Chapter Board of Directors

President

Gina Apgar Portrait

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 

April Mariska Portrait

April Mariska, MSW, LICSW (she/her/hers) is currently employed as a Social Worker in Primary Care Mental Health Integration at the VA - Manchester. In addition, April is also an adjunct professor at Plymouth State University. A member of the NASW since 2003, April has been active in several state chapters over the years through several moves. Recent community involvement has included volunteering with the NH Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team. (Term Expires 2028)

Secretary

Melissa Grudinski

Melissa Grudinski, LICSW, MLADC (she/her/hers) has been a member of NASW-NH since 2015, and previously served as a Student Board Member and a Board Member at Large. In addition to her current role as Board Secretary, Melissa is also involved in the chapter's CE Committee and is the Ethics Chair. Melissa graduated from UNH with her MSW in 2016, and is employed as the Director of Clinical Operations at PCS Counseling in Manchester, where she has worked for ten years. Prior to her work at PCS, Melissa worked with the Americorps Victims Assistance Program, as a Victim/ Witness Advocate, a Crisis Center Advocate, and an intern with DCYF. (Term Expires 2027)

At-Large

Christine Gauvain

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

Rebecca Ayling (Term Expires 2028)

Alison Mitchell

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

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

Sarah Merrigan Headshot

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)


Mel Moran

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

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

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)



Student Board Members

Jordan Stanley

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

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.

Immediate Past President

Anne Marie Sirrine

Anne Marie Sirrine (she/her/hers)

Past President

Carol Sobelson

Carol Sobelson (she/her/hers)After graduating from Boston College, I attended Columbia University School of Social Work. I moved to Concord in 1984, I taught at Connecticut University School of Social Work on the Concord campus while maintaining a private practice. Although I do not teach at the present time, I maintained   a private practice in NH for over 40  years and I recently retired in May 2020.  I have had the honor to participating on many  nonprofit boards over the years : The Circle Program, a non profit organization for disadvantaged young girls in  NH through a residential summer camp and year-round mentoring program, CATCH (Concord Area Trust for Community Housing) a non profit that creates affordable workforce housing  in the Concord area, and currently Riverbend CMHC and  NASW NH. Living in Concord has allowed me to remain active on board projects and being able to attend legislative hearings on issues that effect  NH citizens as well as social workers in our state.  Over the last 7 years during my tenure on the NASW NH board,  I have enjoyed being a part of a vibrant organization. It is my   hope to continue  my commitment to NASW NH as President elect . The prior presidents have mentored me well by their dedication to social issues and their investments towards making NASW NH a powerful and influential organization in our state. I am honored to work alongside a group of  highly talented and skilled social workers on the NASW NH board.  My colleagues and I strive to   enhance   professional growth and development through offering professional learning opportunities sponsored by our chapter, create and maintain professional standards for social workers, and to advance sound social policies in our state. My investment in working on the  board has become a highlight of my professional career.


Nominating Committee

Trish Cox

Trish Cox joined the MSW team at UNH as a Clinical Assistant Professor and MSW Director. She is a member of the MCH-LEND faculty. Her area of focus is with children and families, disabilities, and online learning.  She has worked as a consultant in New Hampshire for a variety of different organizations and institutions. Prior to her time at UNH she was employed as an Out-of-District and Transition Special Education Coordinator for Portsmouth School District in New Hampshire. Trish worked as a child life specialist, and later as a child life coordinator, for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York for nine years. Trish has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Trinity College in Connecticut, a M.S.Ed (Early Childhood with a specialization in child life) from Bank Street College in New York, and a MSW from the University of New Hampshire, Durham.  Trish has also been active with other professional organizations, including Child Life of Greater New York (CLGNY), where she served as Regional Conference Chair (2001-2004) and President (2005-2007), and the New Hampshire chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NH-NASW), where she finished a three year term as President. She has served on the board as a member since 2009. She has just been completed a term on the NASW National Board. Her other volunteer leadership efforts include positions as Director and past VP, of the Richie McFarland Children’s Center Board, and President of the Friends of Newfields Public Library. She is currently serving as a Trustee of the Trust Fund for the Town of Newfields.

Kevin Keefe

Kevin Keefe, LISW, CAI (he/him/his) is the Chief of Service Excellence & Compliance with WestBridge, which means he is the Chief of first impressions and assures that WestBridge is in compliance with ethical standards as well as internal and external regulatory requirements. Having worked at WestBridge for more than 16 years, he has utilized his skills in almost every department of WestBridge. He is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), a Certified ARISE Interventionist (CAI), Trainer & Intern Supervisor as well as a NAMI-trained Connect-Suicide Prevention trainer. Kevin supports WestBridge in direct clinical care & family work, as a member of Leadership, and in overseeing all licensing, compliance, and facility management for WestBridge. Kevin believes in the power of Social Work and has supported the supervision of social workers for over 20 years. As a Social Worker, Certified ARISE Interventionist and Connect-Suicide Prevention trainer, Kevin understands and values that connections allow for greater protection and wellness for individuals, families and communities.

Becky Parton

Becky Parton, MSW, LICSW is currently employed by the Dartmouth Trauma Interventions Research Center. She is a Project Director on several grants, many of which focus on trauma-informed practice, prevention of abuse/neglect, and cultivating relationships with community partners. Her current grants include Upper Valley Project Launch, which is focused on screening and early identification for children ages 0-8 to connect them to services early and prevent the need for later mental health treatment, and Project TIDD, which is focused on training and consultation for professionals working with children and youth who have experienced trauma, youth who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, and trangender youth. Becky is an active participant in her Department's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Becky previously worked in community mental health providing family and child therapy. She is trained in Child Parent Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Becky’s early career was working for child protection. Becky is the co-chair of the Children’s Issues Committee for NH NASW. In the past she was part of the CEU committee, the Ethics Committee, and SLAC. Becky is an Adjunct Professor for the University of New Hampshire in the MSW program. Becky’s passion is working with children and families and she has been involved in statewide efforts to increase awareness and prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).