Commission Chairs are elected by their Commission members and provide leadership for Commission activities in support of the profession by representing its members and their needs and concerns through the Division Representatives and communicating with the members. Commission Chairs coordinate commission activities and lead Commission meetings during the Annual Conference. Commission Chairs report to the Division Representatives for the Commission and Interest Group Division (CIGD).
Advising Administration Chair - (elected, term October 2018 - October 2020). Prior to taking office, candidates must have completed the previous year as a member in the Commission and be a current member in that group.
Amanda G Idema
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
Platform
Platform Statement: Part I
1. If elected to this position, what will you attempt to accomplish that will help to meet the strategic goals of the Association? (1500 characters or less) Advising administration is a key position on any campus. We are often tasked with communicating and translating information between the advisors and upper level leadership, making our work relevant and important on campus, but sometimes resulting in isolation. This commission serves as a way to connect with peers across NACADA, benchmarking with others and seeking advice. If elected to this position, I will work to make those connections more deliberate and meaningful through use of the commission steering committee, the list serve that currently exists, and solicitation of conference proposals, both at the global and regional levels. As a group, we can work together through publications, presentations, and research, to make our work meaningful and translatable to senior leadership on our campuses and make the vast network of advising administrators into a community of resources and friendship.
Platform Statement: Part II
2. Describe an accomplishment on your own campus or within NACADA of which you are proud. What do you believe your accomplishment demonstrates about your abilities as a leader? (1500 characters or less)
In late 2011, I joined up with a friend at another university to volunteer to co-chair the 2013 Region V conference. All we knew was that it was going to be somewhere in Michigan, neither of us had been to a regional conference in a few years, we both had demanding jobs and young children, and no idea how we were going to pull this off. Realizing we couldn’t do it alone, we surrounded ourselves with good people, communicated openly and frequently with them, and then stepped aside to let them do their work. As a result, the 2013 Region V conference had the largest attendance of any Region V conference prior, and many of the people from our conference committee have gone on to other leadership roles in NACADA and the Region. I am incredibly proud of the work our committee did over those 18 months, and believe it speaks to my leadership style – find good people, set a direction, be open and honest, and then get out of the way. I am also the first person to jump in and do the work...
In late 2011, I joined up with a friend at another university to volunteer to co-chair the 2013 Region V conference. All we knew was that it was going to be somewhere in Michigan, neither of us had been to a regional conference in a few years, we both had demanding jobs and young children, and no idea how we were going to pull this off. Realizing we couldn’t do it alone, we surrounded ourselves with good people, communicated openly and frequently with them, and then stepped aside to let them do their work. As a result, the 2013 Region V conference had the largest attendance of any Region V conference prior, and many of the people from our conference committee have gone on to other leadership roles in NACADA and the Region. I am incredibly proud of the work our committee did over those 18 months, and believe it speaks to my leadership style – find good people, set a direction, be open and honest, and then get out of the way. I am also the first person to jump in and do the work needed to meet a goal, and can have those tough conversations when things get derailed. I like to approach my work and my leadership with strength and sensitivity, purpose, and a sense of humor.
Platform Statement: Part III
3. Why are you interested in serving in this leadership position or what influenced you to run for this leadership position? (1500 characters or less) After co-chairing the 2013 Region V conference, I seriously contemplated seeking another leadership role within NACADA. At about the same time, I was appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees at my undergraduate institution, which had a 5 year time commitment. Being aware of my time limitations given my work and family responsibilities, I chose to step back from leadership in NACADA to serve my alma mater. Instead, I kept up my NACADA connections through conference attendance and presentations and service on commission steering committees. Now that my term there is wrapping up, I look forward to re-engaging in NACADA leadership and putting my time and passion back into the organization I’ve belonged to for nearly 15 years.
Platform Statement: Part IV
4. Please describe how you will work to promote the enhancement of inclusivity throughout (or within) the association. (1500 characters or less) NACADA represents a wildly diverse group of individuals, working on a vast array of campuses across the globe. No one person can speak for all, and our work must include the voices of those we represent. If elected to this position, I will seek to recruit a steering committee that is inclusive of all institution types and advisor positions, in an attempt to hear as many voices as possible. I’d also like to see inclusivity in conference presentations and poster sessions, perhaps using the Commission Sponsored designation as a way to promote and reward inclusivity.
Past Involvement in NACADA
5. Outline your past involvement in NACADA:
a. Years in NACADA
b. National Offices Help and Accomplishments Achieved
I joined NACADA in the early 2000's when I began my academic advising career. I was also one of the early members of MIACADA, our state allied organization, which formed in 2005.
Leadership roles:
- Served on MIACADA's Leadership Team from 2007-2011, including a year as President (2009-10).
- Conference co-chair for the NACADA Region V conference in 2013.
- Member of the Advising Administration Commission steering committee from 2010-present, under the last 4 commission chairs
- Co-Presenter of the Advising Administration Hot Topics session at NACADA Annual Conferences from 2008-present
NACADA Executive Office
Kansas State University
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e-mail:
nacada@ksu.edu
