An NIU professor of Educational Psychology and Special Education recently realized a 25-year-old goal in assuming office as president of a nationwide professional organization.

As president of the American Association for Counseling and Development, Robert Nejedlo is responsible for providing publications, workshops, convention programs and leadership opportunities for counseling and human development professionals. The AACD is a private, non-profit organization committed to these interests, and consists of 55,000 professional individuals nationwide and abroad.

“When I was a graduate student back in 1961, I sat in my first introduction to guidance class and my adviser was the professor. He had just been elected as president of this association,” Dr. Nejedlo recalled. “And I sat back and said maybe someday I would do that. Last July when I was named president-elect there were 25 years since I had said that. So it’s been a dream of 25 years, realized.”

Nejedlo’s personal goals for the association include advancing and developing members’ professional capabilities as agents of change, raising their image and visibility as professionals, facing critical issues concerning the profession and presenting well-conceived and balanced plans. He said he also planned to highlight and implement association services to members and pursue collaborative efforts on major and minor levels.

Carole Minor, chairman of NIU counseling faculty, said she has been active in the National Career Development Association, which is one of the thirteen divisions of AACD.