AACRAO Elections Position Statement (President-Elect)
Leadership with proclamation is not leadership without preparation and implementation! Student Success Warriors, thank you for my nominations for President-Elect! I appreciate your consideration to serve in this capacity and thank you for allowing me to share my story of building my leadership. AACRAO and Anne Arundel Community College are my professional homes, and through the great relationships I have formed with members who have become friends and collaborators, my personal home, too.
When I think of AACRAO, I think of a blueprint of a home, with a foundation, walls, a roof, and much in-between. My foundation began as an admissions professional who has worked in graduate, undergraduate, transfer, and community college admissions. Interspersed has been my time as an academic adviser for transfer and dual enrollment students, and as a manager and VA certifying official of a one-stop shop at a military education center.
My AACRAO foundation began as a Student Access and Equity, Black Caucus, and Community College Issues committee member. The walls that structured my AACRAO professional home continued as the chair of Student Access and Equity and Nominations and Elections committees, and as the Group 5 Program Coordinator. The in between I referenced has been as a member of the Awards Committee and Disciplinary History in Admissions Workgroup, as a yearly Annual Meeting presenter of Current and Emerging Issues in Access and Equity, and as the recipient of the AACRAO Bilger Award in recognition of consistent vision, service, and leadership in AACRAO with seven or more years of volunteer service. The Chesapeake and Potomac AACRAO was established during my AACRAO construction. I am a founding Board member and former treasurer and have served on several committees. The roof is represented by my election as the Vice President of Access and Equity on the AACRAO Board of Directors from 2020-23 and my leadership as the chair of the Board’s Governance Committee from 2021-23. My leadership and the great work of this committee, with Board approval, resulted in the elevation of three By-law changes that were approved during the 2023 Annual Meeting. I am very proud of the establishment of the Young Professionals Caucus, too. Currently, I am the co-chairman of the Community College Issues Program Activities Committee (PAC). Community Colleges enroll nearly half of all college students and provide educational opportunities that many would not have available to them. During the Annual Meeting, the Roundtable: Community College Issues session experienced robust attendance. I want to capitalize on this momentum to elevate the representation and voice of community colleges.
A home can have multiple roof levels, and my selection as President-elect would be an opportunity to lead, engage, and work with our membership to implement programs and initiatives that improve your professional development, actualize your leadership, and demonstrate your value at your respective institutions. My leadership will focus on the construction of YOUR AACRAO home through mentorship, affordable and accessible content, access, equity, diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and belonging. I will advocate for safe spaces for diverse voices. Let’s work together to identify ways to embed these values in our daily work to improve enrollment and service to students, as we identify barriers to those who are not applying, enrolling, persisting, and completing.
I am hopeful that my story of the construction of my AACRAO professional and personal home will help you understand how I am prepared to lead AACRAO, and what to expect as you cast your vote for president-elect.
Bio:
Cassandra Moore is the Director of Admissions and Enrollment Development at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland. She has worked at every level of college admissions, but her passion for first-generation college students led her to community colleges. She has been an active member of AACRAO, and currently serves on its Board of Directors as the Vice President of Access and Equity.
Understanding that lack of opportunity and access is a social justice issue, she has focused her efforts on improving access, equity and inclusion in higher education and in her community. She is a member of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together, a women’s giving circle that awards grants up to $20,000 to non-profits who improve the lives of women, children and families. She has served on the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Disconnected Youth Workgroup, focused on 16-24 years old residents, who are not connected to school, family or work. Cassandra also serves on two Signature Program Integrated Community Stakeholder Teams (ICST) with business and political leaders focused on providing co-curricular workforce opportunities to high school students. She has served as a scholarship application reviewer for the Gates Millennium Scholars Foundation, and the United Negro College Fund STEM Scholars program. Her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has been recognized by her college and community.
She is the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Zeitgeist Award, Diversity Champion Award, YWCA Tribute to Women of Color Service to Youth Award, Minority Access, Inc. Role Model for Recruitment Award, and the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Education in Excellence Award. Previous experience includes the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Central Michigan University, and the Community College of Baltimore College. She is a proud wife, mother, and daughter of educators.
, | October 30, 2020 12:15 PM