Contact: Elaine R. Borrelli, 277-4354 Media Contact: Michael Padilla, 277-1816

March 17, 2003 UNM ENGINEERING PROGRAMS DIRECTOR ELECTED TO NATIONAL BOARD Elaine Borrelli, director of Engineering Student Programs at the University of New Mexico, has been elected to the board of directors for the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Borrelli takes office at the end of the NACADA National Conference, held in Dallas this fall and will serve until October 2006. As a member of the NACADA board of directors, Borrelli will be responsible for providing leadership to the association to establish the vision, strategic plan and special association initiatives. The board members work closely to establish policy for the association, which best serves its membership. “It is a pleasure to continue working on behalf of academic advisors in my position with NACADA,” Borrelli said. “I have been very involved in committee work regarding professional development of advisors and the fiscal review of the conferences and institutes. We have some great things on the horizon, of special note is the launching of a Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising in partnerships with Kansas State that will be offered via the Web.” Chuck Fledderman, associate dean of the School of Engineering, said NACADA is the premier professional organization for academic advising in the United States. “Ms. Borelli’s election to the NACADA board of directors reflects the hard work that she has put in both regionally and nationally in improving the quality of student advising at universities,” said Fledderman. “This honor also indicates that the student advising in the school of engineering and the activities of the engineering student programs office at UNM are highly regarded around the country.” NACADA was chartered as a non-profit organization in 1979 to promote quality academic advising and professional development of its membership to ensure the educational development of students. Since that beginning, NACADA has grown to more than 6,700 members consisting of faculty members, professional advisors, administrators, counselors and others in academic and student affairs concerned with the intellectual, personal and vocational needs of students. In addition, NACADA is the representative and advocate of academic advising and those providing that service in higher education. NACADA hosts an annual national conference each fall attracting more than 2,000. They also host 10 regional conferences, and intensive advisement study through an Administrators’ Institute and an Academic Advising Summer Institute held annually. NACADA publishes a scholarly journal, a quarterly newsletter and occasional special publications. NACADA offers an advising training video, manages a consultants bureau, offers a placement service, funds research grants, sponsors an awards program, grants scholarships and supports commissions to address important academic advising issues. Most of all, NACADA provides a network and professional identity for the thousands of faculty, full-time advisors, and administrators whose responsibilities include academic advising. ###

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