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: Sarah Christa Butts, MSW, is Director of Public Policy at NASW. She is responsible for leading the association’s public policy, political and legislative affairs agenda, and overseeing field organizing and government relations. Prior to joining NASW, Sarah served as the executive director of the Grand Challenges for Social Work and was the founding administrator of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. She started her career in public child welfare and has held direct service and administrative roles at Maryland’s Department of Human Services and the Family League of Baltimore. She currently holds leadership roles with CRISP, the Mental Health Liaison Group, the Grand Challenges Leadership Board, International Transformational Resilience Coalition and NASW’s Licensure Task Force. Sarah earned her BSW at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and MSW from University of Maryland, Baltimore.

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: 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: Kerri Criswell (she/her), LMSW, is Senior Manager, Fund Development for the NASW Foundation (NASWF). With more than 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, Kerri manages a variety of programs that elevate the profession and train emerging social work leaders. She directs the NASWF’s MSW scholarship programs that assist diverse NASW student members pursuing a variety of social work specialties. In addition, Kerri manages the NASW Social Work Pioneers® and NASWF’s Recognition Awards programs, convening national events for each. She has also administered grants serving older adults and health education. Prior to joining NASW, Kerri worked with children and families in community mental health settings. She received an MSW from the University at Albany - State of New York and a BSW from Western Michigan University.

Bio: Carrie Dorn (she/her), Senior Practice Associate, provides guidance on health practice and policy issues that impact social workers and the communities they serve. She represents social workers in national coalitions and projects on a range of health care and health workforce topics. Carrie writes practice resources and facilitates the publication of NASW policy statements and practice standards. Previously, Carrie worked in a community-based nonprofit in New York City serving individuals experiencing homelessness and living in supportive housing. Carrie earned her Master of Science in Social Work and Master of Public Administration at Columbia University.

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: Hello! My name is Natalie and I serve as a Professional Development Associate in the Professional Development Department. I am responsible for processing applications for new and existing credentials and continuing education (CE) approvals. In addition to answering inquiries, my efforts ensure that our members and non-members receive exceptional service. Prior to NASW I obtained my MSW degree from Howard University- School of Social Work as well as my BA degree in Sociology from Mount Saint Mary’s University- Los Angeles. On my free time, I enjoy spending time with dogs and going to the beach (as a true Southern Californian native).

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: Janice Harrison is Executive Assistant to the Chief of Programs as well as administrative support for the Programs Division. Janice uses her administrative skills and qualifications to assist key executives and senior management with scheduling and day-to-day organization responsibilities as well as providing support to the division staff, which requires the ability to multitask. She has worked as an administrative professional for several organizations within the Washington DC area including Potomac Electric Power Company: the electric services provider for the DMV area. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, singing, and spending time with family especially her grands who affectionately call her “Jana.”

Bio: Sue Jashinsky (she/her) is the Chief Administrative Officer for NASW. She works closely with the Chapter Operations, Human Resources, Information Technology and Facilities departments. Sue is a life-long nonprofit management professional who has always been mission-driven; working only with organizations dedicated to advocating for social, economic, racial and environmental justice as well as women’s reproductive rights at the local, state and federal levels.

Bio: Dina Kastner (she/her) is the Senior Field Organizer where she mobilizes social workers for NASW’s legislative and electoral priorities, staffs the Political Action Committee and advocates for professional and social justice issues. 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. Ask him about his cats.

Bio: Julia McFeely Lent (she/her) is the Vice President of Chapter Operations for NASW, supporting the work of NASW’s 55 chapters. She earned her BA in Political Science and MPA with a concentration on Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining NASW, Julia led advocacy programming for the American Society of Landscape Architects with a focus on licensing laws and regulations. Julia is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

Bio: Richard Loomis is the Manager, Conference and Event Planning for NASW. In this capacity he is responsible for designing, planning, organizing, and implementing the NASW National Conference and virtual events.. He also provides logistical and organizational support to other NASW meetings and events. Richard manages publication of the Social Work SmartBrief, a daily electronic newsletter for the social work community. Prior to NASW, Richard served in managerial and leadership positions with different member-based associations. Away from work he enjoys gardening, hiking, phototgrapy, and travel.

Bio: As Production Editor, Crystal coordinates journal production, including editing of articles, and book production for NASW Press.

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 Senior Division Administrator for the Membership, Marketing, and Communications team. In this role, he monitors all division expenses, coordinates print and web advertising, gathers and disseminates media stories about members, creates social media analytics reports, and writes research-related blog posts among other projects. Kyle lives in Washington, DC. In the past he has worked for Bank of America, 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: Arabella Perez is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for NASW. She is a licensed clinical social worker of 30 years and holds an MSW and DSW from Tulane University. Prior to NASW, Dr. Perez was a social work professor at the University of New England, a system of care director from 2005-2015, leading three SAMHSA grants for the state of Maine and the founder and CEO of a non-profit, THRIVE, a technical assistance center for trauma and culturally informed care. Additionally, Dr. Perez has consulted with states and communities on the development of behavioral health systems through federal site monitoring and coaching for SAMHSA. She is the proud daughter of Cuban and Puerto Rican parents, and in her spare time can be found salsa dancing with her husband.

Bio: Karessa Proctor, BSW, MSW (she/her/hers) attended Kutztown University in Pennsylvania where she received a BSW with minors in psychology and case management. She is a May 2022 MSW graduate of the Community, Administration and Policy Practice (CAP) concentration with a specialization on displaced populations at Howard University, earning recognition as a John E. and Barbara S. Jacob Social Justice Fellow. Karessa began work at NASW as the student intern to NASW President and NASW Pioneer Mit Joyner. She now serves as the Marketing Coordinator for Professional and Workforce Development. In this role, she develops revenue generating programs and promotes career enhancement resources on all media platforms. Karessa also manages NASW JobLink, produces newsletters, and co-produces video marketing on TikTok.

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: Jo is a Certified Diversity Executive informing transformational social work practice with sustainable initiatives advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, Justice, Culture, and Belonging. Jo joined the NASW team to empower the association with skills and knowledge to cultivate safer environments honoring intersectionality, lead with cultural humility, value transparency, and welcome accountability. Jo’s professional expertise includes inclusive communication, health equity, inclusive design, organizational development, legislative advocacy, policy enhancement, coalition building, and identifying opportunities for growth. Jo is the previous Idaho Chapter President, identifies as genderqueer, neurodiverse, is someone with less visible differing abilities and is being intentional about doing better.

Bio: Kim Simpson has served as Senior Consultant/Project Manager, communications, marketing, fundraising, for NASW/NASW Foundation, since 2014; and, assisted in Foundation’s creation (2001-2003). Since 2021, she has led national communications on $3.3 million CDC-funded COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence grant; and, Marketing Project Manager, NASW Press since 2018. President of a consulting business, she performs communications, fundraising for Members of Congress, government, nonprofits/associations, corporations. Previously, she was Chief of Staff, District Director for Members of Congress, and Political Appointee, Clinton Administration (White House and Office of Secretary of Defense). She holds Bachelor of Science Degree, Journalism/Political Science (University Nebraska-Omaha) and Master of Arts Degree, Public Affairs Reporting (University Illinois-Springfield).

Bio: Pam is Operations Assistant at NASW and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day responsibilities of the mailroom/copy room which produces all printing of NASW products that include journals, booklets, conference materials, pamphlets, etc. She is responsible for receiving and distributing NASW mail. Pam also provides assistance to the organization’s help desk in resolving issues with copiers and printers as well as helping prepare for various company meetings and presentations. She is the first point of contact for NASW’s visitors. Prior to working for NASW, Pam was a Client Services Representative for the Xerox Corporation. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family.

Bio: Raffaele is the Vice President of Professional Education and Product Development for NASW. Born and raised in Naples, Italy, he is a former IT professional who strongly believes in the importance of life-long learning, in the idea that professional societies have a responsibility to ensure that the field they represent is composed of trained, informed professionals, and that developing human capital is an important strategic function for every competitive organization. Raffaele is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and in his free time likes to read books, swim, bike, and spend time with his wife and two children.

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.

Bio: Brian Williams, LAPSW, is Acting Assistant Director for the NASW Foundation. As a seasoned non-profit executive, Brian brings 20+ years’ experience shaping organizations to fulfill their missions through executive leadership and fund development expertise. In his role, Williams provides strategic leadership and a focus on growth for Grant Administration, Contributed Income and Corporate Engagement. A Tennessee native, Williams received his MSW from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work and served as Board Chair and Treasurer for the Tennessee Chapter of NASW, utilizing that experience with the Foundation.

Bio: Mark Wills (he/him) is Executive Assistant for Chapter Operations. In this role, he coordinates communication and administrative efforts for colleagues liaising with and assisting the Association’s 55 chapters. He worked previously—notably in public policy and communications—for other professional societies, trade associations, and consultancies. A Certified Nonprofit Professional, Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Minnesota, Morris, and a master’s in public administration from the University of the District of Columbia. Mark lives in Riverdale, Maryland with his wife, dog, and two cats. When not working, he’s an avid crossword puzzler, documentary devotee, and diehard Steely Dan fan.

Bio: Gail Woods Waller (she/her) is Chief of Membership, Marketing and Communications. Gail led the award-winning National Social Work Public Education Campaign from 2004 to 2012 and currently oversees NASW’s integrated strategy for member engagement, brand management, marketing technology and public communication. She earned her BA in English and communications from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in marketing science from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining NASW, Gail led marketing and communications for large workforce development programs in Kansas City and Baltimore. She is a member of ASAE, PRSA, AMA, NASW and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Bio: Greg Wright is the communications director at NASW. Before joining NASW, Wright was on the public relations team at the National Association of Manufacturers and a freelance public relations consultant and writer. Wright had a long career in journalism, working at the Times-Journal Company, Knight-Ridder Financial News, Gannett News Service and Dow Jones. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Essence Magazine, USA Today, and other publications. He is a graduate of the journalism school at the University of Maryland, College Park.