Welcome from the President

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Debra Boucher, M.S. 
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 
 
President
North American Association of Summer Sessions

Welcome from the President​

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the North American Association of Summer Sessions and we have so much to celebrate. Our recent conference in St. Louis showcased the innovation, expertise, and experience our membership embodies in the fields of summer session, pre-college, and special sessions. We’ve not only weathered the disruption of the past few years, but we’ve emerged stronger, focused on continuing to provide our members the resources, connections, and experiences they need to move their programs and their own careers forward.

As we move into the new year, our Administrative Council will continue to provide the content you have come to expect from us in the form of webinars, The NAASS Beat, and more. On the heels of the 2023 conference, we are exploring new tools to keep us connected and engaged throughout the year. The future looks bright as we prioritize sharing the value and opportunities of NAASS within our regions and across the educational space.

We know your summer, pre-college, and special sessions are often asked to do more with less, so we want to provide the connections and resources you need to meet the moment. If you attended our recent conference, I urge you to take a few minutes to reach out and connect with someone you met while in St. Louis.

For those who were unable to attend the conference, the upcoming webinar series is another chance to make connections and build community that will sustain you through the next year and beyond. If the last few years taught us nothing else, it taught us the value of intentional relationships.

Consider NAASS, the leadership and the membership, to be part of your team. Let us know how we can serve you and consider how your expertise might serve the others. If you have questions about getting involved or need access to resources, please let us know at naass@naass.org.

In 2017, Debra came to Worcester Polytechnic Institute after many years in the state higher education system. In the role of Director of Special Academic Programs and now as Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Debra has oversight of all aspects of the summer program including budget, implementation of new initiatives, and the responsibility to meet both revenue and other strategic goals. As Debra has shaped this position, she has focused on expanding summer enrollment, building intentional new initiatives focused on access to STEM education in underserved communities, supporting academic immersion programs for vulnerable first year students, and creating new avenues for faculty innovation in the summer.

As a non-traditional first generation student, Debra is passionate about the impact of higher education on the lives and trajectories of students. Debra proudly earned an associate degree from her local community college before transferring to Mount Holyoke College to complete a degree focused on women’s history. Debra’s master of science degree in counseling is helpful in every aspect of her career in higher education.

A native of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, Debra has lived most of her adult life in central Massachusetts. Debra shares her life with her husband of over thirty years and a bossy cocker spaniel named Seraphina. Debra and her husband enjoy regular visits from a wild pack of three little grand boys (the fourth is due in January) who bring noise and chaos into their world. Debra wouldn’t have it any other way.