Danielle Flores Lopez, assistant director of student success in the Michigan State University College of Natural Science, has been selected as one of 10 participants worldwide for the 2019-2021 Emerging Leaders Program, or ELP, offered by the National Academic Advising Association, or NACADA.
ELP is a two-year program in which participants work closely with a mentor to gain the skills, experience and knowledge necessary to become leaders in university advising and move into leadership positions in NACADA.
“NACADA would like to see more diversity in its leadership, which is one of the reasons behind the Emerging Leaders Program,” Flores Lopez added.
Ten emerging leaders and 10 mentors are selected for each two-year program; the leaders and mentors then work closely together to establish a leadership development plan based on the emerging leader’s interests, expertise and goals for the future. The program not only leads to advanced positions in NACADA, but expanded opportunities in research, publishing and presenting in the advising field.
“I hope being paired with a mentor and being part of a small cohort focused on similar goals will provide a deeper understanding for both myself and NACADA about how we can expand our understanding of the advising profession around diversity, equity and inclusion to further advance NACADA,” said Flores Lopez, who is also a doctoral student in the MSU College of Education.
NACADA promotes student success by advancing the field of academic advising globally. Recognizing that effective academic advising is at the core of student success, NACADA aspires to be the premier global association for the development and dissemination of innovative theory, research and practice of academic advising in higher education.
“I continue to be impressed with Danielle’s constant pursuit of finding better ways to support and serve our students,” said Heidi Purdy, director of undergraduate studies in the NatSci Office of Academic Student Affairs. “This year, numerous new tasks were added to Danielle’s plate and she has shouldered all of them with incredible professionalism and strength. She is ready to take her leadership to the next level and beyond her campus responsibilities.”