By Katie Rendon, MA, Registrar, Hebrew Union College, Chair of the State & Regional Relations Committee, N&E Committee Member
State and Regional ACRAOs provide a myriad of networking and professional development opportunities for their members. To demonstrate the value S&R associations provide, I reached out to S&R members to learn about their firsthand experiences.
Below are accounts from Nathan Hoff (Missouri), Caroline Kinney (Upper Midwest), Molly McDermott-Fallon (Ohio), and Tina Miller (Washington & Pacific), who all generously shared their thoughts regarding how involvement in their S&R association has impacted their growth. Catch up on Part 1 if you missed hearing from New England, Wisconsin, Illinois & Upper Midwest, and Chesapeake & Potomac S&R advocates.
Can you describe your involvement with S&R association(s) and what motivated you to get involved initially?
Nathan Hoff: I serve as our Vice President for Government Relations. My predecessor in the position was the first person to serve in this role. I regularly attended the legislative session she gave at our annual conference, and she invited me to join her in an effort to expand participation beyond her individually to what has now become our Government Relations team.
Caroline Kinney: When I moved to Iowa and started working at Des Moines University, I learned that my office was a member of UMACRAO, but we didn't always attend the conference. I received permission and professional development funding to attend the 2022 conference, but no one else from my office wanted to drive to Fargo, so I went by myself! It was a little scary to walk into the conference knowing absolutely no one, but I quickly made friends and was "adopted" by colleagues from other schools. The 2023 conference was in Des Moines, so my new friends encouraged me to join the Local Arrangements Committee. I signed up and have been involved with UMACRAO ever since.
Molly McDermott-Fallon: My involvement with OhioACRAO started with committee service—Local Arrangements, Program, Membership & Mentoring, and Professional Development. From there, I stepped into leadership as Vice President of Membership & Mentoring, before returning to committee work. Soon after, I was asked to fill a vacancy on the Board as Vice President of Workshops. That experience led me back to Local Arrangements, this time as Co-Chair for the Ohio Annual Conference. In 2019, I was honored to be elected into the Presidential cycle, serving as President and continuing to support the association in multiple ways afterward. What motivated me initially was my supervisor’s encouragement to join a committee. Just as important, I saw the success and growth of colleagues who were active in OhioACRAO and wanted to follow that example. Looking back, it was one of the best career decisions I’ve made—it gave me leadership opportunities, professional development, and a network that has shaped my entire career.
Tina Miller: I became involved with S&R associations because I want these organizations to exist and thrive—I see them as a force for good—and I just felt that if I wanted them, I should play my part in supporting them through my time and efforts. I didn’t necessarily seek out leadership positions—I ended up as WaACRAO President largely because I was the last one to arrive at the board meeting and everyone else had already said “not it” to the President Elect role, and I certainly never thought I’d be the Treasurer of PACRAO, let alone the President. But there were situations where someone needed to fill a role, I had the ability to step up and help, and so I did.
How has your participation influenced your professional development or career trajectory?
Hoff: It’s had a positive role in increasing my interaction with peers across the state. This includes things like getting to know people through Executive Board participation, co-presenting with peers at our annual conference, and even just easier communication based on relationship development to feel comfortable messaging someone to ask how they do something at their institution.
Kinney: I think participation has given me perspective, and community—we are often struggling with similar issues as other schools, and I don't need to reinvent the wheel at my university for everything. There's this vast network of colleagues that you reach out to and get input from, and they might spark an idea, or they might be doing something brilliant that you can adopt to your campus. Higher education is a uniquely collaborative field, and while we may sometimes compete for students, we are all invested in helping to make things better for our students. I've been able to gain leadership experience by serving as a committee co-chair and President-Elect, and I hope that in the future, this leadership experience will help me advance my career.
McDermott-Fallon: Yes—absolutely, 1000% yes—OhioACRAO has influenced my professional development and career trajectory and provided me with invaluable opportunities to network, which is critical in our profession. Through OhioACRAO, I have built a strong support network across the state, gained mentors who guided me when I was new to the field, and had trusted colleagues to exchange ideas with during key career decisions. These mentors also stood by me during an unexpected time of transition, offering both professional and personal support. Beyond mentorship, OhioACRAO has given me lifelong friendships and professional relationships that continue to shape my career. I truly would not be serving as Assistant Vice Provost and University Registrar at my alma mater without the foundation that OhioACRAO helped me build. OACRAO prepared me for what was next—by listening, learning, and observing others, while also creating the space for me to grow and contribute. The relationships and skills I developed through OhioACRAO have been absolutely vital to my professional journey.
Miller: For me, a big result has been gaining a network of friends and colleagues across the country—though I may appear confident, I’m an introvert by nature and generally shy. I’ve had to push through that in my roles, and it’s been just a great way to meet and bond with people. I’ve been able to reach out to this network and get advice and talk through situations, and if I were ever to be looking for a new role, I think the connections would be helpful.
Have you experienced any moments of personal growth or transformation through your S&R involvement?
Hoff: When I would go to our legislative sessions at our annual conference, I would always wonder how my predecessor knew the information that they did. It’s been really helpful for me to learn how to educate myself and stay informed about what’s happening legislatively around me. We now incorporate a segment into our annual legislative session where we help the membership to be aware of the various resources available to them.
Kinney: Whenever I attend an AACRAO or S&R event, I am struck by the sense that "these are my people." My colleagues in UMACRAO have encouraged, uplifted, and had faith in me when things have been tough, and I have developed close personal friendships as a result of my UMACRAO involvement. I only hope that I can pay that feeling forward to other colleagues in the future, and I strive to ensure that everyone feels welcome at our events.
McDermott-Fallon: Through OhioACRAO, I discovered what I wanted my career to be: I learned that I wanted to be a Registrar and what it would take to become one. Each opportunity helped me grow, and with every Board cycle, I uncovered new strengths that I was able to bring back into my current role. The most defining moment of my growth came during my time as Past President of OhioACRAO. I was in my final year of the Presidential cycle, just as we were emerging from COVID, when the Registrar at my institution passed away—two significant and unexpected events converging at once. Stepping into leadership in both spaces taught me what I was truly made of. I learned how to adapt, lead through uncertainty, and succeed in circumstances I never could have imagined.
Miller: With each experience, I’ve gone from “I don’t think I can do this” to “I did it.” I’ve learned that I’m capable of more than I might give myself credit for.
What advice would you give to someone considering getting involved in their State or Regional ACRAO association?
Hoff: Start by joining a committee to get a feel for whether you enjoy participating in the type of work the committee does. Once you find your niche, if you have the desire to become more involved over time in an expanded role, share that with your committee chair. My predecessor was great about allowing me to take on more responsibility over time while still in the committee role, so that when it became time to move into the Executive Board role, I felt more prepared to do so. I also think it’s a great idea to document your experience for those who will serve in your role in the future. For my current role, I built a role guide detailing the current responsibilities and providing step-by-step instructions on the technical resources we use to communicate with membership. While roles always change, I think it’s helpful to have a starting point for all of the various functions we do within our state organization to provide some continuity with the natural personnel changes that occur as terms expire.
Kinney: Channel Nike's famous ad campaign and "just do it!" Our S&R associations need input, perspective, and volunteers to make our work happen, and leadership isn't just for extroverts. If you're not ready to dive in and chair a committee, start by joining the committee and learning the ropes. And you can try out different committees over the years to learn new things and expand your skills!
McDermott-Fallon: DO IT! Don’t hesitate—get involved. There are opportunities both big and small, and you never know where your career will take you. Getting involved allows you to build an invaluable network within your state and region. You’ll meet colleagues who may someday join your institution—or whose institution you may join. Participation also helps you develop new skills and step outside your comfort zone in ways your institution might not offer. Yes, it can feel intimidating at first, but don’t let that stop you. You will not regret the investment of time and energy. I tell people often: if I hadn’t gotten involved with OhioACRAO, I wouldn’t have met one of my best friends—or the many colleagues I now have the privilege to call friends. State and regional associations are a lot like college: you get out of them what you put in, and you truly shape the experience into what you want it to be.
Miller: Just do it. You don’t have to be a superstar or one of the “cool kids” to be involved (source: I am for sure not one of the “cool kids”). We all have different strengths and skills, and when we combine them, that’s when the good things happen!
Are you ready to join an S&R association?