Alabama Career Development Association (ALCDA)
The purpose of ALCDA shall be to promote a greater understanding of the meaning of work and vocation, to foster career development over the life span, and to establish and improve the standards of professional service in the field of career guidance in Alabama.
Starrah Huffman, Ph.D., ALCDA President
Title: Professional School Counselor and Counselor Educator and Supervisor
Experience: Twenty-one years experience as a professional educator, fouteen years as Professional School Counselor, Union Springs Elementary; seven years of experience as English teacher, Bullock County High School, Union Springs, AL, five years as a Counselor Educator and Supervisor, contributing/adjunct faculty various colleges and universities; previous ALCA Secretary, Emerging Leader; ALCA Chapter VII President, Secretary, and newsletter/publication Co-chair; division ALMCD Membership Chaiperson; ALSCA division Professional Recognition Co-chair, Secretary; current ALCA division ALCDA President and ALCA Annual Conference Co-chair
Affiliations: American Counseling Association member (ACA), American School Counselor Association (ASCA), Alabama Counseling Association (ALCA) ALCA Chapter VII, Alabama School Counselor Association (ALSCA), member; Alabama Association for Multicultural Counseling & Development (ALAMCD) member, Alabama Career Development Association (ALCDA), president/member, Southeastern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) member.
Experience: Twenty-one years experience as a professional educator, fouteen years as Professional School Counselor, Union Springs Elementary; seven years of experience as English teacher, Bullock County High School, Union Springs, AL, five years as a Counselor Educator and Supervisor, contributing/adjunct faculty various colleges and universities; previous ALCA Secretary, Emerging Leader; ALCA Chapter VII President, Secretary, and newsletter/publication Co-chair; division ALMCD Membership Chaiperson; ALSCA division Professional Recognition Co-chair, Secretary; current ALCA division ALCDA President and ALCA Annual Conference Co-chair
Affiliations: American Counseling Association member (ACA), American School Counselor Association (ASCA), Alabama Counseling Association (ALCA) ALCA Chapter VII, Alabama School Counselor Association (ALSCA), member; Alabama Association for Multicultural Counseling & Development (ALAMCD) member, Alabama Career Development Association (ALCDA), president/member, Southeastern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) member.
Michele Eller, ALCDA President-Elect
Mrs. Michele Eller has been in education for more than twenty years. She is currently the Chief Academic Officer/Assistant Superintendent for Chickasaw City Schools. Establishing a career technical center in Belfate, Honduras is just one of her many contributions to education. Mrs. Eller has also been instrumental in creating counseling advisory councils, cultivating valuable community partnerships, and empowering teachers to create opportunities for students to succeed. She is passionate about student success, striving to ensure that every student recognizes his or her full potential with the ability to graduate career ready.
Mrs. Eller is committed to her roles on the Alabama Counseling Association – Alabama Career Development Association Board, Alabama Career Technical Association Executive Advisory Board, the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways, the Mobile Area Education Foundation Board, Southwest Worlds of Opportunity Planning Committee, and the South Alabama Regional Inservice Center Governing Board. She is a true example to life-long learning as she is currently a doctoral student at Auburn University where she is finishing her dissertation on Charter Schools in Alabama. Michele gracefully balances her career duties with her obligations of being a wife, mother of four, and grandmother of six.
Mrs. Eller is committed to her roles on the Alabama Counseling Association – Alabama Career Development Association Board, Alabama Career Technical Association Executive Advisory Board, the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways, the Mobile Area Education Foundation Board, Southwest Worlds of Opportunity Planning Committee, and the South Alabama Regional Inservice Center Governing Board. She is a true example to life-long learning as she is currently a doctoral student at Auburn University where she is finishing her dissertation on Charter Schools in Alabama. Michele gracefully balances her career duties with her obligations of being a wife, mother of four, and grandmother of six.
Brianna Hunter, ALCDA Secretary
Brianna earned her B.A. in Psychology and M. Ed. In Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Auburn University. She first became interested in career development during her internship at Ingram State Technical College where she worked with students on mental health and career counseling.
Brianna has been in education since 2018 and started out at Butler County Career Academy as the Career Tech Counselor. She then transitioned to Alabama Destinations Career Academy in August 2019, where she is currently the school counselor. ALDCA is the first virtual school in the state of Alabama that focuses on career exploration, career development, and career tech education.
Brianna has been in education since 2018 and started out at Butler County Career Academy as the Career Tech Counselor. She then transitioned to Alabama Destinations Career Academy in August 2019, where she is currently the school counselor. ALDCA is the first virtual school in the state of Alabama that focuses on career exploration, career development, and career tech education.
Vernitra Dobbins, ALCDA Historian
Ms. Vernitra Dobbins is a National Certified Counselor and Associate Licensed Counselor under the supervision of Dr. Melanie Wallace. She received her undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Science: Child Development and graduate degree in Counselor Education: Clinical Mental Health from Jacksonville State University. During her time at JSU, she worked as a Graduate Assistant—assisting faculty, and serving on two selection committees for the positions of Dean and Department Head in the School of Education. Ms. Dobbins worked over two years at Gadsden Job Corps Center in the positions of Career Transition Readiness Instructor and Career Transition Specialist. In these roles, she assisted at-risk youth ages 16-24 in preparing for the workforce, college, or military. Ms. Dobbins is currently a Prevention Specialist for Hayes K8 in the Birmingham City School District. This role involves working directly with families and community partners to assess the needs of students, offer counseling services, and other resources to prevent disruptions in the learning process. She is passionate about student success and will continue to advocate for equity in education.
Ms. Dobbins takes pride in her affiliation with the Alabama Counseling Association, American Counseling Association, National School Counselor Association and Chi Sigma Iota. She is currently pursuing her Educational Specialist degree from Jacksonville State University and plans to continue her studies until she receives a doctorate degree. Although she is proud of her career and academic successes, her greatest accomplishment is her two children, Brendan and Carlee.
“Our children can be our greatest teachers if we are humble enough to receive their lesson.”
-Bryan McGill
Ms. Dobbins takes pride in her affiliation with the Alabama Counseling Association, American Counseling Association, National School Counselor Association and Chi Sigma Iota. She is currently pursuing her Educational Specialist degree from Jacksonville State University and plans to continue her studies until she receives a doctorate degree. Although she is proud of her career and academic successes, her greatest accomplishment is her two children, Brendan and Carlee.
“Our children can be our greatest teachers if we are humble enough to receive their lesson.”
-Bryan McGill
