Biographies of the MCDA Leadership

Kim R. Wells, MCDA President

Kim R. Wells is the Director of Career Services at Howard University in Washington, DC where he leads one of the most heavily recruited career programs in the nation. Prior to coming to Howard, Kim worked several years in management consulting with such firms as Vantage Human Resource Services and Booz-Allen & Hamilton. Kim’s early career included supervisor training and test center management for Educational Testing Services in Princeton, New Jersey, and management of career services operations in a variety of environments including Northern Virginia Community College and American University.

Kim also has a private consulting practice in human capital strategy and works with both corporate and individual executive clients. Kim is a regular speaker and panelist with the Human Capital Institute “Expert Thought Panel Series” which is broadcast nationally, and a featured writer for the Black Collegian Magazine, and Minority MBA Magazine. Kim has also received national exposure as a quoted career professional in Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Black Enterprise Magazine, Diversity Inc., Ebony Magazine, and NPR’s Marketplace Program.

In addition to his role as President of MCDA, Kim was appointed as the Chair of the Diversity Advancement Committee for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), and sits on the Advisory Boards of Monster Trak, RezFuzion LLC., and Universum Communications.

Kim’s executive training includes completion of the Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania) Executive Education program in Strategic Human Resources, the Executive Leadership Program with Cornell University, and completion of the Business Consulting Certification Program with Booz-Allen & Hamilton (which he later participated in as facilitator and client coach). Kim completed his Masters degree in Organizational Communication with a concentration in Consulting and Human Resource Development at Howard University, and a Bachelors degree in Sociology with a concentration in Human Resource Development from the College of New Jersey.

 

Pamela Allen, President-Elect

During the past 10 years Pamela Allen has been a dedicated career services professional assisting students and adults in their lifelong career development journey. After receiving her Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis on College Student Personnel, Pamela successfully conveyed her varied skills to Program Director for the University of Maryland’s University Career Center. In that capacity Pamela conducts career workshops, teaches career classes, facilitates dialogue, chairs conferences and manages career fairs. Through her participation in the Maryland Career Development Association (MCDA) Pamela co-developed the Maryland State Department of Education Post-Secondary Career Modules and facilitated training to career services professionals. In addition to MCDA, Pamela has participated in the Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers (EACE) and held membership in the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Pamela is committed to upholding organizational values while advancing MCDA’s impact and services for seasoned and and also for eager entering career service professionals.

 

April Johnson, Secretary

April L. Johnson, Ed.S is Director of Career Services at McDaniel College. April is a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Distance Credentialed Counselor and a graduate of the Counseling and Human Systems program at Florida State University. April holds a Master of Science degree and a Specialist in Education degree in Counseling and Human Systems with specializations in both Career Counseling and Human Resource Development. She has more than 10 years of experience in the areas of administering and interpreting career assessments, organizing career exploration and career library resources, developing websites, managing experiential learning and employer recruitment programs, college level teaching, staff supervision and training, and academic and transfer advising. Former employers include the Florida State University, the University of Maryland University College, Anne Arundel Community College, Job Corps, and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

Janet Wall, Treasurer

Janet E. Wall, EdD, CDFI, is President of Sage Solutions, a consulting firm for clients having needs in career development and assessment. Janet has worked at the federal, state, and school district levels in the areas of assessment, evaluation, and career development. She is Past President of the Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education and is currently an officer in the Association for Counselors and Educators in Government. As the appointed representative of the American Counseling Association to the Joint Committee on Testing Practices (JCTP), she has worked on several JCTP projects, including the Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education, the ABC’s of School Testing video and leaders guide, Rights and Responsibilities of Test Takers: Guidelines and Expectations, and a book on assessment of individuals with disabilities. She co-edited a book titled Measuring Up: Assessment Issues for Teachers, Counselors and Administrators and is author of three test preparation books for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a book on vocational interests, and one on interactive web tools for the job seeker.

 

Marilyn Maze, Past President

Marilyn Maze, Ph.D., is a Principal Research Associate for ACT, Inc., and one of the developers of DISCOVER, a computerized career guidance program that includes extensive information about occupations, majors, schools, and other aspects of career planning. Marilyn also conducts research using ACT's extensive data related to career choices of youth and adults. She earned her doctorate at the University of Maryland, College Park. Before coming to Maryland, she owned a small company that designed career planning software and served as the Director of EUREKA, the California Career Information System.

 

Karol Taylor, Public Relations Chair

Karol Taylor is the founder and owner of Taylor Your Career, a resume-writing, career/educational advising service. With more than 28 years of federal service, including 15 years of career advising and 5 years of academic advising, Karol brings a broad perspective and considerable expertise to the career management, student support, and federal hiring process. Karol is a two-time recipient of the coveted Department of Health and Human Service's Secretary's Award for Distinguished Services in 2001 and 2003. She has also received numerous Assistant Secretary's Awards and the 2003 Middle Atlantic Career Counseling Association’s Goodwill Ambassador Award. Karol presented at the 2002, 2004 and 2007 annual MCDA conferences, and at the following conferences: 2006 National Employment Counselor’s Association; t2007 Wisconsin Careers; 2007 Raising the Bar in Workforce Development; 2007 Eastern Association of Counselors and Employers; and the 2007 International Career Development event. Additionally, Karol has been Program Chair for the Association for Career Professionals International – DC Chapter, and on the METRO Area Career and Life Planning Network Advisory Board.

 

Diana Bailey, CEU Chair

Ms. Bailey has been an educator and administrator for over 30 years with increasing responsibility. Considerable experience has been working with a broad range of special populations moving through education, occupational training, and employment and progressing on their career pathway. Ms. Bailey has worked with Correctional Education for over 10 years with an emphasis on program development and implementation of services providing career development, workforce development and transitional skill information for inmates returning to their community and employment. Additionally, Ms. Bailey has facilitated local, state, and national professional development activities and resources for multidisciplinary staff and agencies working with people who have been incarcerated. She holds numerous degrees and certifications related to career and workforce development such as Global Career Development Facilitator/instructor certified by National Career Development Association/CCE. She also holds several National Institute of Corrections certifications including the Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS-I).