NACA Leadership Transition
Dear NACA Members,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I write with bittersweet news. After six years of dedicated service, Amber Shaverdi Huston, CAE will be stepping down as Executive Director to assume a leadership role with another association. Amber's last day as Executive Director will be August 27.
Throughout her leadership, Amber has guided the Association through a period of significant transformation and growth. Together with the Board, staff, and volunteers, she has:
- Established a new vision and mission for the Association
- Launched a forward-thinking strategic plan
- Restructured and empowered our volunteer structure
- Expanded educational & conference offerings to better serve members
- Introduced The Case for Campus Activities, positioning NACA as a thought leader in the field of Higher Education and Student Affairs.
Amber leaves NACA with a strong foundation, a talented team, and clearly defined strategic priorities, and thanks to her intentional work in succession planning and organizational development, the Association is well-positioned for continued success. While her day-to-day leadership will be missed, our mission continues with unwavering commitment, and the strategic direction and priorities shaped with the Board's guidance position NACA confidently for its next chapter.
As we build on this strong foundation, I am pleased to share the Board has appointed Jameson Root, CAE as Interim Executive Director. Jameson has been a vital part of the NACA team since joining staff in 2019 and has served as Chief Operating Officer since July 2021. He has worked closely with staff, volunteers, and the Board to shape strategy, enhance member value, and champion initiatives such as The Case for Campus Activities, Considerations resources, Cohorts, and more. Behind the scenes, he has led the creation of the new website, a transition to a new association management system, streamlined social media engagement, and managed countless operational details to ensure NACA's live events run seamlessly.
Jameson brings to this role a wealth of experience in both higher education and association management. Over the course of his career, Jameson has held numerous leadership roles, including Chief Programs Officer at Kiwanis International, Assistant Director of the Memorial Union at Arizona State University, and Director of Student Affairs at the North American Interfraternity Conference, among others. He holds a Master of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science from Case Western Reserve University. His longstanding involvement in all aspects of NACA’s operations will ensure a smooth transition as we maintain momentum on our strategic objectives.
Please join me in expressing our deep gratitude to Amber for her tireless advocacy, her commitment to the profession, and her lasting contributions to NACA. We wish her every success in this next chapter. At the same time, we welcome Jameson into this interim leadership role with full confidence in his ability to guide NACA forward during this period of transition.
The Board will soon begin a comprehensive search process for NACA’s next Executive Director and will approach this process with transparency, rigor, and thoughtful engagement at every step. We are committed to keeping members informed at key milestones and will share updates as they become available.
The Association’s vision to create college communities where everyone belongs remains at the heart of our work, and the strategic objectives we have set will remain our focus as we move confidently into the next chapter. We look forward to seeing you at the fall conferences and upcoming webinars.
Best,
Alicia Bates, Ed.D.
Chair, Board of Directors