Become a NAF Advisory Board Member

Advisory Board members are impacting thousands of students by sharing real-world skills and industry knowledge, and by coordinating powerful, interactive career learning experiences.

Partner with Us / Become a NAF Advisory Board Member

Open Doors for Students

Business and industry leaders, local college professionals, and community members are encouraged to volunteer on local advisory boards. Our boards support NAF academy educators in providing students with access to work-based learning opportunities and reviewing curricula for industry relevancy.

How It Works

There are more than 300 NAF advisory boards at the academy, school, or district levels. At the academy level, a group of 10-12 professionals meet monthly or bi-monthly and implement yearly strategic plans to support the academy. Each board has a chairperson who leads the team’s goal setting and planning.

Board Structure and Support

NAF provides best practice recommendations, resources, and support for board development, though each academy has the autonomy to decide the board structure that works best in their geography and local economy.In major metro areas, there may be career-focused boards that focus on a specific area such as STEM, hospitality, or health sciences; these boards are larger and utilize a sub-committee structure to activate their work plans.

"It’s important for the students to have that community connection and really understand what their potential is. With the IT Academy, it gives them a broader opportunity to see that. The board is intentional about seeking opportunities for them to go out into the community and use their skills."

"Our Depew High School program goes beyond just college preparation for the students; it also provides an opportunity for the students to become more involved within their community. These kids have been amazing to work with and though they may come from a small school, they have made a huge impact to the Village of Depew.”