2025 Speakers

Charles Blow
Charles M. Blow is an author, journalist, cultural critic, and political commentator. Mr. Blow was a longtime OpEd columnist at The New York Times, and he has been named Harvard University’s inaugural Langston Hughes Fellow. He is also a political analyst on MSNBC, and he has been the anchor of PRIME with Charles Blow on the Black News Channel, a commentator, and a repeating guest on FOX. Mr. Blow is the author of New York Times bestselling books “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” and “The Devil You Know.” “Fire…” has been developed into an opera and will premiere at the Metropolitan Opera later this year, the first opera by a black composer in the history of that institution. “The Devil…” has been developed into a feature-length documentary that will air on HBO.

In 2016, Mr. Blow was a Presidential Visiting Professor at Yale where he taught a seminar on media and politics, tracking the presidential race in real time. Mr. Blow left The Times in 2006 to serve as the art director of National Geographic Magazine. Before coming to The Times, Mr. Blow worked at The Detroit News. He graduated magna cum laude from Grambling State University in Louisiana, where he received a B.A. in mass communications, and he holds honorary doctorates from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston and the Metropolitan College of New York.

Matthew D. Selekman, MSW, LCSW
Matthew D. Selekman, MSW, LCSW is in private practice in Lake Forest IL, USA. He is an Approved Supervisor and Clinical Fellow for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, a licensed clinical social worker, and addictions counselor. He also is the Director of Partners for Collaborative Solutions (www.partners4change.net), an international family therapy and brief therapy training and consultation practice in Evanston, IL. Matthew received the Walter S. Rosenberry Award in 2006, 2000, and in 1999 from The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado for having made significant contributions to the fields of psychiatry and the behavioral sciences. He is the author of nine professional practice-oriented books including The Therapist’s Use of Self: Being the Catalyst for Change in Couple and Family Therapy , Working with High-Risk Adolescents: A Collaborative Strengths-Based Approach , (with Mark Beyebach) Changing Self-Destructive Habits: Pathways to Solutions with Couples and Families , and more! He has presented workshops on his collaborative strengths-based family therapy approach with children, adolescents, and adults extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Turkey, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.   

Ed Geraty LCSW-C, LICSW
Ed Geraty has been a mental health clinician in private and agency practice for more than 30  years. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in MD, DC, VA, FL, DE, VT and WV. and currently has a full-time teletherapy practice. He is a former Director of Professional Development for NASW-MD and currently the Chair of the Education Committee of the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Work. He has provided education and training for many  professional associations as well as NASW VA, NASW-WV,  NASW-DC, and NASW NYC, His website is www.INSITEintegrative.com and can be reached at edgeratylcsw-c@proton.me 

Karen Bullock, PhD, LICSW, FGSA, APHSW-C

Karen Bullock, PhD, LICSW, FGSA, APHSW-C, is the Louise McMahon Ahearn Endowed Professor in the Boston College School of Social Work and in Global Public Health. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Work (LICSW) with mental health practice experience and expertise in health disparities, health equity, serious illness care, aging and gerontology, hospice, palliative and end-of-life care decision making. She has served as Principal Investigator and/or Co-Investigator for over $5 million in federal grant funding focused on equity and inclusion for workforce development, aging, and health network sustainability. 

Dr. Bullock is a John A. Hartford Faculty Scholar and has served on several national boards and committees, including the Social Work Hospice & Palliative Care Network (SWHPN) as vice-chair and the American Cancer Society (ACS) Oncology Social Work Research Peer Review Committee, past chair. She is a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Roundtable on Quality Care for People with Serious Illness, a Board of Directors member for the Palliative Care Quality Collaborative (PCQC), a Steering Committee member for the Duke University REACH Equity Center, affiliate faculty at the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), and she holds an appointment in the Department of Supportive Oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). In 2024, Dr. Bullock was the recipient of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Richard Payne Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. In addition, she was elected a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) and appointed co-chair of the SSWR Research Capacity Development Committee (RCDC).

Juan Rios, PhD

Dr. Juan Rios is a tenured associate professor and Chair of the Department of Social Work and Public Administration at Seton Hall University, where he advances innovative approaches to technology integration, mental health services, and social justice in social work practice and research. His transformative pedagogical approaches have earned him two Distinguished Innovations in Teaching Awards and the prestigious Janine Bruckner Community Practitioner Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions to both academic excellence and community engagement.

His scholarly portfolio encompasses critical intersections of technology, mental health, and social equity, with particular emphasis on Latino communities. Dr. Rios is a founding member of the social work futures lab. He is a certified UX/UI designer, TEDX speaker, author, member of the All Teach is Human organization, certified foresight practitioner, and has co-written policy in New Jersey on AI Ethics and the founder of the R.I.O.S Lab

Kathryn Wehrmann, PhD, LCSW

Dr. Kathryn Conley Wehrmann is a distinguished figure in the field of social work, with a career spanning several decades. She resides in Champaign, Illinois, where she has deep roots after living there for over forty years. Dr. Wehrmann received both her MSW and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Wehrmann worked for several years for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services before moving on to a faculty position at the Illinois State University's School of Social Work where she retired after 20 years of service. During her tenure, she was instrumental in obtaining major federal child welfare training grants and worked on evaluation projects focused on evidence-based mental health service approaches for children and adolescents.

Dr. Wehrmann has held numerous roles with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), including serving as National Board President from 2017 to 2020. She also served on the International Federation of Social Work Secretariat, representing the North American Region. Dr. Wehrmann is an NASW Social Work Pioneer and a Fulbright Scholar who taught child welfare policy and researched child welfare reform efforts in Romania.

Currently, she chairs the Steering Committee for the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance and has a developing coaching and consultation practice, Empowering Transitions.

Jamie Sundvall, PhD, PsyD, LCSW

Dr. Jamie Sundvall is a distinguished national expert in artificial intelligence (AI) and an esteemed academic. She serves as the Touro University System Assistant Provost of Artificial Intelligence, and as the Assistant Dean and Director of Distance Education and Online Programs in the Graduate School of Social Work. In her role, Dr. Sundvall oversees system wide AI operations, governance, guiding AI technology acquisition, AI faculty and staff training, support of AI integration across diverse programs in the system, and distance clinical education.

She completed a CSWE-accredited MSW in Clinical Practice and Gerontology, a PsyD in Clinical Psychology, a PhD in International Psychology specializing in Trauma Services, and a prestigious post-graduate trauma fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a former Medical Service Corps officer in the United States Navy, known for her leadership in program development, clinical and forensic practice, and research, also serving as an international liaison and US diplomatic advisor. In academia, Dr. Sundvall has held positions as a professor, research chair, program administrator, and systemic leadership roles in psychology, social work, counseling, and human services programs. An expert in online education and remote program delivery, Dr. Sundvall excels in managing organizations, systems, sites, and teams nationally and internationally, while navigating complex legal and accreditation standards to ensure high quality programming. She is a published author and public speaker on AI, trauma, military and veteran practice, acculturation psychology, cross-cultural psychology, clinical practice, geriatric practice, online education, ethics, and digital ethics.

Dr. Sundvall is leading the way with AI advancement, bringing extensive expertise, and contributing back to other professionals and organizations in their growth process.

Eric Rice, PhD, MA
Eric Rice is a Professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the director of the USC Center for AI in Society, a joint venture between the schools of social work and engineering at USC. Rice received a BA from the University of Chicago, and an MA and PhD in Sociology from Stanford University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles. He joined the USC faculty in 2009. For several years he has been working with colleagues in computer science to merge social work science and AI, seeking novel solutions to major social problems such as homelessness and HIV. He specializes in applications of AI to social work, social network science, and community-based research. His primary research focus is on youth experiencing homelessness and their housing issues and behavioral health risks. Rice is the author of approximately 200 peer-reviewed articles and the recipient of grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the California HIV/AIDS Research Program, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Army Research Office and other agencies.

Jonathan B. Singer, PhD, LCSW
Jonathan B. Singer, PhD, LCSW is an internationally recognized expert in youth suicide and social work technology. He is Professor of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago, Past-President of the American Association of Suicidology, coauthor of two editions of the best-selling text Suicide in Schools: A Practitioner's Guide to Multi-level Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Postvention, and the 2025 text Podcasting in Social Work Education. He is co-lead of the Social Work Grand Challenge “Harness Technology for Social Good,” and founder and host of the award-winning Social Work Podcast, for which he was named an NASW Social Work Pioneer in 2023. In 2024 he was inducted as a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research.

Dr. Singer has chaired national committees for the National Associate of Social Workers (NASW) and Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and serves on advisory boards for NASW Foundation, Jed Foundation, Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. He is the author of over 90 publications and his research has been featured in national and international media outlets like NPR, BBC, Fox, Time Magazine, and The Guardian. He can be found on way too many social media platforms.

Mayda del Valle
Mayda del Valle was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. She is the author of The University of Hip Hop and a winner of the 2016 Drinking Gourd Chapbook Poetry Prize from Northwestern University Press. Her full-length collection, A South Side Girl’s Guide to Love and Sex, was published on Tia Chucha press. She appeared on six episodes of the HBO series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, and was a contributing writer and original cast member of the Tony Award winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway. She began her artistic career at the Nuyorican Poets Café, where she was the 2001 Grand Slam Champion, and went on to become the National Poetry Slam Champion in the same year. She was the youngest poet, and the first Latine person to do so.

She has appeared in Urban Latino, Latina Magazine, Mass Appeal, The Source, The New York Times and was named by Smithsonian Magazine as one of America’s Young Innovators in the Arts and Sciences. Oprah’s “O” Magazine selected her as one of 20 women for the first ever “O Power List”, a group of visionary women making a mark in business, politics, and the arts. She has performed at venues across the world, including the White House in May of 2009, by invitation of President Obama and the First Lady. Most recently, Mayda was the recipient of the 2025 Letras Boricuas Fellowship, sponsored by Flamboyan Arts Fund and the Mellon Foundation.

Justin Harty, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Dr. Justin S. Harty is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University, specializing in child welfare, fatherhood, and social work history. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago's Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, an MSW with a focus on children and families from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and bachelor's degrees in sociology and philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Harty is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose research and practice address critical issues faced by young fathers transitioning out of foster care, father involvement within child welfare systems, and the historical development of father-focused social services.

Dr. Harty is dedicated to social justice, explicitly working to dismantle systemic racism and colonialism within social work. Grounded in Black social work history, his scholarship confronts white supremacy by leveraging African traditions of self-help and mutual aid, empowering both practitioners and marginalized communities to resist oppression. He serves on the leadership team of the Social Welfare History Group, contributing to comprehensive bibliographies on social work responses to significant societal issues, including pandemics and police violence. Dr. Harty also initiated a Legacy Series aimed at recognizing and amplifying the historical contributions of social workers and communities of color.

His recent historical research highlights the impactful role Black organizations and social movements have played in addressing racism and colonialism within social work, particularly during periods of social and political unrest. Amid national discourse surrounding the legacy of white supremacist symbolism and debates about the removal of colonialist monuments, Dr. Harty advocates for critical self-reflection within the profession. He challenges social work practitioners and educators to critically examine curricula, research methodologies, and intervention practices for the potential perpetuation of white supremacy. Dr. Harty's ongoing efforts seek to foster transformative changes within social work, ensuring an enduring commitment to equity, justice, and antiracist practice.

Victor Manalo, Ph.D., MSW
Victor Manalo is the Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors of NASW, California Chapter and former representative to the NASW National Board of Directors. He has served on a variety of elected and appointed positions at the NASW chapter and national levels, and he has been an actively engaged member of NASW since 1991.

Victor earned a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Southern California and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach. For over 25 years, he has taught policy, political practice, and community organizing in the School of Social Work at California State University, Los Angeles.

Victor is a former Mayor and Councilman for the City of Artesia, California, Chairman of the Artesia Planning Commission, and Commissioner for the Los Angeles County Behavioral Health Commission. As a local government consultant, Victor’s vision is “to help cities build healthier, more connected communities—leveraging local leadership, trusted relationships, and data-driven insight to create lasting impact, one on one, one by one”.

Erica Priscilla Sandoval, LCSW, SIFI
Erica Priscilla Sandoval, LCSW, SIFI is an award-winning mental health practitioner, speaker, executive coach, entrepreneur, podcaster, philanthropist, and author.

Erica is the Executive Director of Siembra Today, a women-run, BIPOC-led nonprofit devoted to providing accessible mental health and wellness support through narrative storytelling, books, workshops, healing circles, conferences, and social media campaigns. Siembra Today’s goal is to destigmatize and promote mental health and wellness for the Latinx/e and BIPOC community, so that they can plant seeds of hope for themselves and future generations.

She is the founder and CEO of Sandoval Psychotherapy Consultation—known as Sandoval CoLab—which offers talk therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), and holistic offerings. She is also the creator of the book series Latinx/e in Social Work, three volumes of personal narratives available in both English and Spanish that amplify the voices of Latinx/e social workers nationwide.

Erica holds a Post Master’s in Clinical Adolescent Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work from New York University, Silver School of Social Work. She is a President Emeritus of NASW-NYC, where she was the first immigrant Latina Board President of that chapter. As a proud immigrant from Ecuador, her passion is fueled by supporting her community.

Dr. Sullivan-Tibbs, PSYD, DSW, MSW, MA
Dr. Sullivan-Tibbs has more than twenty-five years of experience in behavioral and mental health. He started his career in the early 1990s at a psychiatric hospital in the Midwest while earning his undergraduate degree. He has advanced academic qualifications, including a Master of Social Work, a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology, a Doctor of Social Work, and a Doctor of Psychology. These qualifications reflect his deep commitment to understanding and improving mental health systems.

As a previous lecturer at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Nashville, TN, Dr. Sullivan-Tibbs works to improve access to mental healthcare and the quality of services for Black, African American, and Hispanic communities. He cares deeply about providing culturally relevant care and raising awareness of the effects of race-related trauma.

Dr. Sullivan-Tibbs is also a strong supporter of social justice. He believes that open conversations help build understanding and compassion among different groups. He once said at the University of Indianapolis, “When we embrace the richness of diverse cultures, thoughts, and ideas, we enrich and develop a community of harmony, peace, and compassion.”

Through his dedicated work, Dr. Sullivan-Tibbs has become a key voice in mental health, race, and social justice. With his strong dedication to education and advocacy, he is helping to create a fairer future in mental healthcare for all and inspiring others to join the movement for change.

Dr. Shakita B. Jones, DSW, MPA
Shakita Brooks Jones is a Montgomery, AL native. Shakita is a graduate of Troy State University with a B.S. in social work, a master’s in social work from the University of Alabama and a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Shakita also has a master’s degree in public administration and a nonprofit management certification from Auburn University Montgomery. Shakita was most recently an Assistant Clinical professor within Auburn University’s social work program (August 2017-May 2025). She is the founder of Central Alabama Alliance Resource & Advocacy Center. Shakita is also a strategy and facilitation consultant with Radical Optimist, a cooperative team of practitioners that serves to support groups in racial healing learning.

Michelle Scott, MSW, Ph.D.
Michelle Scott, MSW, Ph.D. (School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley), is a Professor and Director of the SRF Suicide Prevention Research and Training Project in the School of Social Work at Monmouth University. Her research focuses on suicide prevention of youth and first responders including evaluations of school-based screening for suicide- risk (i.e., evaluating the Columbia Suicide Screen, the original measure used in Columbia University: Teen Screen), suicide prevention programs, crisis team training, the transportability of evidence-based treatment to social work practice, and improving best practice for suicide and malpractice prevention among social workers. She is co-author of the Lifelines Prevention 11th and 12th grade curriculum and Lifelines Intervention: Helping Students at Risk for Suicide, a whole school approach to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Dr. Scott served on New Jersey's Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (2010-2022) and the Child Fatality Review- Suicide Subcommittee (2016-present). Currently, she is the program evaluator for New Jersey’s Garrett Lee Smith Suicide (GLS) Prevention Initiative and assisted in the development of the PreventSuicideNJ portal of suicide prevention resources and trainings. She has also led GLS evaluation efforts for New York and Arkansas; and, has been the principal investigator for two Monmouth University GLS campus grants. Dr. Scott currently serves as a co-chair of the NASW Standards of Care for Suicide Taskforce.

Renetta Weaver, MSW, LICSW, CAIC
If you’ve ever felt like the weight of this work is breaking you or like you're holding space for everyone but yourself this was written with you in mind. I’m Dr. Renetta Weaver, LICSW, Certified AI Consultant, and your sister in service. I help social workers quit the hustle that’s draining them so they never have to walk away from the mission that first lit them up. Whether it’s emotional burnout, compassion fatigue, or the pressure to keep performing, I’m here to remind you: you don’t have to carry it all to be effective.

Through my SWAI Method™ (Social Work and AI), I teach helping professionals how to use AI strategies to reduce their burden, reclaim their time, and bring even greater value to their clients because that’s why we got in this field in the first place.

I also created an AI-powered app for the bariatric community, helping people navigate not just weight loss but the emotional weight that comes with transformation.

In 2025, I was honored with the Alumni Award for Innovation in Social Work from the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work, and named a Global Thought Leader by the London Organization for Skills Development, for bridging the gap between healing and technology.

But at the core? I’m just here to serve. To support. To speak life back into the hearts of social workers who are ready to work smarter, shine brighter, and come home to themselves.

Anjanette Young, LCSW
Anjanette Young, LCSW, is a nationally recognized clinical social worker and graduate of the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago. With over 25 years of experience in social services, she is a passionate community advocate and unwavering justice warrior.

Anjanette is the founder of Café Social Work Consulting, a mission-driven organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented voices in the field of social work through mentorship, exam preparation, and advocacy. Her passion for justice is rooted in her lineage. Raised in rural Mississippi by her grandmother—a civil rights activist who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—Anjanette inherited a deep commitment to equity, community, and systemic change. This legacy, combined with her lived experiences and professional expertise, has shaped her into a bold leader known for galvanizing communities and holding institutions accountable.

Anjanette rose to national prominence after courageously sharing her story as the victim of a wrongful police raid. Her bravery sparked national outrage, amplified calls for police reform, and elevated conversations on racial justice, trauma, and institutional accountability.

In recognition of her advocacy and impact, Anjanette has received numerous honors, including: Outstanding Social Justice Advocacy Award, Herzing University (2024), Empowering Black Women Award, Ida B. Wells Suffrage Club (2024), Dedication to Social Justice Award, Governors State University (2023), and The Rosa Parks Award for Courage and Leadership, Chicago Leaders Network (2021). A powerful and sought-after speaker, Anjanette has shared her insights and lived expertise on national platforms, including: CBS Mornings: Exclusive Interview with Gayle King, The New York Times, The Saga Social Work Journal – #IAmHer: Anjanette Young Speaks Truth to Power, and more!

Anjanette remains deeply committed to building a world where every person is seen, heard, and protected.

Sandra N. Crespo, LICSW
Sandra N. Crespo, LICSW, professionally known as The NeuroSpicy Social Worker, is a clinical leader, author, speaker, and advocate transforming how we view neurodiversity in leadership. As a Clinic Director to a multidimensional mental health practice, she has integrated Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into the workplace, resulting in inclusive, high-performing teams. A specialist in coaching Latinx and neurodivergent professionals, Sandra blends metacognitive strategies with Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to foster emotional resilience and strategic growth. She is also the creator of the J.A.R. Framework, a leadership model that reframes invisible impact. A contributing author to Latinx in Social Work Vol. 3 and a sought-after speaker, Sandra challenges outdated narratives and champions cognitive diversity as a catalyst for success. Through her platform and doctoral research at Simmons University, she is redefining what inclusive, transformative leadership looks like in today’s professional landscape.

Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW
Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW, is a nationally distinguished Black social worker, consultant, published author, educator, and facilitator with extensive expertise in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. As the Founder and CEO of Marya Wright Consulting LLC, Dr. Wright is dedicated to empowering system-involved families through awareness, services, and education. She also provides consultation, training, and facilitation to agencies supporting these communities.

Dr. Wright earned her Master of Social Work from Cal State East Bay, specializing in child welfare policy and research, and her Bachelor of Social Work from San Diego State University, with a focus on Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing. She holds a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where she focused on advancing equal opportunity and justice within the child welfare system.

As a community leader, Dr. Wright prioritizes relationship-building, networking, and stakeholder collaboration to address the social and economic challenges her clients face, advocating for justice and peace. She is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and its California Chapter.

Since January 2020, she has taught sociology and social work courses at Cal State East Bay, focusing on sexualities, child welfare policy, family sociology, and sexual violence. Currently, she serves as a professor in the graduate program, teaching generalist practice, human behavior and the social environment, and advanced practice with children, youth, and families.

Teauania Charles, DSW, LCSW-S
Dr. Teauania Charles is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor and Certified Financial Social Worker in Texas, California, and four other states. She is the Director of Membership and Communications at the NASW California chapter. She received her bachelor's degree in Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University in 2011, her master's degree in social work from Wichita State University in 2017, and her Doctorate in Social Work from Simmons University in 2024. As a former foster youth, she has dedicated her life work to improving the outcomes of youth in the foster system and helping individuals living with mental health challenges. In addition to her full-time role, she owns Calliope's Corner, which aims to help people successfully break generational curses related to mental health, financial wellness, and education. Dr. Charles proudly serves in a leadership role within her local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, where the current initiative—the power of S.H.E. (Social, Health, and Economic Justice)—aligns with her social work values and reinforces her commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and uplifting communities through advocacy, education, and service.