Board of Directors Election
NACA Now 2025 & Board of Directors Candidates Presentations
We hope to see you at NACA Live on Monday, Feb. 17 at 9:00 a.m. ET for NACA Now, our annual business meeting, and hear from the Board of Directors Candidates. If you are unable to join in-person, the meeting will be uploaded to the NACA Resource Library for you to review. We encourage you to review the candidates' resumes and bios below prior to attending NACA Now.
Candidates will present on the following prompt: Higher education is facing challenges on multiple fronts - waning public trust, the impending enrollment cliff, and questions regarding the value of a college education to name a few. Each of these issues affects NACA members, and ultimately, the association itself. How should NACA respond to these issues in support of its members?
2025 Candidates
- Vincent Bowhay, Ed.D., Highland Community College (KS)
- Jarrick Brown, University of Colorado at Denver
- Cateatra Mallard, Florida A&M University
- Jackie Weber, Saint Louis University (MO)
Click on each candidate below to learn more:
Vincent Bowhay, Ed.D.
About Me
Dr. Vincent Bowhay is the 45th president of Highland Community College, bringing a wealth of experience to this role. He holds degrees from Washburn University, Ball State University, and Baker University, with an LGBTQ executive leadership certificate from Stanford University. With a strong background in higher education, Bowhay has contributed to institutions like Missouri Western State, Fort Hays State, and Independence Community College. His recent book, "The Proper Role of Higher Education in a Democratic Society," explores the essential role of education in shaping leaders and fostering civic engagement for a stronger democracy.
What should be the most important items on the Board of Directors agenda that impact campus engagement over the next five years?
The Board should prioritize the following items:
- Mental Health and Well-Being: With the increasing pressures students face, a comprehensive mental health strategy is essential. This includes advocating for accessible counseling services, wellness programs, and creating a supportive environment that encourages resilience.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Implementing initiatives that foster a diverse and inclusive campus environment will help students feel valued and supported. This includes diverse hiring practices, creating safe spaces, and ensuring a curriculum that reflects various perspectives.
- Community Engagement and Civic Responsibility: Encouraging students to engage with local and global communities through service-learning programs, internships, and collaborative partnerships with local organizations strengthens the connection between campus and the broader society.
- Technology Integration in Learning: Adapting to the rapid evolution of technology is crucial. The Board should focus on ensuring that infrastructures support innovative learning tools, remote learning options, and enhancing digital literacy.
Jarrick Brown
About Me
Jarrick V. Brown serves as the Director of Student Life & Campus Community at the University of Colorado Denver, where he oversees student engagement, leadership programs, and campus-wide initiatives. With over a decade of experience in higher education, Jarrick is passionate about empowering students to lead, serve, and create inclusive communities. As the NACA Central Regional Chair and a recipient of the Outstanding Diversity Achievement Award, he brings a collaborative approach to enhancing student experiences. Jarrick’s leadership philosophy centers on mentorship, advocacy, and fostering environments where students thrive personally and academically.
What should be the most important items on the Board of Directors agenda that impact campus engagement over the next five years?
The Board of Directors should prioritize expanding NACA’s scope to reflect the evolving responsibilities of student activities offices, which now include leadership development, civic engagement, volunteer programming, fraternity and sorority life, student government, and student organizations alongside traditional programming. Integrating these functional areas into NACA’s offerings will provide resources, training, and opportunities that support professionals managing diverse portfolios. With Generation Z shaping current engagement and Generation Alpha entering higher education by 2028, NACA must revamp its approaches to align with these generations’ values, needs, and learning styles by leveraging technology, fostering inclusivity, and addressing mental health challenges through well-being-focused engagement. Strengthening professional development for advisors will empower them to deliver innovative and inclusive programming. By broadening its focus and proactively adapting, NACA can remain a vital resource in creating transformative student experiences and meeting the evolving demands of campus engagement.
Cateatra Mallard
About Me
Cateatra D. Mallard is a dynamic charismatic higher education professional. Making her imprint, she serves as the Director of the Efferson Student Union & Activities at the #1 public HBCU, Florida A&M University. Among her many accomplishments, she is a proud graduate of Hampton University, receiving her BA in Psychology and MA in Counseling with a concentration in Student Affairs Administration, and pursuing an Executive Ph.D. in Higher Education from Jackson State University. She has dedicated ten years to student engagement, leadership development, and elevating student experiences. Cateatra is a change agent who leads with passion, purpose, integrity, and humility.
What should be the most important items on the Board of Directors agenda that impact campus engagement over the next five years?
As the association completes its 2022-2025 strategic plan, there is an opportunity to imagine the future of campus activities and higher education while identifying new agenda items. Shifts in the political landscape and ongoing legislative efforts are impacting higher education and many of the association's members. The departure of mid and senior-level managers, combined with turnover, and constant institutional shifts in priorities and budgetary cuts can potentially affect revenue growth and volunteer retention. Strengthening fundraising efforts and exploring external partnerships and sponsorships are critical for future sustainability. As technology evolves, integrating artificial intelligence into campus activities will emerge within student engagement, inclusive of the usage of digital/social platforms, which may require more innovation and training. Meanwhile, live in-person entertainment, and artists/talent acquisition are changing, presenting new challenges and opportunities. The association is uniquely positioned to rethink and innovate in virtual and in-person engagement, staying amidst and ahead of these trends.
Jackie Weber
About Me
Jackie serves as the Director of Student Involvement at Saint Louis University. She is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of service in student engagement, residence life, fraternity/sorority life, and orientation. She has been involved with NACA since 2003, having volunteered at both a regional and national level for many years. The majority of her experience is within the business connections team, having also served as a co-lead at a Programming Board Institute, assisted with the curriculum redesign for PBI, and served as a subject area expert for the Campus Activities Student Affairs Certification through the Higher Education Consortium.
What should be the most important items on the Board of Directors agenda that impact campus engagement over the next five years?
The landscape for campus invovlement has changed significantly in the last five years, and I believe the association can play a huge role in how this looks on campus for the next several generations. We need to continue the conversation about how business is conducted in our field, and keep making modifications to merge the gap between school and associate members. With the association's focus on creating college communities where everyone belongs, we have potential to set the standard which all universities use to measure sense of belonging. Lastly, I believe that there is opportunity to re-evaluate how we engage our members in live events, and to possibly change how these are offered.
Voting FAQs
Who can vote?
Only the primary contact of a school member institution may vote for board of directors candidates.
How do I vote?
NACA will use the ElectionBuddy platform to conduct the Board of Directors election. See the directions listed out after this FAQs section.
Each member institution's primary contact will receive an email notice to access the ballot around Noon ET on Feb. 17, 2025.
The voting process is simple - click the unique access link, make your choice, verify your choice, and submit your ballot.
You do not need an ElectionBuddy account to vote.
When is voting?
Voting is open for a 7-day period.
Voting opens after NACA Now, the annual business meeting, held during NACA Live each year.
For 2025, the voting period will be:
- Opens: Monday, Feb. 17 at 12:00 p.m. ET
- Closes: Monday, Feb. 24 at 12:00 p.m. ET
What if I'm not a primary contact?
If you are not your institution's primary contact, we encourage you to connect with your institution's primary contact to discuss the candidates and share your thoughts on how your institution should vote.
Who's our primary contact?
If you are unsure of who your institution’s primary contact is, please contact [email protected].
What if our primary contact changed recently?
If your primary contact has recently changed, please contact [email protected] to ensure our records are up to date and your new primary contact is able to vote.
For 2025, please update you primary contact information by Monday, Feb. 10 to be able to vote in the 2025 Election.
How many candidates can I vote for?
The number of candidates you may vote for in any given year is dependent on the number of board positions that will be vacant.
For 2025, there are two (2) general board member positions available, so members may vote for 2 candidates.
Voting with ElectionBuddy
School primary contacts will receive an email around Noon ET on February 17, 2025. The email will contain a unique link to access the ElectionBuddy online voting platform. Each link is unique to the individual voter, so please do not forward or reply to the email. Pay attention to the voting deadline and cast your ballot before the end of the election period.
Sample Election Email:
The ballot will list out the candidates in a random order and links to information about each candidate. The maximum number of candidates you can vote for depends on the number of open seats in a given year, so double check the voting instructions for how many candidates you should vote for. Mark your vote(s) in the check box and then click "Continue."
Sample Ballot:
The next step is to review your selections. If you need to make a change, click on the "Edit" button to go back to the ballot. If you are satisfied with your selections, click on "Submit" to cast your ballot. Once you click Submit, you are unable to make any changes.
Sample review ballot:
After you hit submit, you will see a confirmation page. You are now done voting!
Sample Confirmation:
