Committee Chairs are elected by their Committee members and provide leadership for Committee activities in support of the profession by representing its members and their needs and concerns through the Division Representatives and communicating with the members.The Committee Chairs report to the Administrative Division Representatives.
Research Committee Chair - (elected, term October 2024 - October 2026). Prior to taking office, candidates must have completed a full term as a member of the respective committee.
Hilleary A Himes
Pennsylvania State University University Park PA
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) I hope to continue the great work of the research committee in identifying and removing barriers for NACADA members to actively participate in advising related research. Research is an excellent way to build important skills, model behavior for students, and improve advising practice. Increasing engagement and production of research among NACADA members will also support the associations goal of "developing innovating and expanded opportunities for professional development," and help to find ways to ensure that academic advising and NACADA remain relevant within the evolving landscape of 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) I am most proud of completing my doctoral degree in Educational Theory and Policy from The Pennsylvania State University. This effort took many years and often alongside other important responsibilities such as family and work obligations. However, as with most research projects, perseverance pays off!
Important achievements often have a moment, a flash when the goal is accomplished. For example, the publication is printed, the doctorate earned, the marathon completed. But these accomplishments can only be achieved with lots of--often unseen--effort, failure, and challenge.
Earning my doctorate is one of my most proud accomplishments because it shows that I understand the importance of effort, failure, and challenge. I can encourage others to recognize those moments as important to their ultimate success and to find ways to adapt and move forward.
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) Maintaining and growing our community of researchers within the NACADA membership has inspired me to run for this position.
My research activities include historical research and social science based research. I try to continuously expand my skillset in research methods. When I don't know, I find out! This is a mindset that I'm hopeful will encourage those new to research or hesitant to engage with research to jump in.
Having just completed my doctorate and with a list of research projects on the horizon, I'm hoping to inspire those more experienced in research to keep a clear focus on the important questions around academic advising practice, while continuing to motivate myself.
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)
Not all academic advisors engage with research, either because of structural limitations of their institutions/positions or by individual perceptions and expectations. NACADA, the NACADA Center for Research, and the research committee have implemented a variety of initiatives and programs to make research activities more accessible and inclusive through common reading at annual conference, scholarly paper tracks, and research institutes. These programs have made important gains. However, there is still much to accomplish in making reading, writing, and conducting research approachable to all advising practitioners. What barriers continue today. With close partnership with the NACADA Center for Research, I would like to learn more about the reasons advising practitioners might not engage with research to determine how the research committee can continue to support the membership in mentoring and pursuing research opportunities. The more voices that participate in identifying important questions,...
Not all academic advisors engage with research, either because of structural limitations of their institutions/positions or by individual perceptions and expectations. NACADA, the NACADA Center for Research, and the research committee have implemented a variety of initiatives and programs to make research activities more accessible and inclusive through common reading at annual conference, scholarly paper tracks, and research institutes. These programs have made important gains. However, there is still much to accomplish in making reading, writing, and conducting research approachable to all advising practitioners. What barriers continue today. With close partnership with the NACADA Center for Research, I would like to learn more about the reasons advising practitioners might not engage with research to determine how the research committee can continue to support the membership in mentoring and pursuing research opportunities. The more voices that participate in identifying important questions, gathering and analyzing data, and writing about their results, the stronger the scholarship!
Platform Statement: Part V
5. Outline your past involvement in NACADA:
a. Years in NACADA
b. National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved
During my 15 years of NACADA membership, I've contributed to NACADA through a variety of leadership roles. I was the awards chair for Region 2 (2009-2013) and implemented a new award for Outstanding Contribution to Scholarship. I've been active in the Theory, Philosophy, and History community, serving on the steering committee from 2012-2019. I joined the research committee in 2017 and I've served on a variety of subcommittees, including reviewing student award materials, reviewing grant applications, and survey reviews.
I'm very proud to have received the NACADA Excellence in Scholarly Inquiry award in 2019 for my publication, "Strengthening Academic Advising by Developing a Normative Theory," published in the NACADA Journal (43, 1) in 2016.
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