Apodaca Named President-Elect-Elect for National Career Development Association
January 24, 2023 - Dorene DiNaro
Marty Apodaca has been elected as the President-Elect-Elect of the National Career Development Association (NCDA) for 2024-25. As the association’s 105th president—a professional goal he set early on in his career—Apodaca holds the honor of the being the first UNM alumnus, New Mexican, and person of Hispanic descent to ever be elected to the position.
The NCDA is the premier career association whose mission is to inspire careers and empower lives by providing members with professional development, resources, standards, scientific research, and advocacy. Apodaca is enthusiastic to represent the association where he’s formed many meaningful relationships with its members.
“Honestly, I am still kind of in awe because this was a huge professional goal of mine and now a career milestone,” he says. “A kid from Dexter, NM will become president of a national organization that represents some of the most prominent voices in career counseling, development, education, and research.”
It was during his Career Development Facilitator role working for Dr. Jenna Crabb in UNM Career Services, where he supervised and trained both individual and group counseling interns, that he attended his first NCDA conference ten years ago. It was right then he knew he was where he belonged. “Wow, I’ve found my people!” he says.
Apodaca credits the 10+ years of backing and training he received from Dr. Crabb and the UNM Career Services staff as the main reason he’s able to be where he is. “Being President-Elect–Elect for NCDA truly speaks to the stellar work that Jenna and her team do for the UNM community,” he says.
“I am very excited for Marty and this opportunity with NCDA. Marty has always been an inspiration and role model to anyone he meets,” says. Dr. Jenna Crabb, director, UNM Career Services.
In his current role as Senior Counselor for UNM Student Health and Counseling, Apodaca assists students in exploring the intersection of career and mental health. “I’m thankful to my current supervisor, Lesley McKinney, for her support,” he says. “Working at SHAC has allowed me to pursue and grow my knowledge of career counseling, as this directly affects the students I work with.”
Apodaca says he is truly honored that members of NCDA trust him with the association’s highest role and sees it as extraordinary benefit not only for himself, but for the work being done at The University of New Mexico, and the Division of Student Affairs.
“The mental health of many UNM students is impacted by career uncertainty and concerns,” he says. “Having access to continuing education around career and mental health provides an opportunity for me to bring back knowledge and tools for the UNM community.”
“I know he will make a huge impact in this position – and represent UNM and NM on a national level,” Crabb says.
Visit www.ncda.org for more information on the National Career Development Association.
