Whether your daily work is on the high school side or the college side, summer is the ideal time to look back and reflect on what work strategies were effective and which tactics could use some fine tuning. Staff retreats are no different; it’s important to make time to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life to look back on the past year, while keeping an eye toward the future. Your Iowa ACAC Executive Board held their annual retreat on August 6 and 7 at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. We welcomed 8 new Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs, while saying "farewell" to 5 valued committee chairs who rolled off the Board. 

Please welcome Tom Paulsen, The University of Iowa, as President-Elect, Tim Hauber, Iowa State University, as Past-President's Council Rep, Josh Kite, Coe College, our Treasurer-Elect, Jaclyn Tungesvik, Iowa State University, as Assembly Delegate, Erik Ryan, Mount Mercy University, as College Day/Night Programs Chair, and Mallory Luensmann, Wartburg College, as Conference Planning Chair. Also, please welcome our Co-Chairs of the Inclusion, Access and Success committee--Juana Hollingsworth from the University of Northern Iowa and Jesus Lizarraga from Iowa State University.

A few exciting changes and updates:

• The Professional Development committee announced that 29 new professionals attended Admission Counselor University last month.
• Please watch for news about a brand new annual conference format! (There will be a real, concerted effort to invite Iowa ACAC membership to next spring's conference.)
• Watch for news about a new initiative to impact communities during our college fair travel season.
• Finally, if you are out on the road this fall, please join us at one of three Member Meet-Ups after the UNI, Golden Circle and LeMars H.S. college fairs. 

I could not be more excited to be a part of Iowa ACAC, and the retreat was just what I needed. I find myself recharged and ready to go for another academic year. Enjoy what’s left of summer. Bring on the fall!