Pat Schwallie-Giddis, PhD
Senior Advisor and Career Development Guru
Dr. Pat Schwallie-Giddis has been recognized as a champion and expert for counseling, leadership, career development, and organizational learning throughout the country. She has spoken to groups of professionals in almost every state in the United States as well as Germany, Russia and Australia.
Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Pat has served as a teacher, counselor, district level administrator, counselor educator, and state director for career development. She began her career as a school counselor in Wisconsin and Florida where she also was the first woman candidate for superintendent of schools. She has served as the Associate and Interim Executive Director of the American Counseling Association and recently retired as Chair and Associate Professor of Counseling at The George Washington University in Washington DC where she was awarded the title Associate Professor Emeritus for her contributions to the field of counseling.
She has held leadership roles in professional associations at the state and national levels as President of the Florida Career Development Association, the Florida Counseling Association, and the DC Mental Health Counselors Association. Beginning in 2010, Dr. Pat served as President of the National Career Development Association where she led a national discussion on career transition. She has focused her work in recent years in the areas of veterans’ transition, career and mental health counseling, recareering after retirement, and K-12 career guidance programs. During her time as President of NCDA, she presided over one of the most engaging and lucrative conferences in the Association’s history.
Pat received her Ph.D. at Florida State University (FSU) in Counseling and Human Systems. In October of 1995 she was honored by FSU as the “Distinguished Educator Of the Year”. More recently, in October of 2000, she was honored with the “Distinguished Educator” award from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where she received her Bachelors and Masters Degrees. Dr. Pat has been recognized many times for her untiring service to education and counseling including the American Counseling Association Carl D. Perkins Legislative Award and the Spirit of America Award from the AVA/Guidance Division and the United States Air Force. Most recently in 2007 she was chosen to receive the honor of an American Counseling Association “Fellow” for her distinguished career in the field of counseling.
Areas of Consulting Expertise:
- Career Management and Career Transition
- Organizational Effectiveness and Development
- Leadership (University, Association, K-12 Schools)
- Strategic Planning and Implementation
- Leadership and Team Development
- Strategy Development
- Staff Professional Development
- Career Guidance Programs (K-12)