NCDA Leadership
The 2024-25 NCDA Board of Directors
View the list of NCDA Past-Presidents.
PRESIDENT 2025-2026Dirk Matthews, MS, CMCSColumbia College Chicago
| PAST PRESIDENTMarty Apodaca, MA, LPCC, CCC, NCCUniversity of New Mexico |
PRESIDENT ELECTBret Anderson, Ph.D., CCC, CCSP, OWDS, AFCh2 Communication, LLC
| PRESIDENT ELECT-ELECTDiandra Prescod, PhD, CCSP, LPC, NCCUniversity of Connecticut Brief Biography > |
SECRETARY (2023-26)Julia Panke Makela, PhD, CCCUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Brief Biography > | TREASURERMelissa (Missy) Wheeler, PhD, NCC, ACSCareer Hype Group LLC |
ACA GOVERNING COUNCILKathy EvansBrief Biography > | EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDeneen Pennington, MSCreative Management Alliance |
TRUSTEE Constituency: Counselor Educators and Researchers (2024-27)Galaxina G. Wright, Ph.D., LMHC, NCCNova Southeastern University | TRUSTEE Constituency: School Career Counselors and Specialists (2023-26)Carla B. Cheatham, PhD, LCPC, NCC, GCDF, CSCDASeattle University |
TRUSTEE Constituency: Private Practice, Business/Industry & Agencies (2025-28)Amanda Chenkin, M.Ed, LCPC, CCCChoice Career Counseling, LLC | TRUSTEE Constituency: Higher Education Career Counselors and Specialists (2024-26)Deanna Knighton, M.Ed., MABNorth Carolina State University |
TRUSTEE-at-LARGE (2025-28)Mary Ellen Earnhardt, MS, LPC, CCSP, CSCDA, FellowMontana’s Department of
Labor Industry (DLI) Career Lab | TRUSTEE State Divisions (2024-27)Markell Morris, MA, NCCFutures in Motion, Inc. |