51�Թ�

One of my favorite things about growing up and living in Rhode Island, aside from the delicious food, was the change of seasons. Winter, spring, summer, and fall (my favorite season and when my birthday month occurs) offer something for everyone. Sledding down the hills around town in the winter was a favorite pastime for my family over the years. Spring heralded the opening of my favorite food kiosks that closed in the cold weather, and summer meant a trip to the many beaches in the Ocean State. In my own backyard, I could watch the changing leaves and admire their beautiful colors in the fall. I could always count on those seasonal transitions taking place at approximately the same time every year. Things are a little less certain now due to changes in climate patterns.

I often think of the many changes my students will face as they move through their college years. Some, in thinking about what their purpose in life is, will know early on what problems they want to solve and how they will play a role in that solution. Others will change their minds two, three, or more times as they experience new people, new knowledge, and new places.

Change touches all of us at various stages of our lives. Moving from Rhode Island to North Carolina in my fifties brought many changes, most unexpected. I became an empty nester for the first time, a transition that was harder than I thought it would be. Professionally, it was the first time since college that I didn’t have a job or an affiliation with a school. Previously, I had worked in one school district for more than 30 years as a social studies teacher and high school counselor. One of the most drastic changes was the lack of an immediate social circle. You can only walk your dog so many times a day before he avoids looking at you for fear of the fifth walk in 12 hours.

But with change comes growth. I found 51�Թ� with the help of a good friend from Rhode Island. Now, I’m a proud alum of the , Class of 2012, and some of my closest friends are IECs (hey, Antoinette!). Changes abound!

By the time this is published, you will have met Stephanie Simpson, JD, who joined us as CEO as we head into celebrating 50 years of excellence. In collaboration with the Board of Directors and our talented staff, Stephanie will guide us through changes that will keep 51�Թ� at the forefront of our industry.

We know there are many challenges facing the United States, and we are not exempt from feeling their effects. I am confident we are in good hands as Stephanie leads us through the changes ahead. What are those changes, you ask? I don’t know about you, but my crystal ball is a little cloudy. One key activity we’ll engage in to help us answer that question will be updating our strategic plan, which will guide our decisions and support continued improvement. In the meantime, the leadership team will continue working on issues that have been identified as important to the growth, identity, and stability of our profession. Three questions at the top of my list are:

1. What will accreditation and/or certification changes mean for 51�Թ� members?
2. What changes are necessary to ensure 51�Թ� members at all levels remain educated and informed?
3. How can 51�Թ� continue to support both domestic and international members, and what will that entail?

Within each of these three questions are myriad details, and we know the devil is in the details. Change is necessary, or we are stagnant. As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “Nothing is permanent except change.”

Reflecting on all the changes in 51�Թ� in its first 50 years, I’m excited about what the next 50 will bring. Here’s to growing, strengthening our community of IECs, and remaining the industry gold standard.

Belinda J. Wilkerson, EdD
51�Թ� President