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.
2024-2025 NEXT Roster
DACAC
Chris Danielson
Admissions Counselor
University of North Dakota
Cori Hup
Admissions Counselor
University of South Dakota
GPACAC
Drew Carr
Associate Director of Enrollment Operations
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Aaron Cook
Assistan Director of Out of State Recruitment
University of Missouri
Megan Zorch
College & Academic Advisor
Regen Preparatory School
HACAC
Leka Anitema
Post High Counselor
Maui High School
John Michael Rinen
Admissions Counselor
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Neal Sakaue
College and Career Counselor
Aiea High School
Illinois ACAC
Kristina Luster
Dean of Student Services
Mount Carmel High School
Mikaela Brown
Associate Director of Admission
Illinois College
Joel Johnson
Dean of Admission
Drake University
Indiana ACAC
Kiara Cross
College Admissions Coordinator
Ben Davis High School
Makaela Lochmueller
Assistant Director of Admissions
Wabash College
Amy Nicholas
Assistant Director of Admissions
Marian University
International ACAC
Joyce Agyare
IEC
Christina McDade
High School Counselor
Lincoln Community School
Iowa ACAC
Evan Favreau
Associate Director, First-Year Strategy
Drake University
KYACAC
Kevin Buckley
Admissions Counselor
University of Louisville
Erin Burke
Counselor
Sacred Heart Academy
Michigan ACAC
Jeronica Andrews-Avila
Counselor
Grant Rapids Christian High School
Dion Charity
Counselor
North View High School
Minnesota ACAC
Emily Albright
Assistant Director of Admissions
Minnesota State University Mankato
Kaia Sherburne
Associate Director of Transfer Admission
Hamline University
MOACAC
Emily Diaz
Guidance/College Advisor
Brentwood High School
Emily Sachs
Assistant Director of Admissions
Maryville University
NEACAC
Emily Casey
Assistant Director of Admissions
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Amanda Gaeb
Admissions Counselor
White Mountains Community College (WMCC)
Mia Ritter
Assistant Director of College Counseling
Lawrence Academy
NJACAC
Chris Hoffman
NY and NJ Admissions Counselor & Northeast Recruitment Coordinator
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Jessica Snover
Director of Admissions Recruitment
Lycoming College
Ashley Whittemore
School Counselor
Union Catholic Regional High School
NYSACAC
Madison Morgan
Admissions Counselor
University of Rochester
Anna Ragno
Director of First-Year Admission
St. Joseph’s university New York-Brooklyn
Robert Robinson
Senior Managing Network
Student Leadership Network
OACAC
Alexis (Lexie) Alvarado
Admissions Counselor
University of Toledo
Nina Reinbolt
Assistant Director
University of Akron
McKenzie Camerieri
Admissions Counselor
University of Akron
PNACAC
Alassane Diagne
Regional Admissions Counselor
Eastern Oregon University
Cameron Irving
Counseling Chair
Bellarmine Preparatory School
Tammy Schneider
Guidance Counselor
Renaissance High School
PACAC
Evan Beals
Assistant Director of Admissions
University of New Hampshire
Jenny Diamond
Director of Counseling
Conwell Egan Catholic High School
Sarah Marina
Enrollment Counselor
Pennsylvania college of Technology
PCACAC
Daesha Hordge
Senior Assistan Director of Admission
University of Richmond
Shameek Robinson
Parternship Director, Northeast
College Advising Corps
Michelle Snape
CCIC
Northwood High School
RMACAC
Brittany Baker-Brousseau
Senior Associate Director of Operations
University of Utah
Justin Duval
Senior Admissions Counselor
Oklahoma State University
SACAC
Jade Domingue
IEC
Jade College Counseling LLC
Rose Llanos
Senior Assistant Director of Admission
Lynn University
Nancy Wolfe
District College Counselor
New Century Technology High School
TACAC
Bertita Barrientos-Kimery
Assistant Director of Admission – Texas Regional Representative
Butler University
Zach Lozano
Recruitment Coordinator, Southern Region
University of Michigan
Charles Robinson
Admissions Counselor
University of Arkansas
Western ACAC
Hillary Higgins
Associate Director of Academic Advising & College Guidance
Geffen Academy at UCLA
Duanduan Hsieh
Sr. Assistant Dean of Admission
Occidental College
Ryan Pietranton
College Counselor
Bishop Gorman High School
Wisconsin ACAC
Megan Baryenbruch
Assistant Director of Admissions
Univeristy of St. Thomas
Patrick Correia Harker
Director of Undergraduate Admissions Recruitment
Marquette University
