Staff

Bio: Barbara Bedney is Chief of Programs at NASW, where she leads a team advancing the professional development, practice, and public policy work of the social work profession. Prior to coming to NASW she was Director of Research and Evaluation at the JFNA Center on Aging and Trauma, where she helped spearhead the development and dissemination of person-centered, trauma-informed care for older adults. She has a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, San Francisco, an MSW from New York University, and a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of California Los Angeles.

Bio: Cheryl Bradley is the Publisher of NASW Press, NASW’s award-winning scholarly press that serves faculty, practitioners, agencies, librarians, clinicians, and researchers in social work and related disciplines. She is responsible for the overall direction of the Press (operational and administrative) and collaborates with her team of editors, designers, and authors to produce the NASW Press portfolio of products.

Bio: Laetitia Clayton has worked for NASW since 2011, first as managing editor of the NASW News, the association’s newspaper from 1955 to 2018. She became the managing editor of NASW’s magazine, Social Work Advocates, when the publication launched in 2018 and replaced the NASW News. Laetitia has a BA degree in journalism from Eastern Kentucky University, and has worked as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers and association publications in Washington, D.C., and Virginia for the past 23 years. She lives in Virginia’s beautiful Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Bio: Portia L. Cole is Continuing Education and Specialty Practice Manager at NASW, where she leads a team responsible for Credentialing, CEU Approval, and Specialty Sections, helping to advance key professional development and practice initiatives that support our members and social workers across the country. Prior to joining NASW, she was Inaugural Baccalaureate Social Work Program Director at Trinity Washington University. Her research focuses on disability, health equity, and social determinants of health. She earned a PhD in Sociology from American University, an MSW from Catholic University and a BA in Sociology from the George Washington University.

Bio: Mirean Coleman is a licensed, independent clinical social worker in Washington, DC, who has over 25 years of experience as a mental health practitioner. She has professional work experience as a clinician, administrator, auditor, supervisor, and consultant in a variety of settings including hospitals, community mental health, primary care, long term care facilities, bereavement centers, trauma facilities, and private practice.

Bio: Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, is CEO. Prior to leading NASW, Dr. Estreet was chair of the MSW program at Morgan State University. He founded Next Step Treatment Center in Baltimore, was previously vice president of the NASW Board of Directors and served as president of the NASW Maryland Chapter. In his career, he has secured $6 million for social work workforce development, research, and training, helped reduce HIV health disparities among men in Baltimore and Mississippi, and has published two books. He earned a BS in psychology from Bowie State University, an MSW at Virginia Commonwealth University, a PhD at Morgan State University, and an MBA at the University Maryland-College Park. Dr. Estreet is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Council on Social Work Education, and the National Association of Black Social Workers. Read Full Bio

Bio: Michael Evans, CPA, CGMA is Senior Director – Budget & Treasury. In this role, Mr. Evans oversees and advises the completion of the annual budgets for NASW and all related entities and manages the relationships with various financial institutions. In addition to over 30 years of experience in accounting and finance, Mr. Evans has taught accounting at a local university, umpired baseball and worked as a tour guide for a local ghost and graveyard tour. Mr. Evans has his BS in Accounting from Virginia Tech and MS in Accounting from George Mason University. In addition to his family, Mr. Evans’ passions include Virginia Tech sports and Washington Nationals baseball.

Bio: April Ferguson, LCSW-C, is the Children and Adolescents Senior Practice Associate. She is responsible for providing professional expertise in matters impacting youth and families. She networks with NASW chapters, stakeholders, and coalitions to develop products for social workers and to advocate for policies that support the well-being of children. Previously, April worked in the STEM field as a Department of Defense engineer and as an associate at the Congressional Budget Office. She later earned an MSW and started her social work career in the field of child welfare and child and adolescent psychiatry. In her free time, she and her husband are active members of their church, and they enjoy hiking, biking, tubing and running.

Bio: Ryan Grace is the Human Resources Assistant, at the National Association of Social Workers. As part of the HR team, Ryan oversees payroll & compensation, while assisting with recruiting, reporting, employee training & development and more. Before coming to NASW, Ryan earned his BS in Family and Human Services at the University of Oregon. In his spare time, Ryan is exploring all that the Virginia and DC Metro areas have to offer.

Bio: As Managing Editor, Julie oversees the production of NASW Press books and journals, and the production and circulation staff. She is also involved in marketing, inventory management, exhibiting at conferences, and management of the Press website.

Bio: Anne serves as a primary contact and principal liaison between chapter executive directors, chapter leadership, and the national office. She works with chapter executives and chapter presidents on a variety of projects and initiatives. Anne ensures that chapters receive guidance and support so that chapters are consistent with the Associations program plan, bylaws, policies, and procedures while meeting established chapter and financial objectives. She provides training and technical assistance as needed to chapters. Previously, Anne worked at the American Physical Therapy Association as a component executive in the Association Management Department.

Bio: Jeremy Haines is a seasoned legislative affairs professional with nearly a decade of experience advancing policy priorities, shaping legislative outcomes, and building trusted relationships across federal and state government. Prior to joining the National Association of Social Workers, he worked primarily in the health care space for physician and patient-centered advocacy associations, where he focused on access to care, workforce, and reimbursement issues. Jeremy began his career in Washington, DC, working for United States Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC). He holds degrees from North Carolina State University (BA) and Appalachian State University (MA) in political science.

Bio: Dina Kastner (she/her) is a Public Policy and Advocacy Manager. She advocates for professional and social justice issues, mobilizes social workers for NASW’s legislative and electoral priorities, and manages the Political Action Committee. She previously worked on Medicaid/SCHIP access issues in Illinois at the Campaign for Better Health Care. She earned the Professional Lobbying Certificate from the Association of Government Relations Professionals. She graduated from the Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research with a Master of Social Service and a Master of Law and Social Policy. She earned her BSW degree at Elizabethtown College.

Bio: After 6 years in direct practice and receiving his MSW, Josh began working with NASW first as an intern at the Minnesota office. He then began contracting with states across the association and finally being hired by the National office as a Digital Content Associate. In this role, he works to ensure that the national and chapter websites are up to date, accessible, and looking good. His work has expanded and is now the Web Content Lead. Ask him about his cats.

Bio: Christina Lorelli is the Senior Administrative Specialist for both Chapter Operations and Programs. In this role, Christina provides project and administrative support to the division leads of the Professional Development, Practice, and Specialty Practice teams. She also assists in supporting outreach and activity coordination with NASW’s 55 chapters. Christina received a bachelor’s degree from Boston University with a major in biology and a minor in English. She completed her master’s degree from Northeastern University, also in biology, with a concentration in neurophysiology. In her free time, she enjoys being near any type of water, reading, and being with her family.

Bio: Moe Mardini serves as the Senior Digital Marketing Associate. He leads membership marketing efforts, with a specific emphasis on digital media. Moe is focused on leading marketing initiatives aimed at keeping current members engaged and eager to renew, while reaching social workers not at NASW to promote the association and encourage them to register for membership. He also helps internal teams with the marketing strategy, planning, and execution of their campaigns. Moe holds a BBA from the American University of Beirut. Before joining NASW, he managed marketing initiatives for prominent non-profits, advocacy groups, and Fortune 500 companies. In his free time, Moe likes to travel, watch TV series, and support Arsenal FC.

Bio: As Acquisitions Editor for NASW Press, Rachel is responsible for engaging new and existing authors, managing proposals, and developing manuscripts. She oversees the proposal review process, performs developmental editing on manuscripts, and works with production to bring projects to publication. On the marketing team, she participates in the development of book promotions across multiple platforms and seeks opportunities to elevate NASW Press books and authors. Rachel can be found at social work conferences at the NASW booth, talking about her favorite subject matters: social work, publishing, and Greyhound advocacy and adoption. Prior to joining NASW Press, she was with Sinauer Associates, an imprint of Oxford University Press.

Bio: Christina Mina is a Senior Practice Associate on the Professional and Workforce Development team. In this role, Christina determines eligibility for social work CE programs and NASW credentials. Christina also serves as a social work liaison for the Specialty Practice Sections committees. Christina worked for NASW New Jersey for 9.5 years as the chapter’s Director of Member Services. Her passions and previous work experience include working with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Christina received her BA in Community Organizing and her MSW from the University of Connecticut, studying and working abroad in Greece and South Africa. Christina lives in New Jersey with her husband and three kids. She is a proud Coptic Egyptian and enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and cooking.

Bio: Sekou (“Koe”) Murphy is NASW’s Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Koe leads the organization’s financial initiatives and reporting. He has over 29 years of experience in insurance, healthcare, non-profits, structured finance, real estate, investments, and technology. Prior to NASW, Koe was the CFO at CCI Health Services and Bread for the City. He previously managed an investment company focused on real estate, public/private company investments and advisory services to large insurance companies and venture-backed technology companies and was a senior analyst at AM Best and an audit manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Koe received his BBA in Accounting from Howard University, where he also played football, and his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He loves being with his family, especially watching his kids play soccer and perform.

Bio: Kyle Northam is the Operations Office Specialist at the National Office. Kyle lives in Washington, DC. In the past he has worked for Borders Books & Music, and the Council on Social Work Education. His hobbies are reading and collecting books.

Bio: Paul R. Pace is the senior editor for the award-winning NASW Social Work Advocates magazine. Besides investigating and drafting feature topics for the magazine, Paul has been reporting on NASW activities for years. He attends numerous summits, congressional briefings and protests around Washington, D.C. Paul calls on NASW members for their expert insight on the changing trends that impact social workers and their clients. Before coming to NASW, Paul was a professional newspaper reporter and editor for more than 10 years. Paul has a BA in journalism from Wayne State University in Detroit.

Bio: Martha Rothblum (she/her) is an experienced Creative Arts Manager with over 20 years’ experience. She has a passion for design and a keen eye for detail. Martha is responsible for the overall visual direction at NASW. This includes everything from concept development to final execution. She works closely with staff to understand their needs translating them into creative solutions. Before joining NASW, Martha worked in ad agencies, print shops, and most notably the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In her spare time, Martha enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and getting her hands dirty with home renovations.

Bio: Makeba Royall is the Senior Practice Associate for Behavioral Health, with a focus on substance use. Makeba works on national issues related to behavioral health, provides technical assistance to social workers, and writes about best practice methods for the profession. Additionally, she is responsible for reviewing and responding to federal regulations and policies that impact social work practice and vulnerable populations. Makeba has 15 years of experience in a variety of social work settings, including adult inpatient psychiatric services. Makeba is a licensed clinical social worker and holds an MSW from New York University and a BA in Political Science from Hampton University. Makeba is a strong advocate for the social work profession, extremely passionate about the well-being of others, and takes immense pride in her role as a social worker.

Bio: Cymone Small (she/her) is the Senior Administrative Specialist at the National Association of Social Workers. Known for her collaborative spirit, resourcefulness, and optimism, Cymone Small excels at managing competing priorities, taking initiative, and transforming ideas into action. She brings a strategic mindset and strong attention to detail to achieve both immediate and long-term goals. Cymone earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Bowie State University and a Digital Marketing Certification from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She leverages her operational expertise, creative problem-solving skills, and digital marketing insights to streamline processes, foster innovation, and deliver meaningful results. With a diverse background in office administration, legal support, and client engagement, Cymone has developed a well-rounded approach to navigating complex environments. She is recognized for her ability to enhance organizational efficiency, strengthen day-to-day operations, and cultivate collaborative workflows through effective team-building initiatives.

Bio: Kary A. Stone, MSW (she/her/hers), is the new Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief IDEA Officer at the National Association of Social Workers. With over two decades of transformative leadership, Kary has dedicated her career to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within the social work profession. Her work has shaped national best practices and policies in child protection and foster care, always with a focus on building well-resourced, protective communities where the most vulnerable can thrive. Throughout her career, Kary has held pivotal roles across diverse organizations. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Research, Impact and Strategic Partnerships at Covenant House International, and as President of The Moriah Group, where she championed thriving communities of color and social change. Her leadership journey also includes serving as Executive Director of the Child Welfare Information Gateway, Vice President of Equity & Inclusion at ICF, leading the Social Services Administration for the State of Maryland, and directing the Technical Assistance Unit at Casey Family Programs, the nation’s largest foundation dedicated solely to foster care. Kary’s expertise lies in systems redesign, strategy development, and implementation science, supporting government, human services, public sector, and nonprofit organizations nationwide. She is a healing-centered, strengths-based, equity focused, trauma-informed practitioner, committed to inspiring and empowering others. Kary holds a Master of Social Work from the Norfolk State University Ethlyn R. Strong School of Social Work and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University. She also serves as Chair of the Graduate School of Social Work and Research Board of Advisors at Bryn Mawr College, reflecting her dedication to advancing social work education and practice. Beyond her professional achievements, Kary is a proud mother of two college students, Sydney and Stone, who inspire her daily commitment to creating a better world for the next generation of leaders. She finds joy and renewal in traveling, riding her Harley-Davidson, and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—pursuits that mirror her passion for growth, resilience, and adventure. As a daughter, sister, friend, mentor, coach, and leader, Kary brings authenticity, warmth, and vision to every aspect of her life and work.

Bio: Jennifer Watt serves as Senior Director, Membership and Marketing. Ms. Watt leads membership engagement and membership marketing efforts for NASW and is responsible for recruitment and retention, membership systems and member service. She is committed to strengthening the association through improving the member experience and successfully communicating the value of NASW membership. Ms. Watt holds a BS in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to joining NASW, she worked in non-profit charitable organizations and in the U.S. Foreign Service. Ms. Watt enjoys travel, gardening and time with family and friends.