Special Section II: Frank Parsons's Continuing Legacy to Career Development Interventions - Brief Article

Career Development Quarterly, Sept, 2001

Introduction

This special section of The Career Development Quarterly honors the ongoing influence of Frank Parsons. This special section exists due to the efforts of Nadya Fouad and Jane Swanson. Fouad and Swanson coordinated the efforts involved in transforming an American Psychological Association symposium to journal format. The result is three outstanding articles devoted to Parsons. Donald Zytowski highlights the historical context of Parsons's work. Zytowski notes the various factors influencing Parsons's personal and professional development. Karen O'Brien draws connections between Parsons and the current emphasis in counselor education that views counselors and psychologists as agents of social change in society. Finally, Camille DeBell reinforces the importance of world-of work information in Parsons's tripartite model. DeBell provides current world-of-work information that is essential to career counselors as they help their clients engage in "true reasoning." I am grateful to each of these individuals for thei r important contributions to this special section.

Spencer G. Niles

Editor, The Career Development Quarterly