For the first time ever, Fairmont State University hosted the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Region 3 conference with almost 300 professionals in Charleston, W.Va.

Jennifer Jones, director of exploratory advising, and Dedra Cobb, academic advisor for the College of Liberal Arts, co-chaired the event. 

“This conference is a great way to get professional advisors together because we found there’s not a lot of professional development for advising that’s easy to get to,” she said. “NACADA helps to educate professional advisors and the conference does that in our state along with Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tenneessee.”

The three-day conference offered educational sessions and networking opportunities for those involved. 

“A lot of people don’t realize it’s a profession and that there are advising theories and best practices, better ways of doing things,” Jones said. “It’s nice to have that collaboration and networking, we get to take ideas we can realistically implement and see results of them and maintain them.” 

Dr. Carol Tannous, director of strategic initiatives and student success for the School of Education, Health & Human Performance, Coordinator for the Wilderness Explorer First Year Seminar Program, and Coordinator for the newly implemented SOAR First Year Seminar Program, was the keynote speaker for the conference. 

Cobb said the conference is a great opportunity to get with colleagues that share the same passions about working with students. 

“The conferences themselves, not just NACADA as an organization, are really great not only for professional advisors but for everyone from a faculty advisor to support staff,” she said. “Everyone can get something out of it because of the unique sessions.”