2025-2026 Board of Directors

President: Kimberly Howard, (she/her) 

Kimberly (Kim) Howard, MSW, CAPSW, is a licensed social worker. She currently works as a medical social worker and on a part-time basis, is a clinician in private practice at Mind Renewal Psychotherapy. Additionally, she is the founder of Therapy Directory Online, a free directory that assists individuals in their search for a therapist.

With over 18 years of experience in the social service field, Kim has worked in different areas of social service but has always dedicated her life to providing compassionate support and resources to individuals and communities in need. Her diverse roles have equipped her with a unique blend of clinical insight, empathy, and strategic thinking. Beyond her primary profession, Kim has ventured into social entrepreneurship, leveraging her deep understanding of human behavior and societal needs to create meaningful solutions. 

Kim is passionate about nurturing and guiding the next generation of social workers. She aims to empower social workers to advocate for themselves, take on leadership roles, become entrepreneurs, and/or leverage their degree in other ways. Kim wants to ensure every social worker is equipped with the knowledge, and tools to continue creating positive change in our communities.

Kim is a strategic, forward-thinking leader who has served on the NASW board for two years and looks forward to serving as President for the next two years.

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President-Elect Marc Seidl, (he/him)

 My name is Marc Seidl, and I currently serve as a supervisor in the Child Protection Initial Assessment Unit at Brown County Health and Human Services. I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. I’ve worked in child protection for 17 years — 12 with Brown County and 5 in Outagamie County. In 2022, I was honored with the NASW-WI Distinguished Social Worker Award for my commitment to the profession. I grew up in Algoma and now live in Allouez with my wife and nine-year-old daughter. I also serve on the Village’s Parks, Recreation & Forestry Committee and its Ethics Board.

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Vice-President: Ke'Andra Hagans (she/her)

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 inpatient settings. She has served as a mentor for developing professionals in the fields of clinical and school social work.

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 VP Budget & Finance: Katie Krueger, (she/her)

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.

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Secretary: Joan Groessl, (she/her) 

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.

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MSW Student Representative: Rick Valdez (he/him) 

Rick is currently attending the UW-Whitewater School of Graduate Studies in the Master of Social Work program.  He is on a clinical social work track with a field placement within the Madison Veterans Administration Hospital Social Work Department. Rick is a Class of 2025 UW-Whitewater graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a minor in Criminology. He is also a graduate of Blackhawk Technical College with an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services.  

His career has afforded Rick the opportunity to see how systemic barriers are affecting people from diverse and marginalized communities. He has prior experience as a law enforcement officer in the City of Beloit. Rick was also a Crisis Interventions Officer and Crisis Negotiator for the department.  He also served as a case manager and assistant director at Rock Valley Community Programs in Janesville, WI. There, he served veterans experiencing homelessness and individuals connected to the federal criminal justice system in the transitional housing programs.

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BSW Student Representative: Kayla Howell (she/her) 

My name is Kayla Howell, and I'm currently a junior at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. Since my freshman year, I've worked at the Chalmer Davee Library on campus, and during my sophomore year, I also began working at Heartland Montessori. I've been actively involved with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), serving on the Children's Task Force, participating as a student ambassador, and contributing to several panels focused on recruiting more college students to the organization. During my sophomore year, I partnered with the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) Office to create a comprehensive resource pamphlet that highlights both on- and off-campus support services. That same year, I helped establish an Active Minds chapter on campus, which is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness. As part of that effort, I also designed a mental health display for our campus library. At the start of my junior year, I took on the role of social media coordinator for the Student Social Work Association (SSWA). In this position, I helped organize a student trip to MSSA Day at the Capitol in Minnesota, where we learned how to effectively engage with legislators. Academically, I’ve maintained strong performance and have been named to the Dean’s List for two consecutive years.

At Large Representative: Dominique Pritchett

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.

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At-Large Representative: Thomasina Jenkins

Thomasina Jenkins is a full-time Psychotherapist in private practice, working with diverse populations. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor, and Independent Clinical Supervisor. Thomasina recently obtained her Doctorate of Social Work Practice from Simmons University. She received her MSW from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

As a Pracademic, Thomasina enjoys research that informs her work with diverse populations in a variety of behavioral health organizations and community settings. Thomasina currently serves on NASW-WI’s DEI Committee, and she is a co-founder of Black Clinicians Milwaukee, LLC, a professional network group and mental health referral system developed to respond to the community’s requests for black clinicians.

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Southeast/Racine/Kenosha Region Representative:  Jazette Anderson, (she/her)

I obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Community Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2007. I obtained my Master of Social Work from Capella University in 2021. I recently passed the ASWB Masters level exam and was granted an Advanced Practice Social Worker license in early April 2023.  In the past 15 years, I have worked as a Case Manager, Kinship and FISS Assessor, Disability Specialist, Program Manager and Eating Disorder Technician. My volunteer experience includes Big Clean Milwaukee, House of Peace and Sojourner Family Peace Center. I donate to Goodwill, Repairers of the Breach and Hunger Task Force. 

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Southeast/Racine/Kenosha Region Representative: Cleopatra Castañeda, (she/her)

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 an 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. 

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Southeast/Racine/Kenosha Region Representative: Amy Kirby, (she/her)

Amy Kirby (she/her) serves as the Director of the MSW Program through the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Amy has been an NASW member since 1997, participating in recent years in the Professional Standards and Regulation committee. Amy is the incoming Vice President of the Wisconsin Council on Social Work Education (WCSWE).She is a Wisconsin licensed clinical social worker, who has worked in various social service settings including outpatient mental and behavioral health, child welfare (treatment foster care, foster care, kinship care, caregiver support), juvenile justice and community-based services. Amy earned her MSW from UWM in 1998 and a BS in Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1995.

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 South Central/Southwest Region Representative: Neil O'Connor, LCSW, ACSW (he/him)

Neil O’Connor, ACSW, LCSW, became a member of NASW-WI in 1977, while completing his MSSW at the Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville. Graduating in 1978, he worked briefly as a community organizer in Louisville, then began a 30 year career in health care social work in Sheboygan, WI. In that career, he worked in the areas of emergency/critical care, domestic abuse victim services, renal dialysis, discharge planning, and department management. He worked the last 18 years of that phase as the clinical social worker in the UW Health Oncology Clinics. Simultaneously, Neil served as a social work officer in the US Army Reserve, commissioned in 1982, and retiring in 2012 as a Colonel, Medical Service Corps. His military experience includes staff social work, operations and logistics, executive officer, and trainer-evaluator; he also deployed to Iraq in 2004-05, supervising a military community mental health clinic at the US Army base in Balad, Iraq. In 2008, Neil joined the Department of Veteran’s Affairs’ Madison Vet Center, where he worked with war veterans and their families around issues of PTSD and post service re-integration. Retiring from active social work practice in 2017, Neil continues to work with the profession on NASW-WI’s Continuing Education Committee, while pursuing personal interests in music, cabinetry, and grandparenting.

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South Central/Southwest Region Representative: Rob Brown, (he/him) 

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

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South Central/Southwest Region Representative: Steven J. Miller

Biographical Statement:
Steven J. Miller is a dedicated APSW social worker and mental health advocate. He recently completed his MSW at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, building upon a strong academic background, including a Master’s in Experimental Psychology from Northern Michigan University. With over a decade of experience supporting individuals facing mental health challenges, disabilities, infertility, and crisis, Steven has held roles ranging from Crisis Stabilization Case Manager to Therapeutic Mentor. He currently serves as Research and Development Chair for the Men’s Helpline nonprofit, where he oversees peer support programming and hosts The MILES Podcast , shedding light on the male experience with infertility and pregnancy loss. Steven is actively involved in several professional organizations, including ASRM and NAPSW, and has presented at various conferences, including NASW-WI, CSWE-WI, and NAPSW.

West Central/North Central/Northeast Region Representative: Kendra Schmidt, (she/her)  

I earned my bachelor’s in social work from Carroll (College) University in 1998 experiencing work in domestic violence, addictions, and a residential treatment facility for juvenile sex offenders. Post-degree, I began working in the Milwaukee area with the elderly and dementia populations as well as children and families in the Milwaukee Wraparound program. I later returned to the Fox River Valley where I worked several years for Winnebago County in juvenile justice and non-profits serving adolescent girls, individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and those in the bleeding disorder community.

In the summer of 2023, I began my graduate program at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh where I will graduate May 17, 2025, and will begin working at Generations Hospice in Fond du Lac beginning early June. At the graduate level, I was a student intern at NASW-WI from January 2023 – June 2024 and worked diligently to secure funding for the political organizer position for the 2024 election and was awarded one such grant.

I am a volunteer and area coordinator for a non-profit organization based in the Milwaukee area called The Right Relief, Inc. This organization provides meals, respite, and other supports to family caregivers to help reduce burnout, stress, and financial burden on families caring for aging parents, ill spouses or children, and to new parents. After a chance meeting with the founder of the program, I felt strongly that the Fox Valley could benefit greatly from this organization’s mission.

My membership with NASW began in 1996 as a student at Carroll. I am a strong advocate for the benefits of membership to the organization and have continued to support the work the Wisconsin Chapter does by participating in the Annual Conference as well as Advocacy Day, offering to volunteer and help staff and interns where I can.

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West Central/North Central/Northeast Region Representative: Paul Perales, (he/him) 

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. 

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West Central/North Central/Northeast Region Representative:  Heidi Pritzl, (she/her)

Heidi Pritzl graduated with her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) in Honolulu, HI. Fourteen years ago, Heidi and her daughter moved back to St. Germain, Wisconsin with the goal to serve and support her “home” community and work as a Social Worker/Psychotherapist with Aspirus Koller Behavioral Health. This is also where Heidi reunited with her best friend and now husband. 

When she returned to Wisconsin she began to work in the field of mental health as a clinical social worker on the inpatient unit at St. Mary’s hospital for Ministry Koller Behavioral Health, which is now Aspirus Koller Behavioral Health. Heidi then transitioned to outpatient mental health in the clinic setting as a Psychotherapist.She counsels adolescents through adults in the Eagle River and Woodruff locations.

Heidi was recognized this year as a top 10% 2023 Performer for Patient Satisfaction nationwide and top 20 provider in the Aspirus Network based on survey results as “Most Likely to recommend friends and family.”

Heidi is also serving her second term for the NASW Wisconsin Chapter Board as the West Central/North Central/Northeast Branch Representative. She encourages new social workers to enroll in NASW to receive support and advocacy throughout their social work career. Heidi continues to work hard to streamline the services, supports, and resources in urban Wisconsin to rural Wisconsin specially in the northern part of the state.
Heidi also co-leads the Tri-county Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Coalition in Forest, Oneida, and Vilas counties working on local, state, and national goals to reduce suicides by at least 20% by 2025. She is trained in suicide prevention from the QPR Institute in Seattle, WA, as a Master and Gatekeeper Trainer. Her goal has been to train as many individuals as possible on the warning signs and risk factors of suicide, so they are able to identify when someone needs support to help in the nation’s goal to reduce suicides by 20% by 2025. Recently Heidi has been training college and high school staff to include coaches, in addition to consulting with corporations and universities to implement suicide prevention and mental health support into their businesses.

Heidi shares, “I know my work will be done when people begin receiving cards, casseroles, and flowers for a recent diagnosis for mental health or after a hospital stay on a psychiatric inpatient unit.”

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