Shelly Walters
University of Arkansas

Thank you for considering me as a candidate for the Systems Thinking and Change Division President-Elect.

In my current role as Associate Director of Instructional Design and Support Services at the University of Arkansas, I lead instructional designers, academic technologists, learning resource developers, student engagement specialists, faculty development professionals, and learning technology support staff. Over the last three years I have been involved in both strategic planning and tactical decision-making in collaboration with central administration, governance committees, faculty, IT services, libraries, student support services, housing, and orientation teams to improve the success of our students. This work has led to my interest in active participation with this division as well as a desire to foster connections between the work done in other AECT divisions and the implications for research and practice with regards to systems thinking and change.

Additionally, I believe my experience with academic conference planning would help me serve the needs of the division related to the annual conference. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas as an instructional designer, I had a twelve-year career in hospitality. In my last position as the university marketing manager for Fayetteville, Arkansas, it was my job to support academic conference committees with everything from planning conference center layout, creating event agendas, and selecting catering to the details of coordinating travel, facilitating speaker AV needs, and staffing registration desks. This experience taught me the importance of listening to the planning committees and members of the organizations to execute events that support sharing research and facilitating professional development while providing opportunities for conference attendees to meet and build relationships with colleagues.

I look forward to the opportunity to grow professionally through service to the Systems Thinking and Change division and AECT.