Chapter Board of Directors

President

Gina Apgar, MSW (she/her/hers) has been a member of NASW NH since 2019. She first served as the UNH MSW Student Representative from 2020-2021, then as a Board Member at Large from 2021-2024, before moving into the president-elect position. Gina holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of New Hampshire where she also completed the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. Prior to graduate school, she earned a bachelor’s degree in human services and early childhood development with a track in administration and leadership and an associate degree in early childhood education. Gina has nearly 20 years’ experience working with children and families in various roles in early education, home visiting, family support, healthcare, and advocacy. She now works in integrated behavioral health at a pediatric primary care practice on the seacoast and volunteers on the NH Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team and with the NH Emergency Services Explorer Training Academy. Her professional focus is on cultivating resilience and improving systems of care to promote optimal outcomes for children, families, and first responders. (Term Expires 2027)

Vice President 

Secretary

Christine Gauvain (she/her/hers) received her MSW from the University of New Hampshire in 2021 and has been a member of NASW since 2019. Christine is currently employed at Greater Nashua Mental Health as a School Based Therapist and Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team member. She has worked in community mental health with children and adults in office and community settings since 2011. (Term Expires 2028)

Rebecca Ayling (Term Expires 2028)

Alison Mitchell, PhD, LICSW (NH), LCSW (ME), MAIS (she/her/hers)is an Assistant Professor in Social Work at Plymouth State University, and recipient of the 2023-24 Transformative Teaching Award.  She earned her PhD in clinical social work from the Smith College School for Social Work and completed an MSW at the University of Maine School of Social Work.  Dr. Mitchell’s research focuses on factors supporting or impeding treatment and recovery in the intersecting areas of mental health, opioid use disorder, trauma, and rurality.  Dr. Mitchell is an independently licensed clinical social worker in New Hampshire and Maine with experience providing mental health treatment and clinical supervision in agency settings and in private practice.  Prior to entering the mental health field, she worked in program development and evaluation, assisting with the creation, implementation, and ongoing quality improvement of social services supporting children and families.  Outside of the classroom, Dr. Mitchell enjoys being in nature with family.  Favorite activities include gardening, hiking, kayaking, or skiing, often including her family's two Labrador retrievers. (Term Expires 2027)

Meredith Young (she/her/hers) (Term Expires 2026)

Sarah Merrigan (she/her/hers) is a licensed independent clinical social worker in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and earned her master of social work degree from Boston College in 2013. She is an outpatient therapist in NH & enjoys working with tweens, teens, and adults. She has been a member of NASW NH since 2013 and has served as co-chair of the NASW Children’s Issues Affinity Group since 2019. (Term Expires 2026)

Melbourne Moran Jr., LICSW (he/him/his) received his master's degree in social work from Boston University in 2014 and is an independently licensed social worker practicing in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Washington through his private practice, Wanderlust Therapeutic Services. His primary practice focuses on clients involved with the criminal justice system, where he focuses on reducing the risk of reoffending through community-based treatment as an alternative to incarceration. He is a former state representative having served in the NH statehouse and is currently an alderman at large for the city of Nashua until his term ends in December 2025. He has been recognized by the Union Leader's 40 under 40 (class of 2023) and by his peers from NASW NH as Social Worker of the Year 2024. Melbourne is committed to advancing social policy in healthcare that provides equitable care for all those who seek it, no matter what their income level is. (Term Expires 2028)

Beth Salvi-Hudgins, LICSW (she/her/hers) received her MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1994, and has worked as a social worker in New Hampshire since 1995. Throughout her career, Beth has worked in community mental health, school systems, residential care, and private practice. Beth is currently the founder and owner of DBT For You, an organization with the mission of providing dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) treatment and training throughout NH, ME, VT, and MA. Beth is passionate about improving the mental health system of care in NH to increase both quality of services and access to all in need. (Term Expires 2028)

Kate Turcotte (she/her/hers) is a professor of social work and founding MSW program director at Colby-Sawyer College, Sonja C. and William H. Davidow endowed chair, and licensed clinical social worker practicing with counseling associates of New London. She earned master's and ph.d. degrees in sociology from the University of New Hampshire and an MSW from Fordham University. As a clinical social worker and social justice-centered educator, Kate believes that the incorporation of anti-racist, decolonized, and intersectional approaches in policy, practice, and educational spaces is currently under threat and that it is as essential as ever to protect these aspects of the profession. (term expires 2028)

Jordan Stanley (she/her/hers) is a senior BSW student at the University of New Hampshire. She has a passion for public service and macro social work through advocacy and nonprofit organizational work. She has experience in these fields through the youth community service nonprofit Project 351 in Massachusetts which she has worked with since 2018 and continues as a leadership team member. She has also worked as a facilitator and mentor for the Boston Celtics Playbook Initiative and assisted in implementing the program in Portland, Maine with the Maine Celtics. Her leadership roles will expand this coming school year as the co-captain for the UNH Ballet Company, another of her passions. Jordan is also a ‘25-‘26 Ripples of Hope fellow. This fellowship unites young leaders interested in public and community service from the U.S. and South Africa in two immersions and monthly leadership and professional development as well as coaching. She recently participated in the first immersion trip to Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, developing connections with international fellows and learning about the history of many social justice movements. She brings experience with the NASW from her participation in the 2024 National Conference in Washington D.C. including advocacy day on capital hill. Jordan hopes to develop her skills in policy work through this board position and get involved in the New Hampshire social work community.

Jennifer Crossett (she/her/hers) is thrilled to join the board as a student representative! She is currently an MSW student at Colby-Sawyer college, with an anticipated graduation date of August 2026. Jennifer completed her first year internship at Create Counseling in Manchester, providing counseling services to children, adolescents and adults. While serving on the board, Jennifer will also be completing her second year internship with the NASW. Social work is a career change for Jennifer, who spent over 15 years working in marketing, including a decade long tenure on SNHU's marketing team. Jennifer is inspired by NASW's mission and looks forward to being a part of an organization driven by advocacy and social change.