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