NEXT Program

NEXT is a professional development program established to build the leadership capacity of next-generation affiliate and national leaders. Through NEXT, participants are provided opportunities to build connections with each other, understand their own leadership capacity and strengths, and navigate the professional opportunities available through affiliate and national volunteer service.

After the elimination of national delegates and the Assembly in 2022, the NACAC board recognized the need for a professional development program to build the leadership capacity of next-generation affiliate and national leaders. This program would provide value for participants, their respective employers, affiliates, and NACAC. In April 2023, NACAC staff announced NEXT.

The foundation of NEXT is deepening participants’ connections to the expansive network of NACAC professionals and their experiences.

Who?
Each affiliate may identify three NEXT participants in a manner of their choosing. The criteria for the participants are that they must be a NACAC member, and they should be an early- to mid-career professional.

What?
NEXT is a one-year program with both in-person and virtual components. The in-person convening takes place at the NACAC Annual Conference and includes a panel discussion of past and present NACAC and affiliate leaders, facilitated by the Affiliate Presidents Council (APC) coordinator. There will also be an opportunity to build connections with other NEXT participants and conference attendees through small group conversations facilitated and led by NACAC leaders during the First Timers Orientation session taking place immediately after the NEXT gathering. The virtual component of NEXT will take place throughout the year. We also welcome the APC’s efforts to build connections with this group of professionals inclusive of and separate from the NEXT program.

Recognition?
NEXT participants will receive recognition on the NACAC website, a certificate of completion, a dedicated NACAC Engage community, and acknowledgement at conference (upon completion of the program).

The APC LEAD Committee will suggest content areas and speakers for NEXT webinars, and NACAC will coordinate and deliver the content on its virtual platforms. If applicable, we may extend the opportunity for participants to join select LEAD sessions. All sessions will be recorded and distributed.

At NACAC’s Annual Conference, participants who attend in person will have the opportunity to hear from leaders who have extraordinary experience within the NACAC structure, as well as those who worked their way through leadership in their affiliate.

Through NEXT, NACAC’s intent is to provide participants with opportunities to build connections with each other, understand their own leadership capacity and strengths, and navigate the professional opportunities available through affiliate and national volunteer service.

  • Increasing network
  • Building leadership capacity
  • Expanding pathways for growth
  • Growing NACAC/affiliate volunteer base
  • There is no fee for NEXT.
  • In-person attendance at the NACAC conference session is optional, however, you must be registered for the conference in order to attend the NEXT meeting on Thursday morning.
  • NACAC is unable to supplement conference-related costs associated with NEXT attendee travel and hotel accommodations.

2023-2024 NEXT Roster

DACAC

Hannah Franks
New Student Recruitment and Sponsorship Coordinator
North Dakota State College of Science

GPACAC

Amy McQuade
Associate Director of College Counseling and Registrar
Casady School

James Powell
Assistant Director, Rectuitment Services
Oklahoma State University

Tera Park
Director of High School Recruitment
Wichita State University

HACAC

Donna Barsana
Associate Director of Admissions
Pacific University Oregon

Lisa Hayashi
College and Career Counselor
Kalani High School

Teri Ann Matsuda
Regional Admissions Officer
California Polytechnic State University

Illinois ACAC

Kenneth Guthrie
Assistant Director of Admissions
Columbia College Chicago

Robyn Moreth
Career & College Admissions Specialist
Main South High School

Omar Solomon
Admission Counselor
Eastern Illinois University

Indiana ACAC

Sarah Barker
Assistant Director of Admissions
Ball State University

Ty Garricken (Garrison)
Marketing Content Specialist
Ball State University

Quinci Miller
Associate Director of Admissions
Purdue University

International ACAC

Ning Deng
Director of College Counseling
Beijing BISS International School

Shilpa Gupta
University Advisor
United World College of South East Asia – Dover

Daniel Marschner
Director of International Admission
Loyola Marymount University

Iowa ACAC

Rachelle Setsodi
Associate Director of Transfer Admission
Drake University

Marissa Wetrich
Assistant Director
University of Iowa

Juanita Zavala
College and Career Transition Coach
Indian Hills Community College

Michigan ACAC

Sarah Haggerty
Assistant Director of Admissions
University of Michigan

Lauren Penner
Assistan Director of Admissions and Recruitment
University of Michigan – Dearborn

Patti Spencer
Admissions Counselor
College for Creative Studies

Minnesota ACAC

Libby Fahrenkamp
Outreach and Communications Coordinator
Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Jamie Menne
Licensed School Counselor
Chaska High School

Brandon Wente
Associate Director of Admissions
Concordia College-Moorhead

MOACAC

Jennifer Broyles
College Counselor
Father Tolton Catholic High School

Elizabeth Kirby
Director of Recruiting
Columbia College

Mallory LaPlant
College Counselor
Saint John Vianney High School

NEACAC

Katherine Kistner
Assistant Director of School Counseling
Catholic Memorial School

Liz Van Luling
Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Emmanuel College

NJACAC

Dylan Klim
Assistan Director
Lynn University

Lai’Ara Powell
Admissions Recruiter
Temple University School of Pharmacy

Sasha Rashid
School Counselor
Henry P. Becton School

NYSACAC

Alex Helou
Assistant Director of Admissions for Communications and Slate Administration
SUNY Maritime

Brenna May
Associate Director of International Admissions
Bennington College

Haniya Mee
Director of College Counseling
Oakwood Friends School

OACAC

Aleandria (Alleigh) Bradley
Assistant Director of Admissions
Columbus State Community College

Catherine (Cassie) Cunningham
Assistant Director of Admissions
The University of Akron

Jahnee Horn
Associate Director of Admission, Diversity and Access
University of Toledo

PNACAC

Joe Johnson
Associte Director of Admissions, Western Regional
Lawrence University

Mandy Lee
Senior Admisisons Advisor
Eastern Washington University

Katie Sifford
Direcytor of Admissions and Enrollment Management
Southwestern Oregon Commuity College

PACAC

Jade Johnson
Associate Dirctor and Testing Coordinator
The Episcopal Academy

Alyx Matchet
College & Career Advisor
Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School

Nicole Shannon
Assistant Director of Admission
Carnegie Melon University

PCACAC

Wendy Ayla
Director, Scholars Program
Collegiate Directions LLC

Hamzat Saba
College Counselor
Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School

Julia Hixson
Associate Director of College Counseling
Woodberry Forest School

RMACAC

Brooke Gabrielli
Counselor
Cherokee Trail High School

Kylie Rigdon
Regional Admission Representative
Unniversity of Tennessee-Knoxville

SACAC

Cory Bailey
Senior Admissions Coordinator
Mississippi State University

Kimberly Brown
School Counselor
Wade Hampton High School

TACAC

Brandon Besses
Access & Inclusion Program Coordinator
The University of Texas at Austin

Ernestine Jackson

Vilma Wolfe
Lead College Counselor
Saint Joseph Academy

Western ACAC

David Mills
Associate Director of West Coast Admissions
Lafayette College

Amber Patterson
Assistant Director of Admissions Regional
Texas Christian University

Linh Snyder
College and Career Counselor
Malibu High School