The Vice President shall, in the absence, disability, or inability to act of the President, perform all duties and exercise all powers of the President. The Vice President shall convene the NACADA Council, perform the duties customary to this office and such additional duties as directed by the President or Board of Directors. The Vice President serves as a liaison to the Council to assure that the Board has full benefit of the discussions/issues as discussed by the Council and that the Council has the benefit of knowing the priorities of the Board of Directors.
Vice President (one-year term, October 2014-October 2015) - The only eligible nominees for this position in this election are: Kyle Ellis, Pat Mason-Browne, Janet Spence, David Spight, and Sandy Waters.
David B Spight
University of Texas at Austin Austin TX
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?
This is a particularly interesting time for the Board as the association implements a new set of strategic goals. For the Vice President position, it means helping the association meet its new goals in a number of ways, including: facilitating the efforts of the division representatives on the council, keeping strong lines of communication between the council and the board, and engaging with the membership to keep a pulse on their concerns, ideas, etc. It means keeping in mind the priorities of the association, including the continued globalization of the association, developing current and future NACADA leaders, engaging in more research, and providing the resources that advising professionals need in order to successfully help students on each of our campuses.
I believe the VP has a role to play in really getting out there and finding out from the membership what they need, what they see as important to the association and the profession, and hearing the ideas they have to make our...
This is a particularly interesting time for the Board as the association implements a new set of strategic goals. For the Vice President position, it means helping the association meet its new goals in a number of ways, including: facilitating the efforts of the division representatives on the council, keeping strong lines of communication between the council and the board, and engaging with the membership to keep a pulse on their concerns, ideas, etc. It means keeping in mind the priorities of the association, including the continued globalization of the association, developing current and future NACADA leaders, engaging in more research, and providing the resources that advising professionals need in order to successfully help students on each of our campuses.
I believe the VP has a role to play in really getting out there and finding out from the membership what they need, what they see as important to the association and the profession, and hearing the ideas they have to make our profession and our association stronger. This means taking a lot of time to connect with members, and not just at the conferences. I believe it would be an accomplishment if I can help the membership feel more connected to the Board.
The VP needs to be someone who understands the council and can help the division representatives accomplish the goals they set out for their divisions. The VP really needs to be a support mechanism for the division reps, helping them to move the work of the membership forward. I would take it as an accomplishment if the division reps, and the chairs they represent, felt like they had those things they needed from the VP in order to meet the strategic goals of the association.
The VP also needs to be out there representing the association whenever needed. Again, it is about connecting to others, hearing what they have to say, and articulating the mission and goals of the association to campus leaders and external groups. Finally, I think the VP has a role to play in supporting the President of NACADA accomplish his or her goals for the upcoming year.
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?
During the CIG Division meeting at the 2009 NACADA Annual Conference in San Antonio, chairs of the groups expressed their deep concerns about the differences in Interest Groups and Commissions:
• Difficulties with understanding the differences between the Commissions and Interest Groups;
• The feeling that there was a hierarchy that existed with Interest Groups being seen as less important than Commissions;
• Inequity between chairs of the groups with regards to voting on Division-related business.
There was, as a result, of these concerns, some frustration and discontent among the chairs. As a CIG Division Representative, along with the other Commission and Interest Group (CIG) Division reps (Jennifer Joslin, Lisa Peck, and Janet Spence) and the help of a tremendously dedicated implementation task force, we accomplished in just two years, the restructuring of the CIG Division. A number of individuals with a variety of perspectives came together and spent countless hours to...
During the CIG Division meeting at the 2009 NACADA Annual Conference in San Antonio, chairs of the groups expressed their deep concerns about the differences in Interest Groups and Commissions:
• Difficulties with understanding the differences between the Commissions and Interest Groups;
• The feeling that there was a hierarchy that existed with Interest Groups being seen as less important than Commissions;
• Inequity between chairs of the groups with regards to voting on Division-related business.
There was, as a result, of these concerns, some frustration and discontent among the chairs. As a CIG Division Representative, along with the other Commission and Interest Group (CIG) Division reps (Jennifer Joslin, Lisa Peck, and Janet Spence) and the help of a tremendously dedicated implementation task force, we accomplished in just two years, the restructuring of the CIG Division. A number of individuals with a variety of perspectives came together and spent countless hours to respond to member concerns and develop a new structure that should enable the division to better fulfill its responsibilities to the membership and the association. The new structure now allows for a greater voice for members involved in Interest Groups, easier development of new Interest Groups or Commissions, increased equity among chairs, and a more inclusive division award.
The experience required facilitating the work of so many passionate chairs with widely different opinions about how to restructure and what a new structure should provide to the division and the membership of the association. There were definitely strong opinions that did not always agree on the best path forward, but through meetings, conference calls, emails, and conversations, we pulled this division restructuring off in just two years. Evidence of it’s success is reflected in the CIGD Division meetings, where the discussions are not about concerns anymore, but rather how do we provide members opportunities to connect, learn, and further our profession on our campuses and across the globe. Through the experience, I learned as a leader about how build a strong team (because no leader accomplishes anything without the work of others), when and how to provide an avenue for everyone to express their opinions, and when to make decisions to move things forward. It was through this role that I’ve realized that as a leader I wasn’t just representing the CIG Division, but members in the association whether they were involved in a commission or interest group or not.
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?
I believe that being the VP means having experience with a variety of pieces of the association, being able to listen to the ideas, concerns, and recommendations from each and every member, and helping to facilitate positive growth and change in the organization. I have tried to gain that experience with the association through a number of involvement opportunities that span the different divisions in NACADA.
I have seen that it is possible to hear the concerns of those in our profession and make real change in the matter of a year or two. It’s a big reason why I continue to want to serve as an advocate and as a resource, to respond to the issues and concerns of members, and make that real change for the better.
Being a leader in this association has been a very rewarding experience. Most rewarding have been the opportunities to meet others who passionately believe in what we do as advising professionals.
I also believe that if we expect the students we advise to be engaged...
I believe that being the VP means having experience with a variety of pieces of the association, being able to listen to the ideas, concerns, and recommendations from each and every member, and helping to facilitate positive growth and change in the organization. I have tried to gain that experience with the association through a number of involvement opportunities that span the different divisions in NACADA.
I have seen that it is possible to hear the concerns of those in our profession and make real change in the matter of a year or two. It’s a big reason why I continue to want to serve as an advocate and as a resource, to respond to the issues and concerns of members, and make that real change for the better.
Being a leader in this association has been a very rewarding experience. Most rewarding have been the opportunities to meet others who passionately believe in what we do as advising professionals.
I also believe that if we expect the students we advise to be engaged in their education, shouldn’t we also be engaged in our profession? Otherwise, what example are we setting for our students? It is also about giving back to the profession. With this particular position, it’s also about getting a chance to work with the amazing individuals serving on the council. As a division representative, some of my most fond experiences in NACADA were while on the council so getting to work with those representatives, as your VP, would be simply awesome.
These are the reasons I am interested in serving in as your VP.
Past Involvement in NACADA
4. Outline your past involvement in NACADA:
a. Years in NACADA
b. National Offices Help and Accomplishments Achieved
c. Regional Activities/Offices Held, including accomplishments achieved in office
d. Etc.
a. Years in NACADA: 13
b. National Elected or Appointed Offices Held within NACADA and Accomplishments While in Office:
• Member, Board of Directors, 2013-present
• Representative, Commission & Interest Group Division, 2009-2011 - facilitated, with other division reps, a task force on restructuring the division; reviewed commission and interest group reports; reviewed potential interest group proposals; submitted reports, with other division reps, to the Council and Board; represented CIG Division concerns on the Council
• Chair, Commission on Undecided/Exploratory Students, 2006-2008 - submitted survey to assess the training provided for advisors who advise undecided students; solicited member feedback (using CUEs Cards) and then selected Commission Sponsored programs for the annual conference based upon those topics of most interest to the members of the Commission; solicited members to read recent research and contribute to the CUES annotated bibliography; piloted new format...
a. Years in NACADA: 13
b. National Elected or Appointed Offices Held within NACADA and Accomplishments While in Office:
• Member, Board of Directors, 2013-present
• Representative, Commission & Interest Group Division, 2009-2011 - facilitated, with other division reps, a task force on restructuring the division; reviewed commission and interest group reports; reviewed potential interest group proposals; submitted reports, with other division reps, to the Council and Board; represented CIG Division concerns on the Council
• Chair, Commission on Undecided/Exploratory Students, 2006-2008 - submitted survey to assess the training provided for advisors who advise undecided students; solicited member feedback (using CUEs Cards) and then selected Commission Sponsored programs for the annual conference based upon those topics of most interest to the members of the Commission; solicited members to read recent research and contribute to the CUES annotated bibliography; piloted new format for submitting post-conference and mid-year commission chair reports.
Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:
• Member, Professional Development Committee (PDC), 2005-2007
o Served on the PDC Seasoned Advisors Survey sub-committee
Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:
• Commission & Interest Group Division Steering Committee member, 2008-2009, 2011-2013 - serve as a resource for commission and interest group chairs
• Member, Website Review sub-committee, Commission on Undecided/Exploratory Students, 2004-2005 - Assisted with development of annotated bibliography for the Website
• Current member, Commission on Undecided/Exploratory Students (2001-present), Advisor Training and Development, Advising Administration Commission, and Large Universities Interest Group
c. Regional Activities and Positions Held, including Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:
• Co-Presenter, 2007 Region 7 Conference, “Getting involved in Commissions and Interest Groups”
• Presenter, 2003, Colorado/Wyoming Advising Conference, “The ABC’s of Advising Undecided Students”
d. Other Activities:
• NACADA activities:
o Co-presenter, 2013 NACADA Annual Conference, “Integrating Academic and Career Advising for Undecided/Exploratory Students”
o Wrote Academic Advising Today article called, “Simply Declaring a Major Early Equals Timely Graduation, Right?” (V36, No.1)
o Reviewer –Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook, 2012-2013
o Certificate of Merit, 2011 Advising Technology Innovation, “Wayfinder”
o Panelist, 2011 NACADA Annual Conference, “Round Table Discussion of Exemplary Undeclared/Exploratory Programs.”
o Panelist, 2010 NACADA Annual Conference, “Help! I’m a Junior trapped inside a Freshman.”
o Reviewer - chapters for 2009 NACADA publication, “The Handbook of Career Advising”
o Co-Presenter, 2009 NACADA Webinar 27, “Advising Undecided/Undeclared Students for Success”
o Co-Presenter, 2009 NACADA Annual Conference, Pre-Conference Session, “Undecided/Exploratory Student Advising: Creating an Action Plan for Your Campus”
o Wrote Academic Advising Today article called, “Undecided/Exploratory Students and Persistence” (V31, No.4)
o Reviewer - chapters for 2008 NACADA Monograph, “Advising Special Populations: Adult Learners, Community College Students, LGBTQ Students, Multicultural Students, Students on Probation, Undecided Students”
o Presenter, 2008 NACADA Annual Conference, “Undecided versus Decided: An examination of recent research”
o Wrote Academic Advising Today article called, “The Impact of Policies and Environments upon Undecided Students” (V30, No.4)
• Consultant – 2013 Notre Dame University, First-Year Studies
• Invited Discussion Leader – 2012 Future of Advising Highly Talented Undergraduates Symposium
• Invited Speaker – 2012, Tulane University
• Keynote Speaker – 2012 Texas A&M University Annual Symposium on Academic Advising
• Created, MACAO (Maximizing ACademic Advising Outcomes) Dice Game
• Created, “Choosing a Major Student Workbook” and shared with CUES members based upon requests from the list serve
• University of Texas at Austin activities:
o Chair, Assistant Dean’s Council – consists of Assistant Dean’s overseeing advising, 2012-2013.
o Member, Provost Council on Academic Advising (PCAA), 2007-present
o Chair, PCAA sub-committee on Assessment of Academic Advising, 2008-2010
o Member, PCAA sub-committee on Academic Advisor titles, 2007-2008
o Advisory Council Member/Past-President, Academic Counselors Association (ACA), 2008-2009
o President, ACA, 2007-2008
o Member, ACA, 2004-present
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