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Meet Our Interns

Bree Carey Baylor

Bree is 23 years-old and lives with her husband, two cats, and dog in Madison, WI. She spends her free time reading, training with her pets, and doing all forms of creative self-expression, like photography, graphic design, singing, and baking. She has her BA in psychology and is pursuing her MFT at Edgewood College in hopes of becoming an expressive therapist. Bree identifies as disabled and works hard to make sure her disability doesn’t define her or hold her back. She is the founder of the now-retired peer mental health support nonprofit A Cutter’s Guardian Angel, and a co-founder and co-host of the disability awareness podcast Fresh Out of Spoons.

Anya Nailen

Anya is a MSW student at UW-Milwaukee with a passion for social welfare policy. Anya has worked in the Milwaukee area for over ten years and plans to continue her work in the field, lobbying efforts, and plans to teach in the future. Anya lives in Milwaukee with her wife, cats, and dog.

Alania Makela

Alaina Makela is a senior at The University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. She is getting her double major in Philosophy and Social Work and has been enjoying her exciting new internship at NASW-WI. Her interests include policy advocacy, feminist theory, political theory, and ethics. In her free time, she enjoys studying the works of Baudrillard and Spinoza, baking, and watching her husband perform as a professional wrestler. Her goal is to work in macro social work.

Ele Higley

Eleandra Higley, or Ele for short, is a student of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She is elated to be able to finish up her bachelor’s degree as an intern for the Wisconsin Chapter of the NASW, as she's always felt drawn towards the macro and policy side of social work. She is a Spanish minor has studied abroad in Spain where she was able to fully embody the travel bug that seems to be an innate part of her, and she would love to use her Spanish skills in her profession someday. As a retired gymnast and diver, any opportunity to flip around or be upside down makes Ele's heart swell with joy and she has delighted in taking on the role of coach in recent years. She is passionate about the environment and resisting climate-change through more sustainable lifestyles, especially as she feels most at ease when amongst the trees and amidst the fresh air.

Dennis Whitlow

Dennis Whitlow has his BS in Psychology from UW-Whitewater and is currently enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay. He is from the Burlington, WI and has lived in Milwaukee for the last six years. During this time, he has worked with the homeless and disabled populations within the city of Milwaukee. Dennis is excited to begin his first macro level social work experience and to learn more about public policy and government while interning with NASW-WI during the 2021-2022 school year.