​Candidate Statements for 2020-2021 Elections

President Elect 2020-2021 (Select ONE)
  • Catherine Preston, University of South Alabama 
I have worked at the Director of Academic Advising & Transfer Services (formerly the First Year Advising Center) at the University of South Alabama for six years. Prior to this, I was an Assistant Director and Associate Director in the College of Arts & Sciences Advising Office at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I began my advising career as an Academic Advisor in the Academic Support Center at the University of Mississippi and have been a member of NACADA for over twenty years. For the past two years, I have served ECAAN as a member-at-large, and I have so enjoyed collaborating with colleagues from across the region. Membership in ECAAN has provided advisors a wonderful opportunity to network and grow professionally. I look forward to our continued success in expanding our membership and providing innovative and key development opportunities for advisors. 

Member at Large 2020-2022 (Select ONE)
  • Patty Davis, University of South Alabama 
Beginning in 2016, I have had the pleasure of serving as the Associate Director of Academic Advising and Transfer Services (AATS) at the University of South Alabama. In addition to my duties as the associate director I have had the opportunity to stay directly involved in the advising of students. Prior to coming to AATS I was on faculty in the Department of Chemistry here at the University since 1998. In my time on faculty I was an active academic advisor and involved in many on campus committees both in leadership and participatory roles. As a presenter and participant in ECAAN’S annual workshops I recognize the important role this organization provides to the advising community. In bringing together advisors from our regional area who are working in environments that are very similar in nature, ECAAN provides the perfect arena to share ideas and more importantly support. This is incredibly helpful as higher education goes through continuous change and especially for our new advisors as they learn about the field and begin to establish their careers. Having the opportunity to serve as a
member-at-large would be very rewarding and would present me with an opportunity to use my experience to contribute to this organization which has become an important resource for our advising community.

Secretary 2020-2022 (Select ONE)
  • Susan Martin, University of West Florida
I have served as an Academic Advisor at UWF for three years this April. Previously, I worked as a School Counselor for 15 years. I have also served as an Academic Advisor in the Student Success program at Darton College (Georgia) where we advised all students who were enrolled in remedial classes. For two years, I served as the director for a nonprofit organization in rural southwest Georgia serving children and families which was funded entirely through grants and donations. I enjoy opportunities to help people develop their potential. I feel as though I am always learning. It would be an honor to serve as secretary of ECAAN and be part of a team of people promoting academic advising in our region. 

Emerald Coast Academic Advising Network

An Allied Organization of