Duane K. L. France, MA, MBA, LPC

Candidate Statement: 

I am honored by the trust placed in me to stand for election as President-Elect. I view this role as a responsibility to serve not only ACA members and staff, but the Counseling profession and the communities we support. Advocacy has been a central part of my work, and I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside our elected leaders on efforts that elevate and protect our profession, including pivotal decisions that shape our future. As ACA navigates both a governance and executive leadership transition, continuity and thoughtful collaboration will be essential to help ensure stability while continuing to move our work forward. Our profession stands at an important moment. Through collective advocacy, we have made meaningful progress - from advancing licensure portability through the Counseling Compact to achieving long-sought inclusion in Medicare. These milestones reflect the impact of a unified voice. However, challenges remain. Counselors across specialties are managing heavy caseloads, administrative demands, reimbursement inequities, and ongoing threats to professional recognition. Counselor Educators are navigating a shrinking faculty pipeline and increasing pressure on professional identity. Students and early-career Counselors face high levels of debt and barriers to full licensure. We are also navigating broader issues, including legislative restrictions, the evolving role of AI, and the impact of social division on the individuals and communities we serve. These challenges are significant, but not unfamiliar. As a profession, we have met moments like this through shared purpose, advocacy, and a commitment to one another. I believe in our collective ability to respond with clarity, professionalism, and resolve. I am committed to working alongside ACA leadership, staff, and members to strengthen our profession and expand our impact. Together, we can continue to empower Counselors, advance our profession, and advocate for the individuals and communities who rely on our work every day. 

Candidate Biography: 

Duane K. L. France, MA, MBA, LPC, is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat Veteran, and Co-Director of SAMHSA’s Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center. In this role, he provides strategic planning support for mental health and suicide prevention coalitions across all 55 U.S. States and Territories. A Veteran of five combat and operational deployments, Mr. France was called to the Counseling profession while serving in Iraq. Following his 22-year military career, he earned an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling while being awarded the NBCC Military Fellowship. He subsequently earned MBA with a concentration in Public Administration. As an LPC in Colorado, he served as the Director of Veteran Services for the Family Care Center, a private interdisciplinary mental health clinic. He also served as the Executive Director of a nonprofit affiliated with FCC, where he secured the first NBCC Capacity Building Grant to provide grant-funded mental health treatment to veterans. Mr. France is a dedicated community leader, having served as a Commissioner on the Colorado Suicide Prevention Commission and Co-Chair of the Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County development committee. He also served as the President of the Board of a charter school network with an annual budget of approximately $33.4 million that serves over 2,000 students throughout five schools. He has also held key ACA leadership roles, including Co-Chair of the Public Policy and Legislation Committee and member of the Counseling Compact Advisory Board. As the MGCA Representative to the Governing Council, he served on the Executive Committee, the DEIJ Task Force, and the CEO Search and Transition Task Force. An author, award-winning podcast host and producer, Mr. France is passionate about suicide prevention and mental health. He resides in Southern West Virginia with his wife and cats Izzy, Atlas, and Sunshine.