1)Basic Information:

a.Name: Yselande Pierre

b.Institution: Florida International University

c.Title: Assistant Director

d.Department: Campus Life

2)PleasedescribewhyyouareinterestedinbecomingaDirectoratememberwiththeCommissionforAssessmentEvaluation.

I am interested in becoming a Directorate member because I enjoy assessment and evaluation and I don’t get to do it much in my daily activities in my current position. Being a member of the directorate affords me that opportunity.

3)Howdoyoubelieveyourpastexperienceandexpertiseinthefieldofassessmentinstudentaffairswillrelatetoyourposition onthe Directorate?

My past experience and expertise in the field of assessment in student affairs was mainly as a novice researcher who was willing to learn. My moving thorough novice to proficient in assessment will be beneficial to the directorate because I can share my story regarding my involvement in the commission and how that has helped me immensely as a member and team leader.

4)PleasedescribeanypreviousinvolvementintheCommissionforAssessmentandEvaluation,oranyotherACPA-relatedwork/presentations.

Team Leader- Convention Programs (2 terms).

5)BelowyouwillfindalistofcommitteesinwhichDirectoratememberscollaboratethroughouttheyear.PleaseprovideONE idea thatyoubelieve couldbenefitthe Commissionasitrelatesto anyoneofthese committees:

  1. StudentAffairsAssessmentInstitute: Planning, implementing, and evaluating the annual Institute
  2. Communications: Coordinate and provide regular updates for blog, website, and social media; liaison with workgroups
  3. Commission Logistics: Coordinate convention activities, elections process, and orientation for new members
  4. Convention Program Series: Identify hot topics/best practices; solicit programs and lead presenters
  5. CAS: Work with ACPA CAS liaison to provide resources
  6. Webinars: Identify topics; plan, implement, and evaluate 3-4 webinars
  7. Online Learning: Work with the International Office to develop 2+online learning modules on assessment topics
  8. Book Discussions: Develop 4 article/book discussions utilizing various methods (webinar, social media)
  9. Publications: Coordinate 2-3 publications on theme-based or stand-alone topics; team to plan/author or recruit writers

Because I was the team leader for the Convention Program Series, I would like us as a directorate to take the time and clearly define or revisit the purpose of this committee. In the process of defining or revisiting, we should think about assisting or encouraging members in the commission to work on formulating their ideas or presentationsduring or right after convention, and then following up with them, possibly every two weeks, until the submission due date.

6)After reading the introductory statement below about the ACPA Leader Selection Process, take a moment to reflect on your own experiences at the intersections of equity, inclusion and diversity. How will your experiences help you in our work to champion equity, inclusion and diversity within and outside the ACPA community?

In my work as the Assistant Director in Campus Life-BBC at FIU, I set the intention every day to make sure that students, staff, and the community matter in the interactions they have with our department. Setting the intention did not come naturally. Through practicing mindfulness, I was able to hone the skill of intention. Because I have this mindfulness and I am a member of a group that wants equity, inclusion, and diversity every day, I can hold my peers in the ACPA community accountable and give them a different perspective from the lens of a Black woman.

Introductory Statement

The ACPA Leader Nomination and Election process provides a defining moment in the development of our organization. It is an opportunity to ensure that people with the necessary competencies are leading ACPA and providing governance that will secure the future of the organization, fulfill the objectives of the association, and deliver long lasting sustainable benefits and results. It is also an opportunity to try to ensure that from the outset as many leaders as possible have an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion understanding and competencies, as well as commitment and confidence to deliver on the explicit strategic priorities of ACPA.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion skills are critical requirements of leadership in ACPA. Embedding and integrating Equity, Diversity and Inclusion into core or mainstream activities is a competence organizations have struggled with in the past, but ACPA has a legacy and a commitment to get this right.

The capability for getting this right must include knowledge, skills and experience engaging and partnering with individuals and groups from multiple identities and the capacity to integrate a diversity of views and information into the decision-making of leadership. Ultimately, ACPA is acting as a champion for students, faculty and other staff and their interests, ensuring high standards of quality and consistency of support and growth for all.