Dr. Lakiesa Rawlinson serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University of West Georgia.

Twenty years of progressive leadership in student affairs, combined with nearly two decades of active SACSA involvement since 2005, have prepared me to serve effectively as President-Elect. My journey from committee volunteer to Executive Board member has provided deep insights into SACSA’s mission, values, and the collegial culture that makes our association thrive.

My leadership approach integrates strategic thinking with relational excellence. Assessment tools like Emergenetics and StrengthsFinder identify me as an achiever, strategic thinker, and relationship-builder—qualities that enable me to partner confidently with diverse stakeholders, analyze data for informed decision-making, and create structures that transform ambitious goals into reality. As a transformational leader, I inspire collaboration while sustaining core values and cultivating belonging among members.

Currently serving as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University of West Georgia, I oversee multiple departments including Housing and Residence Life, Student Involvement and Inclusion, and Community Standards, while chairing our behavior intervention team. My faculty experience in Higher Education programs allows me to mentor new professionals about student affairs foundations. Additionally, I serve on the board of Partners Advancing for Student Success, a nonprofit organization where I lead fundraising efforts that provide basic needs support for high school students overcoming barriers.

As President-Elect, I will leverage this experience to advance SACSA’s mission of inclusivity, professional development, and scholarship. I am particularly committed to expanding mentorship and professional growth opportunities for new professionals, enhancing our association’s relevancy through outreach, marketing, and meaningful experiences, and strengthening members’ (at all levels) sense of belonging. This role will strengthen my association-level leadership skills, expand my professional network, and deepen my ability to serve our profession at the regional level.

I am honored to seek this opportunity to give back to the association that has shaped my career.

Dr. Angela Taylor is the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Students at the University of Louisville.

As a leader, I have strengths, attributes, and experiences that would be beneficial in a leadership role with the SACSA Executive Council. I have excellent problem-solving abilities, a commitment to success and well-being, and a dedication to collaboration. I care about those I interact with, and I take the time to listen to others. I lead with integrity and respect. I regularly participate in workshops, trainings, and professional development events to grow as a leader. I am not afraid to ask difficult questions but always with respect and professionalism. I am committed to inclusion, and this is evident in my work with several departments, units, and areas across campus and throughout SACSA. SACSA’s mission is one built on inclusion, professionalism, and collegiality.

If you joined me for a day or week on campus, you would find me juggling a myriad of challenges, assisting staff across the Division in resolving those challenges, and creating connections between departments. You would see me modeling the values of inclusion, professionalism, and collegiality. I believe it’s the people who we work with, volunteer with, and who we serve, who are the ones that matter.

In the roles of Member-at-Large and Conference Chair for the SACSA Conference in Norfolk, I attended Executive Council meetings. I learned from those team members and leaders. As the SACSA Foundation Chair, I have had many opportunities to partner and collaborate with the Association. I believe in the mission and values of the Association, and I am ready to take on the President-Elect position. Should I be slated and elected to the role, I know I will continue to grow as a leader. I am certain it will be challenging and rewarding, and I can confidently say: I am ready for that work.

Dr. Veneta Fricks serves as Associate Dean of Students at the University of Central Arkansas.

As a mid-level student affairs leader and current Associate Dean of Students, I bring a blend of vision, collaboration, and results-driven leadership that directly aligns with SACSA’s mission to advance professional development, scholarship, and the student affairs profession. My work has consistently centered on building inclusive communities, empowering staff and students, and fostering partnerships across divisions. As President of the University of Central Arkansas Staff Senate, I have successfully championed initiatives that enhanced professional development funding, recognized staff contributions, and created new avenues for engagement efforts that mirror SACSA’s values of inclusiveness, collegiality, and professionalism.

I am particularly passionate about member engagement and community building. My leadership of initiatives such as the Bear Civility Campaign and UCA Staff Grants demonstrates my ability to create and execute meaningful programs that both educate and inspire. These experiences have sharpened my skills in cultivating volunteer engagement, supporting diverse voices, and developing strategic communication, all directly relevant to the Vice President for Member Engagement role. In this capacity, I will work to expand SACSA’s reach by ensuring committees are well-supported, building transparent pathways for volunteers, and fostering intentional spaces for members to connect across functional areas and career stages.

I will also contribute by advancing SACSA’s mission of scholarship and ethical practice through my ongoing commitment to presenting at professional conferences and mentoring emerging professionals. My goal is to amplify voices within the association, particularly those of new professionals and underrepresented groups, to strengthen our community and prepare the next generation of leaders.

In turn, I hope to benefit from the opportunity to serve by deepening my engagement with SACSA’s robust network of professionals, learning innovative strategies from colleagues, and broadening my perspective on emerging issues in higher education. Serving on the executive council would allow me to both give back to an association that has nurtured my growth and expand my capacity to lead with courage, compassion, and strategic foresight on behalf of SACSA members.

Kaci Wilhite Greene is the Director of Student Development Support & Engagement at Midlands Technical College.

My first involvement in SACSA began was I was a first-year graduate student at the University of South Carolina. What I found was a professional development home that would support my professional and personal development for the next twenty plus years. I carry the experience of being a SACSA graduate student, a new professional, a mid-manager, and now a doctoral student into this role-- experiencing first-hand the ways SACSA engage its members at various levels.

As your Vice President of Member Engagement, cultivating and infusing the mission and core values of SACSA in every task and interaction will be and is already second nature to me. I have spent the majority of my professional career in roles responsible for encouraging and building community on two-year college campuses. My work in Student Activities and as a direct report of the CSAO at my institution for nearly a decade with division responsibilities has prepared me to be your next Vice President of Member Engagement. Getting and keeping individuals engaged, promoting and cultivating access and inclusivity, supporting and advising leaders, assessing programs, and working collaboratively with various stakeholders and levels of leadership is the work I do in my day-to-day role that will transfer seamlessly to the role of Vice President of Member Engagement.

I would be remiss if I did not mention one of the most unique attributes I would bring to the Executive Council. I have worked for nearly twenty years in two-year colleges in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. With two-year colleges serving thirty-nine percent of US undergraduate students (American Association of Community Colleges, 2024), I think the perspective of Student Affairs practitioners that serve two-year college students is essential for this association to thrive in the coming years.

Dr. Cassidy Nelson is the Executive Director of Admissions at the University of West Georgia.

When referring to my strengths, I like to use my top 5 strengths from Gallup as the anchor. For me, those include Woo, Communication, Activator, Positivity, and lncluder. These strengths truly guide my leadership philosophy, and help ground my actions to remain focused on strengths-based leadership. These strengths shape the way I approach building connections and driving meaningful engagement. I believe that clear communication is the foundation of trust and collaboration, and I strive to ensure that all voices are heard and valued.

As an activator, I am motivated by turning ideas into action. In my current role as Executive Director of Admissions, I oversee large scale recruitment and events, including orientation, which bring in thousands of students and guests to the university, where we are charged with forming deep meaningful connections. This requires not only vision, but also the ability to mobilize people and resources quickly and effectively.

Equally important, my includer strength drives me to create environments where individuals feel welcome and supported. Whether working with colleagues, students, or volunteers, I seek to build community by recognizing and celebrating the perspectives that strengthen our work in Higher Education.

As Vice President of Member engagement, I would leverage these strengths to guide committees with clarity, empower volunteers with purpose, and expand the sense of community across SACSA. In turn, I hope to deepen to deepen my connections with colleagues across the SACSA region, gain new insights into innovative engagement practices, and contribute to advancing SACSA's mission of service, inclusion, and professional growth.

Trevis Belle is an Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Affairs at North Carolina State University.

As someone who is an international born student affairs professional, I bring that international perspective to the conversation. Oftentimes, our international professionals are left behind, however, I want to minimize that gap through my involvement in SACSA and through the Vice President of Membership position.

My professional journey has centered on building inclusive communities, fostering leadership, and enhancing student engagement, experiences that align closely with the Vice President of Membership role. Currently, as Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Affairs at NC State University, I lead initiatives such as the Multicultural Leadership Challenge and cultural immersion experiences, which focus on developing culturally aware leaders and retaining underrepresented students. Previously, in working in Residence Life, I gained extensive experience with recruitment, retention, database management, and leadership development all critical skills for advancing SACSA’s membership efforts.

My service as Chair of SACSA’s Multicultural Awareness Committee further demonstrates my commitment to SACSA’s mission of advancing student learning and professional development through inclusivity and collaboration. In this role, I worked with my committee to develop programs such as Lunch n Learns and nonconference programming engagement opportunities that strengthened diversity, equity, and inclusion across SACSA’s membership. These experiences have given me firsthand insight into the needs of SACSA members and the importance of tailored, state-based strategies that support recruitment and retention.

I will bring a collaborative and innovative approach to strengthening SACSA’s membership. I plan to leverage my background in marketing, programming, and assessment to develop compelling recruitment materials and engage both graduate students and professionals in meaningful ways. This role also offers me the opportunity to grow as a strategic leader, expanding my network, and learning from colleagues who are equally committed to advancing the field of student affairs.

Dr. Myles Surrett is an Associate Vice President for Career, Experiential Learning, Transitions, and Accessibility at James Madison University.

I am honored to be nominated as Vice President of Membership. Adaptability, community, and innovation are at the center of my work and align with this role.

Adaptability

In this new position, my comfort with ambiguity will help me address organizational and member needs. I am the first person in my role at JMU developing a new and dynamic team. At Clemson, on my very first day, my new job changed significantly. I see change as an opportunity. Through success at multiple institutions, I have shown the nimbleness needed for this role.

Community

I also have created experiences to expand the SACSA community. I led the development of the Future of Student Affairs Summit. In our first three years, FOSAS has engaged nearly 50 professionals, many of whom without a prior connection to SACSA. FOSAS finds potential members and creates long-term connections. One FOSAS participant who initially could not pronounce SACSA left the program excited to attend the annual conference and promote the organization on her campus.

Innovation

Additionally, I led the implementation of the SACSA Podcast - a continuous source of member outreach. With more than 15,000 listens, episodes share SACSA opportunities, success, and challenges.

I am committed to SACSA's mission. The connection between our professional development strategy and membership growth is clear. By prioritizing membership and access, we can build a new model for professional development that will distinguish SACSA and secure its long-term future.

The opportunity to serve in this role aligns with my own professional development goals, as well. This is a chance for me to help build SACSA. My enthusiasm and ability to commit fully to this work affords me a chance to give back while also chasing the best version of myself.