NASW-Wisconsin Chapter 2024 Board Election Candidates

Vote

The 2024 NASW-WI Chapter elections for statewide and regional board of directors positions will run from Wednesday, May 15th through Wednesday, June 5th, 2024.
In order to vote you will need your membership number. Please refer to the postcard that will be mailed out the week of May 6th that includes your membership number. You can also email admin.naswwi@socialworkers.org or call and leave a message at the NASW-WI office at 608-257-6334 to request this information, or to request a paper ballot. Paper ballots must be requested by Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 and postmarked by Friday, May 31, 2024.
Thank you for helping to make this election cycle a success! 

STATEWIDE CANDIDATES

SECRETARY


Joan Groessl, MSW, PhD, LCSW

Joan Groessl(2)

 Education: BSW from UW-Green Bay, MSW from UW-Milwaukee, PhD (Emphasis in Leadership Studies) from Marian University

Work Experience: Employed at UW-Green Bay since 2008, currently Associate Professor and Chair of Social Work Professional Programs. Prior to UWGB, served as a clinical and psychiatric social worker and supervisor with Brown and Kewaunee Counties. Involved in direct services, program development and evaluation activities.

Volunteer Experience: Active in NASW-WI as the Continuing Education Committee Chair for over 15 years; prior to that, also served as President and NE Branch Representative. Active in my home community of Algoma and am currently the (inaugural) President of the Board of Algoma Venture Academy, the first Charter School in Door and Kewaunee Counties.

Position Statement:

I would be happy to serve NASW-Wisconsin as Secretary. I have recorded meetings in a range of settings over the years and am concise but thorough. I enjoy my work on the Continuing Education Committee and in previous service as President and Northeast Branch Representative previously (although that was very long ago).I have served, and continue to serve, on both non-profit and government boards as part of my involvement in the community. I strongly believe we all should give to the profession and these types of activities are how I do so.

VICE PRESIDENT OF BUDGET AND FINANCE

Katie Krueger

Katie Krueger Bio and Picture

 Biographical Statement
My name is Katie Krueger and I reside in the beautiful neighborhoods of West Allis, WI. I graduated from Aurora University in 2020 with a dual master’s in social work and business. I currently work with child and adolescent populations in mental health as a Dialectical Behavioral Therapist. Access, quality, and clinical effectiveness are drivers for my work and unlocking levels of self-determination for all people are the passions that led me to work in this field and within the community.

Position Statement
I would be honored to be elected to serve on the Board of Directors in a new role as Vice President of Budget and Finances in order to propel my business skills, continue to learn from experienced colleagues, collaborate together, and provide input from my own experiences. It is crucial for continued growth and learning to be immersed in a group that is larger than themselves and their own social work practice. This would be an amazing opportunity for me to continue work with other social workers in a macro setting in order to understand our system's impact on current mental health status and implement interventions and strategies in the mezzo and micro levels of social work.

AT LARGE REPRESENTATIVE 1

Dominique Pritchett

Dominique Pritchett

Biographical Statement
Born to challenge the status quo, Dr. Dominique Pritchett is an organizational wellness strategist, international speaker, therapist and podcaster. She partners with organizations to prioritize mental wellness solutions centering people, productivity and the promises made in their mission statements. Dr. Pritchett is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, member of the American Psychological Association, executive board member for the ELCA Outreach Center, advisory board member for the Kenosha County Health Department, an advisory member of the Black Student & Family Network in Kenosha, and mental and physical health committee member for the Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has served in the mental health field for over two decades. As the founder of Beloved Wellness Center™, Speak to the Soul™ as well as founder and podcast host of Space for Sistas®, Dr. Pritchett centers the lives and experiences of clients, the community and clinicians. She earned a doctorate in clinical psychology, a master's in clinical social work and a bachelor's in social work. Dr. Pritchett has been featured on BBC London Radio, Shondaland, Women’s Health Magazine, The New York Times and many more.

Position Statement
As a dedicated advocate in the mental health and wellness community, my passion for advancing the profession is rooted in social work. Serving on the NASW WI Board will allow me to contribute and challenge the challenge quo thoughtfully due to my background in direct practice, clinical supervision, social justice, partnerships, entrepreneurship, servant leadership, organizational wellness, teaching, program development and policy analysis. Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative impact the NASW ignites in shaping social work practice and this aligns greatly with my values and career goals.

AT LARGE REPRESENTATIVE 2

Ke'Andra Hagans

Keandra Hagens

Biographical Statement
Ke'Andra Hagans is a clinical associate professor, program coordinator for school social work, and field liaison in the Social Work Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a licensed clinical social worker and licensed school social worker.

Throughout her career, Ke'Andra has focused on serving children, families, and individuals in a variety of capacities, including as a psychotherapist, program coordinator, group facilitator, school social worker, and clinical director. She has also worked with populations in out-of-home placement, residential, and in-patient settings. She has served as a mentor for developing professionals in the field of clinical and school social work.

Position Statement
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and have been blessed to, in various capacities, professionally serve the most underserved zip codes in the City’s region, including my home origin, 53206. I understand the intersection of mental health, poverty, economic disenfranchisement, social injustices, and environmental stressors that plague communities and marginalized populations. My hope as a participant of the NASW-WI board is to bring my lived experience as a student, constituent, professional, parent, educator, and advocate of the city of Milwaukee to endorse social justice and sound quality of practice within the field of social work. 

MSW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Rin Ujikawa

Rin Ujikawa

Biographical Statement
Professionally, I worked as a nurse aide in a nursing home and hospital and facilitated a flyer outreach campaign encouraging family and friends of incarcerated people to vote. I also worked at the Wisconsin Department of Justice translating crime victim letters into plain language and currently work for a domestic violence helpline. I’ve volunteered at a free law clinic to decrease barriers to legal assistance. Academically, at the City of Madison, I created a communication plan as a guide to help streamline communication between city staff and historically marginalized groups to promote more equity in the political process.


Position Statement
My diverse experiences helped me think critically about social issues and how NASW can positively contribute to improving the well-being of the larger community. I am interested in serving my community in a different capacity by working in macro practice to help create systemic change by reflecting student voices on the board of directors, specifically focused on issues primarily affecting students. I am confident my range of experience can help develop more inclusive policy solutions on the board and help develop more inclusive policy solutions for all, which is crucial in building a more equitable society as social workers.

Jodi Hentzell

Jodi Hentzell

Biographical Statement:
My name is Jodi Hentzell, and I am pursuing my MSW and a Gerontology certificate at UW-Whitewater. As a healthcare worker, I returned to school to pursue my LCSW after recognizing the impact of the disparity of mental healthcare services on people in Wisconsin. I have a passion for macro social work especially with marginalized populations and served as the first LGBT Ombudsperson for Aurora Mount Pleasant Medical Center. Prior to healthcare, I worked in recruitment and nonprofit.


Position Statement:
By serving on the NASW board as the MSW student representative, I hope to further the purpose of NASW WI: assist members in accessing resources to enhance their professional growth while contributing to the advancement of social work professional standards. I have a special interest in human rights and mental healthcare and am passionate about policy improvement in Wisconsin.

Sydney Rose Faber

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Biographical Statement:
My name is Sydney Faber, and I am currently enrolled at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee studying social work at a master’s level. I received my BA of Psychology from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee in 2023. I am currently working towards my trauma informed care certificate and am in the YOSAT-II (Youth Orientated Substance Use and Trauma Counseling program). I have years of work in the behavioral health field. I currently employed at Rogers Behavioral Health and am an intern at Meta House. I have completed many service hours with people who are working towards getting their GED/ high school education.

Position Statement:
I want to serve the NASW-WI board of directors because I have passion for the social work field, and I have passion for my education. I want to bring concerns, comments, and questions to the board of directors from our student body at UWM, but also from other organizations and schools. I want to be a part of the conversation when it comes to bettering the education to our future social workers and members of the community. I also want to better my understanding on the NASW and want to continue to learn throughout my time as a social worker.  

BSW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Kyla Howell 

Kayla Howell638475928412813714

Biographical Statement:
My name is Kayla Howell. I’m a sophomore at River Falls. Since Last semester I have been working at the library on campus. Recently I started a job at the Heartland Montessori School. For the past year I have been a part of the NASW Children’s Task Force, created a resource pamphlet for UWRF and made a mental health display in the library. I am also working on starting a mental health group on campus called Active Minds. 

Position Statement:
I want to be The BSW Representative since I have researched the resources around the surrounding area and I know that I can be a part of positive change for Wisconsin.

Rowan Arwood

Rowan Arwood

Biographical Statement
Rowan Arwood is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the BSW program.  She holds a position as a consultant at the Capacity Building Center for States, where she focuses on enhancing outcomes for those who have experienced foster care across states and advocates for increased implementation of preventative measures. As a National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Reviewer and FosterClub Intern, Rowan has contributed to the field of child welfare through hosting webinars, creating educational materials, being on panels, and aiding federal compliance reviews. Rowan formerly was on DEI boards at her university and dedicates her spare time serving as historian on the Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council and mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Position Statement
As a candidate for the BSW Student Representative, I am committed to serving the NASW-WI chapter and its members. My journey serving on two Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion boards and serving as the historian for the Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council has prepared me to represent the student body in this role, as I have in those. These experiences have honed my advocacy skills and deepened my personal commitment to social justice and community engagement. My mission as your board representative is to ensure our voices are heard at the board level, advocating for decisions that align with the interests of social work students. Together, we can foster a NASW-WI chapter dedicated to improving the lives and possibilities for BSW students.

William Velez III

Biographical Statement
My name is William Velez III, I am currently attending Marian University in Fond du Lac, WI, to finalize a BS in both Social Work and Psychology. Previous to this, my academic focus was on Human Services, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Family Systems, and Behavioral Science. I currently serve as a Supervised Visitation Specialist for Family Services, under DHHS contract through Outagamie County. I currently volunteer with the non-profit LEAVEN in Menasha, WI, one to four times a month – providing 300+ hours of service since enlisting. My past volunteer experiences include coaching community sports for child and youth programs.

Position Statement
As a candidate for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) BSW Student Representative, I want to serve on the NASW Board of Directors to assist representing student learners and future professionals. I believe doing so will allow such interests to be represented on an organizational level. My contributions and services will be devoted to the causes and purpose of the NASW, providing services that are of my assigned role. As a BSW Student Representative I will attend board meetings, participate and assist in events, serve on committees and councils as requested, as well as interacting and engaging with NASW bridging the student body and the NASW organization.

SOUTH CENTRAL BRANCH

Rob Brown

Rob Brown

Biographical Statement:
My name is Rob Brown and I have more than 25 years’ experience in community service and crisis intervention and de-escalation as civilian & military law enforcement, conducting street outreach working with runaway and homeless youth while interning with Briarpatch Youth Services, performing member service and conducting social/legislative policy analysis as staff intern and current member of the NASW-WI Legislative & Social Policy Committee. I’m retired from the U.S. Navy, where I served as a military police K9 officer, trainer, unit supervisor and regional program manager. Prior to that, I was a police officer with Memphis (TN) PD for 5 years. During my last 2 years in the Navy, I managed medical readiness for Navy personnel at Pearl Harbor, HI, providing limited case management, and served as Suicide Prevention Coordinator and the command’s Sexual Assault Prevention & Response representative. Moving to Madison after retirement, I earned degrees in Human Services and Addiction Studies from Madison College, followed by a Bachelor's in Social Work from UW-Milwaukee. I start my Master's in Social Work program at UWM this fall. I've volunteered with Outreach LGBTQ+ Community Center and AIDS Resource Center of WI/Vivent Health Madison with the Prevention Team, focusing on harm reduction methods within their LifePoint Syringe Exchange Service.

Position Statement:
I'm running for a position on the chapter Board of Directors as one of the South Central Branch representatives. Wisconsin has a rich history of leadership in improving people's lives, seen in the Wisconsin Idea, as well as contributions to and influence towards FDR's New Deal and LBJ's Great Society. With new, fairer legislative maps for future elections, we can mobilize to promote for meaningful reforms, such as reinstating the ban on conversion therapy, supporting DEI efforts, joining the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, and exploring ways to improve access to licensure and grow the professions workforce. I want to explore ideas to expand membership and examine ways to try and remove some of the barriers to entering the profession. Wisconsin has historically led in forward-thinking, justice-oriented issues, and our profession is historically rooted in those values. Through our professional education and experience, our chapter can help lead Wisconsin into a new era of legislative action, addressing obstacles to our profession and community well-being. I want to be a part of that.

 

Winnie Chastek

Winnie Chastek638494786899846859

Biographical statement
Hello, my name is Winnie Chastek. I am a recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Master of Social Work (MSW) & Master of Public Health (MPH). I have served on the NASW-WI board as the MSW student representative. I am also a member of the NASW-WI Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) committee as well as co-chair of the Pride Network. I am passionate about improving systems of care to be more equitable and eliminate social injustices.

Position Statement
I am running for the South Central Repetitive because I want to continue my work in Wisconsin social justice movements. The NASW-WI chapter is involved with numerous social justice campaigns, community advocacy, and legislative action. My experience with the NASW-WI has expanded my awareness of our community challenges and efforts to eliminate them. Additionally, my time with the NASW-WI chapter has provided me with board experience which is valuable for my professional development. I plan on using this experience to better our community by participating in NASW-WI activities and using the knowledge gained through this experience to be a better advocate. It would be an honor to continue serving as the NASW-WI South Central Representative.

SOUTHEAST/RACINE/KENOSHA BRANCH

Cleopatra Castaneda

Cleopatra

Biographical & Position Statement:
Cleopatra Castaneda, obtained a Graduate Degree from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a lifelong resident of the City of Milwaukee. Cleopatra has held direct service, volunteer service as well as leadership roles in the field of social services (publicly and privately) during a 20 plus year career. A career which includes experience in child welfare, adult protection services, contract monitoring, corrections, AODA individual/group counseling as well as community organizing. Always working in effort to impact the stability, well- being, and growth of families.  Adopting a trauma informed, strengths-based approach when providing service. Cleopatra believes that positive growth and stability of a community starts with the growth and stability of each person in that community. 

WEST CENTRAL/NORTHCENTRAL/NORTHEAST BRANCH

Paul Perales

Paul Perales

 Biographical Statement

Paul Perales, LCSW (WI & TX), SAC-IT is a graduate of the University of WI-Oshkosh/Green Bay MSW collaborative program and a Doctorate of Social Work candidate at the University of Kentucky. Paul has worked in outpatient, intensive outpatient, and inpatient settings and served in a variety of leadership positions including clinical and psychological health directorships. He is the lead psychological health coordinator for Akima Global Logistics and Texas Military Department’s State Missions Behavioral Health Program. For the past six years, Paul has primarily worked in the military social work sector while also teaching at the University of WI-Oshkosh at the BSW and MSW programs. Paul is also an educator in the community providing continuing education opportunities to professionals through the University of WI-Oshkosh continuing education department and NASW-WI at the annual conference primarily focused on boundaries and ethics. He is also the co-chair of the Association of Social Work Board’s Examination Committee. Paul is dedicated to the profession as an educator, advocate, and mentor, most recently having the honor to serve as a mentor to a Ronald E. McNair Fellow, a program focused on increasing representation of minority and first-generation individuals in institutions of higher learning.

Position Statement

Paul looks forward to continuing to serve the profession as a representative on the NASW-WI board of directors. He has a unique perspective as someone who has been a member of NASW and ASWB over ten years to help the organizations continue their work in the areas of helping testing candidates succeed in passing their ASWB exams, the social work compact, anti-racism efforts in the organizations, and increasing access to education to fulfill the projected social worker shortage. Paul is also looking forward to representing the voices and needs of social workers in the Northeast WI region. As part of the UWO- Social Work department, Paul has experience with advocacy day at the WI State Capitol, and he will continue advocating at the WI state level on the various social justice issues such as administrative rules on so-called conversion therapy, raising the age of juvenile adjudication to adult court, and increasing DSPS funding.