NBCC is celebrating individuals who are making meaningful contributions to the counseling profession through the 2024 NBCC Awards. The winners were honored during a special luncheon at the NBCC Foundation’s 2024 Bridging the Gap Symposium in Washington, D.C., on March 16.  

NBCC’s President and CEO, Dr. Kylie Dotson-Blake, spoke before the winners were announced. Dr. Dotson-Blake noted that celebrating the 2024 NBCC Award winners offers a "wonderful opportunity to recognize counselors and allies of the counseling profession for their dedication to increasing equitable access to counseling, serving the community, and advancing the counseling profession." Dotson-Blake encouraged counselors to recognize and support each other and to consider nominating individuals who are making a positive impact during the coming awards cycle. She says that celebrating the 2024 NBCC Award winners is both "a wonderful occasion and a reminder that there are many counselors who deserve recognition for their dedication to the profession."  

“What I would ask is that counselors consider applying or nominating someone for an award next year,” Dr. Dotson-Blake says. “We are really excited to have this opportunity to celebrate each of the awardees.” 

The goal of the NBCC Awards is to highlight the incredible work of counselors that isn’t recognized in typical spaces.  

An external awards committee identified the opportunity to create a space to celebrate champions within the counseling community and identified topics, including being a servant leader, advancing equitable access in counseling, and powering the future through school counseling. 

The Vice Chair of NBCC’s Board of Directors, Richard Stapleton, EdD, NCC, BC-TMH, ACS, LMHC, LPCC, presented the awards, announcing the winners and highlighting their accomplishments in the counseling profession.   

You can view a full list of the 2024 awardees below.  

NBCC Servant Leadership 

• Christian Chan, PhD, NCC
  •  Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling and Educational Development, University of North Carolina at Greensboro 

• Meredith Rausch, PhD, NCC
  • Associate Professor, Department of Research, Counseling and Curriculum, Augusta University  

Leadership Excellence for Counselors by Counselors 

• Asha Dickerson, PhD, LPC, NCC, MAC, ACS
  • Associate Professor, Adler Graduate School 

• Victoria Kress, PhD, NCC, LPCC-S, CCMHC
  • Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences and Counseling, Youngstown State University  

Propelling Mental Health, Powering the Future: School Counseling Award 

• Denise Hawkins, NCC
  • High School Counselor, Counselor Education doctoral student, University of Georgia  

Innovation in Counseling: Research Innovations in Counseling Practice and Counselor Education 

• Kelly Wester, PhD, NCC, LPC
  • Professor & Department Chair, Department of Counseling and Educational Development, University of North Carolina at Greensboro  

Innovation in Counseling: Counselor Education Community Engagement 

• Department of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Jacksonville University
  • Natalie Indelicato, PhD, Chair of Department of Clinical Mental Health Counseling  

Innovation in Counseling: Practice and Clinical Service Award 

• Terry Kottman, PhD, NCC, LMHC, RPT-S
  • Founder, Adlerian Play Therapy; Founder, The Encouragement Zone 

Advancing Equitable Access to Counseling Award 

• Sandra Lopez-Baez, PhD, NCC, CMHC
  • Lopez Counseling and Consulting 

• Denauvo Robinson, EdD, NCC, ACS, LCMHC, LPCS 
  • Past President, AASCB; Past Chair, NCBLCMHC 

• Councilmember Robert White, Jr.
  • D.C. Council At-Large 

Nominations for next year’s awards will open in a few months. You can find upcoming announcements in future Visions newsletters and on NBCC’s website and social media pages.