06/01/2013

NCDA Roots #5: Early History of the National Vocational Guidance Association

By Rich Feller and Fatima Wilson

The National Career Development Association (NCDA) is currently celebrating its centennial year. The formation of the National Vocational Guidance Association (NVGA) was completed at a series of meetings held in October 21-24, 1913 at Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a part of our centennial celebration we are examining our roots. This month, we consider the early history of the National Vocational Guidance Association by presenting an article written by Fatima Wilson as part of her NCDA Leadership Academy action project. In addressing the early history of vocational guidance and its professional association, she identifies major events and figures that contributed in that history, describes the rise of the vocational guidance movement leading up to the formation of The National Vocational Guidance Association in 1913, reviews the papers that were presented at the 1913 convention, and outlines the crucial issues that confronted the pioneers of vocational guidance. Click on the link here to view Fatima Wilson’s article.

The highlight of the NCDA celebration of the centennial is the Global Career Development Conference to be held July 8 - 10, 2013 in Boston, MA, USA.The conference will include memorable anniversary events, comprehensive professional development institutes, special tours, featured speakers, and rich learning experiences. Career counselors and specialists will share best practices and ideas, examine new programs and products, and have the opportunity to network with the leaders in the career development field.

Read all the "Roots" articles published in Career Convergence as part of our centennial celebration:

Roots #1: NCDA Roots

Roots #2: The First NVGA Conference

Roots #3: Vocational Guidance

Roots #4: The Association Journal

Roots #5: Early History

Rich Feller, Ph.D., is Professor of Counseling and Career Development and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar at Colorado State University, and a Nationally Certified Counselor. A Fellow and President (2012-2013) of the National Career Development Association, he received NCDA’s Eminent Career Award in 2009. He can be reached at Rich.Feller@ColoState.EDU

Fatima Wilson is a Student Services Advanced Specialist at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.  She participated in NCDA’s Leadership Academy V (2010-2011), for which she wrote this article.  At the Region 10 Conference of the National Academic Advising Association she presented the workshop “Advising First-Generation Students – Advisors as Guiding Stars to the Trailblazers of the 21st Century.”  She will present at the NCDA Career Development Conference in Boston, Wednesday, July 10, 2013 ~ 8:00 - 9:10 am, Roundtable #7-3 Voices Resonating From the 1913 Convention: Transforming Lives Through Vocational Guidance and Social Justice. You can reach her at fwilson@pima.edu.