All active NADTA members are invited to be involved in shaping organizational components of the drama therapy profession by sharing talents, voice, and skills on a NADTA committee. To join, complete the volunteer form or contact the committee chairs listed below.
If you are interested in learning more or joining a committee, please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
The archivist collects, saves, and provides access to historical materials. The NADTA Archive, currently held in member and university collections, contains physical and digital information about the development of drama therapy in the U.S. and Canada through the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) - formerly known as the National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT). NADTA members who have written articles, had news reports written or videotaped about them, or any other important historical document about drama therapy or their work as drama therapists are encouraged to send them to the NADTA Archives so that they can be added to the collection.
Material can be emailed to: info@nadta.org or sent to the NADTA Office at NADTA Attn: Archives, 3739 National Drive Suite 202, Raleigh, NC 27612.| BCT & Registry Appeals Committee | back to the top |
To join the appeals committee, please contact [email protected]
Consisting of three Board Certified Trainers who are not current members of the Board of Directors, the Registry Committee, or the Trainer Review Committee. This committee is responsible for reviewing appeals on registry and board certified trainer decisions and for notifying those seeking the appeal of their decision.
- Serving two year terms which may be renewed twice.
- The Standards and Ethics Chair shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of this committee, but may vote in the instance of a tie vote by the committee.
- The committee members shall be appointed by the President and approved by majority vote of the board.
Board liaison and Ex-Officio Member
| Budget and Finance Committee | back to the top |
Oversees the financial activities of the organization, including periodic review of financial statements, annual budget and independent financial reviews as appropriate or required. An independent accountant/bookkeeper who is not a member of NADTA may also be a member of this committee.
| By-Law Committee | back to the top |
This committee is convened on an as-needed basis to make recommendations to the NADTA board and the membership at large for changes to the bylaws.
Sherry Diamond and Maria Hodermarska
| Conference Committee | back to the top |
Emily Faith
A new conference committee is formed each year to organize and oversee the details of the annual drama therapy conference. The Conference Committee is made up of various and ad hoc sub-committees to aid in the conference planning.
Conference Co-Chairs
Nicole Ventura & Susie Schutt
Program Chair
Megan Svarich-Knights & Opher Shamir
| Mentorship Committee | back to the top |
This program looks to connect Registered Drama Therapists with students/newcomers/emerging clinicians to share information and knowledge regarding the profession of drama therapy.
| Nominating Committee | back to the top |
The committee shall be elected by majority vote of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
This committee is convened in each election year (every two years) for the purpose of providing to the membership a slate of names for elective offices. The committee solicits nominations from the general membership and discusses the duties of the elective offices with the nominees. Committee membership consists of no less than three Registered Drama Therapists, at least one of whom should be a current member of the Board of Directors.
| Communications Committee | back to the top |
This committee is responsible for editing and publishing communications through various media sources to increase public awareness and understanding of drama therapy. The communications committee also provides organizational updates to the NADTA membership.
FACEBOOK COORDINATOR - Collaborates with Communication Chair and Region Chairs in creating and posting relevant NADTA content on Facebook, including: Reels, Posts and comment moderation.
INSTAGRAM COORDINATOR - Collaborates with Communications Chair and Region Chairs in creating and posting relevant NADTA content on Instagram specific content: Including Posts, Stories, Reels and comment moderation.
LINKEDIN COORDINATOR - Collaborates with Communications Chair in creating and posting relevant drama therapy content (research, grants, current events, etc.) to the professional mental health world.
GRAPHIC DESIGN COORDINATOR - Collaborates with Communications Chair on design elements for conference, social media, website, and email communications.
| Cultural Humility, Equity, and Diversity Committee (CHEDC) | back to the top |
CHEDC is charged with the promotion of cultural competency in drama therapy training and practice within the membership of the NADTA. CHEDC promotes dialogue around diversity, equity and social justice in all aspects of the organization as well as cultural sensitivity, cultural competence and cultural humility in the practice and profession of drama therapy.
Abbie Truax, Leah Okraszewski, Benedicta Akley-Quarshie, Melissa Killian, Kimberly Kidders, Virginia Augoustatos, Sarah Olbrantz
SubcommitteesMembers: Maria Hodermarska, Marielle Duke, Dana Sayre, Rosimar Hernandez, Adam Stevens, Britton Williams, Courtney Way, Daniela Gonzalez Martinez, Turner Hilt, Ermyn King, Kache Mumford, Daniel McGrath, Max Durrant, Callie Short, Margot Levinson
Crossing Borders (International Group)Akhila Khanna, Samah Ikram, Naomi Saikachi, Vjosa Ramadani
| Education Committee | back to the top |
This committee clarifies the standards of University training programs and encourages the establishment of qualified education and Alternative Training programs in drama therapy. The Education Chair supports and represents all Registry, BCT Review, and Appeals Committee activities. The committee will maintain, in conjunction with the National Office, Research Committee, and the Communications Committee, an up-to-date bibliography of all books, periodicals, research studies, etc. dealing with drama therapy.
Accreditation - Convened on an as-needed basis to evaluate University Drama Therapy programs and make recommendations to the NADTA Board regarding accreditation of college and university programs offering Master's Degrees in drama therapy. Click here for the list of accredited schools.
Alternative Training - Collect data to identify teachers and courses taught in drama therapy, and design alternative training methodologies and criteria for certifying trainers and acceptable facilities.Click here for more information about the Alternative Training Program.
Competencies - Review and update drama therapy competency standards as needed.
Continuing Education - Evaluate proposals for CE’s and assist in auditing CE documentation for RDT’s every two years.
CHED Continuing Education - Evaluate proposals for CE’s related to CHED topics and maintain a current listing of CHED CE opportunities to improve accessibility
HBCU / Education Outreach Project - Members of the HBCU Committee consist of Black-identifying drama therapists who bring awareness about drama therapy to Historically Black Colleges and Universities via on-site educational workshops, therapeutic performances, and research. Through the North American Drama Therapy Association, the HBCU Committee also fosters and actualizes advocacy in these new or already existing drama therapy educational and clinical spaces for students and professionals who are Black-identifying.
Vision: To be NADTA out-reach facilitators who educate, recruit and provide support for the advancement of Black-identifying drama therapists. Contact [email protected] for more information.
MembersJune Handy (HBCU Chair), Lisa Moreno, Edward Freeman
To join the education committee, please contact [email protected] or fill out this nomination form.
Former Chairs: Diana Chu (2022-2023), Mimi Savage (2020-2021), Adam Reynolds (2018-2019)
| Registry Review Committee | back to the top |
Responsible for reviewing applications for professional registry as a drama therapist, determining eligibility for the P-RDT and RDT credential and notifying applicants of its decisions. Members must be Registered Drama Therapists and are appointed by the NADTA President and approved by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Chabreah Alston, and Ethics Chair
Former Chair: Rachel Brousseau
| Board Certified Trainer Review Committee | back to the top |
Responsible for reviewing applications for Board Certified Trainer (BCT), determining eligibility for the BCT credential and notifying applicants of its decisions. Members must be Board Certified Trainers and are appointed by the NADTA President and approved by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Sally Bailey
Board Liaison and Ex-Officio Member| Ethics Committee | back to the top |
The Ethics Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members who shall be responsible for encouraging the maintenance of professional standards according to NADTA Standards of Ethical Practice, and for developing and implementing a procedure for peer review.
Darci Burch, Kimberly Cohn, Maria Hodermarska, Patrick Hughes, David Read Johnson, Adam Reynolds, PhD, LCSW, RDT/BCT (Chair), Britton Williams
| Government Affairs Committee (GAC) | back to the top |
TBA
Canadian Licensure SubcommitteeTBA
| Membership Committee | back to the top |
Responsible for developing membership procedures, building membership and increasing member retention.
Cindy Coady - Canadian Representative
Lisa Moreno - Central Region Representative
Abbie Truax -Eastern Region Representative
Ryan Lisman - Western Region Representative
Ross Stone & Tracena Marie
| Student Committee | back to the top |
This committee acts as liaison between the student body and the Association. This includes writing a student column for the newsletter, Dramascope, and sharing student requests and updates with the Board of Directors. NADTA student members are encouraged to connect with their representatives. The Committee Chairperson is a student member appointed by the President of the NADTA. Student Committee members are recruited by the Chairperson and the Regional Representatives. Membership includes at least two student representatives from each NADTA approved MA program, comprised of a first year and second year student, and at least one alternative training student from each geographical region, if available.
Ex-officio members: Membership Chair, President, and President-Elect
| Research Committee | back to the top |