Farewell From Your Regional Director

March is upon us! March signifies so many things: midterms, spring break, NASPA national conference, rain and warmth returning, prepping for various end of the year events, and transitions. I am beyond excited for the national conference. This has been a stressful academic year on my campus and I know many share this experience as well. But I am looking forward to focusing on NASPA and stepping away from my campus for a short time. I cannot wait to see old colleagues, interview excited professionals at TPE, attend multiple events, present to my peers, and learn and challenge myself in my current professional journey. I feel blessed to work with some great people at NSU but while I am excited about all we are doing, I am always looking to what and where we need to head next. I hope we get to spend some quality time socializing or just hanging out at the national conference. 

I am also excited to pass the gavel to Shana Meyer, Regional Director Elect and Vice President for Student Affairs at Missouri Western State University. We all take on leadership and volunteer roles for different reasons, but I do not fear this transition. I had indeed thought being an RD when I was younger would be a neat position to hold, but when I finally applied for the position, I did it because I felt I could help our region. I did it out of responsibility and not just a resume experience. I wanted to build on the volunteer experiences in our region and continue the great family and collegial environment IV-West had been known to exhibit. I feel the development of the critical conversations and the spring event are what I was most excited about, but I will also cherish the much closer and deep relationships I have developed with the large (72 person) regional board. I am proud of our region and all the leaders I work with on the board. We are not perfect by any means, but have done some great work to help others and the profession. I pass the gavel with a full heart and great happiness. Shana will bring some amazing ideas and skills to the region and I look forward to watching and supporting the board this coming year. Thank you to all my friends and colleagues who supported me throughout my career and as the Regional Director for IV-W. I have enjoyed serving you and look forward to all that is yet to come.