2008-2009 NACA Board of Directors and Board of Trustees
Ballots have been mailed to all key school contacts at NACA member schools. Only one vote is allowed per school member. Please return ballots by April 9 (postmark). This year's candidates are:

David DeAngelis, Director of Student Activities & Service Learning, Suffolk University (MA)

Leslie Heusted, Director of Student Involvement, Maryville University of Saint Louis (MO)

Rich Ramos, Assistant Dean of Students, Simpson College (IA)

George Theo, Director of Student Life, Cascadia Community College (WA)

Brian Wooten, Director, Center for Student Leadership, Kennesaw State University (GA)

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Leslie Heusted
Bio:
Having most recently served as the 2008 National Program Chair for the NACA Convention, Leslie has volunteered for NACA throughout her 17 years of professional experience in the field of higher education.  Her areas of expertise involve student activities, organizational development, leadership development training, advising, and collaboration with all realms of student life.  Through her career she has served public, private, large and small institutions located in four different NACA regions.  She has been honored to have served a two year term on the NACA Board of Directors from 2002-2004 and has also been recognized as the recipient of the 2006 Patsy Morley Outstanding Programming Award as well as named a National Recipient of the NACA Donald L. McCollough Memorial Graduate Scholarship.

Candidate Statement:
My desire to return to serve on the Board of Directors is multi-layered.  I look forward to the opportunity to serve NACA through this opportunity because it will allow me to give back to the organization that has profoundly affected my professional growth and development.  I also look forward to continuing my education about the association and how it can work best for its members, both school and associate.  NACA has recently entered a new phase of development, one where momentum is on its side to continue to impact the professional field of student activities while also becoming a main player in its partnerships with ACPA and NASPA.  I selfishly would like a front row seat to that.  Most importantly, my hope is to serve my colleagues as a voice at the table.

Rich Ramos
Bio:
Rich received his BA from Central College in Pella, IA  and MS from Creighton University in Omaha, NE.  After graduation from Creighton, Rich worked at Eastern Kentucky University for 2 years. Upon leaving EKU, Rich took a position as director of student activities at Waldorf College in Forest City, IA.  After a year at Waldorf, Rich was offered a position at Simpson College in Indianola, IA where he currently works as the assistant dean of students. 

Along with a variety of professional experiences, Rich has been involved in NACA for more than 20 years, currently serving as the regional coordinator for the Northern Plains Region.  He has held several positions in NACA, both national leadership and regional volunteer positions including another stint as regional coordinator from 1991 to 1993. 

Candidate Statement:
I have been afforded many opportunities, and several of those opportunities came through my direct involvement in NACA.  I think it is the responsibility of those individuals who are fortunate enough to be in a national leadership position to reach out to other professionals and students and encourage their active involvement in this association.    NACA is poised to be at the forefront of many topical issues in higher education.  As a candidate for the NACA Board of Directors, I would hope that I would be able to use this leadership role to work directly with the many challenges that present themselves.  I would also look to provide more opportunities for volunteer development, involvement and input on the many areas in which NACA provides programs.

George Theo
Bio:
George Theo is the Director of Student Life at Cascadia Community College (WA).  Prior to working at Cascadia, Theo was the Director of Student Activities at Whitman College (WA).

He is currently the Vice Chair for Regions for the Board of Directors for the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA).  As Vice Chair for Regions, he serves as the liaison between the seven NACA regions and the NACA Board of Directors and as a member of the Board’s Executive and Finance Committees for the Board of Directors.

Theo is the former regional coordinator for the NACA West Region.   Theo also previously served as a member of the NACA West Regional Conference Committee.  He is a past recipient of the NACA Patsy Morley Outstanding Programmer Award and NACA West Advisor of the Year Award.

Prior to his position at Whitman College, he was the director of student activities at Delaware Valley College.  Theo holds a master’s degree in counseling from Shippensburg University (PA) and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Seattle University (WA).

Candidate Statement:
I have found the last three years I have served on the board to be challenging and rewarding.  I would like to continue serving NACA and would ask you to consider my candidacy.  Over the next five years, I believe NACA will be challenged with:

• Volunteer Management – Creating meaningful experience and opportunities that will assist volunteers in their professional development and prepare them for future leadership positions.
• Assessment of the Association and the needs and desires of our members – utilizing the information to continue the development of the strategic planning and direction of the Association. Defining the Association’s direction and place in Education and Entertainment
• Creation of partnerships in the area of research and creation of additional educational and developmental growth opportunities (Educational Focus and Robust Research Agenda).
• Continued diversification of membership and service offered.  The student demographics continue to change, as does the form of education, resulting in anticipated changing needs and formats that will influence NACA.

Brian Wooten
Bio:
Brian M. Wooten is the Director of the Center for Student Leadership (CSL) and Instructor for University Studies at Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Kennesaw, Georgia. Wooten received a bachelor’s degree from Furman University and a master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus in Leadership and Student Development Theory from KSU. He has held various roles leadership roles within NACA including:

• NACA Board of Directors 2006-2008
• NACA Workshop Educational Programs Chair, 2004-2006
• Regional Coordinator, NACA South Region 2002-2004
• Regional Conference Chair 2000-01
• Associate Member Relations Coordinator 1997-99

Wooten has been recognized with the C. Shaw Smith New Professional Award and with the former NACA Southeast Region New Professional Award. He was a contributing writer for the lithograph on the Development of Community on College Campuses for the First-Year Experience.

Candidate Statement:
As a member of the Board of Directors, Wooten would:

• Continue to focus on the full implementation of the NACA Strategic Plan
• Work to ensure the significance of a volunteer’s experience by expanding and deepening our emphasis on professional development
• Maintain a focus on the financial viability and value of our Association;
• Actively seek new and innovative ways to connect the entertainment and educational markets; and
• Assist with the ongoing development of an inclusive environment that challenges and supports all volunteers of our Association.