Meet The Board
L'Tanya "Terrye" Fish
PhD, CRC, LCMHC-S
President (Jan 2025-Dec 2025)
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Terrye is serving a second term as Representative to the NRA Board. She has also served the Board as Conference Co-chair, Membership & Coalition Building Chair, and as a member of the Legislative & Governance Committee.
​Terrye has worked at Winston-Salem State University as an adjunct Professor within the Master of Science Rehabilitation Counseling program since February 2009. In 2008, Terrye retired from the State of North Carolina with 30 years of services in the Dept. of VR Services as State Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
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​WHY NAMRC:" I am passionate about NAMRC’s mission."
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FUN FACT: Terrye collects a variety of creative eyewear.
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Email: fishte@wssu.edu
Susan Rapant
CRC, CDMS,CCM, CVE, IPEC, ABVE/D
​​President Elect (Jan 2025-Dec 2025)​
Susan is returning to the NAMRC Board having previously served in 2019-2020. She has been a member of the Legislative and Governance committee since 2019. She is the 2018 recipient of the NAMRC T.K. Bridges Practitioner Award, honoring her exemplary service to persons with disabilities from culturally diverse backgrounds.
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In 2000, Susan established Rapant-McElroy & Associates, a private vocational rehabilitation consulting firm in Houston, Texas. She continues to maintain an active caseload and works with a diverse group of evaluees and performs international labor market research for ligation purposes.
WHY NAMRC: ​"Racism exists, and I have never wanted to be part of the problem, so I choose to educate myself and spend time being part of a solution."
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​​​FUN FACT: Susan enjoys pilates, yoga, and buying shoes.
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Email: susan@rapant-mcelroy.com
Kelsey R. Webb
Ph.D., CRC, NCC, LCMHC-A (NC)
Secretary (Jan 2025-Dec 2026)
Public Relations & Marketing Chair
Kelsey is serving her first term on the NAMRC Board and has been a member since 2018. Kelsey also chairs the Marketing & Public Relations Committee and serves on the Legislative & Governance Committee.
Kelsey is currently an Assistant Professor of Counselling at Tarleton State University and recently completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at Langston University's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities.
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WHY NAMRC:"I am passionate about NAMRC because it allows those who are often underrepresented to have a space to discuss and find solutions to navigate systemic issues."​
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FUN FACT: Kelsey's favorite pastime activity is shopping.
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Email: secretary@namrc.org
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Keisha G. Rogers
Ph.D., CRC, LCAS, LCMHC, QS, ACS
​Immediate Past President (Jan 2025-Dec 2026)
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​Keisha has served on the NAMRC Board since 2017 as Secretary, President Elect, and President. She has served as Fundraising Chair and Awards Committee member for the NAMRC Conference. Keisha became a member in 2006 as a master's student and was selected as NAMRC's Graduate Student Scholarship Award recipient in 2010 while a doctoral student.
Keisha is a Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling at Winston-Salem State University and is a practicing mental health & substance abuse counselor and clinical supervisor.
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WHY NAMRC: "NAMRC provides a venue for students and novice rehabilitation counselors, practitioners and educators to showcase their research and gives all a chance to lead, learn, and better serve BIPOC with disabilities."
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FUN FACT: Keisha collects snow globes from each of the places she visits across the world and gifts them to her daughter.
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Email: president@namrc.org
Felicia Hunter
MS Administration, BSW
Treasurer (Jan 2024-Dec 2025)
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Felicia ​​serves as Treasurer on the Board and Chair of the Finance Committee.
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Felicia is the Chief Mission Officer and Executive Vice President of Employment & Training at Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. ​
​WHY NAMRC:"I am passionate about NAMRC’s mission for its relevant embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion for aspiring student leaders, practitioners, educators, advocates, partners and consumers of quality rehabilitation services."
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FUN FACT: Felicia loves her Shitzu-Yorkie Ace.
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Email: ​treasurer@namrc.org
Brenda Taft
Ed.D., CRC
​Financial Secretary (Jan 2025-Dec 2026)​
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​​Brenda has been connected to NAMRC since 1995 as a doctoral student. She has served NAMRC as a Board Member, Membership Committee Chair, Conference Co-chair, Conference Program Chair and represented NAMRC as Commissioner on the Council on Rehabilitation Education Commission on Standards & Accreditation.
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​Brenda has over 20 years of experience in State VR management and direct service delivery positions coupled with employment in private rehabilitation and forensic settings. She retired as Professor of Rehabilitation Counselor Education after 20 years of teaching.
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WHY NAMRC:"NAMRC gave me a voice when others either ignored or tried to silence my focus on diversity issues."
FUN FACT: Brenda enjoys preparing Hello Fresh meals with her hubby as her sous-chef.​
Email: drbtaft@gmail.com
Letoria Brown
MS, CRC, LCMHC
NAMRC Student Representative (Jan 2025- Dec 2026)
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Letoria is serving her first term on the NAMRC Board and became a member of NAMRC in 2023.​
Letoria Brown is a native of Winston-Salem, NC and graduate of Winston-Salem State University, earning a BS in Recreational Therapy and MS in Rehabilitation Counseling. Letoria is currently a doctoral student at Hampton University in the Counselor Education & Supervision program.
With over 20 years in the mental health field, Letoria has gained
valuable experience by working in community, private, and clinical mental health settings. As a future leader in the mental health field, Letoria works to dive deep into finding solutions to dissolve barriers minorities face in mental health.​
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​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"NAMRC aligns with my focus on improving ways to provide accessibility of mental health services to minority communities as well as focusing on the importance of
visibility of minority counselors."​
​​FUN FACT: Letoria's favorite pastime activities are making candles and shopping.
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Email: lcspbrown@gmail.com
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Karen L. Caldwell
MS, CRC, LPC, IPEC
​Board Member at Large (Jan 2024-Dec 2025)​
Membership & Coalition Building Chair
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​​Karen is serving her first term on the NAMRC Board and has been a member of NAMRC since 2017. Karen currently serves as Hospitality Chair for the 2024 Conference. Karen is currently a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant at The Dearborn Group.​
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​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"I align with NAMRC because it is the leading organization in the Rehabilitation Counseling industry that empowers diversity, equity, and inclusion."​
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​​FUN FACT: Karen is avid blogger and enjoys fine dining and pilates.
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Adrienne M. Robinson
EdD, CRC
​Representative to the NRA Board (Jan 2025-Dec 2027)​
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Adrienne (she/her) is serving her first term as NRA Representative on the NAMRC Board. She previously served NAMRC as a board member.​
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Adrienne has 20 years of experience related to disability, leadership, counseling, and education programs. Adrienne developed the graduate program in vocational counseling at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and was Deputy Chief of Field Services with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.
She currently teaches and is employed as a Sr. Technical Assistance and Research Analyst where she provides technical assistance and training at George Washington University. She is a Licensed School Counselor (AR) and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
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​​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"I am a disruptor. NAMRC has always worked to reframe systems not built for multicultural populations, while simultaneously providing a platform for everyone's voice."​
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​​FUN FACT: Adrienne loves reading and watching sci-fi books and movies, especially those with Black/African characters. Blerds Unite!
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Email: adriennemarie2@gmail.com
Alicia Brown Becton
Ph.D., CRC, NCC, ACS, LPCC
Board Member at Large (Jan 2024-Dec 2025)​
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Alicia is currently serving her first term on the Board of Directors. She as worked with NAMRC for over a decade.
She currently serves as a Department Chair and continues to engage in counseling and supervision when time permits. Dr. Becton has a rich and diverse background in mental health services and administrative roles within various agencies. Her experience, spanning over two decades, reflects a deep commitment to serving stigmatized populations, including the Black community, persons with disabilities, and individuals in recovery.
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​​​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"NAMRC's mission resonates with my passion for advocating for marginalized and stigmatized groups, particularly individuals who are Black and people with disabilities."
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​​FUN FACT: Alicia has over 200 elephant figurines from various places worldwide.
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Email: abecton@augusta.edu
Fidencio ‘Fito’ Mercado
MS, LPC, LCDC
Board Member at Large (Jan 2024-Dec 2025)​
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​Fito is serving his first term on the NAMRC Board and serves on the Professional Development Committee. Although Fidencio recently became a member of NAMRC, he has supported NAMRC through attendance and participation at the annual conference for the past three years.
Fito is a Clinical Associate Professor and Interim Director for the School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Fito is also completing his doctoral studies in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Administration.
WHY NAMRC: ​"After attending the annual conference for several years, I was motivated to join and help NAMRC carry out its mission to effect change through education, research, and advocacy."
FUN FACT: Fito likes to collect sports cards and now shares the hobby with his son.
​Email: Fidencio.mercado@utrgv.edu
Mel Johnson-Norwood
EdD, CRC, LCMHCA
Board Member at Large (Jan 2025- Dec 2026)
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Mel is currently serving his first term on the Board of Directors. He has been a member of NAMRC since his time as a graduate student at Winston-Salem State University.
Mel is Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Associate Provost at Winston-Salem State University. This role allows him to work at the intersection of disability, vocational rehabilitation, and counseling. He is also a practicing mental health counselor at Nour Counseling and Consulting, PLLC.
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​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"Now more than ever, NAMRC’s mission reflects the important needs of communities that have been unrepresented and marginalized. Its intentional focus on
disrupting spaces that are not equitable or culturally diverse yet purport to provide services in the disability and rehabilitation realms resonates with me."​
​​FUN FACT: Mel has driven the same vehicle for the past 17 years.
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Email: JohnsonNorwood@outlook.com
Del Savage
MSRC, CRC
Board Member at Large (Jan 2025-Dec 2026)​
Professional Development Co-Chair
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Del is currently serving her first term on the Board of Directors. She has been a l member of NAMRC since her time as a master's student at Winston-Salem State University.
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Del began her career with the State of NC as a temporary employee and later as the Office Assistant in the Charlotte Office of Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She served as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with a caseload of Mental Health and Substance Abuse with some clients from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing caseload and now serves as a Rehabilitation Education Specialist (RES) for the Western Region of NC.
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​​​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"I have a passion for bringing more awareness to multicultural competencies and concerns as it relates to the impact of advocacy and cultural diversity for the marginalized and rehabilitation counselors."
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​​FUN FACT: Del enjoys reading autobiographies.
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Email: del.savage@dhhs.nc.gov
Amber Johnson
MA, MS, NCC
Board Member at Large (Jan 2025-Dec 2026)​
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Amber is currently serving her first term on the Board of Directors. She recently attended and presented at her first NAMRC Annual Conference the 30th in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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Amber J. is a recent Masters of Counseling graduate with a concentration in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Thomas University. She is beginning her counseling career as a National Certified Counselor working as a Platoon Counselor with the Fort Eisenhower Youth Challenge Academy.
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​​​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"The commitment and purpose of NAMRC embody why I became a counselor in the first place…the need for emphasis and efforts placed on working with communities of Color and individuals with disabilities. As a person of Color with a Dis/Ability, my involvement with NAMRC just makes sense."
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​​FUN FACT: Amber J. was captain of Alabama State University’s Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Team for two years (College Bowl trivia for HBCUs). In other words, she knows and can quickly recall a lot of random facts and information.
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Email: ambnjohnson@gmail.com
Nyree Cunningham
PhD
Board Member at Large (Jan 2025-Dec 2026)​
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Nyree is serving her first term on the NAMRC Board. She is currently a Research Assistant Professor at Langston University, working in the Langston University Rehabilitation Research Training Center (RRTC) on Employment Equity for Multiply Marginalized People with Disabilities.
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Nyree first attended NAMRC in 2003 and became a member in 2004 after completing a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She has 20 years of experience working with people with disabilities. Her roles have included Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, Self-Contained ED Instructor, Education Specialist for Veterans Upward Bound, and Vice President of Program Development. In her leadership role, she secured and managed Support Services for Veteran Families, the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program.
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​​​​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"I have seen NAMRC create a safe, intercollegiate space to address concerns and educate others about the wellbeing of minorities with disabilities."
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​​FUN FACT: Nyree used to sew in high school and thinks she will return to that during her free time.
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Email: Nyree.cunningham@langston.edu
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Tracy H. Broadnax
MA, CRC
Board Member at Large (Jan 2025-Dec 2026)​
Professional Development Co-Chair
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Tracy is currently serving her first term on the NAMRC Board, having been a member since 2024. She has contributed to the program committee and has actively supported the NAMRC by attending and participating in the annual conference over the past two years.
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Tracy is a Rehabilitation Education Specialist with over 17 years of dedicated service at the NC Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. Throughout her professional career, she has held various positions, including Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Counseling Supervisor, Rehabilitation Education Specialist, ATD Master Trainer, and Adjunct Professor at NCA&T. She is dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve independence within their communities.
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​​​​​WHY NAMRC: ​"I am dedicated to fostering cultural diversity and enhancing disability awareness among professionals in the human services sector."
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​​FUN FACT: Tracy enjoys swimming and weaving and gifting her creations to family members.
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Email: tracy.broadnax@dhhs.nc.gov
L. Robert McConnell
DPA
Parliamentarian (Jan 2025-Dec 2026)
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Bob is one of the founding members of the Board in 1992, when NAMRC was established as a national division of NRA. He was an active member of NAMRC's predecessor, the Council of Non-White Rehabilitation Workers since the early 1980’s.
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Bob is a retired Division Director in Michigan VR Agency and more recently retired Assistant Professor in Public Administration at Western Michigan University.
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WHY NAMRC: ​"I have witnessed the impact that NAMRC can have on programs and professionals, especially professionals of color, throughout the rehabilitation community."​
​​FUN FACT: Bob enjoys crossword and Sudoku puzzles and making puns.
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​Email: lrm805@comcast.net
Michell L. Temple
Ph.D., Ed.D., CRC, NCC, CCPT, CTMH, LPC (CO,GA), LPC/MHSP (TN)
Past President (Jan 2023-Dec 2024)
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Michelle has served on NAMRC Board since 2015 as a Board member, President-Elect, President., and now Past President.
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Michelle is as an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Denver Seminary and a private practice Rehabilitation and Mental Health counselor, educator, and supervisor at Temple Renovation Center, LLC.
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WHY NAMRC: "I am passionate about NAMRC’s mission because it provides members an identifiable pathway to positively change the landscape of rehabilitation counseling."
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FUN FACT: Michelle loves playing laser tag with her family.
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Email: michelltemple@gmail.com