by Jodi Hunley
Daily Lobo
A UNM program director has been selected as a member of the board of directors for a national organization influencing advisement at colleges and universities across the country.
Elaine Borrelli, director of engineering student programs, will be working on the board of directors for the National Academic Advising Association in order to improve the undergraduate experience at UNM.
Borrelli will take office after the association's national conference held in Dallas this fall and will serve until October 2006. She has been involved with the association for many years, including being a member.
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Borrelli was elected to serve on the board because "she is committed to providing quality services and systems that support academic advising for students," said Betsy McCalla-Wriggins, president of the association.
Borrelli said the National Academic Advising Association is involved in strategic planning and policy setting for advisement on college campuses. It promotes high quality academic advising for students across the country by sponsoring conferences, summer institutes and other resources, according to the association's Web site.
Borrelli said she will have to consider several factors such as budgets and membership issues while working on the five-member board.
"I have been involved in a number of leadership positions," Borrelli said. "My hard work has been put forth and I have seen positive changes."
Borrelli added that she feels student advisement is important to the college experience.
"It provides a learning exchange which is vital to student development and growth," she said. "We don't lead or push them, we partner with them. Advisement leads them to awareness."
Borrelli started at UNM seven and half years ago as an academic adviser for the School of Engineering. Two years later, she became the advising program's director.
Joe Cecchi, dean of the School of Engineering, said Borrelli's nomination is an indication of the success of the Engineering School.
"This nomination says the right things about UNM," Cecchi said. "We place a high value on advisement. The School of Engineering's advisement is complicated and demanding."
