2021-22 NACE Board of Directors

Prior to joining the NACE staff, VanDerziel was with the Field Museum, where he most recently served as chief human resources officer and as chief of staff for the 85-member Board of Trustees, driving strategic priorities and goals and delivering innovative solutions to enhance the overall museum experience for visitors, nearly 700 volunteers, 500 staff members, and 200 interns. His 23 years with the museum included experiences leading strategy, people, volunteers, marketing, educational programming, and technology functions.

Earlier roles included a corporate recruiting position with Norrell Corporation and a position in higher education as associate director of student enrollment at National Louis University.

VanDerziel also served as a volunteer leader on the NACE Board of Directors, including as vice president-employer (2004 – 2006) and as president-elect, president, and past-president (2008 – 2011). He also contributed to NACE and the membership in other capacities, serving as chair and facilitator for the task force that revised the Principles for Ethical Professional Practice, chairing the inaugural Advocacy Advisory Committee, and facilitating the development of NACE’s strategic plan. In 2014, he was inducted into the NACE Academy of Fellows in recognition of his contributions to the profession.

VanDerziel is a senior professional in human resources through the HR Certification Institute and is a senior certified professional through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Ong is active in NACE and has served on a number of committees and task forces, including, most recently, the NACE 2019 Conference Planning Committee, where he served as co-chair. He also served on the Finance and Audit, Sourcing and Nomination, Honors and Awards, and Membership Ambassador committees among others. Ong also served as vice president – employer to the NACE Board from 2014 through 2016. In addition, Ong serves as a NACE mentor, has blogged for the association, and has presented programming at NACE’s annual conference.

This year, on behalf of the NACE Board, he will provide support to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and three NACE Affinity Groups: LGBTQ & Allies, Individuals Serving/Recruiting Students With Disabilities; and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Ong earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Richmond.

Guerrero served as co-chair of NACE’s 2015 Conference Committee, co-chaired the Ambassador Program Committee, and was a member of the Sourcing and Nomination Committee and Graduate Student Membership Task Force. In addition, he took part in the Leadership Advancement Committee and is a 2014 graduate of NACE’s Management Leadership Institute. Guerrero was named NACE’s Mentor of the Year in 2015, and earned a NACE Innovation Excellence Award in Global Initiatives in 2010. Additionally, he has co-authored articles for the NACE Journal and regularly presents on a range of topics, including emerging technologies and leadership.

Guerrero earned his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California, a master’s in higher education administration from NYU, and an undergraduate degree from San Francisco State University.

Lasater’s service to NACE includes roles as Director-College on the Board and as a member of a variety of NACE teams and committees, including the Face2Face Committee, Member Outreach Team, Ambassador Program Committee, Leadership Advancement Program Committee, and Leadership Development Task Force. She also serves as a facilitator for the NACE Career Coaching Intensive training program, and co-wrote the “Coaching Fundamentals” workshop, which is part of the coaching certification program.

Lasater is frequently tapped by the national media, including U.S. News & World Report and the Chicago Tribune, for insights into career support. In addition, she has been recognized with the Kaplan Way Leadership Award for Continuous Transformation and by TechStars as a mentor and a Kaplan Ed Tech Accelerator.

She graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in speech communication before earning an M.A.Ed. in educational leadership from Argosy University. Lasater is certified as a Career Management Fellow through the Institution of Career Certification International and holds a certificate in executive management from University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business.

Cunningham served as a member of the NACE Board from 2016 through 2018 and on a variety of committees, including the Research Advisory, Employer Membership, and Conference Program committees. This year, she will provide support on behalf of the Board to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and three NACE Affinity Groups: Liberal Arts, STEM, and Community and Two-Year Colleges.

Cunningham holds a bachelor’s degree from Occidental College and earned a master’s in education from Arizona State University. In addition, she is a senior professional in human resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute.

Harding served as a college director on the NACE Board of Directors as well as a co-chair for the Career Readiness Competencies Task Force, the 21st Century Career Center Task Force, and the New Member’s Committee for the NACE Conference. He is a recent recipient of NACE’s Mackes Leadership Award.

Harding is the co-founder of the annual Institution-Wide Competency Symposium and consults and presents often on career readiness competency development. He co-authored a chapter on career competencies in the book, Advancing Talent Development: Steps Toward a T-Model Infused Undergraduate Education.

Harding earned his master’s in education from Indiana University and an undergraduate degree from Anderson University. He also completed a certificate in student affairs policy and law at the Stetson University College of Law.

Prior to taking on this role, Giordano served in a leadership capacity overseeing university relations, campus diversity, campus marketing, and several early insight programs. She created and partnered with the businesses in introducing the HBCU Innovation & Leadership Symposium, which focused on celebrating the HBCU experience and provided coaching and leadership skills to students.

Giordano’s involvement with NACE includes serving as co-chair to the People of Color Affinity Impact Team; member of the 2019-2020 Inclusion, Equity, and Affinity Committee; panel member during the 2020 NACE Connect Virtual Experience; panel member of the NACE’s HBCU Summit Bridging College to Employment; and mentor in the NACE Mentor Program.

Giordano earned her bachelor’s degree at Pace University.

Grubb’s involvement with NACE includes a range of activities. He has served as a member of committees, including Principles for Ethical Professional Practice; NACE Conference Planning; and Inclusion, Equity, and Affinity; and co-chaired the Honors and Awards Committee. He also served as co-lead for the LGBTQ & Allies Affinity Group in 2019-20. Grubb completed the Management Leadership Institute in 2015; that same year, he earned the Rising Star Award. In addition, among other activities, he has presented at the NACE annual conference, authored the Career Counselor’s Guide to Social Media in the Job Search, and served as a NACE ambassador and blogger.

Grubb holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from NYU and earned his bachelor’ degree from Saint Joseph’s University.

Hall served NACE as co-chair of the Conference Committee and co-chaired the Inclusion Committee. She also served as a member of the Employer Membership Task Force and the NACE Promise of Value Task Force. Additionally, Hall served as a member of the NACE Executive Director Search Committee.

Hall earned her B.S. in marketing from Indiana University and her M.B.A. from Pepperdine University, and she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in educational leadership and cultural studies at UNC Greensboro.

Howell has presented at the NACE annual conference on recruiting and related topics and received a NACE Excellence Award in Recruiting (Large Employer) for the HARBORS Training Soldiers for Life program, a collaboration between industry and the community college systems in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. He will serve as Board adviser to the 2021-22 Career Readiness Competencies Task Force.

Howell holds a Ph.D. in human resource management from Capella University, a master’s in human resource development from Webster University, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Mercer University.

Jackson’s NACE involvement includes co-chairing the 2019 Conference Program Committee as well as serving as a member on the Honors and Awards Committee, Inclusion Committee, Future of Skill Development and Hiring Task Force, and First Destination Task Force. He also received the 2017 NACE/Spelman Johnson Rising Star Award for his contributions to the NACE organization and career services field.

Jackson received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bradley University. He also holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a counseling specialization from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Kho has worked across multiple industries, holding national and global leadership roles with JPMorgan, Heidrick & Struggles, BP, and KPMG.

Prior to the career shift into corporate recruiting, Kho served in higher education administration roles at Fordham University and Michigan State University.

McDowell-Robinson served on the Inclusion, Equity, and Affinity Committee and as co-lead to the HBCUs Affinity Impact Team. This year, she will support four Affinity Groups on behalf of the Board: HBCUs; Colleges With Population of Students Under 5,000; Women in Career Services and URR; and Veterans.

She is the 2020 recipient of the NACE/Spelman Rising Star Award.

McDowell-Robinson holds a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University, where she also earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Tougaloo College. In addition, she is a national certified counselor (NCC).

McQuillan’s involvement with NACE includes serving as co-chair to the URR Leadership for the Future Task Force and as a member of the Honors and Awards Committee. This year, he will support four Affinity Groups on behalf of the Board: Global Talent, Career Services Professionals in Employer Relations Roles, Online Career Services, and Individuals Serving Nontraditional Populations/Adult Students/Online Learners/Alumni.

McQuillan earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Central Michigan University.