2020 Election

I am running for Vice President because I would like to bring my energy, enthusiasm, and passion for honors education to the NCHC Board. I have 20 years of experience as an honors administrator and educator at three very different institutions. I currently serve as dean of the Honors College at Adelphi University, a private institution on Long Island, and I have previously served as director and dean of the Pforzheimer Honors College at Pace University, a private university in New York City and Westchester, and director of the Honors College at William Paterson University, a public institution in New Jersey. I understand the constraints under which private and public institutions operate, which allows me to understand policy decisions from the perspectives of colleagues at different types of institutions with different levels of administrative and financial support.

I am a strong strategic planner. At Adelphi, I was hired after the retirement of its long-serving, beloved founding dean and am responsible for articulating a new vision for the college. During my first year, I created a strategic plan with my staff and provost and began the process of transforming the curriculum. As Vice President of the NRHC I led a team that planned a successful regional conference.

I am a collaborative leader who works effectively with administrators, faculty, staff, and students to create change. I have partnered with residential life offices on two campuses to create honors learning communities, with student councils to plan events and reconsider curriculum, with faculty to create new honors classes and tracks, and with fellow deans to develop programs such as a proposed 3-year accelerated Bachelors of Nursing degree for honors students.

I am a careful listener and an effective communicator in advising sessions with students, in meetings, and at large events. Such skills were crucial during this spring’s coronavirus crisis, as I updated students and faculty on institutional decisions and provided them with the ability to pose questions and concerns to me.

At different institutions, I have balanced the competing needs of programmatic coherence and local identity to create better aligned and coherent programs that allowed students and faculty to pursue their unique passions. Honors is about creating space for creative pursuits and individual initiative while making sure that students benefit from coordinated honors pedagogies and practices.

I look forward to bringing this student-centered approach to my work with NCHC, where I hope to see us use technology to bring more of our members together for webinars and conversations and to share faculty and student research projects. NCHC needs to continue to embrace greater diversity and inclusion and model this as a priority for individual honors colleges and programs and in higher education overall. From narrow conversations about how to admit students without standardized test scores to broader ones about creating equitable, just, and kind communities we are capable of reimaging higher education and owe it to our students to do so.

It would be an honor and a privilege to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Collegiate Honors Council. I believe that my experience as an honors college dean for the past two years, as well as an honors program director at another institution for eight years prior to that, make me strong candidate. In 2017 I served as President of the Northeast Regional Honors Council and was chair for our annual conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2016. In addition, I also serve on the Publications Board as well as the Place as Text Committee. I have published in both HIP and JNCHC, as well as delivered several presentations at NCHC conferences. If elected, I will work tirelessly to help support and maintain NCHC’s mission and goals. I believe that honors education serves a greater good by helping to raise the level of conversation on numerous levels. One aspect of honors education I am particularly interested in advocating for is the expansion and articulation of that mission and vision beyond the greater honors community, striving to foster a more collaborative atmosphere with our non-honors colleagues through an articulation of and advocacy for educational theory and practice. I am also interested in working to maintain and enhance the interdisciplinary nature of honors education and using that interdisciplinary perspective to open up new pathways to thinking about honors and educational practices in general. I believe in the ability of honors education and its practices to transform the lives of our students, our faculty and staff, as well as our institutions.

At Montgomery College, the research-based mission to offer interested and qualified students an enriched learning experience initially attracted me to the honors world. Being an honors mentor is a wonderful journey of discovery. My students’ projects lead me to subject matter beyond the regular course content which expands my knowledge. It is thrilling to watch a student find their academic voice as the honors experience has the capacity to help students grow as scholars and as individuals. As an anthropologist working in honors, I have focused on the importance of creating community both for my students as well as for faculty and staff. For more than a decade my involvement in three honors organizations, the National Collegiate Honors Council, the Beacon Conference and the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council helped me understand the broader honors community and the opportunities offered. I enjoy working as part of a team but also am willing to lead when I believe I can make a difference. My tenure as a Co-Chair of Major Scholarships, Conference Host and Steering Committee Member for the Beacon Conference as well as MCHC Board Member and Past-President provide a rich foundation for serving as a member of the Board of Directors for NCHC. At the NCHC conference, I am always revitalized by being with colleagues and friends who are so willing to share their ideas about how to be innovative while retaining core academic values. NCHC is also about creating community and I want to work to be sure that engaging with NCHC will be as meaningful to future members as it has been to me.

The vision of honors programs is aspirational, how can we create better opportunities for our students. At a time when Inside Higher Education is often highlighting declining enrollment, budget challenges and program cuts, honors programs are unique. They can inspire our students to do their best work and the work we do with these students often reminds us about the transformative possibilities inherent in being an educator. Working at a two-year institution, I worry about the high cost of education for many of my students who are first generation in their family to attend college, returning students and veterans and international students. These worries have increased for many of my students and colleagues with the coronavirus. Creating access and a culture of inclusivity is vital to the success of honors education and reduces stratification in higher education. I would like to support NCHC’s rich legacy of defining honors education, serving diverse constituencies (students, faculty and honors directors from various types of institutions).

This spring, COVID-19 has challenged education and many other social institutions as well as our students. In honors we pride ourselves on creating enhanced learning experiences and building community for the students in our programs. The rapid switch to remote learning in March forced us to innovate as we worked to preserve the essential characteristics of our academic initiatives and events. It has also been a time of reflection as we think about our mission as honors educators. For some institutions, there will be a greater continued virtual presence in honors after the pandemic. There has traditionally not been a lot of honors coursework in the online environment. This is an opportunity for NCHC to help its members strategize and define how to translate what we do in this new way of interacting with our students. Supporting our honors faculty, some of whom may not be as comfortable with remote teaching is also important. Creating a space to explore and share best practices with structured learning, online learning, and blended classes is the next frontier. Sharing the types of events and activities that we are hosting via Zoom, Blackboard Collaborate, and other platforms for students and colleagues would also be valuable. These discussions can help us assess what are the characteristics of honors in a more virtual world. I would like to contribute to the exploration of pandemic pedagogy and honors programs. I am committed to helping NCHC plan for the future in a rapidly changing educational environment.

Leadership Experience

I have been a faculty-leader at California State University, Fullerton for 20 years. I have participated as a member and leader in a range of committees focused on curricular, personnel, awards, student leadership, international education, and more. However, my more significant leadership roles have included my roles as Modern Languages & Literatures department chair; Coordinator for the Latin American Studies Program for 15 years; Campus Representative, Southern California Representative and President of the CSU World Languages Council for two terms (2015-2019); director of the University Honors Program for 5 years; and faculty coordinator for various graduate student programs and grants including the Department of Education CSUF UpGrads Grant.

Qualifications for Holding Office

Beyond meeting the requirements for NCHC board, I would like to support issues of diversity and inclusion that impact NCHC and its members. Last October 2019 I hosted the 4th annual National Society for Minorities in Honors Conference with support from NCHC colleagues as well as joined the NCHC Diversity Committee this past November 2019. I am a committed NCHC member, I have great admiration for the work and support the organization provides, especially through the Beginning in Honors program. I would look forward to engaging in the organization’s issues, providing feedback, and collaborating with colleagues to move forward as we recover and rebuild from our current global pandemic. My strengths include my experiences as a 1st generation, Latinx faculty leader who has worked hard at my own institution to open honors education to all students, particularly underrepresented and underserved students. I am a collaborative leader who can engage in differing views and respond with compassion and professionalism to all students and colleagues. My goals as part of the board would be to contribute my particular perspective to decision-making, especially in regard to serving Latinx students and faculty. I am a dedicated leader who will take on shared tasks with dedication and professionalism. I will contribute my time and energy for the collective well-being of the NCHC members.

Having been involved in honors leadership positions at two different universities, I have cultivated a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges that face us as honors educators. I began my honors career at Dillard University in New Orleans, LA, where as Dean I increased student participation in Honors and enhanced the profile of the program. For the last decade I have been the Director of the Clara I. Adams Honors College at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. During that time, I have increased enrollment in the Honors College, founded the Greater Baltimore Collegiate Honors Council (GBCHC) to increase collaboration between honors programs at universities in the Baltimore metropolitan area, and extended our involvement in state, regional, and national honors organizations. I currently serve as Vice President of the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council (MCHC) and am a member of the NCHC Advocacy Committee and the Editorial Board of Illuminate , the student journal of the Northeast Regional Honors Council (NRHC). Most recently, I have launched, with the strong support of senior leadership, Destination Honors , a comprehensive initiative to make Morgan State the premier location for honors-caliber students seeking the HBCU experience. I would look forward to bringing the perspective of my long experience to the NCHC Board.

One of my greatest strengths is my commitment to creating and sustaining an environment of mutual respect and collaboration among professional colleagues. As a person of color, I have also devoted my professional life to promoting diversity. My work on the Advocacy Committee has given me insight into ways in which Honors education could be broadened and strengthened, particularly at minority-serving institutions. I believe that NCHC should extend its reach into secondary schools and cultivate the rising generation of honors scholars, especially students of color. And finally, I would look for ways to encourage NCHC member institutions to become more engaged in their local communities, replacing the common stereotype of “honors elitism” with diverse images of honors professionals and students striving to be good neighbors always ready to extend a hand in friendship and service to others.

For the past eight years I have been an enthusiastic leader and advocate for honors education from Virginia State University, the first publicly funded HBCU in the United States. During this time my team and I have wholly transformed the VSU honors experience. Our success has followed from our engagement and full embrace of all that is good and aspirational in the broader world of honors education. Students now attend and present at four key annual honors conferences per year: NCHC, National Association of African American Honors Programs (NAAAHP), Southern Regional Honors Council (SRHC), and the Virginias Collegiate Honors Council (VCHC). VSU students have been recognized at these events, and have served in leadership positions, including recently on the NCHC board.

I have grown immensely from my experiences serving as the president of VCHC for two years, from attending NCHC institutes on honors advising and program review, and from participating in the Honors International Faculty Institute in the Netherlands. Service on the NCHC International Education and Assessment and Evaluation committees, and my related work as an active program reviewer have all provided me with additional insight into the breadth and depth of honors education programming.

It is because of this combination of experiences that I am convinced that I can contribute meaningfully as a member of the NCHC Board of Directors. I will bring a perspective that is particularly informed by HBCUs, programs that are being recast, state level honors councils, and international honors. In short, I would serve as a board member with exposure and experience in some of the key areas relevant for the future strengthening and development of honors education under NCHC. Should I be elected to the board, I would use my position to assist in strengthening, where possible, the relationships between NCHC and the regional councils as well as the NAAAHP, state level councils, and emerging international groupings. I believe there are multiple areas in which deeper cooperation would enhance collaborating organizations, all while strengthening honors education.

I would welcome with enthusiasm the opportunity to bring my voice to the NCHC Board of Directors!

My name is Kristina Pickering. I am a rising junior and I embrace opportunities to serve the communities at my university as well the greater Baltimore area. I seek to use my skills to serve the NCHC community as well.

Through leadership opportunities on the boards of Morrissy Honors Program, the American Association of University Women and the service club Pathfinders, I have refined my skills. Working in our Safety Department, and as a member of our Bonner’s Leaders Program I have interacted with and provided services to my university as well as a local hospital. During the pandemic, I created a social media page to provide a space for people to process issues related to COVID-19.

My passion for equal rights, my hope to serve populations in need and my excitement to engage positively with my community illustrates my enthusiasm for improving the world around me. I have learned how to efficiently manage my time, develop new methods of organization and enhance my communication skills.

I want to be a resource for members of NCHC. I feel embraced by this community. If elected, I would like to provide stress relief programs, encourage networking between students and work to personalize the experiences of all members. To increase communication, I will utilize my skills with video, photography, and editing to provide fun experiences for those across the states. Despite what happens in the future, I want to expand the welcoming and caring community that NCHC has built.

My name is Conor Dailey, and I am a rising junior (Class of 2023). I am honored to come before you as a candidate for a Student At-Large position. Above all else, I have been, and I am driven by an intense dedication and commitment to service to the Community as a whole.

During my time at Ball State University, I have carried on this commitment to service. Most prominently, this has been through the University Governance System, where I sit as a student representative across multiple tiers of governance. Serving in these important bodies, I have gained invaluable experience in networking, and working in-and-among departments and across student populations.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I have also remained dedicated to my academics. I am the proud juggler of two majors, a minor, and a rigorous Honors program, and yet my commitment and dedication to service for the Community has never wavered.

At my personal forefront, it is my goal to increase engagement amongst all stakeholders in the NCHC community. Communication and engagement across communities are both skills I have had the opportunity to develop and refine through philanthropic efforts.

I firmly believe in the NCHC Mission and Vision, and I believe NCHC provides the best opportunity for all stakeholders to engage and interact with each other, while reinforcing and propelling the Honors community in new and inspiring directions.

I am excited at the prospect of deepening my involvement with, and continuing my service to the Honors community as a Student At-Large member of the NCHC Board of Directors!

No Statement Submitted

As a junior at the University of South Alabama (USA) in the city of Mobile, I have gained experience to make me an effective voice for Honors students on the national level. I aim to increase student representation on the board by reenvisioning the NCHC Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts as hubs for student questions and concerns before each board meeting. Relevant questions can then be posed and addressed during meetings to be discussed and acted upon. Greater accessibility of the NCHC using polling widgets and platforms that students are actively engaged with will allow us to better represent and serve our Honors community. When I participated virtually in the 2020 National Student Leadership and Diversity Convention, I met and discussed with hundreds of fellow students and leaders in academia who have strived to increase accessibility and promote equality. Promoting student accessibility and diversity are two important goals I have for this upcoming year in the NCHC.

At South, I serve as student president of the USA Honors Advisory Board, a diverse group of creative individuals who work with the Dean to create administrative change within the Honors College. We have created Honors sections of core classes, defined and updated the Honors Freshman Contract, and created a magazine known as The Lamp-Post to showcase Honors student achievements in research, academics, volunteering, and study abroad. The Honors Advisory Board has given me the skills necessary to foster discussion and enact positive change within the NCHC.

As a member of the Executive Board for the AED Pre-Health Honor Society, I have had innumerable opportunities to give back to my local community with events such as Habitat for Humanity and Comfort Care Hospice. One of my favorite programs on campus is PASSAGE USA, a two-year certificate program that helps students with disabilities gain work experience, academic enrichment, and skills in independent living. Not only did this program allow me to serve as a mentor to my peers, but I have also created friendships that will last a lifetime.

Service is an integral part of my journey to become a better leader and future health practitioner, and the happiness I receive from helping my peers and community is an important aspect of the positive energy that I would bring as a proud member of the NCHC Student Board.

My name is John Bussey, and if elected, I would be honored and humbled to help serve the national honors college community as a student voice on the NCHC Board of Directors. The Washington State University (WSU) Honors College experience has been transformative for me, and has continually opened doors. Because I am passionate about the importance and utility of the honors college experience, I am excited and enthusiastic about potentially having the opportunity to give back to the honors college community.

For an undergraduate student, I believe I would bring a fairly unique set of skills and experiences to the NCHC Board of Directors. One key experience has been serving for nearly three years as the Youth President and an Executive Board member for my county’s search and rescue unit. This leadership and board experience includes assisting in the operation of a nonprofit organization, advocating for the views of my fellow youth, drafting and editing budgets and bylaws, using Robert's Rules of Order, helping promote fundraising, and conducting training events. I was invited to serve the WSU College of Engineering board in a similar way to provide a student perspective. I am also an active member of and have organized events for the WSU Honors College Advisory Council. In addition, I believe I would bring a pragmatic and focused approach to support the objectives and best interests of NCHC. I anticipate being able to apply a strong background in math, science, economics, and problem solving to successfully participate in NCHC Board of Directors decision-making. Finally, I have volunteered my entire life and view service as a central tenet of my identity.

I believe that two of the most important responsibilities of an honors college is to facilitate opportunities and connect students, faculty, alumni, and community members. Throughout my own experiences, I have repeatedly witnessed the power of the WSU Honors College in providing opportunities and connecting individuals. For instance, opportunities and connections for me this school year have included networking events during the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving a research position studying novel scientific solutions for NASA, scholarships opportunities, attending small classes that jumpstart learning, exploration, and reflection, unique leadership courses and conferences, study abroad opportunities, and connection to a close-knit community of like-minded individuals. I have also witnessed the WSU Honors College create exceptionally unique opportunities and drastically alter and improve the experience of my peers. I feel strongly about the importance of NCHC due to the ability of NCHC to help facilitate and assist these opportunities and activities.

I appreciate the opportunity to be considered for a student position on the NCHC Board of Directors. If elected, I would work to help maximize the experience of current honors students as well as help expand and make more inclusive the honors community. If elected, I would be very honored and excited to expand and give back to the honors college community that has helped me so much.

Hello, my name is Katherine George. I am a full-time student from Hillsborough Community College (HCC) and am a student in the Dr. Lydia R. Daniel Honors Program. I will graduate Fall of 2021 with my Associates of Arts Degree in Mass Communications. I am passionate about the arts and I hope to minor in Digital Media when I transfer schools. I have a strong interest in photography, videography, and writing.

It is my desire to be nominated and elected as a s student representative to the NCHC BOD for a one year term. I throughly enjoyed my time at the NCHC20 Virtual Conference and I want to create that atmosphere for other students. I want to be a part of the next generation of student leaders.

I bring a strong work ethic and creative perspective to the table. I am able to understand all sides of a problem, take that understanding and create a solution that works best for all parties. By understanding the business component of an issue, as well as the relational component of an issue, I am able to build a strong relationship with both parties. I am a responsible, proactive and caring individual. I love working with individuals who are different form me as it pushes me to be a better person.

It is with great pleasure that I submit my application for a student-at-large board position on the National Collegiate Honors Council. In addition to possessing the requisite personal, academic, and leadership requirements for this role, I bring a wealth of experience in and deep commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion both at my university and in my community.

I am a Dean’s List third year Commonwealth Honors Scholar at Bridgewater State University (BSU), majoring in Elementary Education and Spanish with a concentration in Special Education. The decision to dedicate my life to serving young people marginalized by society because of their ethnicity, socio-economic status, or disabilities drew me to BSU, an institution known nationally for its excellence in teacher preparation, especially Special Education (ranked 8th in the nation). I have consistently received scholarships and awards as an undergraduate student at BSU in recognition of my academic achievements and leadership, including the Michelle Calverley Leadership Award, the Dr. Glenn W. Cook Memorial Scholarship, and the Patricia Quinn Bartlett ’67 Scholarship. I was one of five students invited by BSU President Frederick Clark to serve on his special Presidential Task Force for Racial Justice, where I have also been selected to serve in a leadership role as a co-chair of the Creating a Place for Ongoing Support, Problem Solving, Reporting Resolution, and Response subcommittee.

As a student leader involved in activist groups, forums, and events dedicated to racial equity and social justice, including Bridgewater Stands United and Amplify Black and Brown Students, I am regularly engaged in community building and inclusion activities at BSU. During the 2019-2020 academic year I was selected as an Honors Diversity and Social Justice Fellow; this academic year, I serve the Program as a Student Ambassador. I have also contributed as a student representative on the College of Education and Health Sciences Dean Search Committee and at new BSU faculty orientation as well as Commonwealth Honors Program recruitment and admissions events. These efforts as a student leader have earned me recognition in the upcoming iteration of the Fall 2020 Bridgewater State University Magazine.

My portfolio also includes work with students of varying socio-economic backgrounds and abilities, including those with developmental and physical disabilities, directing inclusive arts productions, and volunteering as a Special Olympics aquatics coach. As a result of my achievements in academics and community service, I received scholarships toward my undergraduate education from The Hanover Massachusetts Woman’s Club, Superintendent Clifton E. Bradley Memorial Fund, and the Karen Alice Yelin Scholarship for Future Educators. Dedicated to becoming an educational leader and advocate, I intend to conduct undergraduate research on the achievement gap, pursue a postgraduate degree in education, and devote my career in the classroom to empowering those in society who feel powerless.

Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy. I would be honored to join your board as a student-at-large member where I may contribute my energy, dedication, and experience to furthering your mission of supporting and promoting undergraduate honors education throughout the world. As a member of the board, I would hope to raise awareness of and advocacy for diversity and equity in honors education, specifically expanding access to and retention among students of color.

My name is Andrea “Drew” Wilson. I am a sophomore Nursing major at Gardner-Webb University. I am part of the Honors Student Association (HSA) at GWU. During my freshman year, I was elected to be the Freshman Class Representative for HSA. In this position I served on the executive committee alongside other members, and I helped plan and execute different events and fundraisers for the Honors program. At the beginning of my sophomore year, I was elected as one of the Special Events Co-Chairs. In this position, I serve and work with other members of the executive committee to plan and carry out events that HSA hosts throughout the school year. I have coordinated and directed 10 other students in choosing theme for a Honors float that would be a part of a bigger parade, and decorating and entering, and riding in the parade. I helped coordinate a fundraiser for the Honors Association by collecting money from students and other donors. I have participated in different service opportunities with the Honors program such as the “Enchanted Forrest” community outreach event and annual blood drive. I have also been a part of different social events that have included expanding my palate with foods from different cultures and coming together with fellow Honors students to use our minds and critical thinking to determine “who did it” in a murder mystery.

Being involved in my community is very important to me. I have worked as an intern with the music ministry department at my church. In this position I served in the media booth, put together presentations for services, and assisted our music minister in various other areas. I also served as the assistant director for a community wide children’s camp sponsored and hosted by my church, and in this I was in charge of registering students and planning their daily schedule and rotations, as well as helping direct the children with acting parts in a musical. I have also coached children in Upward Basketball. I have been an intern for the youth ministry at my church. In this position, I was in charge of social media outreach, coordinating retreats, booking housing reservations, and planning content.

I have served with Habitat for Humanity for over six years, as well as the Christians United Outreach Center, a community organization that seeks to help families who are food insecure find housing and meet their needs. I have volunteered at the local pregnancy care center as well as various other nonprofit organizations around the country while serving on mission trips. I currently work as Certified Nursing Assistant at a local assisted living facility.

I am thankful for the different academic and service opportunities that GWU Honors and HSA have made available to me and I look forward using my abilities in a leadership position with NCHC.