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
- Robyn Davis, University of Washington
Members at Large
- Nisreen Ahmad, University of California – Irvine
- Robert Ellis, University of Arkansas
- Anne Moore, Northeastern University
- *Beth Powers, Kansas State University
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
- 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
- *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
Co-Chairs, President and Vice President
- Alicia Hayes, University of California, Berkeley
- Heidi Bauer-Clapp, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Members
- Bushra Ashif, American University
- Anthony Cashman, College of the Holy Cross
- Keila Diehl, University of California, Berkeley
- Corey Efron, Denison University
- Jamie Elliott, University of South Dakota
- Cara Hersh, University of Portland
- Jennifer Locke, Occidental College
- Marynel Ryan Van Zee, Carleton College
- *Michaile Rainey, University of Pennsylvania
- Krista Saleet, Cornell University
- Jasmine Stork, Smith College
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Co-Chairs
- Andrea Hilkovitz, Texas State University
- Erica Kowcz, Wesleyan University
Members at Large
- Elizabeth Cardenas
- Robin Chang, University of Washington
- Briana Chace, Mount Holyoke College
- Kelly Holob, University of Chicago
- Valeria Hrimnak, Baruch College, CUNY
- Lindsay Lawton, University of Denver
- Shirin Nadira, New York University
- Lauren Orr, Wayne State University
- Alana Philip, John Jay College
- Caitlin Roberts-Donovan, Wellesley College
- Ann Takata, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- Nienke Wijnia, St. Catherine University
- Benn Williams, University of Illinois at Chicago
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
- *Brittany Davis
- Angie Estévez, University of Delaware
- Lynn Evans, Union College
- Kelly J. Medley, University of Pittsburgh
- Lucy Morrison, University of Nebraska, Omaha
- Gwen Volmar, Duke University
- *Melissa Welshans, Syracuse University
*Current NAFA Board member
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Co-Chairs
- Christian Tanja, Knight-Hennessy Scholars – Stanford University
- *Caitlin Ting, Councils for International Education – Critical Language Scholarship Program
Members at Large
- Derek Haseltine, Hertz Foundation
- Matthew Loar, Beinecke Scholarship Program
- Moi Padilla, Carnegie Mellon University Rales Fellows Program
- Tara Yglesias, Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
*Current NAFA Board member
Committee Roster, 2025-2027
Chair, Board Representative
- Eric Myers, Princeton University
Members at Large
- *Rachel Ball-Phillips, Southern Methodist University
- Irina Diaz, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Corey Efron, Denison University
- *Mitch Hobza, Arizona State University
- Kristin Janka, Michigan State University
- Erica Kowsz, Wesleyan University
- Mary McCullough, Samford University
- Marie Monter, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
- Terumi Rafferty-Osaki, Northeastern University
- Keegan Scott, University of Rhode Island
*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
- 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
- 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
- Mitch Hobza, Arizona State University
Members at Large
- Richelle Bernazzoli, Carnegie Mellon University
- Evan Clark, Amherst College
- Laura Collins, Rutgers University-Camden
- Lynn Evans, Union College
- Claire Holderman, University of West Florida
- Ariella Lang, Columbia University
- Jane Morris, University of Pennsylvania
- *Diane Murk, Stanford University
- *Eric Myers, Princeton University
- Trey Straussberger, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- Anna Whiteside, Georgia College and State 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
- Alicia Hayes, University of California, Berkeley
Members at Large
- Leah Gates, Drexel University
- *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
- Kevin Doherty, University of Chicago
Members at Large
- *Susan Albrecht, Wabash College
- *Heidi Bauer-Clapp, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- 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
- Christie Harner, Dartmouth College
- *Diane Murk, Stanford University
- Belinda Redden, University of Rochester
- Brian Souders, University of Maryland Baltimore County
- 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
Co-Chairs, Communications Director
- Jasmine Stork, Smith College
- Leigh Pratt, University of New Hampshire
Members at Large
- Melissa Berninger, University of South Dakota
- Laura Collins, Rutgers University-Camden
- 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
- Karalee Surface, Marquette University
- Mary Swanson, Colorado State University
*Current NAFA Board member