James J. Kelly, PhD, ACSW
President

James J. Kelly, PhD, ACSW (California Chapter), is Provost and Executive Vice President of Menlo College in Atherton, CA.  He is a tenured social work educator, having worked for many years in the California State University system most recently as a professor, Associate Vice President of Continuing and International Education, and Interim Provost at California State University, East Bay. He 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.

Darrell Wheeler, PhD, MPH, ACSW
Vice President

Darrell P. Wheeler, PhD, MPH, ACSW (New York City Chapter), is associate dean for Research & Community Partnerships and associate professor at Hunter College School of Social Work. His MSW is from Howard University and his PhD and MPH are from the University of Pittsburgh.

He has been active in NASW since joining in 1988.  He has held positions as Region II representative to the board; member of the NYC-Chapter Board of Directors; chair of the Health Specialty Practice Section; member of the National Finance Committee; and co-chair of the National Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues. He is a member of the National Center for Workforce Studies.

He has published broadly, including articles in Health & Social Work, AIDS Education and Prevention, Journal of Black Psychology, Journal of Public Health Management, Journal of Applied Social Sciences, and Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services.  

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.

Diana A. Stroud, LCSW, ACSW, DCSW
Treasurer

Diana R. Stroud, LCSW, ACSW, DCSW (Illinois Chapter), is assistant dean for advancement at the University of Illinois, Champaign, and part-time medical social worker at Provena Covenant Medical Center.
 
She holds an MSW with a specialization in, public policy administration.    
 
She has served NASW locally, on program, nominations, and legislative committees; at the state level, as vice president, chair of membership, child welfare, and awards committees; and member of the legislative committee; and nationally, as a six-time delegate to the Delegate Assembly, a regional representative on the national board, executive and by-laws committees, and for the past two years a member of the finance committee of the national board.

She is a member of the League of Women Voters, a founding member of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, a member of Alpha Delta Mu, and a member of the development committee for Champaign Crisis Nursery.

She was named Social Worker of the Year in Peoria and the state of Illinois in 1990.     

Robin Russel, JD, PhD
Region Representative I [ME, MA, NH, RI, VT]

Robin Russel, JD, PhD (Maine Chapter), received a BA from William Smith College, a JD from Temple University, and a PhD from the University of Illinois-Chicago. She pursued a social work education, after practicing law for six years, working with low-income clients in domestic violence and child welfare cases. A social work educator for 20 years, she is currently director of the University of Maine School of Social Work. She has been an active member of NASW for 25 years, serving in many roles in four different state chapters, including chapter president, treasurer, PACE chair, Ethics Committee member, and board member. Nationally, she has been a contributing editor for Social Work, chaired the NASW Legal Defense Fund Board, chaired the Council of Chapter Presidents, and served as national director of the Society for Spirituality and Social Work from 1994 to 2005.

\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.

Nelly Rojas Schwan, PhD, LCSW, ACSW
Region Representative II [CT, NYC]

Nelly Rojas Schwan, PhD, LCSW, ACSW (Connecticut chapter), is chief Program officer at the Village for Families & Children of Hartford, Connecticut, and is responsible for a range of behavioral health services for children and families.

Nelly holds an MSW, University of Connecticut, and a doctorate in social work, Smith College. She has served children and families of color in urban settings for 30 years. Nelly is especially interested in cultural competence and social justice issues for Latinos, African descent, and lesbian and gay populations.

Mary McCarthy, PhD, LMSW
Region Representative III [NYS]

Mary L. McCarthy, PhD, LMSW (New York State Chapter), is director of the Social Work Education Consortium, a statewide partnership working toward the professionalization and stabilization of the child welfare workforce. The consortium encompasses direct support for employees completing social work degrees, field placements, a BSW scholarship program, and research and evaluation on factors that influence workforce retention in child welfare. She is also co-principal investigator for the newly funded National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, a service of the Children’s Bureau. A faculty member at the University at Albany, School of Social Welfare since 1988, she worked in the child welfare field for 11 years both before and after receiving her MSW from the University at Albany in 1982. She completed her PhD in 2003 at Memorial University in Newfoundland Canada. She served as president of the New York State Chapter of NASW from 2006 to 2008. 

Allison Blake, PhD, LSW
Region Representative IV [NJ, PA]

Allison M. Blake, PhD, LSW (New Jersey Chapter), for the past 24 years has been working on behalf of children and families and the social workers who serve them. As director of the Institute for Families at Rutgers School of Social Work, she provides leadership to programs whose aim is to strengthen families. She is proud to be a social worker and conveys her experiences and knowledge to students.
                                                      
She has served NASW as immediate past president of the New Jersey Chapter, member of NJ CCNLI, past chapter secretary, chair of the Children’s Committee, and delegate at the 2002 and 2005 Delegate Assemblies. She is a Chapter President’s Award recipient, has served as member of the Child Welfare Specialty Practice Section Steering Committee and as a content editor for Help Starts Here Web site.

She earned her PhD from Fordham, MSW from Rutgers, and BSW from the University of Dayton. 

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).

Paula Taylor, MSW
Region Representative VII [IN, KY, OH, TN, WV]

Paula J. Taylor, MSW (West Virginia Chapter), in 2005, after 22 years in Child Protective Services and Supervision, obtained her MSW from West Virginia University. She is a community services manager for the WV Department of Health and Human Resources.

As a field instructor for 18 years, she co-chairs the Field Faculty Steering Committee and mentors new field instructors.

On the NASW WV Chapter Board she has served as MSW student representative, member-at-large, and regional representative, implementing a creative strategic plan and organizing the Management Institute. Locally, she recruits new members and organizes continuing education and service projects.

She serves the North Central Community Collaborative, Region I Summit for Children, and Monongalia County Family Resource Network.

Her honors include Community Services Worker of the Year, WV Child Care Association; Certificate of Merit, Children’s Memorial Flag Day Sponsors; and Catholic Charities of WV for dedicated service to my parish and community.

Guadalupe Lara, LMSW
Region Representative VIII [MI, WI]

Guadalupe G. Lara, LMSW (Michigan Chapter), has dedicated 27 years to advocating for children and families at Children’s Hospital of Michigan (Detroit) in various leadership positions. A motivational speaker recognized for her work on inclusion and managing workplace conflict, Lara has presented throughout the United States and abroad and been named by four Michigan governors to lead boards and commissions. Among her honors are Social Worker of the Year (NASW Michigan Chapter), Visiting Scholar (Arizona State University), Martin Luther King Scholar (University of Michigan), and Spirit of Detroit awardee (Detroit City Council). A recent president of NASW’s Michigan Chapter, Lara is a member of the chapter’s Finance Committee and the National Legal Defense Fund. She chairs the Wayne County Department of Human Services Board of Directors and vice chairs the Credit Union ONE Board of Directors. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Lara proudly calls both Detroit and San Antonio home. 

Joseph Monahan, MSW, ACSW, JD
Region Representative IX [IL, IA]

Joseph T. Monahan, MSW, ACSW, JD (Illinois Chapter), joined NASW in 1976 and recently served two terms as trustee of the Legal Defense Fund, having served as chair during his final term. He has also provided ethics training and legal consultation for NASW and its members. He obtained his BSW and his MSW at the University of Illinois. After graduation he served as executive director of a licensed child welfare agency. He earned his law degree at DePaul University and has been representing and working with social workers in his legal practice for over 20 years. He has taught mental health law at Loyola Law School for over 14 years. He cofounded Monahan & Cohen, a law firm dedicated to serving people with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them. As a committee member on the Chicago and Illinois Bar Associations, he is regularly involved in crafting legislation.

Becky Fast, LMSW, MPA
Region Representative X [AR, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD]

Becky Fast, LMSW, MPA (Kansas Chapter), is a lifelong Midwesterner, having lived in Minnesota and now currently in Kansas. She is the director of Constituent Services for Congressman Dennis Moore, U.S. House of Representatives. In addition, she is a field practicum instructor and has taught case management and social policy and program analysis for many years.

Fast has been active in NASW since graduating in 1993. She has practiced in medical settings serving older adults and persons with HIV/AIDS. Fast taught political social work skills for Nancy Humphrey’s Institute for Political Social Work and was instrumental in bringing a campaign school to the Midwest. She served as the chairwoman for the Kansas Chapter PACE committee and as the treasurer of the Chapter Board of Directors. Other work includes researching, publishing, and evaluating state programs for the University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare.

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.

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.

Olga Velez Sarabia, MSW, LCSW
Region Representative XIII [CA]

Olga Velez Sarabia, MSW, LCSW (California Chapter), received her MSW from Loyola University of Chicago School of Social Work in 1968, worked in Community Development in East LA for five years, and retired in 2002 from Los Angeles County Department of Health after 30 years of service. Ms. Sarabia was elder care coordinator for the Sisters of Social Service for 18 months after retirement. She has been a part-time instructor in the California State University Los Angeles Department of Social Work since 1998.

Ms. Sarabia is active in local NASW Region I and Image Council. She has held positions of treasurer and professional development representative in her chapter. She is chair of the Housing and Community Development Commission of her city, vice chair of the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center for developmentally disabled persons, and board member of Pax Christi USA (a national Catholic peace movement) and member of its antiracism team.

Esther Jones Langston, PhD, MSW, ACSW, LCSW
Member-at-Large

Esther Jones Langston, PhD, MSW, ACSW, LCSW (Nevada Chapter), is professor of social work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and is director of the Family Support Division. She holds a BA in Business Education and an MSW from San Diego State University; a third year social work certificate and a gerontology certificate from the University of Southern California; and a PhD in Human Service Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Her professional memberships and service include the following: NASW, Nevada Chapter, former president; former secretary, chair, delegate and member, of the Legal Defense Committee; CSWE accreditation site visitor, chair, member, commissions and board member; BPD treasurer and board member; NADD committee member. She is a former director and BSW program coordinator of the School of Social Work, UNLV.

She was Social Worker of the Year: NASW 1994 and Las Vegas NABSW 1980.

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.

Diane Belinsky
MSW Student Member

Diane Belinsky (California Chapter) is currently an MSW student at UCLA. She attended Loyola Marymount University (1992–1996) and had a successful business consulting career for 10 years. A natural leader and “big-picture” theorist, she found herself yearning for a career that not only fostered those talents, but also touched her soul. Before pursing her master’s degree, she volunteered in her community providing grief counseling and mentoring. She also volunteered internationally (Kolkata, India, and Nairobi, Kenya) on a personal journey fostering her nature as a humanitarian. For the past three years she has been an associate board member of Los Angeles Team Mentoring (LATM), a nonprofit program committed to serving at-risk youths. She reignited LATM’s Youth Leadership Program after it had terminated because of a loss of funding in the late 1990s. She raised funds and recruited the mentors needed to make it a successful, self-sustaining program three years later.

Molly E. Holden
BSW Student Member

Molly E. Holden (West Virginia Chapter), is currently a student in her junior year at Shepherd University, where she is majoring in social work. She is employed by Shepherd University as a resident assistant in a first-year residence hall. She is an active member in the Social Work Association on campus, where she has the elected position of student government representative. She is also an active member of ALLIES, an organization that promotes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) rights on campus through campus and community activities and fosters a bond between the GLBT community and the straight community. She is also a student member of the social work advisory board that works to evaluate the social work program and make changes to the curriculum as needed.