David J. Ford, Ph.D., LCMHC, LPC, NCC, ACS, associate professor in the Department of Professional Counseling, has been elected to the board of trustees of the Brookdale Community College Foundation, beginning his three-year term on July 1.
“My goal is to strengthen the relationship/partnership between Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College, and provide access to a quality education to Black and Brown, and Queer and Trans members of our community,” Ford said.
Julia Zapcic, president of the Brookdale Community College Foundation, said the board consists of individuals with diverse backgrounds in philanthropy, education, and business, and supports Brookdale students by bringing scholarships and grant funding to the school. “On behalf of the entire Foundation Board, we could not be more delighted to welcome this new class of Foundation Trustees,” she said.
Ford serves as the National Career Development Association board trustee for Counselor Educators and Researchers, the North Atlantic Region representative for the American Counseling Association, and on the editorial board of the “Counselor Education and Supervision Journal.” He is a member of the board of directors of the LGBTQ Scholars of Color Network and the planning committee for the National Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education Conference for Action, Research, and Change. He additionally served as president of the New Jersey Counseling Association from 2020-21.
In 2020, he won two national awards: the AMCD Samuel H. Johnson Distinguished Service Award and the 2020 ACES Outstanding Counselor Education and Supervision Article Award. He is a classically trained pianist and is a proud, active, and financial member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In 2021 Ford was named to a list of “1,000 inspiring Black scientists in America” by The Community of Scholars.
Ford is joined by newly appointed trustees Jennifer M. Anderson, founder of Work Play Give—Philanthropic Solutions; Shanel Ronnai Ingram, substitute teacher and founder and owner of Shanel Ronnai, Inc.; Francisco E. Rodriguez, superintendent of Long Branch Schools, and Esteven Sanchez, clinical assistant at Parker Family Health Center.
The Brookdale Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, governed by the board and comprised of local business and community leaders who volunteer and contribute their time, talent, and resources to support the school and foundation’s mission—to help students achieve the dream of earning a college degree so they can build a better future for themselves, their families, and communities.