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Candidates' Brief Biographies and Goal Statements2010 ElectionRemember, LinkToEvent[5,150] online, or mail the ballot in your Career Developments magazine before February 22, 2010.
Carol A. Dahir, Ed.D., Candidate for President-Elect
Brief Biography:
Carol is an associate professor and the coordinator of School Counselor Education at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). Her career path includes: elementary teacher, middle school counselor, and fourteen years as supervisor of school counseling programs and student support services. Carol has consulted and presented extensively for numerous state departments of education, school systems, school counselor associations, and national organizations. As the project director for both the American School Counselor Association's National Standards for School Counseling Programs and the career development Planning for Life she has focused her writing, research, and presentations on excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement for school counselors. She co-authored Sharing the Vision: The National Standards for School Counseling Programs and Vision Into Action: Implementing the National Standards and has recently she has collaborated with Dr. Carolyn Stone to publish The Transformed School Counselor (2006) and just completed the 3rd edition of School Counselor Accountability: A MEASURE of Student Success. Carol is a past president of the New York State School Counselor Association and also served on the governing board for the American School Counselor Association as Vice President for Postsecondary/Supervisors. She most recently completed her term as the North Atlantic Region Trustee for the National Career Development Association.
Carol's Goal Statement:
My active involvement with NCDA dates back to 1996 when as chair of ASCA's National Standards development our associations collaborated to look at the relationship of the standards to the National Career Development Guidelines. Subsequently, as project director for the ASCA/US Army Planning for Life career development program, we invited and promoted best practices through a comprehensive career planning process to engage students early on in finding their passions and realizing their dreams. In my recent position as the North Atlantic Region Trustee (2006-2009) I focused my attention on state career development associations' issues, leadership development mentorship, board liaison to the new website and Career Developments, and school and career guidance professionals' needs and services.
As a candidate for President-Elect, my goals for the leadership of NCDA are to:
- work collaboratively with organizations that will lobby extensively for universal career guidance and career development for children, youth, and adults;
- engage our national organization and state CDA's in strategic planning around a common agenda; and
- promote the power of career planning, PreK - 16, to provide students with the direction and motivation to finish high school and engage in the postsecondary options that will help each of them achieve their career goal.
Debbie Osborn, Ph.D., Candidate for President-Elect
Brief Biography:
I have a Master's degree in Counseling and Human Systems, specializing in Career and School Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Career Counseling. Both degrees are from Florida State University. I was the first in our program to teach online, and I created the first career counseling graduate certificate in our state. I coordinate our CACREP-accredited career counseling concentration, as well as our overall counseling program and 11+ years teaching undergraduate and graduate career courses. I have been an NCDA member since 1993. I served as an associate editor for the K-12 section of Career Convergence for six years, and was a proud member of Leadership Academy 2008-2010. In 2009, I received an Outstanding Practitioner Award from NCDA. I developed the online training for the CDF program. I was the Florida CDA president for three years, and award the FCA Counselor of the Year award in 2006. I have 26 publications and 49 state-wide and national presentations. I am a career counselor and a counselor educator. I help individuals give voice to their dreams and take steps to make those dreams come true, and I hope to inspire my students to do the same.
Debbie's Goal Statement:
My vision would be to continue NCDA's focus on the career development professional and the people we serve through creative uses of technology. Specifically, this means increasing NCDA's virtual presence, using Skype, wikis, blogs, podcasts, chats, Twitter, Facebook, Second Life and others to connect with each other and provide services in creative ways.
For members, I envision an online repository within the myNCDA page, housing presentations and interactive trainings on topics such as translating career theory into practice, interpreting assessments, and building multicultural competencies. Another possibility would be a winter virtual career conference, offering the benefits of real-time presentations, CEUs, and social networking without the financial constraints of travel and lodging.
For our citizens, NCDA can help by increasing national and international collaboration with organizations, schools and businesses, and by acknowledging and providing resources for those in our society who may have little or no volition in their career choices.
I believe that we have what people need to make informed career decisions, to overcome barriers and to achieve their dreams. We have the knowledge, tools and moral obligation to continue NCDA's mission of inspiring careers and empowering lives. My vision is to increase accessibility to these resources for all.
Erin Jennings, MS, NCC, MCC, Candidate for Secretary
Brief Biography:
Erin E. Jennings is a Career Counselor and Peer Assistant Program Coordinator at Binghamton University, State University of New York. In her role at Binghamton University, Erin endeavors to provide student leadership opportunities while also providing comprehensive career counseling. Erin enjoys the role of educator and also teaches a First Year Experience Course as well as Binghamton's Johnson City Mentor Course where undergraduate students process their weekly mentoring of Middle School students at Johnson City Middle School. Some of Erin's areas of interest within Career Development include: career decision making, counselor advocacy and career resiliency. Prior to working at Binghamton University, Erin was the Interim Director and Assistant Director of Career Services at Penn State Altoona. Her professional association leadership experiences include: NCDA Leadership Academy Alum, Career Convergence Contributor, NCDA Government Relations Committee, NYCDA Past President, SUNY Career Development Organization Conference Co-chair, and ACA Legislative Institute participant. Erin completed her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Professional Counseling and Master of Science in Community Counseling at The University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. Erin also studied classical and jazz voice as she obtained her Bachelor of Music in Music Education at Moravian College.
Erin's Goal Statement:
Serving as Secretary of NCDA would be an honor and a pleasure for me. The Secretary of NCDA is the board liaison to the Bylaws Committee. My experiences drafting and editing bylaws for two regional associations have prepared me to be of support to the Bylaws Committee. Recording minutes and providing drafts to the NCDA board in a timely manner is vital to NCDA's communication with its members. To facilitate timely provision of these drafts for revisions to the board, I would recommend the utilization of Google Docs to share documents internally via the web for group edits. As a counselor, I endeavor to listen and reflect accurately what my clients are communicating. As Secretary, I would also endeavor to listen and reflect in writing NCDA's business for clear communication. Compiling Annual Reports is something I've done professionally in higher education for eight years. Assembling and distributing NCDA's Annual Report would be a task I would undertake with care and attention to detail. My goal in serving as Secretary of NCDA is to seek new ways to utilize technology to streamline processes and best manage resources to serve NCDA, its members and committees as well as its state affiliates.
Lisa Severy, MCC, NCC, LPC, Candidate for Secretary
Brief Biography:
Lisa has been passionate about helping people author their life stories since becoming a counselor in 1996. She worked at the University of Florida for seven years before becoming the Director of Career Services at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has a psychology degree from Indiana University and degrees in Counselor Education from the University of Florida. Lisa has co-authored two books; Making Career Decisions that Count with Darrell Luzzo and Turning Points: Managing Career Transitions with Meaning and Purpose with Jack and Phoebe Ballard. She also contributed to the Encyclopedia of Counseling, the Counselor's Guide to Career Assessment Instruments, and Rentz's Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education. Her work has also been published in the Career Development Quarterly, the Journal of College Student Development and the Journal of College Counseling. Lisa is active in professional organizations including the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) in which she serves on the Books and Media Review Board, the Colorado Career Development Association (CCDA), and NCDA. She has been designated a Master Career Counselor and honored with awards including both the NCDA Merit and Presidential Awards in 2008. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado.
Lisa's Goal Statement:
Thank you for this opportunity to pursue a leadership role within NCDA. NCDA has been my professional home for thirteen years and I have enjoyed a progressive level of involvement. Serving on the board will afford me the opportunity to become more involved while utilizing my strengths in organization, attention to detail, strategic planning, and group development. The role of the Secretary is simple yet important in that the Secretary is responsible for recording the proceedings of the NCDA board, the Executive Committee, and at the NCDA Annual Meeting. I decided to run for the office of Secretary because I am organized, attend to details, strive for accuracy, and value deadlines. In addition to these skills, I will bring a commitment to NCDA and to the Board for full participation, creative thinking, problem solving, and a genuine passion for the field of career development. My goal is to build on the solid foundation created by the outstanding leadership of previous board members and diligent service of the NCDA staff. NCDA has a rich history and solid foundation and I look forward to continuing that tradition.
Michelle Beese, Candidate for Western Region Trustee
Brief Biography:
Michelle Beese received a Master of Science in Career Counseling from California State University in 1999 and worked and taught in the Career Center at Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) from 1999 until 2006. Michelle currently teaches in the master's program at Sacramento State, and does academic counseling at Folsom Lake Community College. She is a trainer for EUREKA, the California based career information system and is a consultant for the Career Development Alliance where she does career coaching for Transportation Security Administration (TSA). For four years, she hosted a local television program, Moving On, where she interviewed individuals who have moved on in a positive direction in their life. She is the past president of the California Career Development Association. She served on the Board for International Career Development Conference six times, including co-chairing the Sacramento Conference in 2007. Michelle also was a program reviewer for the 2010 NCDA conference and the 2008 ACA Conference in Honolulu. She currently serves on the NCDA Awards Committee and is the chair for the NCDA Career Development Month. As chair for NCDA Month, Michelle facilitates the Poetry and Poster Contest.
Michelle's Goal Statement:
I've chaired the NCD Month Poetry and Poster contest since 2004 and have brought great enthusiasm, creativity, and excitement to the position. If elected, I will continue to collaborate with other Board members and Headquarters with the same dedication I have demonstrated in the past. To me, career development is about sharing passion and commitment and these are the attributes I will bring to NCDA as Western Region Trustee. In addition, I will work with state leaders to support the growth of their state chapters in any way I can. I will also work with states that do not have a state charter to help leaders in the state to form a charter if that is their desire. A "dream goal" is to see more collaboration and partnership in the Western Region and I would strive to make that happen. Thank you for this opportunity.
Rob Seemann, MSW, CDF Master Trainer, Candidate for Western Region Trustee
Brief Biography:
Rob Seemann is President of Career Livelihood LLC, a company specializing in Career Development Facilitator training, individual career counseling, and customized instruction and curriculum development for organizations in transition. Rob, one of 37 NCDA CDF Master Trainers in the world today, presently chairs the NCDA CDF Advisory Council. In 2009, in recognition of his leadership, Rob received the NCDA Presidential Award. He's shared his dedication and enthusiasm for career development in articles written for the NCDA Career Developments magazine, including "Why I Love my CDFI" and "Living Professional Development." He also is an energetic conference presenter and workshop leader. Rob has provided career services to a diverse range of individuals and groups throughout his career. He's worked with multigenerational welfare recipients preparing to enter the workforce for the first time, Job Corp students, and groups of managers in a global company facing layoffs. He's been a community college career counselor and instructor where he enjoyed designing online courses. He also provided CDF instruction to workforce personnel, school career counselors, and academic advisors. Rob has an M.S.W. from the University of Michigan and is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Oregon Career Development Association.
Rob's Goal Statement:
As the Western Region Trustee, I will work to positively impact NCDA and state career development associations within the Western Region. My goals will be to: 1) Increase accessibility to career development services. Every career is important, but many people are underserved. How can state organizations reach more of those people and best serve today's workers, many of whom face rapid economic and technological changes? 2) Strengthen network of service providers. I will work to build closer relationships between Western Region groups, so members can share resources and provide effective transitions for clients moving between services. 3) Increase the quality of career development services. I will uncover Western Region success stories and share that valuable information. 4) Increase the public's awareness of career development. What can we do to promote career services and educate the general population about professional guidance for career fulfillment? 5) Solidify NCDA's leadership in the country and world. The NCDA Global Career Conference continues to be the premier event for professionals interested in networking and showcasing research results and practical knowledge. It is up to the board to ensure an inclusive and diverse program that demonstrates our expertise.
David L. Blustein, Ph.D., NCDA Fellow, Candidate for Trustee-at-Large
Brief Biography:
David Blustein is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology at the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. David has been a member of ACA for 25 years and a member of NCDA for 20 years. His involvement in NCDA has included several presentations at annual conferences as well as contributions to the Career Development Quarterly. In addition, David has been a practicing career counselor for 20 years, and continues to see clients as Director of Career Development Services for Child and Family Psychological Services in Norwood, MA. David is a fellow of Division 17 (Counseling Psychology) of the American Psychological Association and a Fellow of the National Career Development Association. He also has received the Presidential Distinction award from NCDA and the John Holland Award for Outstanding Achievement in Personality and Career Research from APA. David has published numerous journal articles and book chapters in career development, work-based transitions, the exploration process, and the psychology of working. He also published a book entitled "The Psychology of Working: A New Perspective for Career Development, Counseling, and Public Policy". David also has consulted with state and national government agencies on career development education and the school-to-work transition.
David's Goal Statement:
Several goals form the essence of my interest in serving as a member of the Board for NCDA. First, I would like to help sustain the gains that our Association has made in recent years in the areas of ensuring quality services for our clients and in enhancing our impact on public policy. Given the efforts of NCDA leadership in recent years, we are significantly improving our public image by emphasizing the importance of a high level of training for career development specialists. In addition, I will work hard to expand our work in the public policy arena, both to enhance professional opportunities for our members and to speak on behalf of our citizens in education, training, career development, and employment.
Second, I hope to advance an agenda that seeks to expand career counseling to include individuals with less choice in their work lives. In short, I hope to help the NCDA leadership develop practice guidelines and association policies that will be maximally inclusive. Naturally, I will seek to serve as a representative for our members and will solicit input from colleagues on issues that they would like to introduce to the Board.
T. Alberto Puertas MS, Candidate for Trustee-at-Large
Brief Biography:
Alberto Puertas is a career/academic counselor for the Counseling and Career Center at Brigham Young University. His current responsibilities include: serving as the International Advisement Coordinator at Brigham Young University, teaching courses in career strategies, career exploration and effective learning, mentoring students at risk and assisting the University in promoting career development issues and objectives. In addition, Alberto Puertas has mentored many BYU students doing humanitarian work and internships abroad. He has presented workshops and seminars in the United States, Canada, and South America. His outreach to local and international community projects is an important component of his contribution to society at large. He is a Member of the Board of Directors for Southern Cross Humanitarian and a Member of the Advisory Board for the BYU Hispanic Management Society. In his presentations and daily work, Alberto emphasizes the relationship between meaning, spirituality and career development. He also stresses the benefits and challenges globalization presents to vocational guidance in the international arena to this new millennium. Alberto served as the NCDA International Career Issues Committee Chairperson. Presently, he serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for the National Career Development Association.
Alberto's Goal Statement:
I do appreciate the opportunity to serve the NCDA membership in a leadership position. As a current member of the Board of Directors, I am able to experience firsthand the tremendous contribution our organization provides to career development in this nation and around the globe. Globalization is presenting challenges but also wonderful opportunities. I bring an international perspective that is needed nowadays in this global environment.
One of the main roles of a Trustee at Large is to promote career development throughout the life span. I decided to run for the office of Trustee at Large because I believe in NCDA and its mission. I am dedicated and committed to the importance of career development in the lives of our members and the general population as well. I will bring energy, vision, and passion to the NCDA leadership and the humility to continue learning to serve the membership better. My goal is to reach out to all our members with our NCDA initiatives and to provide the necessary leadership in the process. In addition, I will continue to support our past and present outstanding leadership and NCDA in their constant efforts to better our great organization.
Remember, LinkToEvent[5,150] online, or mail the ballot in your Career Developments magazine before February 22, 2010.
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