Chapter Board of Directors

President

Carol Sobelson

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.

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President-Elect

Anne Marie Olsen-Hayward 

Vice President

Kevin Keefe, LICSW, CAI 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.

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Secretary

Emily Krueger, MSW Emily has been a member of the NH NASW since 2016, she was previously a Student Board Member when she was a second-year student at Plymouth State University, and is now very excited to be on the NH NASW Board again, now as Secretary. Emily attended the Advanced Standing MSW program at the University of New England in Portland, ME where she received the Training in Aging Diversity (TRIAD) stipend to pursue an interest in the aging population. She graduated in May 2020. Prior to graduate school, Emily received her BSW in May 2019 from Plymouth State University with a minor in Gerontology. Emily is currently employed as a Service Coordinator at the Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction, VT. The Upper Valley Haven helps individuals of all ages, as well as families who are experiencing homelessness become connected to community resources, shelter and food. Emily is proud to say she works at the Haven and is enthused that this is where she is starting her social work career.

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At-Large

Jorge Santana, LICSW  Jorge Santana is the Executive Director at PACE Career Charter High School and has been serving youth and families for two decades. His years of direct experience with mentoring, child welfare, in-home therapy, and crisis response informs his innovative and adaptive approach to programming and community building. Jorge specializes in helping organizations with unique models overcome the obstacles they face and fulfill their mission and potential. A strong believer in leadership development for both his teams and those he serves, Jorge's ultimate goal is to work himself out of a job.

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Gina Apgar, MSW she/her/hers

Gina is a Behavioral Health Provider in a pediatric primary care practice on the seacoast. She 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 in Human Services and Early Childhood Development with a track in administration and leadership and an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. Gina has over 15 years’ experience working with children and families in various roles in early education, home visiting, family support, healthcare, and advocacy. She is focused on cultivating resilience and improving systems of care to promote optimal outcomes for children and families. Her professional areas of interest include the neuroscience of child development, parent interventions, and the mental health of first responders. 

Sarah Merrigan, LCSW Sarah received her MSW from the Boston College School of Social Work and has been a member of the NASW since 2011. As a clinician, Sarah has worked with children and families in crisis, as well as adults in an outpatient setting. Sarah has served as co-chair of the NASW NH Children’s Issues Committee since 2019. In September, Sarah will begin working as a Postgraduate Resident at PCS Counseling in Manchester, where she will work with teens, adults and families.

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April Mariska, MSW, LICSW April Mariska is currently employed as a Senior Psychiatric Social Worker at New Hampshire Hospital. 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. Professional memberships also include the NH Providers Association and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. Recent community involvement has included volunteering with the NH Pandemic Response Team and the NH Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team.

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Sheryl Thompson

Christine Gauvain

 Christine 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.

Rebecca Ayling

Alison Mitchell, PhD, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor in Social Work at Plymouth State University in NH. She earned her PhD in clinical social work from the Smith College School for Social Work. Dr. Mitchell’s research focuses on factors supporting or impeding treatment in the intersecting areas of mental health, opioid use disorder, trauma, and rurality. She moved to New Hampshire from the Bangor region in Maine, where she worked as a clinical social work mental health practitioner in private practice and in agency settings. In addition to her practice and research, Professor Mitchell was a long-time adjunct instructor for the University of Maine School of Social Work and has also taught parttime for the University of Connecticut and Smith College Schools of Social Work. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Mitchell enjoys being outside with family. Favorite activities include gardening, hiking, kayaking, or skiing, often including her family’s two Labrador retrievers.

Student Board Members

Samantha Palmer, MSW Student Representative

Tevis Keach, UNH BSW Student Representative

Rebekah Lewis, Plymouth State University BSW Student Representative

Past-President

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).