Print Page
| NASW-PA Board of Directors |
|
The NASW-PA Board of Directors are elected by you, our members. As part of a national association, we are governed by one legal board at the national level. State Boards of Directors are charged with ensuring that the state activities align with the national direction.
Chapter DivisionsThe Pennsylvania Chapter of NASW is organized in 9 regions, called Divisions. The elected chairperson for each Division is listed below. If you would like to get involved in your division, contact the appropriate division leader. See the map below to find your division (click the map to open a larger version in a new tab).
Chapter Board of Directors
As a proud social worker, Sierra McNeil's approach to life and the profession is simple; she strives to create opportunities that promote awareness of underrepresented groups in spaces that largely negate the importance of including persons with diverse lived experiences which is crucially needed to create much-needed system change. Sierra earned her Master of Social Work from Temple University School of Social Work. Sierra currently serves as the Director of Workforce Development where her primary task is addressing the behavioral health workforce crisis in Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth. In addition, Sierra has had the opportunity to participate in the update of 1993 PA Crisis Regulations, 988 Advocacy Coalition, OMHSAS FPSS Steering Committee and Philadelphia Crisis System Mapping Additionally, Sierra is the current President for NASW-PA. Prior to the role, Sierra sat on the National NASW Board of Directors as Regional Director IV, representing PA and OH. She also was the Chair of the Social Justice Committee for NASW-Pa where she instituted the first peer support group for black female social workers and drafted position statements in response to current social justice events. Sierra brings the knowledge and skill set of working in the mental and behavioral health system and is passionate about improving the mental and behavioral system so that people are receiving appropriate and effective care.
Scholar, Educator, and Culturally Responsive Social Work Practitioner, Quianna Daniels-Smart, is an individual determined to lift others as she climbs. Quianna is not only an integral part of her community in the Philadelphia area but a key asset to the many organizations that she currently serves. Quianna is a graduate of PennWest Edinboro campus, where she earned her master’s degree in Social Work with an emphasis on Trauma-Informed Care. In her current role, Quianna works to support Faculty, Staff, and Students as the Equitable & Inclusive Pedagogy lead within The Center for Teaching & Learning at Sacred Heart University. Quianna is also a second-year doctoral student- studying Anti-Racist pedagogy and its integration into social work curriculum and practice.
Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel (pronouns: she/her) is a professor of graduate social work at PennWest University. She earned her PhD from Florida International University where she was awarded a student scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellowship offered through the Center for Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In her grant-funded work, she has experience with overseeing organizational finances. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Dr. Diez-Morel has worked within nonprofit community organizations and in community hospitals providing direct clinical services to children, families, and adults experiencing addiction. Dr. Diez-Morel utilizes her expertise in behavioral health and addictions to serve in various roles at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels in an effort to enhance the field. In addition, she has provided clinical training, education and prevention to address addictions among various communities including medical professionals, counselors, healthcare workers, educators, caregivers, and school-aged children.
Ms. Miller has a comprehensive background in non-profit social service organizations including clinical services, community-based programs, housing/residential programs, quality improvement, and risk management. She is currently Senior Director of Quality Improvement and Compliance for Inperium’s Children’s Division including organizations in Reading, Lehigh/Northampton, and Bucks County. Primary responsibilities include developing streamlined quality and compliance and staff development departments across the continuum of children’s services. In addition to serving NASW-PA in various capacities (see platform statement), Ms. Miller has also been a COA Peer Reviewer from 2016 to 2020, and currently serves as Secretary of the Board and Grant Writer for Hands Holding Hearts bereavement services in Bucks County since 2018.
Ebony Gardner (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who serves as Clinical Director for the Urban Affairs Coalition, Program Partner- One Day At A Time, Inc. She is a native Philadelphian who is a proud alumna of the Philadelphia High School for Girls247th graduating class. She went on to attend The University of Pittsburgh and double Major in Africana Studies and Sociology. Later attending Temple University School of Social Work with a concentration in Clinical Social Work. Ebony has over 16 years of professional experience, having had a role as a Case Manager, Functional Family Therapist, Supervisor for Medical Case Management service/HIV Testing programming, Assistant Director of Administration, and now Clinical Director. Ebony is co-owner with her brother of Eden 4 Life LLC, they provide affordable and safe rental properties to individuals and families, and mentor future homeowners. Ebony currently conducts clinical supervision for future clinicians. She has served the Brandywine division since 2008 as a committee member, having served under three chairs during her tenure.
Elizabeth Brillon, BASW, MSW, LCSW, is currently Chair of the Violence Against Women and their Children Track for the Council on Social Work Education’s Annual Program Meeting. Between 2008 and 2022, she practiced actively in the community, educational, and healthcare settings on issues ranging from palliative care, gender violence, addiction disorders, case management, and biopsychosocial comorbidities factors related to social determinants of health. Elizabeth recently wrote a letter addressing gun violence through a multicultural lens, published in The New Social Worker Magazine in March 2023. She is also a minority business owner and doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky, where she is studying administration and leadership, and is a recent inductee of the National Social Work Honor Society, Phi Alpha. Previously, Ms. Brillon spent two years at the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV), where she researched, wrote, and presented policy, Runaway, and Homeless Youth Toolkit, and served on the steering committee for the Adult Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Leadership Forum. She holds an undergraduate degree in Social Work Magna Cum Laude from the University of Memphis and a graduate degree in Social Work Golden Key Honors from Temple University.
Lisa (she/her) is a Licensed Social Worker living in Easton PA in Northampton County. She entered the role of Eastern Division Chair in 2020 for the first time, and has been a member of NASW-PA since 2019. Lisa has previously worked in housing crisis services, grant writing, domestic and intimate partner abuse education/prevention, research, outpatient psychotherapy, and is now working as a Lead Counselor at an inpatient substance use disorder treatment facility. She has two cats named Ambrose and Mudfoot and spends free time listening to podcasts, cultivating a permaculture garden, and singing - both in the car, and in multiple local choirs.
Tyson founded The Centre for Rational Living Therapy, PC in 2022. Tyson obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from The University of Iowa and obtained a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from St. Ambrose University. Tyson is certified in Rational Living Therapy; Tyson was trained by Dr. Aldo R. Pucci (developer of Rational Living Therapy). Tyson is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT); Tyson was trained at The University of Iowa by Dr. Beth Troutman. Tyson is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). Tyson has been awarded the status of Diplomate in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (DCBT) by the NACBT. Tyson provides a variety of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy trainings. Tyson provides trainings in suicide prevention, ethics in the clinical setting and trainings on burn-out prevention in the workplace. Tyson also provides clinical consolation and LCSW supervision for clinical licensure. Tyson has also serviced on the Board of Directors for NAMI of North Central Pennsylvania from 2017-2020.
Keith Blackwell, MSW, LSW, ACM-SW works as a clinical coordinator at St. Luke’s University Health Network, a Watson Top 15 Hospital System operating in the Lehigh Valley. Keith currently serves on the NASW-PA Chapter Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification and is a standing member of the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work, and International Federation of Social Workers. Keith received his BSW from Kutztown University in 2018, his MSW through the Advanced-Standing program at Kutztown University in 2020, and was inducted into the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Keith spent time researching post-disaster recovery efforts surrounding the earthquakes in Haiti and traveled there with a small group of social workers to teach a Gender Development course and learn about Microcredit. Keith’s other experience includes working with foster children with mental health needs, teaching in a nationally accredited after-school program for at-risk youth, managing a bar/restaurant, and volunteering with the American Red Cross as a disaster mental health (DMH) responder.
Mercedes M. Ledesma, MSW, LSW, earned her Master’s in Social Work from the College of Public Health: School of Social Work at Temple University. She specializes in direct practice with children and families in diverse settings including community mental health, inpatient and outpatient settings. Mercedes is currently a Bilingual Trauma Clinician specializing in complex trauma cases by administering evidence-based trauma-focused intervention TF-CBT to children, youth, and their families. While Mercedes has worked with ample populations she has a particular interest in Latino families predominantly immigrant families for whom she has been fortunate to provide services. Additionally, Mercedes has served in administrative positions where she has completed accreditation surveys with several public and private sector sponsors. She also trains and supervises students as a field instructor. Mercedes currently sits in the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission as an advisory committee member where she provides recommendations based on expertise and experience. Mercedes brings knowledge from her history of working with underserved populations and is passionate about serving those in need and identifying ways to improve their daily lives. As a social worker, Mercedes’ approach to the field is raising awareness of the needs of those who cannot advocate for themselves and, in doing so, identifying opportunities for inclusion and advancement.
Kenneth is an experienced researcher and program evaluator in the healthcare, academic, and nonprofit spaces. He has partnered with local organizations for over six years helping to facilitate youth services programs in the City of Philadelphia. Kenneth is a social worker, global health professional, educator, and advocate. He is committed to reducing health disparities among underserved populations, being an advocate for mental health, and increasing financial literacy and wellness in the community. Kenneth is motivated by pursuing social justice, being of service to his community, and obtaining results.
I am passionate about my work addressing social justice issues: racial justice; poverty (special focus on distressed inner-ring suburbs), and health equity. I worked for many years as an anti-poverty community organizer, grant writer, and intensive service case manager. As a case manager, I worked with program participants to address barriers they are facing, such as helping people with disabilities access accommodations and assisting with applying for benefits such as SSI/D, supporting drug/alcohol treatment, and serving formerly incarcerated people as they reintegrate into society. I have practiced in the area of mental/behavioral health delivering clinical services to children, adolescents, and young adults. I also have extensive experience in program evaluation and worked as an evaluator for a number of nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh
Julie Fenton (she/her/hers) graduated from Albright College in 1987 with a degree in Social Work. Julie spent her career working in aging. This included working as a social worker in long term care communities, becoming a nursing home administrator, and taking on regional positions. Julie worked for Clearfield County Area of Aging. Julie currently works for Presbyterian Senior Living as a social worker assisting communities across the state. Julie is currently the board president for REST, a local non-profit in Clearfield County assisting grandparents raising grandchildren. Julie also serves on the local Area Transportation Authority
|
