04/01/2021

The VIRTUAL 2021 NCDA Global Career Development Conference

By Mary Ann Powell

NCDA, the premier career development association for over 100 years, convenes its annual conference for the purpose of gaining new knowledge, earning continuing education units, networking, interacting with leaders in the association and the field, and procuring significant professional and personal resources for another year of service to clients, students, and ourselves.

This three-day virtual event (June 29- July 1, 2021) includes live and on-demand presentations, keynote sessions, networking opportunities, exhibitor interactions, and more. It is an experience like no other, being offered via the conference app using a new platform. Unique features this year include:

• recorded sessions that simulate live sessions by permitting interaction with the presenter 
• during scheduled times
• virtual social gatherings
• optional registration packages based on continuing education preferences.

Registration information, the Agenda, and FAQs are posted on the NCDA conference website – visit www.ncdaconference.org. Registered participants will also receive a coupon for five dollars off any purchase in the Career Resource Store.

NCDA received over 220 proposals for presentations. From these, the conference program committee, chaired by Deanna Knighton, had the difficult job of selecting the most valuable and unique to be a part of the conference. NCDA thanks the program committee, who are all recognized in the list below. The NCDA President, Dr. Seth Hayden, personally selected the following keynote speakers:

Dr. Andrew Daire is the Dean of the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Combining an academic and clinical background in counseling and psychology with expertise in research, Daire's style of transformative leadership emphasizes personal and professional development, and motivating faculty, staff and students toward excellence, innovation and impact in their work every day. A big supporter of community engagement, Daire believes research and instruction are at their best (and most innovative) when focused on serving the public.

Lisa Taylor is the President of Challenge Factory and the Centre for Career Innovation. Lisa offers a dynamic perspective on the Future of Work and how demographics, the freelance economy and new market dynamics present opportunities to gain strategic advantage. 

Dr. David Blustein is a Professor and Duganne Faculty Fellow in the Department of Counseling, Development, and Educational Psychology at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. Dr. Blustein has written several books, research articles and book chapters on psychology of working theory, career and work-based counseling, decent work, dignity at work, precarious work, relationships and work, and other aspects of the role of work in people’s lives. He has consulted around the world.

The NCDA Global Career Development Conference welcomes exhibitors and sponsors from public and private corporations, government agencies, educational institutions, and professional associations who offer career-related products and services such as books, media, computer-based systems, assessment instruments, and online services.  More details about virtual exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities will be posted online or contact Alicia Cheek.

Registration is open now and the app will open in late June. Registered participants will receive app access instructions via email. Access to all sessions will be extended 90 days, to allow viewing at your convenience. Please join NCDA and hundreds of career development contemporaries virtually for the 2021 Global Career Development Conference.

Program Review Committee

Program Chair: Deanna Knighton, Duke University

Committee Members:

Mahmood Al Ma'awali The Pennsylvania State University

Tina Anctil Portland State University

Feride Bacanli Gazi University

Angela Bourassa Manchester High School Central (NH)

Carla Cheatham Cheatham Career Services, LLC

Amanda Chenkin Choice Career Counseling, LLC and Front Range Community College

Matthew Crowley University of Florida

Doug Cullen Pinkerton Academy (NH)

Terry Cummings The Pennsylvania State University

David Dietrich The University of Tennessee at Martin

Suzanne Duggar Augusta University

Aliaa  El-Dardery Mentarcise

Lia Falco University of Arizona

Lauren Granese The Pennsylvania State University

Krista  Harmon Kent Intermediate School District

Shawneece Hennigham The Nature Conservancy

Chris Hughes The Pennsylvania State University

Kyle Inselman University of Denver

Jessica Janicki JWJ Consulting

Kathy Kline JOB

Lilian Ma The Pennsylvania State University

Robert Martinez Univeristy of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Jillian  Miles Horizon Point Consulting

Steven  Myers Fairfax County Public Schools

Tashawn Nichols West Allegheny High School / FamilyLinks

Anne Nowak East Baton Rouge, Parish Library

Lametra  Off LBO Career Coaching & Consulting

Amy Policastro North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Tim Poynton University of Massachusetts-Boston

Delasia Rice State University of New York - Brockport

Hongshan Shao The Pennsylvania State University

Marie Smith University of Wisconsin, Parkside

Arden Szepe Doane University

Michelle Tullier Tullier Consulting, LLC

Sherri Turner University of Minnesota

Paolo  Varquez Coastline Community College

Holly Waite Resume Illuminations & Lee Hecht Harrison

Tony Warren Education Consultant

Belinda Wilkinson Steps to the Future

Sherry Williams Lexington School District One (SC)

Galaxina Wright University of Central Florida

Un Yeong Park University of Illinois

Yusen Zhai The Pennsylvania State University

Mary Ann Powell is the NCDA Conference Director. She can be reached at mpowell@ncda.org