President-Elect Andrea Dencklau, LMSW (MSW, Univ. of Kansas), Ankeny Through my professional work I have often led coalitions and community partnerships. Specifically, I have worked as the Liaison for the Community Partnership for Protecting Children initiative in Iowa. I brought together community members, DHS workers, and other stakeholders from all over the state to implement best practices to protect children from abuse and neglect. Currently, I am the project lead for the Polk County Plan to End Youth Homelessness. In this position, I plan and facilitate stakeholder meetings, research best practices and will develop the final plan in collaboration with the youth advisory board and large stakeholder group. I also serve as a founding board member of Iowa Women for Progressive Change, a political action committee dedicated to getting more women-especially women who have been historically marginalized and underrepresented- elected to public office in Iowa. Barbara Petersen-Fox, LISW (MSW, Univ. of Iowa), Johnston I have my undergraduate degree in Political Science, and I have always been interested in legislation that relates to the profession of social work. This year in particular, I felt that it was essential for social workers to advocate for their clients/patients and for their profession. I started a Facebook page for Iowa Social Workers for us to have a forum to have discussion and a platform for communication about upcoming legislation and other topics that pertain to social workers and our clients. I have worked on political campaigns, in hospital settings, in school settings and in private practice. I have a good idea of how different systems interact, and how to gather people together to work for a common goal. Vice-President for Professional Development Alyssa Clayden, MSW (Univ. of Iowa), Clive I have worked in community education and collaboration efforts for over a decade. I have worked to build communities and provide educational growth and engagement on four continents, and I currently am building strong and lasting community relationships with schools, refugee community groups, and clinicians around Iowa to support the work that social workers are doing. I have worked at all levels of non-profit agencies including Executive Director, Director of Shelter Services, overnight staff, therapist, crisis worker, and curriculum creator and educator. I provide regular supervision in my current position, and have done so for the past seven years. I am a member of the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa, and have worked in community fundraising, cultural brokering, within the public school system, and as a university practicum supervisor. I have Page 1 of 5
created educational curriculum to teach a vast array of skills to various populations including working with survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to medical practitioners, trauma informed care in schools, group therapy skills to other therapists, refugee health needs to public health officials, and cross-cultural understanding and interaction to businesses, schools, and non-profit agencies. I am excellent and building and maintaining strong relationships with individuals and agencies, and I focus intently on creating an understanding of mutual benefit for all people and businesses in a community. I work hard to build bridges and to mediate conflict by emphasizing education, understanding, and learning cognitive reframing skills that allow new and varied perspectives to be tolerated and used to a community's benefit. I have taught in schools in China, Tanzania, Australia, Scotland, and the US to all ages, and have provided course instruction in sexuality education, healthy relationships, building relationships, improving family relationships, therapeutic interventions with teenagers, HIV/AIDS education and how to care for a loved one with HIV/AIDS safely, English as a Foreign Language, Writing, and Business. I am a certified Narrative therapist, an EMDR-trained therapist pursuing full certification, and am a certified CELTA (English Language Education) instructor. Zach Pacha, LISW (MSW, Univ. of Iowa), Des Moines NASW stated mission is to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards and to advance sound social policies. (NASW website). Additionally, social workers represent the overwhelming majority of professionals who provide mental health services in the United States, and especially Iowa. It should be no secret to our organization that Iowa was recently ranked second to last national in a recent survey of state s mental health systems. I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in the mental health field. Currently, I am in private practice, specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders an OCD. I am a certified clinical fellow by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, a member of the International OCD Foundation and completed their behavior therapy training institute. My focus has been on evidence based treatments and protocols throughout my entire career using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Additionally, I have strong leadership skills from being a project director on a National Institute of Mental Health research project called RAISE. I have continued these efforts currently and provide training and technical assistance to two teams currently in the state of Iowa for First Episode Psychosis Treatment. Other areas of leadership I have acquired through coaching basketball for ten years at the middle school, high school and junior college level. Organization, discipline, attention to detail, and clear respectful communication were and continue to be tantamount to my success in these areas. The training and knowledge I have through these areas is extensive and I recognize a lack of knowledge, skills, and application in our mental health system in Iowa. I believe in this position I can help develop and train our members to perform treatments that are the most effective and backed by research. Mental Health can be a poorly understood topic from a policy standpoint, and NASW can provide this platform to improve legislation, community education, and overall care to our state. We witnessed this from the governor s office a few months ago with trying to strip our licensure away. When Iowan s mental health suffers, it affects everyone in the state. I have a Page 2 of 5
deep connection to this state having lived here my entire life I want to see the quality of our social worker s work improve. For these reasons, I submit this to be considered for this role VP of Professional Development. Central Branch Representative Central Branch ONLY WILL Tony Raymer, LISW (MSW, Univ. of Iowa), Des Moines As a branch chair I believe my skills and experience in many positions as a leader will be valuable in building the profession and building a network of effective and committed Social Workers in Central Iowa. Like many of us recently I have noted an increased drive to become more involved in and effective at building change in my community. As Central Branch Chair I hope to build the Association s capacity in Central Iowa and state wide to build connections among Social Workers and others in our community to better support each other, our profession, and our clients. Southeast Branch Representative Southeast Branch ONLY WILL Kaydee Vraspier, BSW (Univ. of Northern IA), Iowa City As a previous board member, serving as the BSW representative during my time as a student, I understand how important the work of the NASW Iowa board is. If provided the opportunity to serve as the Southeast Branch Chair I would strive to increase membership in our region and provide quality and innovative CEU opportunities. In my current position as Day Habilitation Director, I have demonstrated the importance I put on working as a team. This has resulted in more than doubling my staff and programming in only a few years and I will use those leadership skills to engage the NASW members in the Southeast region to get involved in current events surrounding social work in Iowa. I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with others to advocate for the benefit of our clients. BSW Student Rep Morgan S. Newman (BSW anticipated 2018, Univ. of Iowa), Winterset I am an extremely dedicated person and I have personally been through a lot. I love to advocate and I want to get involved with legislation. I am a two time cervical cancer survivor and I would love to work with this population when I am finished with school. My passion is with the rights of individuals. No one should be turned away. I am a great team player as well! Page 3 of 5
MSW Student Representative Kellsey Forest (MSW anticipated 2018, University of Northern Iowa), Cedar Falls I am currently the Vice President of the Master of Social Work Student Association. As such, I took it upon myself this past year to sponsor local Human Service agencies to positively impact the community. I was nominated and represent the cohort in monthly Curriculum Committee meetings held by the Social Work Department. Here, I voice the cohort s concerns and critically think with the involved professors on how we can better our program. I ve worked at and with many agencies, and have great relationships built around the county. Victoria Johnson (MSW anticipated 2018, Univ. of Iowa), Iowa City I have a history of student-led collaborative and leadership roles including: the representative for the School of Social Work on the Students For Interprofessional Education Board (SIPE), where I advocate to and educate future health professionals on psychosocial needs; Inter- Professional Representative for the Graduate Student Social Work Association (GSSWA); member of Phi Beta Kappa honors society; Worked closely with a professor last year as an Undergraduate Research Fellow; co-led the U Iowa NASW student membership drive this spring. Michael Markham, BSW (MSW anticipated 2018, Univ. of Iowa), North Liberty During the first year of my MSW program I joined Students for Inter-Professional Education (SIPE) where I have been serving as the social work board member. My efforts in this student organization have been to promote social work in healthcare by organizing a panel on homelessness and asking state Senator Liz Mathis to come and speak regarding her experiences with Medicaid policy in Iowa. In addition, I currently service as the curriculum chair of the UI s graduate social work student association (GSWSA) where I am currently working with peers to develop a comprehensive survey to deliver to the student body to determine their thoughts on the curriculum. We have also just completed a t-shirt and NASW membership drive for our school. Proceeds from the t-shirt drive benefit the NASW. Megan Ronnenberg (MSW anticipated 2018, Univ. of Iowa), Iowa City I have always considered myself a leader, and am comfortable taking on leadership responsibilities on projects and within groups. I was recently elected President of the Graduate Social Work Student Association at the University of Iowa s Iowa City campus, and am eager to work with our school to facilitate growth between students and faculty. Past leadership roles include founding a social work student political action committee (which was very active this legislative session), organizing a NASW Membership Drive and fundraiser, and collaborating with other programs and schools to start the Iowa Social Work Student Association Blog (a bridge between students and professionals from across the state). Laura Siddall (MSW anticipated 2018, St. Ambrose), Newton Page 4 of 5
Laura was nominated by one of her professors at St. Ambrose. According to her professor, Laura is very passionate about social justice issues. She has strong leadership skills and assumed a major role in organizing social work students to participate in the Women s march in Washington, and recently was instrumental in forming a social work group at the SAU School of Social Work devoted to peace and justice. In addition to the skills that she brings in by working with legislators, she has worked with immigrants, both documented and undocumented, and women affected by violence. She will be a strong asset for NASW as a Board Member. Suzanne Stroud, BSW (MSW anticipated 2018, Clarke University), Dubuque I completed an AmeriCorps VISTA position with a Dubuque area nonprofit from June 2015-2016 in which I worked with various area agencies and organizations. My VISTA position was through Iowa Campus Compact, and I was one of four VISTAs in a cohort working together to create economic opportunities and identify gaps in service with the City of Dubuque Human Rights Department, Operation New View, and the Circles Initiative. Recently, I wrote and was awarded a grant with the Facing Project to complete a community project in Dubuque. The results will be a book published at the end of May 2017 which tells stories of the Marshallese Community in Dubuque. Sarah Wicks, (MSW anticipated Dec. 2017, University of North Dakota), Dubuque As a MSW distance learning student, I have to intentionally focus on how to connect with local professionals and advance social issues in my community. I d like to explore my role within the NASW IA Chapter more deeply as an emerging professional while providing the kind of outreach and opportunities that students should have in order to develop in the field. Work as part of a distance MSW cohort, serving in past board positions, and learning the art of advocacy and self-direction during my times as a student are all valuable skills I would bring to this position. Page 5 of 5