The role of the Regional Division Representative is to provide support and mentoring to Region Chairs and serve as an advocate for members of the Regional Division on the NACADA Council. Since the majority of members belong to a region upon joining NACADA, it is my belief that the Regional Division Representative is a crucial role in the organization, serving as an advocate on behalf of nearly all members.

If elected to this role, I will work to advocate for the ideas and goals of our Region Chairs, as well as the members the Chairs represent. One of NACADA’s strategic goals is to “provide professional development opportunities that are responsive to the needs of advisors and advising administrators” which is critically important in the role of true regional representation. I will push the Region Chairs to develop innovate methods for bringing professional development opportunities to all members, including and outside of conference participation.

One of the other strategic... Display More...

The role of the Regional Division Representative is to provide support and mentoring to Region Chairs and serve as an advocate for members of the Regional Division on the NACADA Council. Since the majority of members belong to a region upon joining NACADA, it is my belief that the Regional Division Representative is a crucial role in the organization, serving as an advocate on behalf of nearly all members.

If elected to this role, I will work to advocate for the ideas and goals of our Region Chairs, as well as the members the Chairs represent. One of NACADA’s strategic goals is to “provide professional development opportunities that are responsive to the needs of advisors and advising administrators” which is critically important in the role of true regional representation. I will push the Region Chairs to develop innovate methods for bringing professional development opportunities to all members, including and outside of conference participation.

One of the other strategic goals laid out by NACADA, and perhaps the most important goal of all, is that of increasing inclusivity within the Association. This is also a goal I hope to support in this role, and more on my ideas for this can be found below. Display Less...

Quite simply, my most proud achievement in NACADA is the wildly successful Region 10 Steering Committee election. Prior to 2017, Region 10 only appointed members to the leadership, often creating the unintended idea that one had to “know the right people” to get involved. After hearing this impression from numerous members, I knew open elections would help to rid our region of this “inner circle” stigma.

That said, I found out you cannot just hold an election that easily! The region bylaws did not account for elections and held that steering committee members were only to be appointed. My first step was to put this issue to a vote and open our bylaws to allow for elections. While I was determined to add some democracy to the region, I also wanted to be mindful that members from smaller institutions might have a difficult time being elected, despite wonderful candidacies. For that reason, I included the new bylaws to read that unfilled positions could still be appointed. Thankfully,... Display More...

Quite simply, my most proud achievement in NACADA is the wildly successful Region 10 Steering Committee election. Prior to 2017, Region 10 only appointed members to the leadership, often creating the unintended idea that one had to “know the right people” to get involved. After hearing this impression from numerous members, I knew open elections would help to rid our region of this “inner circle” stigma.

That said, I found out you cannot just hold an election that easily! The region bylaws did not account for elections and held that steering committee members were only to be appointed. My first step was to put this issue to a vote and open our bylaws to allow for elections. While I was determined to add some democracy to the region, I also wanted to be mindful that members from smaller institutions might have a difficult time being elected, despite wonderful candidacies. For that reason, I included the new bylaws to read that unfilled positions could still be appointed. Thankfully, this passed with overwhelming support from the Region 10 membership. Once elections were held, we were able to have members on the steering committee from states with no representation for several years.

Not only is this my most valued accomplishment, but I believe it shows in my leadership ability to hear from constituents and work to enact changes they need. If elected to the position of Regional Division Representative, I want to continue to do just that—represent the members. Display Less...

To run for this position or not was a decision that weighed on me heavily. Admittedly, some elements of Imposter Syndrome exist for me in even accepting the nomination and writing these platform statements. I question my capability to lead in the formal sense, but I believe it is part of my job to contribute to the advancement of this profession. That said, I often step into roles where I can do “the dirty work” to accomplish common goals and Regional Division Representative sounds like a match for my tendencies.

In weighing my decision to run for this position, I spoke to the current representative who recommended I take on the challenging job. She commended my organization skills and noted how critical they were for this role to be effective. One of the reasons I became an advisor is because of how fond I am of motivating my students to reach their potential, and I’ve found this to also be essential for this important position. I am learning a lot in my time as Region Chair and... Display More...

To run for this position or not was a decision that weighed on me heavily. Admittedly, some elements of Imposter Syndrome exist for me in even accepting the nomination and writing these platform statements. I question my capability to lead in the formal sense, but I believe it is part of my job to contribute to the advancement of this profession. That said, I often step into roles where I can do “the dirty work” to accomplish common goals and Regional Division Representative sounds like a match for my tendencies.

In weighing my decision to run for this position, I spoke to the current representative who recommended I take on the challenging job. She commended my organization skills and noted how critical they were for this role to be effective. One of the reasons I became an advisor is because of how fond I am of motivating my students to reach their potential, and I’ve found this to also be essential for this important position. I am learning a lot in my time as Region Chair and feel that I can assist new Chairs in their efforts to be the best Chairs that their regions need them to be, as well. Display Less...

As my Region 10 steering committee can attest, I am constantly working towards inclusivity in my role as Region Chair. Each region conference presents a challenge with regards to accessibility in a region with barren land between institutions and populated areas. This often leaves many members unable to attend or afford our annual event. It’s a question that is both a common refrain in our meetings and a challenge to ultimately nullify: “So who does this leave out?”

I challenge my current steering committee to develop new ideas and programs for our region members, including new scholarships, recognition opportunities, and the expansion of our mentoring program. It is my intention to carry this challenge over to new Region Chairs and fellow members of the NACADA Council. It is imperative to think inclusively about how we reach and provide opportunities for ALL members to professionally develop.

On a final note, I think it is important to address that monetary cost is not the... Display More...

As my Region 10 steering committee can attest, I am constantly working towards inclusivity in my role as Region Chair. Each region conference presents a challenge with regards to accessibility in a region with barren land between institutions and populated areas. This often leaves many members unable to attend or afford our annual event. It’s a question that is both a common refrain in our meetings and a challenge to ultimately nullify: “So who does this leave out?”

I challenge my current steering committee to develop new ideas and programs for our region members, including new scholarships, recognition opportunities, and the expansion of our mentoring program. It is my intention to carry this challenge over to new Region Chairs and fellow members of the NACADA Council. It is imperative to think inclusively about how we reach and provide opportunities for ALL members to professionally develop.

On a final note, I think it is important to address that monetary cost is not the only issue in the conversation of inclusivity. It is my great fortune to call so many NACADA colleagues my friends, and it is humbling to learn from them and the challenges they present me. Whether it is those who note their challenges with physical accessibility of conference spaces or the ones who promote new dialogues surrounding race in our advising theories, I hope they all continue to challenge me so that I can use my leadership roles to address these important dynamics at play in NACADA. Display Less...

My membership in NACADA started in 2009 when I began a graduate assistantship in academic advising. At the time, I was fortunate to be told that being involved in and supporting NACADA was a part of my job as an advisor; the same year, I started my involvement by reviewing my first conference proposals for the upcoming Region 4 meeting. By connecting to other advising professionals across the world through conference attendance and online platforms, I quickly became an active member of multiple steering committees in the Association, including the Technology in Advising Commission and Region 10. Through these unofficial steering committee positions, I was able to learn a lot about the inner workings of NACADA, including the challenges members and leaders encounter in navigating the Association.

Currently, I am the elected Chair of Region 10 and a member of the newly-formed Region Review Taskforce. Working to move my region forward in the Association has been a dream, and I am so excited... Display More...

My membership in NACADA started in 2009 when I began a graduate assistantship in academic advising. At the time, I was fortunate to be told that being involved in and supporting NACADA was a part of my job as an advisor; the same year, I started my involvement by reviewing my first conference proposals for the upcoming Region 4 meeting. By connecting to other advising professionals across the world through conference attendance and online platforms, I quickly became an active member of multiple steering committees in the Association, including the Technology in Advising Commission and Region 10. Through these unofficial steering committee positions, I was able to learn a lot about the inner workings of NACADA, including the challenges members and leaders encounter in navigating the Association.

Currently, I am the elected Chair of Region 10 and a member of the newly-formed Region Review Taskforce. Working to move my region forward in the Association has been a dream, and I am so excited for the opportunity to assist other Region Chairs on individualized implementation efforts within their own regions. My varied NACADA experiences are a blessing, but nothing thus far compares to my time as a Region Chair. Because all members of NACADA belong to, at the very least, a region, though not necessarily a commission or interest group, it is my belief that region representation is among the most important within NACADA. Display Less...