The chair serves a two-year term and is elected every year. During the first year as chair-elect, s/he serves the committee with organizational and project management duties, assumes the duties of the chair in their absence, shadows the sitting chair, prepares a strategically driven work plan for the following year, and then serves as chair in the following calendar year. Upon election in mid-September, the incoming chair-elect should begin shadowing in the position by supporting and interviewing the sitting chair of the LDC.
On average, 15 hours per month will be needed to complete the ongoing work. This will increase to at least 20 hours per month during the heaviest period of work, in February, March, and May when committee members solicit names for potential candidates, review applications, interview applicants, and gather and review references. Peak months and duties are:
- December/January/February: Assist with orientation, onboarding new members, and recruitment of new leaders; prepare for and attend the Washington Leadership Meeting;
- March/April/May: Oversee elected-positions application vetting, interviewing, and finalist selection; prepare for and attend leadership meetings before the NAFSA Annual Conference and organizing LDC conference activities;
- June: Finalize recommended Elected Position Ballot (the election slate) and forward to VP PDE;
- July/August/September: As chair-elect, attend the Summer Coordination Meeting; collaborate on LDC regional conference assignments, prepare a work plan for subsequent year; and
- October/November: Submit a conference poster session proposal; debrief with team on accomplishments and identify future activities; complete an end of year work plan report.
NAFSA Meetings
Chairs/chairs-elect/past chairs are asked to attend key leadership meetings: Washington Leadership Meeting, Summer Coordination Meeting (chair-elect only), and NAFSA Annual Conference as well as virtual meetings convened throughout the year by their committee/knowledge community. For the Washington Leadership Meeting, NAFSA provides reimbursement for travel, per diem, and lodging expenses. The Summer Coordination Meeting is held virtually for chairs-elect. For the Annual Conference, NAFSA provides complimentary registration to the chair and chair-elect; any costs for travel to/from the annual conference, as well as meals, and lodging for meetings before/during/after the conference, are the responsibility of the chair/chair-elect/past-chair and are not reimbursed by NAFSA. Other operating expenses members incur in their offices/at home, such as copying, phone calls, etc. are not reimbursed. Large copying jobs should be referred to staff. Conference calls are set up by staff and covered by the association as necessary.
Please Note: Per the NAFSA Standing Rules, Rule IV, Section C on Eligibility, "Current members of the Leadership Development Committee shall not be eligible to stand for elected member-leaders positions but may stand for election to the Board of Directors." In addition, if you are elected to lead the Leadership Development Committee, you are not eligible to serve in another elected member-leader position until one full year after your term as chair of the LDC has ended.