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).
Undecided and Exploratory Students Chair - (elected, term October 2014-October 2016). 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.
Kyle W Ross
Washington State University--Spokane Spokane WA
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?
There are several goals that I would like to accomplish during my term as Commission Chair.
First, I would like to help continue the commission's goal of expanding the scholarship on advising exploratory students. By encouraging commission members to research their practices, we can further our knowledge on how to work with this population and identify best practices for advisors. We can also identify what the gaps in the existing literature are and develop goals and directions for future collaborative scholarship between our commission members.
Recognition is also a very important goal of mine for this commission. We are currently striving toward recognizing our members' research, presentations, and programs more than we have done so in the past, and by the end of my term, I want to see these opportunities come to fruition. This will help encourage members to share their knowledge in professional development opportunities and make what our commission is doing more visible to the...
There are several goals that I would like to accomplish during my term as Commission Chair.
First, I would like to help continue the commission's goal of expanding the scholarship on advising exploratory students. By encouraging commission members to research their practices, we can further our knowledge on how to work with this population and identify best practices for advisors. We can also identify what the gaps in the existing literature are and develop goals and directions for future collaborative scholarship between our commission members.
Recognition is also a very important goal of mine for this commission. We are currently striving toward recognizing our members' research, presentations, and programs more than we have done so in the past, and by the end of my term, I want to see these opportunities come to fruition. This will help encourage members to share their knowledge in professional development opportunities and make what our commission is doing more visible to the organization.
Lastly, another goal of mine in addition to the goals our commission is already working toward is promoting leadership within the commission. With the help of the steering committee members, I would like to develop a way for members to develop into leaders for our organization, such as having steering committee members chair certain projects for the commission. This will help others not feel like the only way to lead in CUES is to chair the whole commission.
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?
An accomplishment that demonstrates my abilities as a leader is the fact that I have run for leadership positions so early in my involvement with NACADA. Many new professionals hesitate to submit a proposal or run for a position because they feel that they don't have the experience, but what's more important than that is just having the desire to be involved. Prior to this position, I ran for campus and regional leadership opportunities. Granted, I did not win the elections, but I stayed involved and motivated to contribute to NACADA. Leaders need to not only want to lead others, but to be engaged with their organization regardless if they are in the role or not. To be able to be okay with not winning an election and wanting to stay involved is a very important quality of a leader.
Regardless if I am elected as chair, I will do what I can to still serve the commission members and the organization. I want to show others new to the profession that you can be involved and to get...
An accomplishment that demonstrates my abilities as a leader is the fact that I have run for leadership positions so early in my involvement with NACADA. Many new professionals hesitate to submit a proposal or run for a position because they feel that they don't have the experience, but what's more important than that is just having the desire to be involved. Prior to this position, I ran for campus and regional leadership opportunities. Granted, I did not win the elections, but I stayed involved and motivated to contribute to NACADA. Leaders need to not only want to lead others, but to be engaged with their organization regardless if they are in the role or not. To be able to be okay with not winning an election and wanting to stay involved is a very important quality of a leader.
Regardless if I am elected as chair, I will do what I can to still serve the commission members and the organization. I want to show others new to the profession that you can be involved and to get involved now, even as a leader, and this is an excellent way for me to do so.
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?
My interest in leadership stems largely from wanting to give back to the professional organization and also because the exploratory student population is a main interest of mine.
This organization and those within it have helped me tremendously in the start of my career. With every conference I have attended, I have networked with wonderful colleagues that continue to help me through areas I am not experienced with, and I have attended presentations from which I have gained a wealth of knowledge. These colleagues have also supported me through my first presentations and running for leadership, and without this organization, I would not be the advisor I am today. Therefore, it is equally important for me to both learn from the people in NACADA and give back to them, which is why I want to serve as a leader.
I am running specifically for this position because the exploratory population is my favorite group of students to work with, where my main research interests lie and the area...
My interest in leadership stems largely from wanting to give back to the professional organization and also because the exploratory student population is a main interest of mine.
This organization and those within it have helped me tremendously in the start of my career. With every conference I have attended, I have networked with wonderful colleagues that continue to help me through areas I am not experienced with, and I have attended presentations from which I have gained a wealth of knowledge. These colleagues have also supported me through my first presentations and running for leadership, and without this organization, I would not be the advisor I am today. Therefore, it is equally important for me to both learn from the people in NACADA and give back to them, which is why I want to serve as a leader.
I am running specifically for this position because the exploratory population is my favorite group of students to work with, where my main research interests lie and the area I have contributed to most. Working with a student to help them discover their interests, values, skills, and goals is a very rewarding process. Being "undecided" is often viewed as a concern, but I show my students the value of exploration, and get to see them find their best path. I have presented several sessions on theories and techniques for advisors working with these students. I have also written an article for Academic Advising Today on this topic and will continue to help develop the scholarship in this field.
In summary, I have worked with these students, researched different approaches, and shared my knowledge with my colleagues in this field. I want to take the scholarship and this commission to the next level and find the future directions for advising this population.
Thank you for your consideration of me as chair of this awesome commission!
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.
Years in NACADA: 2 years
National Offices Held: None
Regional Activities:
Planning Committee Member, 2013 and 2014 Region 8 Conferences
Panelist, 2013 University of Idaho Advising Symposium, “Appreciative Advising: A GPS for Student Success”
Presenter, 2013 Region 8 Conference, “Facilitating Exploration and Commitment to Lift Students to Success”
Presenter, 2012 University of Idaho/Washington State University Joint Advising Symposium, “Facilitating Exploration and Commitment in the Transforming Student”
Co-Presenter, 2012 Region 8 Conference, “Developing the Dynamic Duo”
Other:
NACADA Activities:
Presenter, 2013 International Conference, “Facilitating Exploration and Commitment to Enhance Student Success”
Current Member: Commission on Undecided and Exploratory Students, Theory and Philosophy Commission, First-Year Students Interest Group, and Career Advising Potential Interest Group
Steering Committee Member, Commission on Undecided and Exploratory...
Years in NACADA: 2 years
National Offices Held: None
Regional Activities:
Planning Committee Member, 2013 and 2014 Region 8 Conferences
Panelist, 2013 University of Idaho Advising Symposium, “Appreciative Advising: A GPS for Student Success”
Presenter, 2013 Region 8 Conference, “Facilitating Exploration and Commitment to Lift Students to Success”
Presenter, 2012 University of Idaho/Washington State University Joint Advising Symposium, “Facilitating Exploration and Commitment in the Transforming Student”
Co-Presenter, 2012 Region 8 Conference, “Developing the Dynamic Duo”
Other:
NACADA Activities:
Presenter, 2013 International Conference, “Facilitating Exploration and Commitment to Enhance Student Success”
Current Member: Commission on Undecided and Exploratory Students, Theory and Philosophy Commission, First-Year Students Interest Group, and Career Advising Potential Interest Group
Steering Committee Member, Commission on Undecided and Exploratory Students, 2013-Present
2013 New Advisor Award Winner—Washington State University, Region 8, and NACADA
Publications:
“Applying Career and Identity Development Theories in Advising,” Academic Advising Today, Vol 36 No 2
Book review on “The first year seminar: Designing, implementing, and assessing courses to support student learning and success vol. 1. Designing and administering the course.” NACADA Journal, Vol 33 No 1
