NAFA is a volunteer-driven organization! The Association depends on volunteers to plan the conference and other professional development opportunities, produce publications, develop best practices, and more.
Most committees meet monthly, for approximately an hour, and there will be some work that takes place in-between meetings; in some cases, there may be additional sub-committee meetings. Please connect with committee chairs about the specifics. During our busy fall season, some committees are meeting less regularly and/or are understandably doing less work. Those interested in volunteering should email [email protected] to learn more!
Committee Details and Rosters
This committee aims to nurture and sustain a culturally responsive environment for NAFA members, students, alumni, and fellowships applicants. To foster these inclusive spaces, the committee develops and implements programs and guidance that promote belonging in the field of fellowships advising.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Board Representative
- TBD
Members at Large
- TBD
This committee is chaired by the Secretary. It is responsible for creating and maintaining best practices documents and standardized forms for NAFA members, and for conducting on-site program assessments for member organizations.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Secretary
- Susan Albrecht, Wabash College
Members at Large
- Andrus G. Ashoo, University of Virginia
- Kristin Bennighoff, University of Delaware
- Melissa Berninger, University of South Dakota
- Jason Chan, Haverford College
- Evan Clark, Amherst College
- Kim Germain, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Barbara Gorka, Temple University
- Ethan Knight, University of Richmond
- Trae Larson, University of Minnesota
- Kelly J. Medley, University of Pittsburgh
- *Michaile Rainey, University of Pennsylvania
- Lorna Ronald, Fordham University
- *Caitlin Ting, American Councils for International Education
- Ashley Weibel, Colorado School of Mines
*Current NAFA Board member
This committee is responsible for planning and organizing the biennial national conference.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Vice President
- Alicia Hayes, University of California, Berkeley
Members
- Bushra Ashif, American University
- Kristin Benninghoff, University of Delaware
- Anthony Cashman, College of the Holy Cross
- Corey Efron, Denison University
- Jamie Elliott, University of South Dakota
- Cara Hersh, University of Portland
- Andrea Hilkovitz, Texas State University
- Jennifer Locke, Occidental College
- Marynel Ryan Van Zee, Carleton College
- Krista Saleet, Cornell University
This committee is chaired by the Treasurer and oversees the revenues and expenses of NAFA, recommends to the Board uses for reserve funds, and advises on the financial implications of significant actions.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Treasurer
- Rachel Ball-Phillips, Southern Methodist University
Members at Large
- Andrus G. Ashoo, University of Virginia
- *Brittany Davis
- Angie Estévez, University of Delaware
- Lynn Evans, Union College
- *Kevin Henderson, Duquesne University
- Ethan Knight, University of Richmond
- Kelly J. Medley, University of Pittsburgh
- Lucy Morrison, University of Nebraska, Omaha
- Erik Potter, University of Missouri
- Gwen Volmar, Duke University
- Melissa Welshans, Syracuse University
*Current NAFA Board member
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Board Representative
- Eric Myers, Princeton University
Members at Large
- *Rachel Ball-Phillips, Southern Methodist University
- Corey Efron, Denison University
- Kristin Janka, Michigan State University
- Erica Kowsz, Wesleyan University
- Mary McCullough, Samford University
- Gaylena Merritt, Davidson College
- Marie Monter, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
- Terumi Rafferty-Osaki, Northeastern University
- Keegan Scott, University of Rhode Island
- *Meredith Raucher Sisson, Virginia Commonwealth University
*Current NAFA Board members
This committee is responsible for recognizing best practices for graduate fellowship advising, communicates with the Board on strategies to address the needs of graduate advisors, offers opportunities for professional dialogue, and provides professional development opportunities.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Co-Chairs, Board Representatives
- Brittany Davis
- Beth Keithly, University of Texas, Dallas
Members at Large
- *Heidi Bauer-Clapp, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Teresa Delcorso-Ellmann, Rutgers University
- Robert Ellis, University of Arkansas
- Lisa Gagnon, University at Buffalo, SUNY
- Andrea Hilkovitz, Texas State University
- Elizabeth Harrington Lambert, Vanderbilt University
- Mitch Hobza, Arizona State University
- Emily Hollenbach, New York University
- Keith McCall, Florida State University
- Jeannette Miller, Harvard University
- Marie Monter, University of Minnesota
- Benn Williams, University of Illinois at Chicago
*Current NAFA Board member
This committee engages in outreach to expand membership to other relevant organizations and non-member institutions, including those serving constituencies under-represented in fellowships competitions. It also helps to develop resources for new members.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Board Representative
- Meredith Raucher Sisson, Virginia Commonwealth University
Members at Large
- Lauranne Adriano, New College of Florida
- Richelle Bernazzoli, Carnegie Mellon University
- Evan Clark, Amherst College
- Laura Collins, Rutgers University-Camden
- Lynn Evans, Union College
- *Alicia Hayes, University of California, Berkeley
- Mitch Hobza, Arizona State University
- Claire Holderman, University of West Florida
- Ariella Lang, Columbia University
- Jane Morris, University of Pennsylvania
- *Diane Murk, Stanford University
- *Eric Myers, Princeton University
*Current NAFA Board member
This committee is responsible for developing lists of candidates for the offices of Vice President-President Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer, and for seats on the Board. The committee also supervises the counting of ballots at the biennial meeting and certifies the results of elections to the President and members of the Board.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, President
- Robyn Curtis, Clemson University
Members at Large
- *Beth Keithly, University of Texas at Dallas
- Gaylena Merritt, Davidson College
- *Scott Palmer, University of California, Davis
*Current NAFA Board member
This committee (formerly Summer Workshops) is responsible for organizing summer workshops and other professional development activities on a variety of topics of importance to fellowships advisors.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Board Representative
- Heidi Bauer-Clapp, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Members at Large
- *Susan Albrecht, Wabash College
- Kylla Benes, University of Montana
- Anthony Cashman, College of the Holy Cross
- Anne Moore, Tufts University
- Beth Powers, Kansas State University
- Karalee Surface, Marquette University
- *Mary Swanson, Colorado State University
- Gwen Volmar, Duke University
*Current NAFA Board member
This committee is responsible for organizing study tours to international locations in non-conference years. Past study tours have traveled to Germany, the UK, Ireland, China, and Taiwan.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Board Representative
- Scott Palmer, University of California, Davis
Members at Large
- Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, Florida State University
- Lisa Gagnon, University at Buffalo, SUNY
- Christie Harner, Dartmouth College
- Elizabeth Harrington Lambert, Vanderbilt University
- Claire Holderman, University of West Florida
- Julia Lo, McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University
- Mary McCullough, Samford University
- *Diane Murk, Stanford University
- Belinda Redden, University of Rochester
- Krista Saleet, Cornell University
- Brian Souders, University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Patricia Taylor, Marist College
- Melissa Vert, University of Michigan
*Current NAFA Board member
This committee is responsible for maintaining the official NAFA website and developing other publications and communications channels for dissemination to NAFA members and reaching non-member constituencies as appropriate. The Communications Director chairs (or co-chairs) this committee.
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Communications Director
- Jasmine Stork, Smith College
Members at Large
- Melissa Berninger, University of South Dakota
- Laura Collins, Rutgers University-Camden
- *Kevin Henderson, Duquesne University
- Kelly Holob, University of Chicago
- Megan Friddle, Emory University
- Kristin Janka, Michigan State University
- Suzanne McCray, University of Arkansas
- Shirin Nadira, New York University
- Erik Potter, University of Missouri
- Leigh Pratt, University of New Hampshire
- Karalee Surface, Marquette University
- *Mary Swanson, Colorado State University
*Current NAFA Board member