Kristin Smigielski

Slated Position: 2027-2028 N&E Committee Member Candidate

Position Statement

I am interested in serving on AACRAO’s Nominations and Elections Committee because I genuinely enjoy the work we do in AACRAO and believe strongly in the value of professional involvement and leadership development. Throughout my career, AACRAO has provided opportunities to learn from colleagues across the country, share ideas, and grow as a leader. I would welcome the opportunity to help others find those same opportunities.

One of the things I value most about AACRAO is the diversity of perspectives within the membership. As a community college leader, I understand the importance of ensuring that leadership reflects the broad range of institutions, roles, and experiences represented across the association. I believe everyone should have a voice, and I would like to help identify and encourage talented members who may not always see themselves as future AACRAO leaders.

If elected, one of my primary goals would be to help recruit and support a diverse pool of candidates who represent the many institution types, functional areas, and career experiences that make up AACRAO. Being from a community college, I understand the importance of having a diverse representation of insitutiaons in leadership roles. Strong leadership is built when a variety of perspectives are represented, and I would work to ensure that members from all sectors of higher education feel encouraged to participate and serve.

I would also like to encourage greater member engagement by helping professionals at all career stages explore leadership opportunities within the association. Many AACRAO members have valuable insights and experiences to contribute, and I believe the Nominations and Elections Committee plays an important role in identifying and cultivating future leaders.

In addition, I would bring an enrollment management perspective and a process-improvement mindset to the committee’s work. Throughout my career, I have focused on evaluating processes, identifying opportunities for improvement, and finding ways to make systems more effective and accessible. I would apply that same approach to supporting a nominations and elections process that is transparent, welcoming, and easy for members to navigate.

Most importantly, I see this role as an opportunity to give back to an organization that has contributed significantly to my professional growth. There is so much value in the networking opportunities of AACRAO. I would be honored to help identify and support future leaders while ensuring AACRAO leadership continues to reflect the voices, experiences, and needs of its diverse membership.

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