Elvira Craig de Silva, DSW, ACSW
President

Elvira Craig de Silva, DSW, ACSW (Wisconsin Chapter), is associate dean of the Communication Skills, Social Sciences and Foreign Languages Department at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee , Wisconsin . She received her DSW from the Universidad del Museo Social Argentino, Buenos Aires , Argentina , and a diploma in Latin American Studies from Rutgers University . Her professional experiences include: professor (15 years) at the Graduate School of Social Welfare , University of Wisconsin , Milwaukee ; director of the Industrial Labor Team at Rutgers Mental Health Center , New Jersey ; and coordinator of Education and Research, Social Work Department , VA Hospital, Milwaukee . Dr. Craig de Silva has done extensive work in diversity and intercultural communications and has been actively involved with NASW for the past 20 years including president, Wisconsin Chapter (1996-98). Honors include: Partners in Education Award, Women of Distinction Award, Recognition Awards from United Way , School-to-Work Initiative, and State and National Leadership.

James J. Kelly, PhD, ACSW
President - Elect

James J. Kelly, PhD, ACSW (California Chapter), is professor and associate vice president, California State University, East Bay, and former interim provost, overseeing a $100 million budget. He has 38 publications and 109 presentations and has garnered $35 million in grants, contracts, endowments, and gifts, primarily through community collaborations in the child welfare and aging areas. Former consultant to the United Nations, he is a strong advocate for social justice. He received his PhD from Brandeis University and his MSSW from the University of Tennessee. He was president, NASW California Chapter, and active in Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Hawaii Chapters. He is immediate past-president, California Institute of Mental Health; board member, National Network for Social Work Managers; and founding editorial board member, Journal of Women and Aging. He was named 1987 National Social Worker of the Year for work in developing services for people with AIDS.

Willie "Bo" Walker, LCSW, DCSW
Vice President

Willie “Bo” Walker, LCSW, DCSW (Tennessee Chapter), is chief operating officer of the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He received his MSSW from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work. Bo has extensive experience in both agency and private practice settings and is a respected social work trainer. Bo’s service and leadership in NASW at the branch and chapter levels span 20 years. Currently president of the Tennessee Chapter, he has been a Delegate Assembly representative, and he participated in the 2005 Social Work Congress. He has been recognized locally, statewide, and nationally for his outstanding contributions to the social work profession. He was the Tennessee Social Worker of the Year in 1992 and received the Ruth Brudney Award from the National Mental Health Association and the Warren Wilson College Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1994. He is actively involved in multiple social, community, and fraternal organizations.

Nelrene R. Yellow Bird, LCSW, LAC
Board Secretary

Nelrene R. Yellow Bird, LCSW, LAC (North Dakota Chapter), is assistant professor, Minot State University Social Work Program, Minot, ND.  Nelrene completed her master’s degree in social work at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.  She is a North Dakota licensed certified social worker and a North Dakota licensed addiction counselor.  She has served as secretary of NASW North Dakota Chapter and as Region X Representative for the NASW National Board of Directors.  She holds current membership in the Indigenous Professors Association, American Indian/Alaska Native Social Work Educator's Association, the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, and she is an advocate for Native American social issues.

Josefina Ahumada, MSW, LCSW
Treasurer

Josefina Ahumada, MSW, LCSW (Arizona Chapter), a native Californian, received her MSW from UCLA. For 24 years she served in the public sector providing and administering clinical services for clients with serious mental illness. Currently, she is the coordinator of field education at Arizona State University College of Public Programs, School of Social Work–Tucson. She received the ASU Ubiquity Award for Academic Contribution.

She has served NASW—Arizona Chapter as a member of the board, treasurer, president and chair of the Chapter Committee for Nominations and Leadership Identification, and was secretary-treasurer for the NASW National Council of Chapter Presidents. Twice she was a representative to Delegate Assembly. She was recognized as Social Worker of the Year, and in 2001 she received the NASWAZ Lifetime Achievement Award. She is chair of the Coalition of Arizona Behavioral Health Professionals, a group of professional associations that was successful in promoting the passage of state licensure for behavioral health professionals.

Patricia Cedeno-Zamor, PHD, MSW
Region Representative I [ME, MA, NH, RI, VT]

Patricia Cedeno-Zamor, PhD, MSW (Massachusetts Chapter), is a professor at Salem State College. She teaches social work practice, international social welfare policy, human behavior and diversity courses. Patricia has been engaged in a number of consulting projects as research associate, co-principal investigator, child welfare grant and director, McNair Scholars Program. Patricia is a frequent consultant on the mental health concerns among culturally and economically diverse groups. She held clinical positions in several hospitals, and management positions, field supervisor, De Witt Scholars Program, Boston College SSW, and Training Director of MA chapter of Amigos. She has an MSW from Simmons College , a PhD from Boston College ; and is a Fellow at UMass Medical School Leadership in Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities.

\NASW: Board Member of MA, Education Commission, Executive, Nominating and Fundraising Committees, past 2nd Vice President, Coordinator, New Social Workers Mentor Program, Regional Coordinator, Massachusetts Women in Higher Education, and Member at-large, Randolph Unity Network, Healing Hands For Haiti, Chair, Caribbean American Education Coalition.

Elaine Congress, DSW, ACSW, LCSW
Region Representative II [CT, NYC]

Elaine Congress, DSW, ACSW, LCSW (New York City Chapter), is associate dean and professor at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. Prior to entering academia, Elaine was a clinician, supervisor, and administrator in an outpatient mental health agency. She has an MSW from Columbia University and a DSW from CUNY, Hunter.

Elaine has served as president of the NYC chapter of NASW, chair of the NASW NYC Ethics Committee, co-chair of PACE, co-chair of the Women’s Issues Committee, and three-time delegate (once leader) of the NYC delegation to the Delegate Assembly. She is on the United Nations team for the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the North American representative to the IFSW International Ethics Committee, and was a member of the NASW delegation to the IFSW conference in Adelaide , Australia . Elaine has written and presented nationally and internationally on social work ethics and on cultural diversity.

Patricia Maxon, LMSW
Region Representative III [NYS]

Pat Maxon, LMSW (New York State Chapter), was a long-term care social worker for 25 years before becoming project coordinator at Elder Network of the Capital Region. Maxon is part of a team working to create an “aging prepared community” through collaboration of government, health, and community services with older people.

Ms. Maxon earned a BSW and MSW at the University at Albany, State University at New York, and is a field instructor there.

Ms. Maxon has been a member of Northeast Division’s Steering Committee since 1987. In 2000, she was honored as Division Social Worker of the Year. She has served the New York State chapter as vice president and division representative. She is a member of the chapter Ethics and Bylaws Committees.

Maxon shaped NASW policies as a national delegate to each Assembly since 1993. She was elected to chair the Eastern Region Coalition and represented it on the task force to restructure Delegate Assembly.

Donna Pincavage, MSW, MPA
Region Representative IV [NJ, PA]

Donna Pincavage, MSW, MPA (New Jersey Chapter), is director of the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect and Children’s Trust Fund. She received her MSW and MPA from Rutgers University and BSW from Kean University.

Ms. Pincavage has been a member of NASW since 1978, she received her ACSW in 1983. In New Jersey, she has served in several NASW leadership positions:
• First Vice President (1994–1995, 1997–1999)
• Treasurer (2001–2003)
• At-Large Board Member (1995–1996)
• Chair of Conference (1992–1996), Personnel (1994–1995), Finance (2001–2003), Children’s (1991–1996) Committees
• Delegate (1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005)
She co-chaired the Eastern Regional Coalition (2002).

She served on the following national boards:
• FRIENDS National Resource Center (2000–present)
• National Alliance of Children’s Trust Funds (1996–2002),
President (1989–2000)
• National Call to Action (2001–2004)
• National Child Sexual Abuse Resource Center (1980’s)

Sister Mary Vincentia Joseph, PhD, LICSW
Region Representative V [DE, DC, International, MD, PR, VI, VA]

Sister Mary Vincentia Joseph, PhD, LICSW (DC Metro Chapter), is professor emerita at National Catholic School of Social Service, Catholic University of America (CUA), where she served as assistant dean and doctoral chair and taught doctoral and masters’ courses in social work practice, ethics, supervision, education, and religion/spirituality in practice. She has conducted research, published, and taught nationally and internationally in South America, Asia, and Europe. She was a visiting scholar at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics. She served on ethics committees and panels of NASW and Catholic Charities USA and received an award for service on the 1997 NASW Code of Ethics Revision Committee. She was named Social Work Educator of the Year and Social Worker of the Year in 2003 by the DC Metro Chapter. Memberships include CSWE, Charities USA, and North American Association of Christian Social Workers. She received her DSW and MSW degrees from CUA.

Christina A. Austin-Valere, MSW
Region Representative VI [AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC]

Christina A. Austin-Valere, MSW (Florida Chapter), is an oncology social worker with Michael & Dianne Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center, Holy Cross Hospital currently pursuing her doctorate at Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida.  Austin-Valere has represented NASW - Florida as president (2004–2006), and past president (2006–2007), and has been Southeastern Coalition delegate (1999, 2002, and 2005); vice president (1999–2000), and chair for Broward Unit (1996–1999).  She served as secretary/treasurer, Council of Chapter Presidents (2004–2005). She also served as co-chair for the Annual State Conference (1998–1999); treasurer (1996 – 1998); and president (2000 – 2001) for Florida Society of Oncology Social Workers (FSOSW). Memberships include the National Association of Social Workers; Association of Oncology Social Workers; FSOSW; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America; and American Cancer Society. Austin-Valere was named Oncology Social Worker of the Year by FSOSW (2001–2002) and by Vitas Innovative Hospice Care (2004–2005).

Lann E. Thompson, EdD, MSSW, MA
Region Representative VII [IN, KY, OH, TN, WV]

Lann E. Thompson, EdD, MSSW, MA (Indiana Chapter), is associate director of the Riley Child Development Center at Riley Hospital for Children on the campus of Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis. For 25 years, Thompson, has held an associate faculty position with Indiana University School of Social Work teaching courses and also serving as a field instructor. In addition to an MSSW from University of Wisconsin, Thompson earned an MA and an EdD in counseling psychology from the University of South Dakota. Thompson served a term as vice president for the NASWSD Chapter, and has served as vice president and president for the Indiana Chapter. In addition, Thompson has been a representative six times to Delegate Assembly (1990–2005), and in 1999 he was chair of the Midwest Coalition. Thompson also serves on the boards of the American Indian Center of Indiana and the Indiana Parent Information Network. In 1992, he was awarded the Social Worker of the Year Award for Indiana.

Rosalie A. Migas, MSSW, LCSW
Region Representative VIII [MI, WI]

Rosalie A. Migas, MSSW, LCSW (Wisconsin Chapter), received her BS and MSSW from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since graduating, she has worked in a variety of social work settings and positions, including nearly a decade as a school social worker, and has held supervisory positions in a variety of nonprofit agencies, including the Children’s Service Society and the Wisconsin Association on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse.

She has been an NASW member since graduating and has been active in the organization for over a decade. Migas served as co-chair of the Legislative and Social Policy Committee, was elected chair of the South Central Branch, and served as president of the state organization. She has been a volunteer in many organizations throughout her career and presently serves as vice president on the State Board of the Court Appointed Special Advocates program. Currently, she is an adjunct instructor at Edgewood College in Madison.

Mark Smith, MSW
Region Representative IX [IL, IA]

Mark Smith, MSW (Iowa Chapter), is director of special projects at the Substance Abuse Treatment Unit of Central Iowa. He is a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, where he serves as ranking member of the House Human Resources Committee. He holds an MSW from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree in social welfare from Graceland College. He holds the ACSW and Iowa Independent practice credentials. He is a member of the Mental Health Specialty Section of NASW. He was the third recipient of the Barbara Boatwright Political Action Award for his public service. (Barbara Boatwright is a politically active social worker in Iowa.) Mark also serves on the National Conference of State Legislatures Standing Committee on Health and the conference’s subcommittee on addictions. His practice specializes in people with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

Jean Quam, PHD, MSW
Region Representative X [AR, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD]

Jean Quam, PhD, MSW (Minnesota Chapter), has been a member of NASW chapters in Minnesota , Nebraska , Wisconsin , and Iowa . In the Minnesota chapter she served as president and vice president and chaired the Continuing Education Committee. Jean has a BSW from Moorhead State University , an MSW from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a DSW from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jean is in her 25th year on the faculty at the University of Minnesota , where she has been the director for the past 13 years. She taught undergraduate courses and practiced in Iowa serving disabled clients, rural clients and cancer patients.

Currently, Jean is president of the Deans and Directors of SSW (NADD) and in her fifth year on the Commission on Accreditation for CSWE. Jean represented NADD at the Social Work Summit II and will attend the 2005 NASW Social Work Congress.

Linda M. Mockeridge, MSW
Region Representative XI [AZ, LA, NM, TX]

Linda M. Mockeridge, MSW (Texas Chapter), has been active on the steering committee, branch chair and board member for San Antonio, completing her master’s degree in social work in 1990, and attaining an LCSW in 1993.  She has worked as a clinical social worker in psychiatric hospitals, group homes, community organizations, detention centers and juvenile justice providing individual, group work, and staff development.  Her expertise, in private practice, focuses on adoptions, chemical dependency, mood disorders, supervision, and mitigation for sentencing in criminal cases.  She has been a lecturer and conference presenter on issues in social work, adolescence, chemical dependency, mitigation, and meditation.  She was awarded Social Worker of the Year 2004, and garnered the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 in San Antonio.  Currently, she is developing a pilot program in prison studying the effects of meditation on mood and behavior. 

Sharon Y. Otagaki, MSW
Region Representative XII [AK, CO, GU, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY]

Sharon Y. Otagaki, MSW (Hawaii Chapter), is a retired social worker formerly employed by the U.S. Department of Education.  She served as assistant director of practicum and as the assistant to the dean at the University of Hawaii School of Social Work.  She received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Hawaii.  Active with the NASW Hawaii Chapter, she has been vice president, a two-term president, delegate to the Delegate Assembly twice, and chair of the Legislative Committee since 2003.  She also served on the National Certification Commission, was an advisory committee member for the state of Hawaii Social Work Licensing Program with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and a board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Hawaii.  She was a project director for the CSWE Office of Social Work Education and Research and worked as a technical reviewer for a federal health grant.

Betty Garcia, PHD, LCSW
Region Representative XIII [CA]

Betty Garcia, PhD, LCSW (California Chapter), as a professor of social work, at CSU, Fresno , teaches foundation and advanced clinical practice with individuals, practice with families and couples, and group practice, as well as oppression and cultural competency courses. Betty received her BS in Social Science with a minor in Social Services from California State Polytechnic University , Pomona , MSW from San Diego State University, and PhD from Boston University . Her work with NASW has involved participating in a Delegate Assembly and the California Nominations Committee. She is a member of CSWE and the Association of Latino Social Work Educators. She was a member of the CSWE Conference Planning and Faculty Development Commission and was appointed to the newly formed Commission on Faculty Development. Betty is involved in community based mental health advocacy and is finishing a second book on diversity teaching for social justice.

Terrie Fritz, MSW, LSW
Member-at-Large

Terrie Fritz, MSW (Oklahoma Chapter), is director of Development for Oklahoma ’s state Medicaid program and has worked to improve that program for the past ten years. Her career focus is program and services development in public and behavioral health.

Terrie received an MSW at the University of Oklahoma , where she currently teaches policy courses. An active member of NASW since joining in 1987, Terrie has chaired chapter committees, and has been elected to the chapter board and chapter president. She received the president’s award for service to the chapter.

At the national level Terrie has served on the Delegate Assembly Planning Committee, chaired the National Committee on Inquiry, and currently serves as vice-chair of the Insurance Trust.

Terrie served on the state licensing board for Oklahoma and received recognition from the University of Oklahoma School of Social Work as an outstanding graduate in the area of social work leadership.

Chanda Roberts White, BSW
Member-at-Large

Chanda Roberts White, BSW (Georgia Chapter), graduated from Georgia State University in 1992.  She has worked as a child protective services manager, an eligibility worker, and an error control specialist with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.  In her tenure there, she was recognized both as an Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year. Since 2005, she has been a parent facilitator conducting workshops and parenting classes in the DeKalb County School System Office of School Improvement Parent Resource Center.  She currently serves on the membership committee of the NASW Georgia.  In previous years, she was on the chapter’s steering committee, was first chair of the Social Work Alumni Club at Georgia State University, and has volunteered with several organizations supporting children and families.

ESTEBAN JUAREZ
MSW Student Member

Esteban Juarez (California Chapter) is a full-time student in the MSW program at the University of Southern California.  Currently, Esteban is completing his first year foundation courses and will declare the concentration of family and children as his concentration specialty the second year of the MSW program.  Esteban received a BS degree in Human Services from California State University at Fullerton in 2005.  Esteban is a student member of NASW and serves as the USC first-year student liaison to NASW Region F, the Orange County unit.  Esteban is an active member in campus leadership activities and in his social work community.

Christina M. Michels
BSW Student Member

Christina M. Michels (Michigan Chapter), is currently a junior at Central Michigan University in the social work program. Her minor is gerontology. She belongs to the Student Social Work Association of Central Michigan University (CMU) and has volunteered with Women's Aid Service near CMU. She has also been employed for the past two summers as a child care provider at a day care center near her home in Troy. She, along with other social work students from CMU, traveled to Pascagoula, Mississippi, to work on homes that were damaged during Hurricane Katrina. They presented information about the trip to introductory social work classes at the university to make sure Katrina survivors are not forgotten. They are currently organizing another trip to the Gulf Coast.