Greetings SoACE Friends,

I am thrilled to serve as the President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE). The Board had a fantastic meeting in April, where we planned our core initiatives, celebrated the accomplishments of our outgoing board members, and welcomed our new members.

A highlight of the meeting was a productive discussion on community engagement, led by Past President Shereada Harrell. This important conversation resulted in an updated board position held by Morgan Gore (Georgia Tech) - Community Development & Access - that reflects our renewed focus on inclusive member engagement.

The board is off and running, and we’re doubling down on our commitment to member engagement, community, and demonstrating the impact of our work to our organization’s bottom line. Together with the Annual Conference Planning Committee, we’ve taken a fresh look at our practices to identify new approaches that will improve the member experience. Stay tuned to conference communications to see how your feedback is shaping this year’s event.

We’re also excited to announce a few updates within our leadership:

Kyle Poe (Georgia Tech) has been appointed as our new Annual Sponsorship Chair.

Stacey Overton (Fastenal) will serve the remainder of the board term overseeing Employer Engagement, following Sarah Clanton’s (Cintas) transition to a new role outside the SoACE region. We thank Sarah for her service.

Jill Boatright (Loyola University New Orleans) will serve as Special Assistant to the Board through the end of 2025, supporting the awards and nominations process.

Finally, Katie Ramirez (Trinity University) is serving as our 2025 Annual Conference Chair. She and the planning committee have been hard at work preparing for our time together in Nashville this December. With the theme of "Center Stage", this year's conference will highlight the talent, expertise, and leadership within our community. We look forward to seeing SoACE members take Center Stage and shine in Music City! Register today at the early bird rate!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any Board members with questions or ideas. Also, be sure to follow the new SoACE Professional LinkedIn page as we sunset the older group page in August. We don’t want you to miss out on the exciting updates ahead.

Sincerely,

Ralph Leal, SPHR
President, Southern Association of Colleges and Employers
Director of Career Engagement & Corporate Relations, Texas A&M University-Kingsville