Betsy McCalla-Wriggins, NACADA President
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the NACADA Board and all the members who attended our recent national conference in Salt Lake City, a big thank you to John Mortensen from Utah State University, chair of this year's meeting, and his committee: Debra Bryant, Darlene Severeid, Patti Sanchez, Maria Squire, Wade Oliver, Katrina Green, Sandy McLelland, Raylene Hadley and Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski. These people dedicated many, many hours to making sure that this professional development opportunity was top rate. A special thanks is also in store for Nancy Barnes and Rhonda Baker from the Executive Office. Every year these two women provide support to the national conference committee and handle thousands of 'behind the scenes details' that make conference planning seem effortless. And the hotel... what a magnificent facility. So, to all of you... again, we say thank you!
Sunday night the conference opened with special presentations to some of our award winners. Kathryn Martin, Chancellor of the University of Minnesota at Duluth, received the 2002 Pacesetter Award. This award recognizes Chief Executive Officers, Provosts, and Chief Academic or Student Affairs Officers who exemplify a commitment to academic advising and are true advocates for advising, students, and advisors. Eric R. White, Executive Director, Division of Undergraduate Studies at Penn State was named as the winner of the Virginia Gordon Award, which recognizes excellence in the field of academic advising. The Service to NACADA Award was presented to Manuel 'Buddy' Ramos, Client Executive, Peoplesoft.
Our opening speaker, Kermit Hall, President of Utah State University, spoke of the value of academic advising from a university president's perspective. Trudy Banta, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Institutional Improvement at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, was our second keynote speaker. She emphasized the critical need for additional research in assessment as it relates to academic advising.
The NACADA board meetings held at this national conference were also quite significant. Over the past 30 months, members participated in a comprehensive process to restructure our organization. Through many, many face to face as well as online discussions, a plan was developed which we presented to you last summer. You overwhelmingly approved the by-law changes that set the stage for the implementation of this new governing structure. So, it was with a great deal of emotion that we transitioned from one structure to another.
We owe a great deal to those members and leaders who created this wonderful association. We are very proud of our past. It is the foundation upon which we will move into the future. On behalf of the NACADA Boards, past and present, we appreciate your support as we seek new ways to serve you and your students.
Betsy McCalla-Wriggins NACADA President Rowan University
Cite this article using APA style as: McCalla-Wriggins, B. (2002, December). From the president. Academic Advising Today, 25(4). [insert url here]
