Join us for the next professional development event on March 13, 2026:

March 13, 2026
Hilton Orrington/Evanston Hotel
1710 Orrington Avenue
Evanston, IL 

Register Now

5 Continuing Education hours available.

8:30 – 9:00 am  Registration

9:00 – 10:00 am  Opening General Session
Stephen Asma, Professor of Philosophy, Columbia College Chicago

The Art of Creative Flexibility: Emotional and Cognitive Tools for Career Development
Stephen Asma explores the role of emotional and cognitive flexibility in creativity, with special attention to career development. Creative adaptation in any field requires (1) emotional resources (courage and resilience), (2) cognitive agility (lateral thinking and reframing), and (3) critical curation (realism about which ideas are working). Drawing on his own experiences across music, visual arts, podcasting, teaching, and publishing, Asma navigates how imaginative thinking and adaptive courage can enrich professional growth. With a blend of philosophical insight and real-world experience, the talk illuminates how creativity can guide us through the complexities of an evolving career landscape. Additionally, Asma addresses the evolving landscape of creativity in the age of AI, encouraging creatives to move beyond resistance and reconsider AI as a catalyst for innovation and fulfillment.

10:15 – 11:15 pm  Ethics, Power, and Equity in the Age of AI 
As AI tools become more embedded in career services, practitioners face new ethical challenges related to equity, accountability, and professional responsibility. This session focuses on applying ethical frameworks to the use of AI in career development while safeguarding fairness, inclusion, and client trust.

11:30 am  - 12:00 pm  NCDA Credentialing Commission
The National Career Development Association Credentialing Commission will provide an overview of its purpose, leadership, and strategic direction, emphasizing its role in upholding professional standards and ethical practice. This session will introduce Commissioners and their credentials, summarize current program benchmarks – including recent credential-holder survey results and updated statistics – and outline future plans to strengthen professional development pathways and maintain the integrity of NCDA credentials.

12:00 - 1:00 pm  Lunch Provided

1:00 - 2:00 pm  Resilience and Trauma: Providing Services to Traumatized Individuals and Organizations
This session explores how trauma, individual, collective, and organizational, shapes career decision-making and access to opportunity. Presenters will examine trauma-informed, resilience-based approaches that support individuals and organizations navigating chronic uncertainty, disruption, and recovery.

2:15 – 3:15 pm  Creative Pivots and the Future of Career Development: Promoting and Sustaining Your Services 
As career development continues to evolve, practitioners and organizations must adapt how they design, communicate, and sustain their services. This session explores creative approaches to program development, branding, and community engagement that support long-term relevance and financial sustainability in a changing professional landscape.

3:30 - 4:00 pm  NCDA Professional Development and Mentoring Program
Learn about the continuing education activities available through NCDA's Webinar Series, Career Practitioner Conversations Podcast, and The NCDA Hub. This session provides programming updates, a preview of upcoming events, and an opportunity to share your ideas and recommendations.

4:00 pm  Closing

4:15 pm  Adjourn

PRESENTERS

Stephen Asma is Professor of Philosophy at Columbia College Chicago and co-founder of the Research Group in Mind, Science, and Culture. He is the author of eleven books, including The Emotional Mind, The Evolution of Imagination, On Monsters, and The Golden Thread (forthcoming). He has lived and taught in Shanghai, Beijing, and Phnom Penh, lectured internationally at institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, Fudan, Xi’an, and the Smithsonian, and written for The New York Times, Aeon, and other major outlets. He was also the executive producer and co-host of the hit podcast Chinwag, where he and Oscar-nominated actor Paul Giamatti explored esoterica, high strangeness, and the odd corners of culture with guests from science, art, and entertainment. As a blues musician in Chicago, he played regularly with Bo Diddley and Buddy Guy.

Career Practitioner Institute registration fee:
$100 (5 CEs) Member/Student/New Professional/Retired; $150 Non-Member

Register Now

Hilton Orrington/Evanston
1710 Orrington Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
Room Rate: $135 plus taxes
Reservations must be made by Feb. 10, 2026 to take advantage of group rate.

Online Hotel Reservations

What is a Career Practitioner Institute?