Community Chairs are elected by their Community members and provide leadership for Community activities in support of the profession by representing its members and their needs and concerns through the Division Representatives and communicating with the members. Community Chairs coordinate community activities and lead Community meetings during the Annual Conference. Community Chairs report to the Division Representatives for the Advising Communities Division (ACD).
Graduate and Professional Students Chair - (elected, term October 2019-October 2021). Prior to taking office, candidates must have completed the previous year as a member in the Community and be a current member in that group.
Scherrayn Phillip-Garcia
Florida International University Miami FL
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)
By 2015, there were 9% of the US population that attained a Master’s Degree, 2% a Professional degree, and 2% a Doctoral Degree (US Census, 2015). The Bureau of Statistics reported that the increased earnings and career opportunities associated with most types of advanced degrees make ensuring the attainment of degrees critical to the individual and national economic success (2016). Hence, the need for technologically driven effective academic advising strategies to increase the growth of academic success among the graduate and professional students. If elected Chair of the Graduate and Professional Students Community, I would increase the participation of advisors and administrators who work with graduate and professional students in the NACADA international, national and regional conference presentations and increase the research productivity and scholarship among said professionals to identify innovative practices for dissemination and implementation with post-baccalaureate students....
By 2015, there were 9% of the US population that attained a Master’s Degree, 2% a Professional degree, and 2% a Doctoral Degree (US Census, 2015). The Bureau of Statistics reported that the increased earnings and career opportunities associated with most types of advanced degrees make ensuring the attainment of degrees critical to the individual and national economic success (2016). Hence, the need for technologically driven effective academic advising strategies to increase the growth of academic success among the graduate and professional students. If elected Chair of the Graduate and Professional Students Community, I would increase the participation of advisors and administrators who work with graduate and professional students in the NACADA international, national and regional conference presentations and increase the research productivity and scholarship among said professionals to identify innovative practices for dissemination and implementation with post-baccalaureate students. This platform will increase professional development opportunities for and scholarly communications among professionals who are interested in and work with and graduate and professional students, and will further support the NACADA’s vision to be a premier global association for the development and dissemination of innovative theory, research, and practice of academic advising in higher education.
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) As the Director of Administrative Services and Strategic Initiatives within Florida International University, I have worked collaboratively with the Chairs and faculty of the graduate programs and have implemented the technologically driven mid-term reporting system for all graduate faculty. I strategically garnered the buy-in of all faculty and implemented the system in the Fall 2017 semester. In the Spring 2018 semester, there were a total of 102 reports of students potentially failing their courses at midterm, and by the end of the semester of that total, 92% of the reports yielded positive results. The students successfully completed their courses with a “B” and higher.
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) I believe that academic advising is the helping profession that positively changes lives. NACADA has allowed me to express this same philosophy by catapulting its ever-evolving platform that emphasizes the importance of academic advisement to students' academic success, which gives others the freedom to do the same. Presenting at several conferences, networking with peers, and becoming inspired by the other leadership within NACADA, compelled me to run for Chair of the Graduate and Professional Students Community. I believe that my ability to effectively work with professionals from diverse backgrounds and training to accomplish a common goal is key to this leadership position and will provide the added fuel necessary to move the mission and vision of NACADA along, particularly in the area of graduate and professional students success.
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)
As the Graduate and Professional Student Chair I will provide outreach to prospective professionals who work with graduate and professional students and encourage their participation in the NACADA organization, submit presentation abstracts, and participate at international, national, and regional conferences. I would identify the current members (advisors, administrators, faculty, counselors, career development specialists, researchers and graduate students) of NACADA to become a member of the Graduate and Professional Students Community. I would also encourage them to share their experiences to identify current issues in the field of graduate and professional students' success. The active participation of diverse groups of professionals will ultimately lead to innovative solutions that are encompassing of varying perspectives that are related to any problem the group identifies. Through the thoughtful and intentional actions described above, I will cast the widest net possible to...
As the Graduate and Professional Student Chair I will provide outreach to prospective professionals who work with graduate and professional students and encourage their participation in the NACADA organization, submit presentation abstracts, and participate at international, national, and regional conferences. I would identify the current members (advisors, administrators, faculty, counselors, career development specialists, researchers and graduate students) of NACADA to become a member of the Graduate and Professional Students Community. I would also encourage them to share their experiences to identify current issues in the field of graduate and professional students' success. The active participation of diverse groups of professionals will ultimately lead to innovative solutions that are encompassing of varying perspectives that are related to any problem the group identifies. Through the thoughtful and intentional actions described above, I will cast the widest net possible to enhance inclusivity throughout the association and further its strategic goals and mission.
Platform Statement: Part V
5. Outline your past involvement in NACADA:
a. Years in NACADA
b. National Offices Help and Accomplishments Achieved
Member since 2011 for a total of 7 years
NACADA Executive Office
Kansas State University
2323 Anderson Avenue, Suite 225
Manhattan, KS 66502-2912
Phone: (785) 532-5717 Fax: (785) 532-7732
e-mail:
nacada@ksu.edu
