CCDA Board: 2021-2022
Executive Board
| President Heather Zeng, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, NCC (C), CCC, BC-TMH has experience in career development counseling, career education policy at the State level, and assessment training/implementation for the 4th largest school district in the U.S. She is an instructor and tireless student advocate in the area of counseling and career development. She has written on topics of international human resource development, ethical and legal issues in coaching, counseling and technology, online collaboration, workplace bullying, and job promotion. She has found in her work the vital question not of "What do you do?" rather "Who are you?" as central helping clients (and students) in their career development. |
| President- Elect Candidate Edna Davoudi Meet Edna, an accomplished leader in higher education with over two decades of experience in career education, student affairs, and administration. Throughout her career, she has held various leadership positions across multiple colleges and universities, where she has developed a sincere passion for helping students succeed and ensuring smooth and efficient university operations. Edna is particularly passionate about assisting individuals in finding their career paths and achieving fulfillment in their lives. In addition to her work in higher education administration, she is an active member of the California Career Development Association Board, where she has served for the past five years in various capacities, including Chair of the Professional Development Committee. She is also a member of the Training and Education Council with the National Career Development Association. Edna currently works as a Career Development Practitioner, teaches courses in Career Development and Industrial/Organization Psychology, and continues to make a positive impact in the field of higher education. |
| Past - President Dr. Cheryl Love Dr. Love is a Career Counselor and a College Specialist for the Arts, Humanities, School of Education and School of Public Policy in the Career Center at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). In this role she also serves as the Liaison to the African Student Programs, the Black Student Success Initiative, Basic Needs, and the Kessler Scholar Program. Previously she served as a Career Counselor and Liaison to the College of Education & Integrative Studies and the Broncos Dreamers Center at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona’s (Cal Poly Pomona) Career Center; and as Adjunct Faculty in the College of Education and Integrative Studies – Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Cal Poly Pomona. She has a Bachelor Degree in Liberal Studies and Master’s Degree in Counseling along with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Pupil Personnel Service Credential from California State University, Fullerton. Her Doctorate is from the University of California, Los Angeles in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling. Dr. Love has 40+ years of experience as a Counselor and Teacher in all four Higher Education systems (UC, CSU, Private and Community) as well as the Public School and Non-Profit sector. Dr. Love’s Professional Associations include: Member of UCR’s Black Faculty and Staff Association; Member of NCDA & Former Co-Chair of the Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion Committee and Member of Conference Planning Committee 2024 & 2023; Past President for the California Career Development Association 2023-24; Member of MPACE & the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; Board Member – Vice President of Enhearten and organization working to develop unseen leaders in the United States and internationally. |
| Secretary/Historian Esther Lanier Esther Lanier is the USC Career Center’s Senior Career Advisor focusing on Doctoral and Graduate Students. She enjoys empowering doctoral, and graduate students and alumni to explore the many facets of career exploration, career preparation, and launching into successful careers in a global economy. She brings her enthusiasm and industry knowledge from human resources, banking, and entertainment. To support the needs of Ph.D., post-doctoral, and master's students, Esther manages key programs such as the Beyond the Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Career Conference and collaborates with various departments at USC Health Sciences Campus. Esther enjoys baking cakes and cookie decorating. |
| Finance Co-Chair Markell R. Morris is the CEO of Futures In Motion, Inc., helping people reclaim their careers after loss and personal challenges. She is a national certified counselor, and adjunct career/academic counselor at Santa Monica College and Cypress College. Markell has a Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. |
| Finance Co-Chair Carrie McKnight is a Career Counselor at San Jose State University Career Center. She is a Past-President of CCDA and has served on the Board for several years in various roles. Carrie has assisted with planning CCDA’s regional conferences and organizes local chapter events in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley. |
Legislative and Public Policy |
| Legislative and Public Policy Chair Jonae Watts Jonae Watts has been a Senior Employment Specialist working for People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), the largest homeless agency in the State of California, for over 12 years. Her responsibilities are not geographically bound. Therefore, she can be found throughout Los Angeles County, collaborating with various Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, City and County America’s Job Centers, community colleges, and government agencies to assist homeless families and veterans obtain sustainable employment. Jonae has personally and professionally taken her role to higher heights by focusing on fusing housing initiatives and workforce, labor, career development, combining mental or physical disabilities, and integrating evidence-based employment models. She is a motivating advocate with a ton of passion and a voice for those experiencing homelessness as she shares her platform and successes in the field by illustrating how “fusing Housing First combined with career development leads to a sustainable income.” Ms. Watts holds professional certifications, including Certified Workforce Development Professional (National Association of Workforce Development Professionals); Global Career Development Facilitator (National Career Development Association); Certified Career Services Provider (NCDA); Individual Placement and Support Professional (Dartmouth Institute); and LA Youth at Work Facilitator (Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce). In addition, she has received several awards for her tireless commitment to working with homeless families. |
| Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member Shelby McIntyre is a Career & Academic Counselor at Glendale Community College and Cypress College, and NCDA Certified Career Counselor. She earned her M.S. Counseling, College Counseling & Student Services from California State University, Northridge, and a B.A. in Cinema Studies, minors in Creative Writing & Music, from the University of Oregon. After experiencing her own career change from the film industry to the counseling profession, she is passionate about helping others navigate their career development process to find meaningful work. Her professional passions and interests include social justice, civic engagement, bystander intervention, and student leadership. |
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Member Services |
Communications |
| Communications Chair As a first-generation college graduate and professional, Denisse Jover currently serves as the Assistant Director of Employer Relations at Pomona College. With experience working in a wide-range of collegiate and community-based programs, she has found it critical to support students on their path to higher education as well as elevating their career goals. She graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with an option in Social Work. Upon concluding her Master of Science of Higher Education program at California State University, Fullerton, community building and leading through authenticity have been a top priority for her to further model the importance of personal and professional well-being among students, colleagues, and community members. In 2023, she was recognized as a recipient of CCDA’s Dick Knowdell Scholarship. |
| Technology Chair Dr. Greenwood is CEO of Greenwood Associates, Inc. a career counseling group and purveyors of the Greenwood System™ a holistic career counseling assessment, report, and counseling model. Dr. Greenwood has over 30 years experience as an educator and career counselor having received his doctorate in education from the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia. Dr. Greenwood conducts private career counseling for clients of all ages and abilities. Dr. Greenwood also trains counselors in the Greenwood System™ and supports career counselors in private practice and at educational institutions, special needs young adult programs, therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness programs, and residential treatment centers. |
Professional Development |
| Professional Development Chair Rick is a Counselor and Career Coach, running a private practice in the greater LA area. Previously he worked as a Senior Career Counselor and Supervisor of Counseling Interns. He is passionate about the roles that personal exploration and intrinsic motivation play in professional achievement. In recent years, Rick has led talks and seminars for hundreds of students and professionals about topics ranging from life purposes, strengths, strategic job searching, and even how to enjoy networking. What Rick enjoys most is helping people see beyond their personal limits, decide on a course of action, and then build sustainable momentum so they can achieve what they want and become who they always knew they could become. |
| Professional Development Sanaz Nabati is an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Education and Development at University of California, Los Angeles, serving Students with Disabilities and International Students. She also serves as a Pre-Law Advisor. Sanaz is a double Alumnus of California State University Northridge, with a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Career Counseling. After experience in industry working in real estate management, she found her passion in career development helping college students and career changers to identify, prepare, and pursue their ideal profession while optimizing their career success. Her passion for learning, professional development, and advancement in career development makes her an ideal career coach for students and career changers. She thrives in helping her clients reach their career milestones and endeavors. |
| Professional Development Jaisha White Jaisha White (she/her) joined the California Career Development Association (CCDA) because she feels deeply connected to its mission to promote and advance the career development profession. As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practitioner, she supports CCDA's efforts to provide educational support, resources, and tools that empower career development professionals to approach their work through a social justice and equity-based lens. She is a proud double alumnus of California State University, Sacramento, having earned a Master of Science in Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication. She has 20 years of experience in human resources and holds a Professional in Human Resources certification from HRCI. For the past six years, she has also served as an adjunct instructor, teaching Work Experience and Business courses. One of Jaisha's core values is community service, which she demonstrates through her volunteer work at a transitional housing program for women and children. Additionally, she dedicates her time to a community-based organization committed to addressing the impacts of traumatic experiences stemming from internalized, interpersonal, and systemic racism. Jaisha is a learning enthusiast and aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior in the future. |
Constituency Groups |
| Graduate Students Chair Dr. Anne Chan Anne Chan, Ph.D., has over 20 years of experience as a career counselor and a psychotherapist helping people optimize happiness in their careers and personal lives. Her research, writing, and practice interests include mentoring, diversity, and cross-cultural issues in professional relationships. She earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Stanford University. She also holds two Master’s degrees, one in English from the University of Washington in Seattle, and one in Counseling Psychology from California State University, East Bay. She has held a variety of roles in the counseling field, including being an academic counselor at community colleges, adjunct instructor for undergraduates and graduates, and psychotherapist at nonprofit, community, and private practice settings. She has authored a book on mentoring as well as numerous research articles on diversity, mentoring and career counseling. |
| Private Practice, Business/Industry & Agency Chair Rick is a Counselor and Career Coach, running a private practice in the greater LA area. Previously he worked as a Senior Career Counselor and Supervisor of Counseling Interns. He is passionate about the roles that personal exploration and intrinsic motivation play in professional achievement. In recent years, Rick has led talks and seminars for hundreds of students and professionals about topics ranging from life purposes, strengths, strategic job searching, and even how to enjoy networking. What Rick enjoys most is helping people see beyond their personal limits, decide on a course of action, and then build sustainable momentum so they can achieve what they want and become who they always knew they could become. |
| Higher Education Career Counselor & Specialists Chair Sanaz Nabati is an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Education and Development at University of California, Los Angeles, serving Students with Disabilities and International Students. She also serves as a Pre-Law Advisor. Sanaz is a double Alumnus of California State University Northridge, with a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Career Counseling. After experience in industry working in real estate management, she found her passion in career development helping college students and career changers to identify, prepare, and pursue their ideal profession while optimizing their career success. Her passion for learning, professional development, and advancement in career development makes her an ideal career coach for students and career changers. She thrives in helping her clients reach their career milestones and endeavors. |
Career Counselor Educators & Researchers Chair Dr. David Paul |
Executive Director
(Non Board Member)
| Consulting Administrator Kegan Barroso has been a Career Counselor and Coach for Ben Hudnall Memorial Trust for over 7 years, helping healthcare workers complete their career goals. Kegan was CCDA's Secretary for 2020 - 2022 board term and she continues to work with CCDA as an Administrator. She received her Master in Educational Counseling in 2015 and is a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP). She helps her clients to develop career pathways in order to be successful in whatever industry they pursue. Looking to the future Kegan is working towards certification in Instructional Design and Technology. |
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