Message from the Chair
January 2025 NACAC Board Meeting Update
Last month, the Board of Directors gathered for its annual retreat with our hearts and minds focused on a communal sense of purpose and emboldened for the work ahead.
As a native of Southern California, watching the wildfires in Los Angeles made the new year especially difficult. I’ve been inspired by members who have shared resources online and by institutions that extended deadlines or offered flexibility for students who’ve lost everything. This reminds me of the impact we have, not only on students, but on our community in the ways we help each other when we work together and for each other.
I also would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that there is a lot of news emerging from Washington, D.C. that will have an impact on NACAC members and the communities we serve, not just in the United States, but also abroad. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to share our commitment to supporting and advancing the college admission counseling profession, especially as higher education experiences change at the federal level.
From Jan. 15-17, the NACAC Board of Directors convened for its annual retreat. Thank you to Immediate Past Chair Angelica Melendez for arranging to have the University of the Incarnate Word host us for this meeting on its beautiful campus in San Antonio, Texas.
As I shared in my recent column in The Journal of College Admission, we spent the first day of the retreat building our knowledge of association governance best practices. We gained a deeper appreciation of NACAC’s governance evolution in alignment with best practices. We spent time understanding our own individual strengths and how we can leverage those to maximize our contributions as board members. With the help of McKinley Advisors, we discussed the responsibilities of not-for-profit boards and considered the characteristics of high-performing boards. One of the most valuable parts of the session was the exploration of near and long-term trends impacting associations.
On day two, the Board of Directors had the opportunity to finalize an official board code of conduct. As part of our commitment to best practices and good governance, over the past two months, the Strategy Committee of the board drafted clear guidelines and compliance for board members during their term of service. A code of conduct is an important step in our leadership and transparency as fiduciaries of the association, and I am proud to share it with you today.
We also reviewed NACAC’s advocacy evolution and how our platform as the leading voice in college admission counseling can be leveraged to uplift the profession in our current political landscape. NACAC CEO Angel B. Pérez recently sent a message to NACAC volunteer leaders reassuring them that NACAC is monitoring all executive orders, policy proposals, and mandates as they surface. On NACAC’s webpage you’ll find a summary of recent executive orders that was prepared by EducationCounsel, a partner we work with regularly.
You’ll find that NACAC will not move away from upholding its mission and values, as demonstrated in Angel’s letter to Congress and the new administration, which reaffirms our values and policy priorities.
During the board’s time together, we asked ourselves tough questions all in service to advancing the mission and vision of NACAC. It’s through this kind of intentional collaboration and growth that we will be an even stronger and more effective board for this association. The board’s opportunity to pause, reflect, and strategize during our annual retreat will carry us forward through this year.
The board’s next gathering will be in May at NACAC’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and I look forward to sharing another update with you then.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at boardchair@nacacnet.org if you have any questions or thoughts to share as we take on all that is to come.
With gratitude,
Phil
Phil Moreno
Chair
NACAC Board of Directors