2026 Board Election Update
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to share an update related to the Board of Directors general board member election and the slate of candidates that was announced recently, along with a bit of context about the process.
After individuals apply to run for the Board, a nominating committee, consisting of school and associate members chaired by the Immediate Past Chair, reviews each application and conducts interviews in order to produce a slate of candidates for the election.
After the slate was announced, a request to review the nominating committee's decision not to advance one applicant to be a candidate was made to the Board. Upon review, the Board has determined that applicant, Matthew Miller, will be advanced as a candidate in the election. As a result, Matthew Miller will now appear on the ballot alongside the previously announced candidates, and election information and materials will be updated to reflect this change.
We recognize decisions like this can be uncomfortable and challenging, particularly once a process is already underway, but the Board has determined this action reflects its commitment to critically review Association processes and act in the best interests of our members.
The overall election timeline will remain unchanged: candidate presentations will occur virtually on Tues., Feb. 10 at 3:00 p.m. ET and voting will open on Feb. 16 around 9:30 a.m. ET and close on Feb. 23 at 5:00 p.m. ET. For those attending NACA Live, we also encourage you to use the in-person experience to engage with the candidates in attendance.
Thank you for your continued engagement and care for our collective work to create college communities where everyone belongs.
Sincerely,
Alicia Bates, Ed.D.
Chair, Board of Directors
Virtual Candidates Presentations
Tues., Feb. 10 at 3pm ET
For 2026, in an effort to make the candidate presentations more accessible to NACA members, candidates will present virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 3:00 p.m. ET instead of presenting in person during NACA Now. The webinar will be recorded and added to the online resource library. We encourage you to review the candidates’ information on the naca.org/vote website before attending the virtual presentations.
Candidates include:
- Adam Frank, SUNY Westchester Community College
- Thanh Le, Ed.D., West Virginia University
- Matthew Miller, Bridgewater State University
Candidates will have ten minutes to speak on these guiding prompts during their presentations:
- What emerging trends in higher education and campus engagement do you believe will most influence NACA’s work in the next 3–5 years, and how should the Board position the Association to respond through NACA’s strategic plan?
- What experience do you have with strategic planning that can contribute to advancing NACA’s mission, guiding organizational priorities, and ensuring the Board’s decisions reflect both current and future member needs?