By Sarah Leskovec

The NIRSA Assembly strives to serve as the association’s “think-tank,” fostering new ideas, developing leaders, and sharing experience and expertise for the growth and future of collegiate recreation.

Members of this group enjoy vetting ideas and desire to be catalysts for action and results.

As we welcome the newly appointed members of this vibrant and valuable leadership body, we want to express sincere gratitude to those individuals who concluded their term on the Assembly. The NIRSA members who have completed their term are:

  • Darcy Bingham, CRSS, University of California, San Diego
  • Jeff Vessley, CRSS, Retired, Indiana University/Purdue University
  • Andy Lemons, RCRSP, St. Edwards University
  • Christy Nolan, Wayne State University
  • Troy Snow, Oregon State University
  • Austin Anderson, University of Southern Indiana
  • Kristen Brosius, Springfield College
  • Katie Birdsall, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
  • Raquel McKim, Arizona State University
  • Elizabeth Walz, University North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Ryan Bradshaw, George Mason University
  • Linda Clauss, University of California Santa Cruz
  • Chad Day, Auburn University
  • Kate Durant, University of Connecticut
  • Jason Foster, Colorado State University
  • Asha Mata, University of Houston

The 2014-2015 NIRSA Assembly has been finalized and certified by the NIRSA Board of Directors, and the members will serve from July 1 to June 30. This marks the fifth year for this leadership body, and, as in the past few years, there was a high level of interest from members to serve. Nearly 60 members applied for an opportunity to be a part of the NIRSA Assembly.

The 2013-2014 NIRSA Assembly during their meeting at the 2014 NIRSA Annual Conference.

The Assembly is a unique group in the breadth of NIRSA membership diversity it represents. Ryan Bradshaw, who recently completed serving his term as an open-seat holder on the Assembly says that is what drew him to the Assembly over any other volunteer opportunity. “It’s made up of students, young professionals, veteran professionals, people from schools of all sizes, public and private schools, and so forth. Being a young professional when I applied, this was the best way for me to get involved and think about the future of this great profession, rather than get focused on one subsection. The experience I gained on the Assembly and the connections I made enabled me to grow in this field and within NIRSA. I’m now helping serve on three committees for 2014-15, including leading the COC group, which I feel much more capable doing from all of my work on the Assembly.”

Thank you to all professional, student, and associate members who applied for an Assembly position. NIRSA volunteers are a crucial part of the advancement of the association; their willingness to serve is greatly appreciated.

Listed below is the roster for the 2014-2015 Assembly listed by seat. The newly appointed members, indicated in bold text, will join five returning members from the 2013-2014 Assembly as they continue their service by fulfilling the second year of their term. Open Seats on the Assembly are a one year term, and all members are welcome to reapply. This year there are four members who will continue in an Open Seat on the 2014-2015 Assembly.

Board of Directors Representative, Convener

Tony Daniels, M.S., CRSS, Prairie View A&M University

Past Presidents’ Representative

Tamara Garstka, CRSS, Arizona State University

NIRSA Members

Earl Cabellon, University of Maryland, College Park

Stephen Gambino, Ed.D., RCRSP, West Chester University

Jessica Gentry, Bradley University

Adam Pruett, RCRSP, The Claremont Colleges

Mike Schneider, Centers at Moraine Valley Community College

JT Timmons, The University of Iowa

NIRSA Professional Members Less Than Five Years

Nicole Garton, DePaul University

Jonathon Hager, Mount St. Mary’s University

Whitney Hinshaw, Montana State University-Bozeman

Mike Valentine, The University of Southern Mississippi

NIRSA Student Members

Robert Bostick, Northern Illinois University

Alivia Gok, California State University – Sacramento

Gabrielle Garton, DePaul University

Open Seats

Tim Bisantz, University of Missouri

Michele Culpepper, Lubbock Christian University

Jason Darby, James Madison University

Mike Dominguez, Sonoma State University

Ashley Donaldson, RCRSP, Texas A&M University

Jessica Hobart, North Carolina State University

Korey Lane, Grand Valley State University

Stephanne Musser, The Ohio State University

Kimberly Rottet, Cleveland State University

Aaron Tripp, University of Minnesota

If you would like to contribute a collegiate recreation topic or idea for the Assembly to discuss, don’t hesitate! Elizabeth Walz, who recently completed her one-year student member seat, affirms this, saying, “Assembly members always want to hear your thoughts about the next trends in the profession. You can speak with Assembly members at regional or annual conferences, on the Assembly discussion board on NIRSA Connect, or by emailing an Assembly member and starting a conversation!”