Professional Development Chair

OCDA is seeking a Professional Development Chair for 2020-2021!

The Professional Development Chair is responsible for overseeing the Professional Development Committee. The Professional Development Committee shall organize and/or promote activities which shall focus on career development and professional advancement. The committee shall administer the award of all CEU's through OCA/ACA/NCDA and shall promote OCDA member involvement with the All Ohio Counselor's Conference. If interested in the Professional Development Chair position, please email ohiocda@gmail.com. 

Career Development Resources

Click here for Preparing College Students for the End of Work: The Role of Meaning by Michael Stebleton and Lisa Kaler. This journal article is a great, contemporary read on the world of work and how career practitioners prepare student career services, programming and curricula. 

Do you have a resource or article that you want to share with other career development professionals? Email it to burkhartbm@hiram.edu for it to be included in our next newsletter. 

Meet the 2020-2021 OCDA Board!

President - Chelsea Francis

Chelsea is currently a career counselor at Columbus State Community College, where she works with a diverse group of students, staff, faculty, and employers to implement a holistic approach to ensure student success. With a background in workforce development, she is experienced in developing strategic partnerships with businesses and community organizations to provide innovative solutions to both student and employer needs. Chelsea's area of interest is leveraging data and technology to promote equity in access to services, especially for non-traditional students. Chelsea received an MSEd. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Dayton, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Capital University.

President-Elect - Felicia Johnson

Felicia Johnson is a two-time alumna of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in educational studies and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.  She is a state of Ohio licensed clinical mental health professional with over 7+ years’ experience working in the College of Education, Health and Human Services at Kent State University.  Felicia currently works at Healing Hearts Counseling and Consultation Services.  Felicia is a clinical counselor, and career counseling is within the scope of her practice.  As a mother of two teenage young men, Felicia enjoys engaging in adventurous activities in her free time.  She is also a huge supporter of mental health awareness, often seeking the opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions on mental health and under-represented populations in higher education.

Past-President - Bethani Burkhart

Bethani Burkhart currently serves as the Director of Career and Academic Development at Hiram College. She has worked with a vast array of student populations in her time as a career services professional including professional MD and PharmD students, liberal arts students, and students being trained in technical/trade skills. Bethani achieved her Masters of Humanities in Communication from Tiffin University. She’s originally from Bellevue, Ohio and now resides near Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. One interesting fact about Bethani is that she’s on a mission to kayak all fifty states! She also has two rescue dogs - Peter and Dobby.

Member at Large & By-Laws Chair - Lenroy Jones

Lenroy Jones is passionate about helping individuals and organizations achieve their full potential. He loves working in career services because this area allows him to serve students and alumni by getting them connected to the career of their choice. Jones earned a BS degree in Communications from Central Michigan University and a Masters in College and University Personnel from Michigan State University.  He has been a contributing Columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader for seven years writing insightful features on career and job search topics. He joined the Ohio Career Development Association in Fall 2017.

Secretary - Michelle Bennett

Michelle is a connector, she genuinely enjoys building relationships and helping people connect to each other or resources that will help them achieve their goals.  She works as a Program Specialist, Cleveland Humanities Collaborative at Cuyahoga Community College. In the past, she has worked in the Office of Counseling & Career Services at Ursuline College for three years, primarily with first year students, Peer Career Advisors and coordinating micro-internships. Outside of attending many events on campus to support students and staff, she regularly enjoys the performing arts, volunteering as a mentor for first generation college students and loves all the cats and dogs!

Treasurer - Teri Stebbins

Teri Stebbins graduated in 2012 with her M.B.A. from Wright State University. Her previous experience in Raider Connect as an Enrollment Services Advisor combined with her Global Career Development Facilitator training make her uniquely qualified to serve as a Career Consultant for Career Services. Prior to Wright State University she enjoyed a 20-year career at USAirways in a variety of positions until the tragedy of 9/11.  The airline industry was immediately impacted and Teri became a victim of downsizing due to the closure of the reservations center in Dayton, OH. She immediately began her journey to create a new career for herself. Ultimately, she chose to work in higher education, where she has discovered her passion for helping others with their own career journeys.

Membership Chair - Ryan Wilhelm

Ryan Wilhelm is the Assistant Director and a Career Counselor for Career Counseling and Support Services at the Ohio State University. He also does private practice hours for Keller Counseling and Associates. He has served in multiple positions on the OCDA board since 2009 including President, President-elect, Past-President, Newsletter, Government Relations and is currently the treasurer. He has a Master of Arts in Counselor Education from Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Political Science from Bowling Green State University.

Awards & National Career Development Month Co-Chair - Taylor Slocum

Taylor Slocum is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Professional Resume Writer, and has received coaching training through the National Association of Colleges and Employers.  She has worked in higher education since 2015 and currently serves as a Career Counselor with Columbus State Community College where she assists students with their career decision making and career planning.  She also has coordinated the Career Mentorship Program for the past four years through the CState Career Services Department and was selected to present at the National Mentorship Symposium in October 2019. She was a recent recipient of the “2020 OCDA New Professional Award” which acknowledges a young professional who is a role model to students and professionals, demonstrates creativity in the field, and has great potential for continued success.  In her spare time she is an active member in the Ohio Career Development Association and enjoys training for local races.

Awards & National Career Development Month Co-Chair - Evan Faidley

Evan Faidley is an active member in the career community and academic affairs, currently serving as the Graduate Assistant within Graduate Studies at Kent State University and faculty of French at Fisk University and Educational Psychology at The University of Akron. In collaboration with Career Exploration and Development, Evan engages in career advising and programming targeted to career development of graduate students. His past experience in undergraduate teaching and advising, as well as his interactive work in gauging graduate student career readiness among diverse populations show his commitment to college student development, personal exploration, and professional identity construction. He is also a doctoral candidate studying higher education administration with a focus on professional socialization and master’s higher education students’ specialty choice in transition from student to entry-level student affairs staff. Evan’s background in career advising, college teaching, and conducting research has proven his self-concept and purpose in life: being useful to others as they transition into new chapters of life.

Website Chair - Kaleigh Mahon

Kaleigh Mahon is currently a Master's student at Kent State University studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is also working towards a certificate in addictions counseling. Ultimately, she would like to specialize in career counseling and work with the adolescent and young adult populations. Kaleigh graduated in three years with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University. She serves as Mentorship Committee co-chair for the Kent State Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. Additionally, she is currently working as an International Community Assistant for the Office of International Student Affairs at Kent State. This is her second year serving as the Website Chair for OCDA. When she is not in class, Kaleigh loves to spend time with her bird, cross-stitch, and go for walks.

Social Media Chair - Katie Flanigan

Katie Flanigan serves as a Career Advisor at Baldwin Wallace University. She holds a Masters of Education from the University of Pittsburgh and is also a Global Career Development Facilitator. In her position, Katie advises traditional and nontraditional undergraduate and graduate students as well as alumni. She is the liaison to undecided students, the School of Social Sciences, and the Conservatory of Music. No stranger to social media, she runs all of the accounts for BW Career Services and uses them to create professional development opportunities for students. Katie also teaches a First-Year Experience course each fall in which she assists freshmen in starting the career development process and identifying on-campus resources.

Archives & Government Relations Chair - Dalila Byrd

Dalila has been serving as the clinical coordinator for the third- and fourth-year medical students at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine for the past three years. She completed her master’s degree in Business & Organizational Management Counseling with a focus in career counseling and development at Wright State. Dalila has served on the OCDA Board since 2015 starting as the Website Chair and was President in 2018. She resides in the Dayton area with her family, including a dog named Keanu and two sister cats named Yuki and Yoshi!