Board of Directors

	President: Laura Jones president@

Biography: Laura Jones is an Elementary School Counselor in Frederick County, Maryland. This is her 20^th year, and she still get excited about her work! Laura tries to guide her students in their personal growth by increasing their self acceptance and self esteem, enhancing relationships with others, navigating through difficult situations such as grief and loss, depression and anxiety, stress and anger management, and conflict resolution, and finding joy in their life. She tries to create a safe and caring environment to make a positive difference in the lives of the individuals and families that she serves in her community.

Laura recently earned a Doctorate Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from Argosy University. Her dissertation was on the Psychological Benefits of Laughter for School Counselors at Work and Beyond. She hopes to share her research with other school counselors so that they may incorporate laughter into their existing school counseling program.

On a more personal note, Laura has been married to her husband, Jeffrey, for 20 years and they have two very active boys (Riley-age 15, and Dylan-age 13). She serves as a Eucharistic Minister at her church and she is very active in the religious education program there. She comes from a large ethnic family (Lithuanian and Italian) and tries to preserve a level of “closeness” with them. Laura tries to maintain a certain level of fitness for herself. (She leads an after school running program for girls in grades 3-5.) Laura Jones loves to travel and explore new places. And, she is a cancer survivor!

Position Details: President Elect is a three year cycle. You start as President Elect (preparation to take on the role of President), then President (The President shall be the chief elected officer of the Association, shall preside at all meetings of the Association and shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board, shall appoint the chairs of all committees, and shall be ex-offico member of all committees, except the Nominations and Elections Committee. The president or their designee shall be the representative on the Maryland Association for Counseling and Development Executive Council and shall be a Maryland School Counselor Association delegate to the American School Counselor Association Delegate Assembly.), then Past-President (support the current President).

	President Elect: Nikki Ham presidentelect@

Biography: Nikki Ham has served as a school counselor for over fifteen years, with successful experience in organizational and instructional leadership. She has worked as a school counselor in Montgomery County Public Schools and developed the School Counseling Program at Reid Temple Christian Academy. Nikki has served as the School Counselor Specialist for Prince George’s County Public Schools. During her time in these school systems, she had a proven track record of success in improving student performance, developing teams and building bridges between the school, parents and community leaders. Nikki currently works as the Field Placement Supervisor for Bowie State University, School Counseling Program in the Department of Counseling Department. Nikki is dedicated and passionate about helping students, and their families remove the social, emotional barriers to their academic success. She is looking forward serving on the MSCA Board to help promote excellence in the school counseling profession.

Position Details: A person elected as a vice president shall be employed as a counselor in the work setting to be represented when elected. Each school level representatives serves as spokesperson for the policies and procedures of MSCA to counselors at their particular level. This person shall also be coordinator of interest level meetings within the time allotted to MSCA and MACD conferences.

	Past President: Kelly Ruby pastpresident@

Biography: I would like to continue the tremendous growth of the organization that we have seen over the last several years. In addition, it would be an honor to represent our profession and help educate others on the roles of the school counselor and advocate for the students and school counselors in Maryland. My desire to serve as President is rooted in my personal and professional experiences. I have been very fortunate to have enjoyed a successful career. Giving back to my profession is one of my personal core values.

Position Details: The President is the chief elected officer of the association. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Association and at all meetings of the Executive Board, shall appoint the chairs of all committees, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominations and Elections committee. The president or their designee shall be the representative on the Maryland Association for Counseling and Development Executive Council, and shall be a Maryland School Counselor Association delegate to the American School Counselor Association Delegate Assembly.

	Treasurer: Xiomara Medina treasurer@

Biography: Xiomara V. Medina graduated from Bowie State University with her M. Ed School Counseling in the Spring of 2017 and is working as an elementary counselor for the Howard County Public School System. Her passion is tackling barriers faced by LGBT students, 五星棋牌less students and English language learners. "Mental health concerns must be considered and addressed when working through the struggles had by student experiencing 五星棋牌lessness, language barriers or questioning sexuality/identity." Xiomara was a very active graduate student serving as President of the Student Adlerian Society, President of the Mu Chapter for Chi Sigma Iota, Counseling Program Liaison for the Graduate Student Association and Bowie State representative for the Maryland School Counseling Association. She was also selected as the 2017 MSCA Graduate Student of the Year. She collaborated on presentations bringing domestic violence awareness and 五星棋牌less student issues to the BSU campus. Additionally, volunteered at the Family Healing and Restoration Center, The Empowerment Center and AACPS 五星棋牌less Resource Day Committee. Xiomara is a proud BSU Bulldog excited to begin the journey as a new school counselor along with her most important roll, being a mom to her son Xavier.

Position Details: The treasurer shall submit current financial statements at all board meetings and a complete financial report at the end of the fiscal year, and shall perform other duties as directed by the president with the approval of the Executive Board. The May report shall be emailed to all members of the MSCA Executive Committee. The treasurer will present the approved budget at that general meeting to occur at the Annual Conference.

	Secretary: Allison Downey secretary@

Biography: Allie Downey earned her B.S. from University of Delaware in 2005 and her M.Ed. in School Counseling from Wilmington University in the spring of 2008. She is currently the Freshmen Counselor and the Director of School Counseling at St. John’s College High School. Allie is specifically committed to assisting with the academic, social, and emotional transition from middle to high school. She strives to meet students at their level and to challenge them to reach greater heights. One of her goals is remove the stigma that only “problem students” visit the counseling center. She wants every student and parent to know that counselors are an advocate for the students and that our doors are always open.

On a personal note, Allie has been married to her husband, Brian since 2012 and is the proud mother of her daughter, Penny and son, Wes. She has coached both volleyball and basketball at the high school level and is currently an active member of the Columbia, Maryland MRTT (Moms Run This Town) Chapter.

Position Details: The secretary shall record all proceedings of the Association and shall handle correspondence as directed by the president. The secretary must maintain a written or electronic record of the meetings of the organization and have those available for review. The records must also be archived and passed on after each term of office.

	Elementary Vice President: Tracey Spain elementaryvp@

Biography: Coming Soon

Position Details: A person elected as a vice president shall be employed as a counselor in the work setting to be represented when elected. Each school level representatives serves as spokesperson for the policies and procedures of MSCA to counselors at their particular level. This person shall also be coordinator of interest level meetings within the time allotted to MSCA and MACD conferences.

	Middle Vice President: Cathy Kazio middlevp@

Biography: Coming Soon

	Secondary Vice President: Maureen Ponce secondaryvp@

Biography: Dr. Ponce has over 20 years of experience as a professional school counselor both at the middle and high school levels. Dr. Ponce identifies not only as a school counselor, but as a counselor educator, and is passionate about promoting the counseling profession. As a school counselor, she works to support and empower ALL students. As a counselor educator and supervisor, Dr. Ponce has presented at national, regional, and state conferences on topics related to the intersection of diversity, counseling, and supervision; the mentoring relationship in counseling & supervision; and supporting college and career readiness through strengthening social-cognitive factors.

Dr. Ponce serves as the Vice President for secondary level schools with the Maryland School Counseling Association (MSCA). Additionally, she is an International Committee student member within the American Counseling Association (ACA), actively participates on the School Counseling 五星棋牌 Advisory Council in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and has provided mentorship to new MCPS school counselors. Dr. Ponce spends her free time volunteering as a Girl Scout Troop Leader.

Dr. Ponce recently earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Education and Supervision from Liberty University and her dissertation explored social-cognitive factors that influence college and career readiness. She earned a post-masters’ certificate in counseling at-risk youth from John Hopkins University and a M.Ed. in Counseling and Development from George Mason University. Dr. Ponce holds a B.A. in History Education from The College of New Jersey.

	Post-Secondary Vice President: Gretchen Foust postsecondaryvp@

Biography: Gretchen Foust is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education and Coordinator of School Counseling at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She also served as an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education program at Penn State and taught counseling courses at the State University of New York at Oneonta. She has thirteen years of experience in school counseling in Pennsylvania and Maryland (in elementary, middle, high school, and career and technology school settings), and is a National Board Certified School Counselor through NBPTS. Prior to becoming a school counselor, she was a career counselor at Penn State. She has doctoral and master's degrees in school counseling and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Penn State.