Nakama: XIX, August 28, 2007

Nakama 2007 Logo: Sustaining Excellence - Self, Community, Planet
2007 Nakama Logo by: Gabe Rodriguez

Celebrating nearly two decades of Student Affairs fall conferences here at Western, the division held its annual retreat on August 28, 2007 at Whatcom Community College. Your colleagues on the planning committee made sure the conference was a memorable and rewarding experience for all staff and students involved. The Nakama (pronounced naw-KAH-maw) conference offers an opportunity to meet new people and enhance existing relationships among members of the division. But its primary purpose remains one of the energizing and focusing us for the exciting tasks facing us in the next academic year.

Following tradition, the conference format was designed to include team building activities by providing options for personal growth, employee skill development and the exploration of university and division wide issues in higher education.

Click here to view this year’s program brochure in PDF format.

Dr. William Demmert ^{Photo by Nate Marino}

The keynote speaker was Dr. William Demmert. William has been a professor at Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education since 1992. Click Here to view Dr. Demmert’s bio.

^{Photo by Nate Marino}

Dixie Doran-2007 Nakama Award Recipient

Congratulations to Dixie Doran for being selected as the 2007 Nakama Award recipient. Criteria for the award include advancing the missions and goals of the Division by: demonstrating outstanding commitment to the development or support of students, creating or significantly contributing to initiatives which promote student success, strengthening the Division's work within the university and/or larger community, and providing dedicated and consistently excellent service to students and/or the Division. A small group of past award winners typically serves as the selection committee.

Dixie was nominated by several of her colleagues from the Registrar's office. Here are a few quotes from her nominations:

"Dixie is the first to arrive at work and many times the last to leave. She has a quick wit, easy to laugh all the while having an intense focus on the next task. People want to work with Dixie because she truly walks the talk, she is always looking to make things better...she gives, and gives and gives of herself consistently, far above and beyond what is asked, whether it be one-on-one with a student or the overall huge undertaking of planning commencement."

"Dixie works tirelessly to make sure [commencement] is as positive an experience as possible. She is such a positive role model for the students and staff and has an extraordinary ability to get things accomplished."

"Dixie is a great person to work with, who always tries to make the work enjoyable. She is a caring and thoughtful co-worker and supervisor. Dixie does everything with a smile."

For more information on Dixie's win, view her story as it appeared in FAST.

View our photo gallery of images that were taken throughout the the event by Nate Marino.

Page Updated 07.14.2011