Governing Council Background Statements

Jul 01, 2007
ACA Governing Council – 2007-2008

Brian S. Canfield
ACA President

Brian S. CanfieldDr. Brian S. Canfield is Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. Brian began his career in higher education in 1979 as a Program Coordinator at Louisiana State University. After completing his doctoral studies in counseling, he returned to his native Louisiana and established a private practice in counseling.

His work as a counselor educator for the past 24 years has included administrative roles as clinical director, program director, department chair, and associate dean.

He served as co-chair of the joint IAMFC-AMCD taskforce on multicultural family counseling competencies. He is a pastpresident of the Louisiana Mental Health Counselors Association and a former broad member and President of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. He has organized numerous study-abroad programs in Mexico and the United Kingdom and has served as director of the UK-based IAMFC Northampton Summer Institute.

He has authored or co-authored more than 25 articles, monographs, and book chapters, and is a co-author of Group Work: Constructivist, Social Constructionist and Cybernetic Perspectives.

He received the B.A. degree in psychology and the M.A. degree in counseling from Louisiana Tech University, and is a 1983 graduate of Texas A&M University at Commerce where he received his Doctor of Education degree with a major in Counseling and Guidance and a program emphasis in marriage and family therapy. He is a licensed professional counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and a licensed psychologist. He is a 2005 recipient of the “Distinguished Leadership Award” of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.

Brian is the father of four children. He and his wife Irene, who is a also a licensed counselor, live in San Diego, California.

Colleen Logan
ACA President-Elect

Colleen LoganColleen R. Logan is the Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Argosy University Dallas Campus. She also serves as the Associate Dean of the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences for Argosy University. She began her career working with HIV infected individuals and their significant others at the Whitman –Walker Clinic in Washington DC. Following doctoral studies, she taught at the University of Houston-Victoria. While in Houston, Colleen built and maintained a successful private practice working with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clients and their significant others, prior to joining Argosy University in 2004.

Service to the counseling profession has been central to Colleen's life. She is past Co-Chair, President-Elect, President and Governing Council Representative of the Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling. She also served as a member and Co-Chair of the National Ethics committee. She has served as a member of the American Counseling Association's Executive committee and she has served as Chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel for the past two years. Colleen and Dr. Colleen Connolly were the co-founders of TAGLBIC, the Texas division of The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling. Along with others, Colleen contributed to the development of the ACA-endorsed competencies for working with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clients and their significant others.

Colleen has made numerous professional presentations regarding the devastating impact of homoprejudice as well as the myriad issues related to providing affirmative counseling to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clients and their significant others.. She has authored or co-authored a number of articles as well as a book with Dr. Robert Barret regarding counseling issues related to working with sexual minority clients.

Colleen's graduate degrees are from Duquesne University and the University of Virginia. Colleen is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

In her spare time, Colleen enjoys time with her two children Brendan and Shayna.

Marie A. Wakefield
ACA Immediate Past President

Marie A. WakefieldMarie A. Wakefield, a 30-year veteran educator, worked as an elementary teacher, counselor, Administrative Specialist for Guidance Services, assistant principal, and principal. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio and her Master of Science degree in Educational Foundations and Counseling from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Marie has been active in organizations that promote change for youth and young adults and in activities that have allowed her to work with people of all ages facing various challenges. She is currently the director of a mentoring program that addresses critical issues facing female teens in the 21st century.

Marie has served in many counseling leadership roles as President, Nevada Counseling Association; Chairperson, Western Region; Western Region Governing Council Representative; President, Association for Adult Development and Aging; and Membership Co-Chairperson, Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development. In addition, she has served as chair or as a member of the ACA Strategic Planning, Financial Affairs, Nominations and Election, and Executive Committee.

Ms. Wakefield has been recognized for her achievements and influence. Awards include: the AADA Distinguished Service Award, Dr. Kay P. Carl Outstanding Counseling Education Award, Who's Who Among American Educators, John A. Bailey Distinguished Professional Award, the Clark County Participative Leadership Project, and the Professional Black Women's Rose Award.

Ms. Wakefield and her husband, Charles, have four children and nine grandchildren. Marie enjoys public speaking, reading, and playing the piano. She is aspiring to achieve her doctorate in school counseling.

David Capuzzi
Treasurer

David CapuzziDavid Capuzzi, Ph.D., LPC, NCC is a past president of ACA. Currently, he resides in Oregon and commutes to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD where he is Scholar in Residence for the Department of Counseling and Human Services. He is professor Emeritus at Portland State University. Author of eight textbooks used in counselor education programs and numerous journal articles and monographs, he presents workshops and seminars nationally and internationally. He is the first recipient of ACA’s Kitty Cole Human Awards Award.


Don W. Locke
Parliamentarian

Dr. Don W. Locke is Professor of Counseling and Dean of the School of Education at Mississippi College. Dr. Locke is a forty year member of ACA and has previously served as a member of the ACA Governing Council on four different occasions (twice in the '70's, once in the '80's, and once in the '90's) in addition to the current appointment as parliamentarian . He has served on both the ACA Executive Committee and the ACA Elections Committee at various times. He has also served as a division president for both IAMFC and C-AHEAD and as the southern region president for ACES. He also has served on the CACREP Council and is a past vice-chair. Dr. Locke continues to serve CACREP as a site visitor and team chair and is an LPC and an LMFT.

James Blundo
Representative, AMHCA
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

James Blundo, LPC, MSW, NCC, CCMHC. Owner private practice 24 years. Gained licensure in Michigan. Past President, AMHCA. American Mental Health Counselor of the Year (1996). Lobbied for Tricare and Medicare legislation on Capitol Hill. Co-author of Reattachment Therapy. Pioneered federal grant pilot project for welfare to work mothers (2005 to present). Candidate for state legislature (2004).

Loretta Bradley
Representative, IAMFC
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

Loretta BradleyLoretta Bradley, Ph.D. is a Paul Whitfield Horn Professor and Coordinator of Counselor Education at Texas Tech University. She is a past-president of ACA and ACES. She currently represents IAMFC on the ACA Governing Council. She has also served as ACA Treasurer. She enjoys traveling, reading, and collecting antiques.


Kay T. Brawley
Representative, NECA
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

Director, Achieving New Directions, training professionals in career management programs. ACA member 33 years; NECA: Professional Development Coordinator, Past President; NCDA: Secretary, Trustee; ASCA: News Editor, Interprofessional Relations Chair; IAMFC: PPL Committee; Past President Maryland MACD, MSCA, President, MAMFC; VP, FLAMFC; ACA Committees: Restructuring Task Force, Career Center, Software Technology; IAEVG Board. kbrawley@mindspring.com.

Maureen E. Colon
Representative, ACEG
7/1/07 - 6/30/10

Maureen Colón is the Director of Education & Military Training 3rd Mission Support Squadron Elmendorf Air force Base Alaska. In this position she is responsible for a full range of education and training programs for the 11th Air Force and 3rd Wing. She is responsible to the Commander for ensuring the education and training needs of the command are being met and quality educational and training programs are available. Serves on the Volunteer Action Council (VAC), Community Action Information Board (CAIB), Alaska Distance Education Technology Consortium (ADETC), University of Alaska Military Advisory Committee (AMAC).

ACEG OFFICES- Secretary, Board of Directors, Awards Committee Chair, Nominations & Elections, Membership Committee Chair, President

James M. Devlin
Student Representative
7/1/07 - 6/30/08

James M. Devlin, M.A. is a Doctoral Student in Counselor Education at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. James is the Editorial Assistant for The Family Journal and President of the Counselor Education Research Consortium at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Presently, James’ research interests include counseling research identity, couple’s counseling, therapeutic alliance and multicultural considerations, supervision model development, and counseling trends.

Thelma Duffey
Representative, ACC
7/1/07 - 6/30/10

Kelly Duncan
Representative, Midwest Region
7/1/07 - 6/30/10

Kelly Duncan, Ph.D., LPC, NCC is an assistant professor of counseling and coordinator of the school counseling program at the University of South Dakota. She serves as the executive director of the SD Counseling Association and is the president of the SD Board of Education which governs K-12 education policy in the state.

Dennis Engels
Representative, NCDA
7/1/05 - 6/30/08

Dr. Dennis Engels teaches and/or supervises courses in, career counseling, counseling theory and methods, counseling prepracticum, ethics, life-career development and school counseling internship. His research and scholarly interests center on career development, decision making, ethics, human resource development, multipotentiality, and organizational and disciplinary history. He has published extensively through books, refereed journals and other media.

Dr. Engels has held numerous offices and chairs in state and national professional organizations, has served as a consulting editor on several nationally refereed journals, consulted with public and private sector organizations and agencies throughout the United States, and currently serves as editor-emeritus of Counseling and Values, the journal of the Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling.

He is also a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. In July, 1997, he completed a three year tenure as President-Elect, President and Immediate Past President of the National Career Development Association, founded in 1913 to promote career development for people of all ages, stages and status. In 2000, he was elected chair-elect of the American Counseling Association's Council of Journal Editors and, in 1999, he was elected president-elect of the Texas Counseling Association, serving as President in 2000-2001. Denny and Donna have 3 young adult sons, two daughters-in-law, 2 grandchildren, and their family served as a foster family to 22 children over an 8 year span.

Bradley T. Erford
Representative, AACE
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

Bradley T. ErfordBradley T. Erford, Ph.D. is Professor and Director of the School Counseling Program at Loyola College in MD. He is an ACA Fellow and recipient of numerous awards from ACA, AACE, ACES and MACD. He has held numerous state and national leadership positions, and has authored/edited numerous books, articles, and chapters.


Ned Farley
Representative, ALGBTIC
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

Ned Farley is the chair of the Mental Health Counseling Program, as well as the Integrative Studies in Psychology Program in the Center for Programs in Psychology at Antioch University Seattle, where he has been full time faculty since 1992. He also maintains a small private practice serving adults, adolescents and couples and has been in practice since 1984. Ned is a past president of AGLBIC, past board trustee of AGLBIC, and past president of WSACES.

Queen Fowler
Representative, AMCD
7/1/06-6/30/09

Nita Jones
Representative, Southern Region
7/1/05 - 6/30/08

Nita JonesNita Jones is a Professional Counselor in the Dyersburg Primary School – serving 1,000 students of Kindergarten, First Grade and Second grades. She is presently serving on the TSCA Executive Board, TCA Executive Board, Board of Directors for NEA (National Education Association), TEA Board of Directors and NEA Foundation Board. 

Her husband, T.J. Jones and she have three sons and seven grandchildren. She enjoys snow skiing, boating, traveling, reading and playing games, especially bridge. She is very active in her church work, Heart Association, St. Jude, Cancer for Cure, and other community work.

Kelley Romaine Kenney
Representative, North Atlantic Region
7/1/07 - 6/30/10

Dr. Kelley R. Kenney received the Doctor of Education degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, with supporting areas in Couples and Family Counseling and Higher Education Administration/Student Personnel Services from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1992.  She is a full professor at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania where she has been for 23 years. She currently teaches in the graduate Department of Counseling and Human Services, and serves as the program coordinator for the Student Affairs Administration and Student Affairs College Counseling program tracks.  Prior to joining the graduate department on a full time basis, Dr. Kenney was a clinical faculty member in the University Counseling Services Department.  She is a Certified and Licensed Professional Counselor, with areas of specialization in college student development and multicultural counseling, specifically related to the multiracial population.  Dr. Kenney has conducted numerous workshops, presentations and trainings on issues of multiculturalism and diversity, and has published several articles and book chapters on counseling the multiracial population.  She is a co-author of the book Counseling Multiracial Families and the counseling training video-tape, “Counseling the Multiracial Population: Couples, Individuals, and Families”.  Dr. Kenney is a Past Chair for the North Atlantic Region of the American Counseling Association, is co-Chair of the Multiracial/Multiethnic Counseling Interest Network of the American Counseling Association, Past- president of the Pennsylvania Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors, and serves as a member of the International Committee of the American Counseling Association.  She also holds memberships in the American College Personnel Association, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and the American Psychological Association. 

Carolyn W. Kern
Representative, ACCA
7/1/07 - 6/30/10

Carolyn Kern, PhD, LPC, NCC, Associate Professor in Counseling, Department of Counseling & Higher Education at University of North Texas. Teaching areas include clinical courses, adolescents and college counseling. Memberships include: ACA, ACCA, ACES, TCA, TCCA, & TACES. Offices held include: ACCA President, ACCA Board Member; Texas Counseling Association, Board Member, Secretary, & Treasurer; TCCA, President. Research interest includes counselor supervision, adolescents, and college student development.

George R. Leddick
Representative, ASGW
2/1/06 - 6/30/08

Dr. George Leddick, NCC, became a counselor educator in 1980, earning awards for distinguished teaching at Purdue University and Indiana University. He served as president of ASGW, Indiana-SGW, North Carolina-SGW, and the Indiana Counseling Association. Honored in 1988 with the ACES’ Distinguished Publication award, he was also inducted as a Fellow of ASGW (1995).

Vonda Long
Representative, AADA
7/1/07 - 6/30/10

Vonda Long, PhD., is a psychotherapist and director of Passageways, Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, specializing in experiential and group counseling. She has served as President of the New Mexico Counseling Association, and President of the Association for Adult Development and Aging. She is a licensed LPCC and NCC. Dr. Long has authored several textbooks, includingCommunication Skills in Counseling,Facilitating Personal Growth in Self and Others andExperiential Counseling.

Sandra Lopez-Baez
Representative, CSJ
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

Sandra I. Lopez-Baez, Ph.D., NCC, ACS, CCMHC, LPC. Dr. Lopez-Baez received her Ph.D. in Counseling from Kent State University in 1980. She serves as Associate Professor and Coordinator for the Mental Health Counseling track in Counselor Education at the Curry School of Education of the University of Virginia. She is the Director of the Personal and Career Development Center, established as a training facility to deliver services to the public and UVA students while training doctoral and advanced masters level students.

She is past-president of CSJ, and chairs the Virginia AMCD. She served as President for the OAMCD (1987-88). She was a member of the ethics committee of OACD for two years, a member of the awards committee, and the membership committee of AMCD for two years. She was elected to the Board of Governors for NBCC (1994-2000). She was chair of NBCC’s Board of Governors in 1998-1999.

She is a Licensed Psychologist in Ohio, an NCC (NBCC) with Board certification in Clinical Mental Health and Approved Clinical Supervisor, as well as an LPC in Virginia, an LPCC with supervisory endorsement in Ohio, and a Consejera Profesional in Puerto Rico.

Areas of interest, research and presentations include: Diversity, Multiculturalism, Social Justice, Working with Latino Populations, Gestalt Therapy, Clinical Mental Health Counselor Education and Supervision, and Professional Identity of Mental Health Counselors, to name a few.

Sally Murphy
Representative, ASCA
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

Sally MurphySally Murphy, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Clinical Coordinator in the Counseling & Development Program at George Mason University.

Sally teaches program courses, is in charge of all clinical field appointments, and trains site supervisors regarding supervision issues. She has held offices in Virginia School Counselor Association and is a licensed Professional School Counselor. Her primary counseling publication and research interests are in the areas of supervision and ethical and legal issues in school counseling.

Cynthia J. Osborn
Representative, IAAOC
7/1/04-6/30/07

Associate Professor, Counseling and Human Development Services Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH

Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson
Representative, ACES
7/1/07 - 6/30/10

Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson NCC, ACS, DCC is associate professor for counselor education, UNLV. Dr. Pehrsson is a clinical licensed professional counselor-supervisor, registered play therapy supervisor and registered nurse. She is past president for WACES, OCA and OACES. She serves as clinical editor for Play Therapy™. She researches therapeutic storytelling and metaphor.

Carolyn W. Rollins
Representative, ARCA
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

Carolyn W. Rollins, CRC, NCC, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Leadership at Albany State University.  She is GC liaison to and a member of the Public Awareness and Support Committee; she has served as chair of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association’s (ARCA) Council on Collaboration and Development, chaired national conferences for ARCA and Counselors for Social Justice.  Dr. Rollins’ publications include articles in refereed journals, book chapters, and monographs; her interests include organizational and staff development, advocacy, disability issues, diversity and multicultural issues, ethics, and the application of technology in education and services.

Laura Jo Severson
Representative, Western Region
7/1/06 - 6/30/09

Laura Jo SeversonLaura Jo Severson, Western Region Representative to ACA Governing Council. This is my thirtieth year in education, and twenty-second as a counselor. My career has been spent working with teenagers trying to keep them in school or find them an appropriate educational setting. I see education as a social justice issue and am concerned about programs like No Child Left Behind which seems to try to exclude many poor and minority students from public education.

Sonya Vassos
Representative, C-AHEAD
7/1/05 - 6/30/08

Sonya VassosSonya Vassos, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and mental health counselor in private practice in New York City. She is also a licensed psychoanalyst.

Currently, she represents the C-AHEAD Division at the ACA Governing Council. In the past she has also been the Chair of the ACA Foundation, the President of C-AHEAD, the Chair of the North Atlantic Region of ACA, the President of the New York State Counseling Association (formerly NYSPGA), President of the New York School Counseling Association, a member of Nassau Counselors, and a member of New York State Mental Health Counselors Association.

Scott Young
Representative, ASERVIC
7/1/05 - 6/30/08

Scott Young J. Scott Young, Ph.D., NCC, LPC is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education at Mississippi State University where he also serves as the Clinical Director of the Counseling and School Psychology Laboratory. He has been a practicing counselor in both public and private agencies and hospitals. He currently conducts private practice in addition to his university responsibilities. His leadership in the field of counseling includes service as president of the Association for Spiritual Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling and member of the Governing Council for the American Counseling Association.

Scott is coeditor of the book Integrating Spirituality into Counseling: A Guide to Competent Practice, has published numerous articles on the interface of clinical practice with spirituality and religion, and has received awards for his work. Scott received his degrees from University of North Carolina at Charlotte (B.S.) and University of North Carolina at Greensboro (M.Ed., Ph.D.) He is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (Mississippi).

Scott is married to Sara D. Young who is also practicing counselor and art therapist as well as an instructor of Psychology at Mississippi State University. He is the father of two daughters- Savannah and Sophie.

Select News by Year