By C. Brandon Chapman, College of Education
PULLMAN, Wash. – An academic advisor in the College of Education’s sport management and kinesiology programs has been elected to a national leadership position with the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).
Veronica Mendez-Liaina (http://education.wsu.edu/directory/staff/mendez) will serve as the organization’s multicultural concerns chair for two years, beginning after the annual conference in October.
She was nominated by another advisor at Washington State University who saw both her passion for her job and her preparation for the national role.
“I love advising students and I love guiding them from the start of their academic career at WSU to graduation day,” Mendez-Liaina said. “I love helping them realize their ‘dream job’ and what path to get there.
“This position will help me understand what I can do more for my students,” she said. “I’m excited because I will have an opportunity to do research and even present at national and regional events.”
The role is also a good fit, she said, because she isn’t afraid to address delicate multicultural issues.
“I feel this position will help address some of the needs and issues advisors may have but are not able to talk about,” she said. “I’m not afraid to talk about concerns that may be sensitive. I want to make sure advisors like me have a voice in the overall advising communities.”
NACADA began in 1979 and consists of 10,000 members, including faculty, advisors, counselors and other academic professionals and administrators.