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NASP Student Leader Program

NASP currently recruits a Student Leader from school psychology training programs across the country in order to increase communication between graduate students and NASP. NASP views this program as a way to provide a leadership opportunity to graduate students, expand NASP student resources, better support existing local student organizations, and help programs create local student organizations if they wish. This initiative also provides a way for NASP to identify and support individuals interested in serving as leaders for the Association after their graduate work is completed. NASP Student Leaders are nominated by Faculty Sponsors from their training programs, and attend an Annual Meeting at the NASP Convention.

NASP Student Leader Position Description

The 2008-09 term begins on July 1, 2008 and will run through June 30, 2009.

Characteristics of an Ideal Student Leader:

1. Student member of NASP (required)
2. Interest in becoming a leader in the field (at state and national levels)
3. Second, third, or fourth year school psychology graduate students enrolled in courses on campus, enabling regular ongoing contact with all students and faculty in the program (i.e., students on internship would not be ideal to fulfill this role)
4. Ability to establish rapport with students, faculty, and community members
5. Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills
6. Record of meeting deadlines in a timely manner
7. Highly motivated, hard-working, enthusiastic, responsible, and reliable

Notes: Current NASP Student Leaders are welcome to serve another year with faculty sponsor approval (a new nomination form must be submitted to confirm; see below). Programs with a local student organization (e.g., SASP, SPA) may wish to consider creating an elected position.

Position Responsibilities:

1. Liaison between NASP and graduate program.
2. Communicate regularly with students in graduate program about NASP member resources, advocacy, community outreach, events, and opportunities available for students.
3. Participate and organize School Psychology Awareness Week activities (e.g. presentation to undergrad students, social events, fundraisers, etc.).
4. Serve as a pool of potential contributors to NASP student resources, including the Student Connections column in Communiqué and fact sheets.
5. Read and respond to regular monthly updates from NASP Graduate Assistants.
6. Engage in reflective and ongoing communication with Regional Leaders, Committee Members, NASP Graduate Assistants, or the Student Development Workgroup as needed (e.g., outreach efforts, requests for information for fact sheets, and involvement in committee projects).
7. Participate in conversations on the NASP Student e-community.
8. Coordination of graduate program activities (if applicable).
9. Meet monthly with faculty sponsor to keep current with program/student needs.
10. Initiate and/or participate in projects specific to local and state needs (identified by Student Leaders within regions).
11. Attend Student Leader Meeting at NASP’s annual convention (preferable but not required).

Time Commitment: 
The time commitment for this position is variable and dependent on each SL’s level of involvement in current projects. Minimal involvement requires approximately one hour per week to read and respond to emails and communicate with students and faculty in his or her graduate program. More time is required for SLs who choose to be on committees, participate in outreach activities, write, edit, or gather information for fact sheets and Student Connections articles, and attend and participate in the NASP annual convention.  

Click here to go to the nomination form.