have developed drafts for the review and discussion by the membership before approval by the Board of Directors.

Review these important documents, and then please connect to the NACADA Discussion Board and provide input and comments on the drafts. In addition, there will be an opportunity for discussion and input at the national conference in Cincinnati.

NACADA Journal

The NACADA Journal Editors, Terry L. Kuhn and Gary M. Padak, have worked hard to put the Journal back on schedule without skipping any issues. In October/November of 2004, you may expect to receive a double issue (Volume 24, Issues 1 & 2) which will accomplish this goal! We thank the Co-Editors, Copy Editor Nancy Vesta, and Marsha Miller, from the NACADA Executive Office, as well as the many authors and book reviewers for making this possible!

First Graduate of the Kansas State University / NACADA Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising

Congratulations to Ben Chamberlain, who is the first graduate of the K-State/NACADA Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising. Ben, also a recent graduate of the College Student Personnel program at K-State and Graduate Assistant in the NACADA Executive Office, will be an advisor in the College Business at Iowa State University beginning in September. Congratulations, Ben!

Cite this article using APA style as: Flaherty, R. (2004, September). From the executive office. Academic Advising Today, 27(3). [insert url here]