The Mace – August 2026 Edition

Message from the President

Marcus Jones II
Marcus Jones
NAACO President
Chief of Staff to the Vice Provost and Dean, Arizona State University

Dear NAACO Members,

As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for all we have accomplished together. This year has been marked by growth, meaningful achievements, and a steadfast commitment to our mission. Through every challenge, our association demonstrated resilience and an unwavering dedication to serving one another and our community. Each success we celebrated was made possible because of the collective efforts of our members who gave their time, talents, and support with enthusiasm and purpose.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to our Board of Directors and all their outstanding volunteers for their leadership, wisdom, and countless hours of service throughout the year. Your guidance, encouragement, and willingness to work together have strengthened our association and made a lasting impact. I am also deeply grateful to every member whose anticipation and commitment continue to make our organization vibrant and successful. It is truly an honor to serve alongside such dedicated individuals.

As I look forward to the opportunity to serve as President another year, I do so with humility, optimism, and excitement for what lies ahead. Thank you for your confidence, your friendship, and your continued support. I look forward to another year of working together as we create an even brighter future for our association.

Regards,

Marcus

NAACO 2027: Call for Proposals

NAACO 2026 Conference Graphic
The NAACO Education Committee invites you to share your voice at the NAACO 2027 Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Help shape the future of academic ceremonies by sharing ideas and lessons learned, igniting connections, inspiring and celebrating colleagues across North America.

Whether your passion is to preserve traditions or to explore new approaches, we want to hear from you. By presenting, you contribute to a growing body of knowledge that strengthens the entire membership and celebrates the NAACO community.

More information on registration, hotel accommodations, speakers, and networking activities is coming soon!

Thank You To Our Volunteers

We want to express our deep gratitude to the 2025-2026 NAACO Volunteers for their incredible dedication and hard work. Your commitment and enthusiasm have had a significant impact on us, and we couldn’t have achieved our goals without your support. Thank you for being such a valuable part of our team.

Thank You To All Our Volunteers

Meet Our Volunteers:

Board of Directors
  • Marcus Jones
    President•Arizona State University
  • Claudia Davila
    Immediate Past President•University of Arizona
  • Gabrielle Martinez
    President-Elect•New Mexico State University
  • Liz King Osadczuk
    Secretary•University of British Columbia
  • Sondra Schwartz
    Treasurer•Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Lacy Dailey
    Director at Large, Communications•American Public University
  • Patricia Nolin
    Director at Large, Education•Rhode Island College
  • Claudia Gil
    Director at Large, Events•New York University
  • Melissa Picher Kelly
    Director at Large, Membership•British Columbia Institute of Technology
Event Experience Committee
  • James Cuaresma
    Chair•California State University, Los Angeles
  • Santina Arvandi
    York University
  • Jennifer (Jen) Kidwell
    Southern New Hampshire University
  • Chawnette (Chawney) Weis
    Babson College
  • Chelsea Kryspin
    Northeastern University
  • Regina Drew
    New York University
  • Linda Werman
    Wentworth Institute of Technology
  • Robin Roup
    University of Tampa
  • Carmela Arstill
    California State University – Long Beach
Nominations Committee
  • Ellen Liebman
    Chair•University of Pennsylvania
  • Natasha Binns
    Seneca Polytechnic
  • Deanna Zanella
    Southern New Hampshire University
  • Peter Evans
    University at Albany, State University of New York
  • Marissa Tuchalski
    University at Albany, State University of New York
Education Committee
  • Sariah Tillotson
    Chair•University of Nevada, Reno
  • Lindsey Hendriks
    Niagara College Canada
  • Anna Cottrell
    MGH Institute of Health Professions
  • Christal Crosby
    Case Western Reserve University
  • Julie Straus
    Western Carolina University
  • Amber Sega
    California Baptist University
  • Stephanie Castro
    University of San Diego
Communication Committee
  • Angela Ruff
    Gonzaga University
  • Alexa Morgan
    Capilano University
  • Laura Moran
    Southern New Hampshire University
  •  Yvonne Moar
    California State University, Fullerton
  • Heather Violett
    University of Massachusetts – Global
Membership Committee: Regional & Assistant Regional Directors
  • Brandy Hamilton
    Chair•Fanshawe College
  • Joanne Sokolowski
    Canada-West, Trent University
  • Joanne Cairns
    Canada-East, Algonquin College
  • Jackie Wright
    Canada-East, University of New Brunswick
  • Christine Keys
    Canada-West, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
  • Miranda MacKenzie
    Canada-West, University of Lethbridge
  • Katie Harries
    Canada-West, Capilano University
  • Melva Karnes
    US-North Central, University of Cincinnati
  • Liza Alrutz
    US-North Central, Northwestern
  • Sarah McCarty
    US-North Central, Kent State University
  • Peter Evans
    US-Northeast, University of Albany, State University of New York
  • Kelly O’Malley
    US-Northeast, University of Vermont
  • Deanna Zanella
    US-Northeast, Southern New Hampshire University
  • Mykayla Mitzel
    US-Northeast, Boise State University
  • Kristin McDaniel
    US-Southcentral, Texas State University, San Marcos
  • Tammie Davidson
    US-Southcentral, Washington University, St. Louis
  • Gena Smith
    US-Southcentral, University of Texas at Tyler
  • Sarah Ciccone
    US-Southeast, James Madison University
  • Becky Bosstick
    US-Southeast, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  • Patti Gibbons
    US-Southeast, Elon University
  • Yvonne Moar
    US-Southwest, California State University, Fullerton
  • Dani Bomgaars
    US-Southwest, California State University, Fullerton

Become a NAACO Volunteer – Join a Committee!

As a valued member of NAACO, you play a crucial role in everything we do. Your insights, experiences, and dedication are essential to our mission, and we are excited to invite you to take a more active role by joining one of our committees. These committees are vital in driving the initiatives and projects that help us achieve our association’s goals.

This fantastic opportunity to become more involved with NAACO and connect with the association’s leaders. If you would like to learn more about any of the committees or are interested in joining, please email us at info@naaco.org.

Member Spotlight – Nominate a Member Today!

All members are invited to appreciate and celebrate the contributions of fellow members making a positive impact at their institution or for a NAACO committee or project. Click here or the button below to nominate an aspiring, talented NAACO colleague for a future social media story.

Welcome New Institutions!

NAACO is the only professional association for the college and university commencement and convocation officers throughout North America. Only post-secondary institutions that handle commencement, convocation, and graduation ceremonies are welcome to join.

Affiliate members are the individuals of a member institution and can be added by the primary NAACO member. We look to engage with affiliate members on NAACO Connect, social media, and at upcoming events, including hot topic calls, the annual conference, and regional meetings.

Let’s welcome these institutions that are new to NAACO:

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute•Troy, NY• US-Northeast
Samuel Merritt University•Oakland, CA• US-Southwest
St. John Fisher University•Rochester, NY• US-Northeast
University of Louisville•Louisville, KY• US-Southeast
Vanguard University•Costa Mesa, CA• US-Southwest

 

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