May 2026 Spotlight – Dave Carver, PhD
How long have you been a member of NPA, and why did you join?
I joined NPA in 1987 when I moved from Minnesota to Omaha to become the Student Counseling Director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Previously I was a licensed psychologist and Director of Counseling at the University of Minnesota, Morris. UMM is a public liberal arts college, so the move to UNMC was quite a change in my work environment. NPA membership helped me to meet other psychologists in Omaha and across the state of Nebraska. It also provided access to excellent continuing education programs.
Do you now, or have you ever volunteered for NPA?
In 2008 NPA President Shannon Black invited me to join the Board of Directors as the Academic Affairs Committee chair. Since then, I have served as NPA President-elect, President, Past-President, and in recent years, as Treasurer and Leadership Development Academy co-chair with Carmen Skare. I also followed my friend Dan Ullman as our Nebraska voting member on the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives (COR) where I served for two terms. While on the Council I led the successful effort to create a Council Ombudsperson role and chaired the Council Effectiveness Plan Implementation Oversight Task Force.
In addition to my various NPA-related roles, I served as the co-chair of the APA Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance. I was also the chair of the Nebraska Board of Psychology (state licensing board) for eight years and was honored to receive the State Leadership Award from the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). In 2025 I was elected for a three-year term on the APA Ethics Committee.
In 2021 I stepped down as Executive Director of Counseling and Student Development at UNMC where I was also the Student Senate Advisor. At that time, I accepted a newly created position as the UNMC Ombuds Program director. In that role I provide confidential, off-the-record, behind-the-scenes problem solving consultations to UNMC faculty, staff, and students. I also continue to facilitate communication skills training classes for medical students and offer workshops on peer support and conflict resolution skills by request. I am an active member of the International Ombuds Association and completed two terms on the IOA Board of Directors where I co-chaired the Standards of Practice Task Force.
What have been your biggest professional achievements?
During my many years at UNMC I have provided counseling, consultation, and ombuds services to thousands of health professions students, faculty, and staff - helping them overcome personal/professional challenges and utilize their strengths to achieve meaningful life goals. I am also proud of my various leadership roles in NPA, APA, IOA, and the licensing board. My biggest reward has been the opportunity to collaborate with great colleagues/friends. I believe strongly that NPA is the best small population state psychological association in the country!
What are fun facts that people may not know about you?
I attended high school in Wheaton, Illinois and participated in sports with comedian John Belushi. My nickname to high school friends was (and still is) “Coach” Carver. In college I was a “career student,” completing three master’s degrees before my PhD. In each of these graduate programs I had wonderful faculty advisors/mentors that were excellent role models for how to treat their students and colleagues. I still think of these mentors often. Finally, while serving on the APA Council of Representatives, I was appointed by APA Board member Mary Ann McCabe as the official DJ for the COR. In that role I selected pre and post meeting songs that I shared via email with the COR members. Here is my musical selection for this NPA Spotlight.
Al Stewart – “Time Passages” (live)
