Update from the Conference Chair

In the season of St. Patrick’s Day, I feel so lucky to be a College Counselor!  Every day I get to help students plan for their future.  As a group, we are fortunate that we have each other for help, advice, encouragement or even a much needed laugh.  As both a celebration of our hard work and an opportunity to enrich our knowledge, the conference chairs are eagerly preparing for our annual conference, “Going the Extra Mile for Students.” You will see that many things are the same; however, the conference chairs have some exciting surprises in store for you during May 4-6th at The Westin in Itasca.

Opening Speaker

IACAC is very excited to announce the opening speaker, Dr. Rob Kelly.

Robert Kelly is the Vice President for Student Development and clinical professor of higher education at Loyola University Chicago, the largest of the Jesuit Universities.  Previously he served in a similar role at Seattle University.  In his role he provides leadership for the advocacy, development and coordination of co-curricular and spiritual initiatives, services and activities to promote the academic, personal and professional development of all students.  Prior to these positions, he served as Assistant Vice President at Seattle University, Associate Dean of Students at The University of Vermont and Coordinator of the Academic Integrity at The University of Maryland.  Rob received his Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland, his master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from The University of Vermont and a Bachelors degree in Political Science, from Loyola College in Maryland, where he serves on the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Kelly’s research focuses on the areas of administrative ethical decision-making in Higher Education and the ways in which college students’ experiences with diversity prepare them for active citizenship and leadership.

Volunteer!

Be a volunteer for registration or evaluations. We have plenty of spaces to fill and these committees won’t take too much of your time! Signing up is as easy as filling out this online form.

Project Reach and Sister Schools Project

The Project Reach co-chairs are working on deciding who the next recipient will be. We hope to touch the lives of many students so please consider “going the extra mile” and donating school supplies and college counseling items.

This year, the Mentorship Committee has taken on a new project to help fellow counseling offices. The Sister Schools Project is a chance for counseling offices to donate their gently used or extra college guides and materials to schools that don’t have as many resources for their students. Please bring extra materials to conference, as there will be an opportunity to swap as needed. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Kremer, Nate Bargar, or Allegra Giulietti-Schmitt.

Raffle Donations

Each year, IACAC holds a silent auction during its annual conference to help raise funds to support our educational programs. We are now accepting donations, gift baskets and gift cards for the silent auction and would love your support!

Please start by submitting your donation description. Then, please mail your donation by April 8, 2011 to: Courtney Wallace, 1416 B Skyridge Drive, Crystal Lake, IL 60014.

For any questions or concerns you may contact the Raffle Co-Chairs: Courtney Wallace, (815) 236-3256, or Michelle DeFranco, (630) 617-3086.

Sponsorship Opportunities

This year’s Conference will have an exciting addition: the Conference Social Media & Communications Committee will be providing two large projectors and screens in the ballroom that will display information about upcoming Conference events, recap IACAC achievements throughout the year, and IACAC trivia before and after lunch and other meetings.

This new feature will provide an excellent opportunity to get your institution’s name and logo out in front of a large audience during peak Conference times. If you are interested in sponsoring, please contact Laura Docherty, Fenwick High School, Conference Chair and President-Elect.

Continuing Education Units

This year, CEUs will be offered to counseling professionals. As more information becomes available on this great opportunity for high school counselors, please check back on the Conference website.

Conference Schedule

Many great sessions and activities are planned for this year’s conference. With a wide variety of offerings, all conference attendees are sure to find something informative and entertaining. Check out the Conference-At-a-Glance Schedule and an overview of the sessions that will be offered. We’re finalizing the sessions now and in-depth session descriptions will be available online shortly.

In Closing…

There are a lot of new and exciting things happening at this year’s conference. Many surprises are in store, so don’t miss out: early registration ends on Thursday (after that, a $35 late fee applies), so register online now and reserve your hotel room. Don’t forget, wireless internet will be available at no charge in your room as a hotel guest!

Laura Docherty
Fenwick High School
Annual Conference Chair