University of Missouri System faculty honored for their outstanding leadership in career counseling

Two professors, selected from University of Missouri System campuses, were among nine individuals honored at the National Career Development Association’s (NCDA) Global Conference in Boston. UMSL’s Dr. Mark Pope and MU’s Dr. Norman Gysbers were recognized as two of the most extraordinary leaders in the 100-year history of the counseling profession. The honor was presented at the opening ceremonies of the 100^th anniversary of the organization’s founding on July 8, 1913.

“This recognition reiterates the university’s strategic priority to attract and retain the best people,” UM System President Tim Wolfe said. “The hard work and dedication shown by Dr. Pope and Dr. Gysbers to their profession directly reflects the quality of the faculty on our four campuses.”

Pope is a professor and chair of UMSL’s College of Education Department of Counseling and Family Therapy where his primary interest and research is in multicultural career counseling. He is also licensed in Missouri as a professional counselor and psychologist and in Illinois as a clinical psychologist. Recently, Pope received the Lifetime Career Achievement Award from the Missouri Career Development Association for his contributions to the field of career counseling.

Gysbers is the Curators Distinguished Professor in MU’s College of Education’s Educational, School and Counseling Psychology (ESCP) program. His research focuses on career development theory and practice, career counseling processes and outcomes, and school guidance and counseling program development, management, and evaluation.  Gysbers also received a Lifetime Career Achievement Award from the Missouri Career Development Association.

Each of the nine recipients has served as both the NCDA and the American Counseling Association President in the past in addition to receiving the Eminent Career Award, the highest and most prestigious award in the profession. Only these nine individuals in 100 years have achieved such a distinguished place in the history of the career counseling profession.