2021-2022 GCDA Board
President: David Harris, MTS, MS
David is the co-founder and Executive Director of Rock Springs Positive Coaching, Caring, and Counseling, Inc. As a professional coach, he helps clients develop new insights, enhance motivation, and create new personal opportunities. He has been in practice as a coach for over 25 years, first in the management of technology projects for large non-profit and now as a personal career coach for the past ten years. He has served as the President of the Georgia Career Development Association and is a former Director of Information Technology for the National Home Office of the American Cancer Society. David holds two Masters degrees: one in Theological Studies with a concentration in philosophy and the second in Counseling with a focus in career counseling. He did post-graduate training under the direction and supervision of T. Albert Davis, MD and also holds a university certificate as a Career Development Specialist. He can be reached via LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/davidharris411 or email - David.Harris@RockSprings.us.
President-elect: Anne Kelly
Anne M. Kelly, MA is both a professional singer and leadership coach. She combines her artistic and business backgrounds to create team building and individual leadership training for her clients by helping them tap into their right brain (creative) capabilities. Having served as the Assistant Dean of Emory University’s Evening MBA Program, Anne is currently the Director of Career Services at Mercer University School of Business.
Secretary: Maureen Sweatman (bio coming soon)
Treasurer: Malisa Anderson-Strait
Serving second year of two-year term. Next election for Treasurer will be 2022-23.
Malisa Anderson-Strait is a Business and Career Librarian with 18 years of experience curating business intelligence and career successs strategies for undergraduate students, MBAs, and working professionals. Malisa joined Emory University’s Goizueta Business Library in 2005; previously, she spent five years as Corporate Librarian for State Farm Insurance, managing their corporate library in Bloomington, IL. A Kansas City native, she received her undergraduate degree from Baker University in Baldwin City, KS, and her master’s degree from the University of Illinois in Library and Information Science.
Marketing and Communications Chair: Paola Barriga
Paola Barriga is a Post-Doctoral Research & Teaching Associate at the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia (UGA). Paola holds a Ph.D. degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas and originally from Ecuador. She is also co-author of several education research articles and is an active member of the Women in Science (WiSci) organization at UGA that offers mentorship to women in science. She is also currently pursuing training for her Certified Career Services Provider Credential and a Global Career Development Facilitator Credential. Her student-centered approach to teaching has allowed her to have meaningful interactions with her students’ supporting their career development. Paola has mentored UGA undergraduates and graduate students for the past five years and her mentees have made successful career choices. Paola believes that the work of career coaches is crucial in helping clients identify their strengths, values, and life purposes as they embark on the journey of finding fulfilling careers. She believes her unique combination of training and international background would allow her to be of service to a wide array of students, including those international, female and minority students who are interested in STEM careers.
Membership Co-chair: Carolyn Coburn-Allen, CPRW, CCSP, JCTC
Carolyn is a retired Career Coach. Prior to her retirement she coached career clients at Jewish Family & Career Services. In this role she assisted job seeker clients in staging an effective job search through a workshop series and coaching. In retirement, Carolyn keeps her skills sharp by volunteering as a Career Coach in the Job Ministry at Norcross Cooperative Ministries and advises on events and strategies for the ministry. Carolyn found her love of careers services when she recruited for the Georgia Aquarium and AmeriCold Logistics. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida in Management with a concentration in Human Resources. She is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and a Certified Career Services Provider through the National Career Development Association.
Membership Co-chair: Asia AndersonAsia serves as the Assistant Director of Career Development at Oglethorpe University since Fall 2019. Prior to this role, she served as a Career Counselor at the University of West Georgia.
Asia is a “Double Eagle” graduate of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. While there, she earned her Master of Education in Counselor Education and Bachelor of Science degrees in Public Relations and Psychology. This is where her passion for career counseling sparked during her work with Georgia Southern’s Office of Career and Professional Development.
Outside of work, Asia focuses on activities that promote self- care with running, hiking and crafting including candle- making. This particular hobby, candle-making quickly turned into a small business of her own, Au Relax.Directors at Large
Lisa Conley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisadconley
Lanie Damon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laniedamon
Sonya Hodges
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonyaehodges
Emma Reynolds-Middleton
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmareynolds-middleton
Felicia Shanklin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciashanklin
Past President: Maggie O’Brien
Maggie O'Brien is a Nationally Certified Counselor and serves as the Career Consultant for exploring students at The University of Georgia Career Center. She assists students through individual appointments, small group workshops, classroom presentations, and other events. Maggie specifically supports the career development and programming for first-and second-year students through chairing the UGA Career Center's internal First- and Second-Year Engagement Committee. She also enjoys opportunities to teach and train UGA staff and other career professionals on career development topics and guides the development of UGA Career Center staff by co-chairing the UGA Career Center’s internal Professional Development Committee. Maggie holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Wofford College, an M.Ed. in Professional Counseling from UGA, and an Ed.S in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development from UGA.
Recent Past-Presidents:
Danielle Rubenstein
Danielle Rubenstein is a Nationally Certified Counselor who has been providing coaching, support and resources to young professionals and executives regarding career development and transitions for almost 20 years. She currently manages the Alumni Career Services office at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and offers career counseling, resume reviews, networking assistance, job search strategy advice and interview preparation to all alumni. She also performs career consulting and executive coaching for private clients on an ad hoc basis.Prior to her role at Emory, Danielle worked at The Coca-Cola Company in the Leadership Consortium building interview guides for the senior management team. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Counseling (specializing in career development) from Georgia State University.
Kali DeWald
Kali DeWald has 9+ years of career coaching experience and currently serves as the Director of Alumni Career Services for the University of Georgia. She is a Board Certified Career and Life Coach. Her specializations include career transitions, networking, and job search strategies and she enjoys helping UGA alumni find meaningful work. Kali is able to assist individuals with a wide range of needs, including career exploration, resume and cover letters, job search strategies, graduate school considerations, career management, LinkedIn, personal statements, and more. She holds a Master of Science in Career Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from San Francisco State University. Kali is also a certified practitioner in the Strong Interest Inventory and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and currently serves as Past President of the Georgia Career Development Association. Please connect with her on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalidewald/
