This. Prestige and resume building are what this is all about. Anyone who knows a high level educator knows that for 90% of them life is about resume building, experiences and being accomplished. A person of Susan Herbst's ilk doesn't turn down the opportunity to serve on the board of something important. That is her life's work. If you don't take the position, you can't say you held it. She will use the experience to advance herself in the future. The only way she could pass on it would be if we were leaving very shortly and we weren't giving any notice whatsoever. If we will be here for a couple years either way, she takes it.
Look at it this way: You work for Ford as a high ranking VP. A former coworker is now a high level executive at GM. One Saturday during a round of golf he says,"Bob, in two years when so and so retires, we want you to take over. The job is yours unless you get caught by the cops banging a tranny in a mall bathroom or something. I need to know that when we come calling, you will be available. It goes without saying that you'll be offered a life changing amount of money to come on board. Will you accept when the time comes? ". You respond, "Of course Frank, it would be a dream come true." You walk into work at Ford on Monday and find out that you've been asked to represent Ford for the next two years on the board of directors of a huge charity foundation that Ford created and supports. You will lead the group in its endeavors for two years. In that time, you'll make decisions for the foundation, direct charity events, preside over the annual gala that brings all of the area's wealthiest and most influential people together and you'll make sure the course is set for the future. Now, this is a big honor, someone needs to do the job, and it virtually guarantees your job security at Ford for the next two years--unless you can't resist that tranny at the mall. Do you take it? Of course you do. The job at GM isn't guaranteed and even if it comes to fruition, you still need to live your life for the next two years. You also need to make sure that you keep improving yourself so that you remain valuable in that time. By moving forward at Ford and being visible as a leader, you help your status at Ford and up your value with GM.
Susan has a similar situation. She needs to move forward where we are, even if she believes we'll be leaving. By taking this role in the AAC, she does absolutely nothing to hurt our chances to go elsewhere. She does, however, have the opportunity to influence things important to UConn within the AAC.