NASW-NY 1st Annual Continuing Education (CE) Conference

Angel Gray, MSW

Angel Gray is a passionate nonprofit leader and social work professional with over nine years of experience empowering children, youth, and families across diverse settings, including psychiatric hospitals, schools, residential treatment centers, and community based mental health programs. Since joining the Westchester Children’s Association (WCA) in February 2022 as Program and Policy Manager, Angel has led transformative initiatives, forged powerful cross-sector coalitions, and partnered with service providers, public officials, and community stakeholders to drive meaningful change for children and youth in Westchester County.
Angel holds a Master of Social Work from New York University, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College. Her unwavering commitment to advocacy and youth well-being fuels her drive to advocate for policies and practices that uplift underserved communities across New York State. With a deep-rooted passion for social justice and community empowerment, Angel continues to leverage her expertise to advocate for those who need it most, ensuring that every child and family has access to the resources and opportunities they deserve.

Bushra Husain, DSW, LCSW

Dr. Bushra Husain, DSW, LCSW is Program Director of Non-Residential Services at Sanctuary for Families with 17+ years of experience supporting survivors through trauma-informed counseling, policy advocacy, and community education. She holds a DSW from Rutgers University and an MSW from Columbia University.

Sarah Syed, Esq.

Sarah Syed is a Senior Staff Attorney at Sanctuary for Families' Immigration Intervention Project. She has represented survivors in family law matters and previously completed a Legal Fellowship in Lahore, Pakistan focused on gender-based violence and reproductive rights. She earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Dr. Mary Affee, Ed.D., LCSW, RPT-S

Dr. Mary Affee is a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist-supervisor, founder and clinical director of Horizon Integrated Wellness Group, PLLC. She is a past President of the North Carolina Association for Play Therapy and received the 2023 NASW-NC Social Worker of the Year award. She is also an author of children’s books and co-editor of Play Therapy Treatment Planning for Children and Families.

Jea Frasier (they/them), LMSW, RYT-200

Jea Frasier serves as a Senior Policy Advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the office of the Governor. They bring lived experience and somatic healing to racial equity work and co-authored work in a special issue of Advances in Social Work focused on dismantling white supremacy in social work education.

Nicole Jean Christian (all pronouns), BBA, MPA

Nicole Jean Christian is DOS Chief Diversity Officer/Director of DEIA, guiding strategy across offices and program areas. She is a former NYS Empire Fellow and has extensive experience in economic development, revitalization, and policy/program oversight, along with a background in teaching and research.

Elizabeth Mogus-Garcia (she/they), BA, BS, MS

Lizzy Mogus-Garcia is an Ocean and Lakes Policy Analyst focusing on Climate Justice and Resiliency for the Department of State and serves as the OPDCI DEIJAB Coordinator. Their work connects climate resilience planning with people-first community engagement and university partnerships.

Kaleigh Cornelison, LMSW, LCSW

Kaleigh Cornelison is a licensed clinical social worker with 15+ years of experience working with teens and trusted adults. She leads workshops, writes the both/and newsletter, and serves as Project Manager for the National Technical Assistance Center for Adolescent Health and Well-Being.

Lisa Good, MSW, LSW, PhD

Lisa Good is founder/coordinator of Urban Grief and coordinator for Albany’s Trauma Response Team. She has 20+ years of experience as an addiction professional and extensive community violence response and advocacy experience, and is pursuing a PhD in the School of Social Welfare.

Danisha Bonner, MA, LPCC-S, LMHC, LPC, NCC

Danisha Bonner is a nationally certified counselor licensed across multiple states with 20+ years of experience across schools, residential programs, corrections, and higher education. She is founder of The CROWN, LLC and The TRUST Academy and maintains a multi-state private practice.

Lizet Oviedo, LCSW

Lizet Oviedo, MSW, LCSW, SIFI. She earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University. Lizet has more than eight years of personal experience navigating mental health challenges, which informs her empathetic and client-centered approach. Her clinical expertise includes trauma-informed care, prenatal and perinatal mental health, and culturally responsive interventions. In her current role as Clinical Supervisor at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, she oversees clinical teams and implements evidence-based practices. Lizet develops and facilitates training programs for clinicians to enhance skills in assessment, psychotherapy, and group therapy. She has led numerous group therapy initiatives focused on psychoeducation, coping strategies, and emotional wellness for clients. Lizet is committed to expanding access to mental health services in underserved communities.

Keenan Shoulders, LMSW

Keenan Shoulders, LMSW, is a Licensed Social Worker with nearly two decades of experience serving communities across New York City, with a focus on Black and Brown populations. Born and raised in the Bronx, he is deeply committed to culturally responsive mental health care, advocacy, and direct service. He earned his undergraduate degree in Social Work and African American Studies from Syracuse University in 2004 and immediately began working to combat homelessness. Over the next sixteen years, Keenan gained extensive experience in case planning, preventive services, foster care, and homeless outreach, working closely with underserved communities. In 2020, he completed his Master’s in Social Work at Hunter College and became a Licensed Master Social Worker. Keenan currently works in the Emergency Department at Lincoln Hospital, providing crisis intervention, and serves as a Licensed Therapist with SOS Consulting Inc., offering therapeutic services to diverse clients. He also facilitates men’s empowerment and emotional wellness groups, guiding Black and Brown men through interventions that foster emotional regulation, accountability, and personal growth.

Kabian Brown, LCSW

Kabian Brown is originally from Bronx, NY, I have worked with a huge demographic. I have worked as a contractor for the Army Reserve as a Youth Services Specialist responsible for Family Programming, Yellow Ribbon Re-Integration Events, Battle Weekends, etc. In addition, to enhance my social services background, I have also served as a Care Ambassador with CDC assisting with Ebola outreach prevention services. Treatment modalities include but are not limited to: DBT, CBT, Strengths-Based, Motivational Interviewing, Gestalt therapy interventions, I am able to complete anger management assessments, trauma assessments, substance abuse assessments, bio-psychosocial assessments, and various training. I host an annual Men's group with my private practice, located in Georgia and believe that Men suffer Silently, especially BIPOC men.

Cindy Bautista-Thomas, PhD, LCSW

Dr. Cindy Bautista-Thomas, PhD, LCSW, RYT is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Lehman College (CUNY), clinician, author, and co-founder of Velocity Visions, Inc. She is also the founder of Abundance Counseling Services, LCSW, PLLC, where she provides psychotherapy, supervision, and wellness coaching rooted in mindfulness and healing-centered engagement. Dr. Bautista-Thomas specializes in resilience-building, culturally responsive practice, and social-emotional learning for schools and youth-serving organizations. Her work integrates mindfulness, storytelling, and trauma research to support meaning-making, identity, and post-traumatic growth. With more than twenty years of experience, she has facilitated professional development and continuing education workshops across educational, nonprofit, and community settings. Her teaching and scholarship explore the intersection of social work, culture, and healing—equipping practitioners to foster belonging, purpose, and reflective practice. Dr. Bautista-Thomas bridges academia and applied work, helping social workers lead with empathy, equity, and emotional intelligence to transform the systems they serve.

Ancy Lewis, LCSW

Ancy Lewis, LCSW is a clinician, educator, and co-founder of Velocity Visions, Inc., with extensive experience supporting youth and families across school, disability, and community settings. She specializes in experiential learning, healing-centered engagement, and resilience-focused communication practices. Ancy trains social workers and helping professionals in reflective tools, restorative communication, and identity-conscious approaches that promote belonging and sustainability in the work. Her facilitation style blends warmth, clarity, accountability, and cultural humility. Ancy Lewis, LCSW, is a seasoned social worker with 23 years of experience across higher education, mental health, early childhood, adult nursing care, and child welfare. She serves as the Assistant Director of Field Education at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service and is the co-founder and President of Velocity Visions, Inc., a professional development company that equips individuals and organizations with tools to prevent burnout and promote sustainable practice. Ancy has provided training, coaching, and continuing education to professionals in diverse settings, drawing on a background that includes community mental health, foster care, and private practice. She has been featured as a contributor in outlets such as Parents Magazine, The Journal News, Pregnancy Corner, Reader’s Digest, and The Baltimore Times. Ancy’s work centers on self-care, resilience, and reflective engagement, and she brings a communication style rooted in clarity, cultural humility, and collaboration. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from New York University.

Ayesha M. Wilson, MSW

Ayesha M. Wilson is a Cambridge City Councillor serving her first term. Ayesha is a social worker, non-profit leader, mental health advocate and former Cambridge School Committee member. As city councillor, she has worked towards expanding Cambridge’s universal preschool program, helped create the most affordable housing possible in Cambridge by ending single-family zoning, and reaffirmed Cambridge’s status as a sanctuary city for all vulnerable people. Growing up as the oldest of three girls, in a single-parent Jamaican immigrant household in a public housing development in Cambridge, Ayesha witnessed first hand the socioeconomic barriers that families face. Ayesha is the product of Cambridge public schools, graduating from Cambridge Rindge and Latin and later attending Wheelock College, attaining a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Social Work.

Silvia Dutchevici, MA, MSW, LCSW

Silvia Dutchevici, MA, LCSW, is president and founder of the Critical Therapy Institute and author of Critical Therapy: Power and Liberation in Psychotherapy. A trained psychotherapist, Dutchevici, created critical therapy on perceiving a need for the theory and practice of psychology to reflect how race, class, gender, and religion intersect with psychological conflicts. She is a founding board member of Black Women's Blueprint and a member of the Physicians for Human Right’s Asylum Network, where she conducts psychological evaluations documenting evidence of torture and persecution for survivors fleeing danger in their home countries. She trained at the Bellevue/NYU Survivors of Torture Program, the Parent Child Center of the New York Psychoanalytic Society, and the New York Freudian Society. Dutchevici has a master’s degree in social work from New York University and a master’s degree in psychology from the New School, and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and political science from Fordham University. She has lectured and presented throughout the country on critical therapy, including at Fordham and NYU, and has been featured in the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, The Guardian, International Business Times, and Women’s Health.

Zak Anolic, LCSW

Zak (he/him) is a clinical social worker, who earned his Masters Degree from Yeshiva University and has over twelve years of experience working in alternative to Incarceration , foster care, children survivors of sexual abuse, child custody/divorce proceedings, and as an advocate in family court. Prior to his current position, Zak was also an expert witness in Family, IDV and Supreme Courts for custody trials. Zak is currently a supervisor with the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (BHEARD) in the South Bronx through cooperation of Health and Hospitals Corporation of NYC and FDNY EMS. Zak has presented to the Office of Victim Services and to the Annual conference on Families and Adoption. He also worked as a private therapist with the LGBTQ+ and non-monogamous communities, where he provided low cost/free therapy to low income individuals. Zak spends his downtime with his partner of 8yrs, and their cat Riis, as well surfing and cooking.

Morgan Nevins, LCSW, MIA

Shane Hanlon, MPA

Shane (he/him) is the Director of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD). He brings over a decade of experience in humanitarian operations, program management, and interagency coordination across the U.S. and abroad. Before joining B-HEARD, Shane directed large-scale emergency response operations for NYC Health + Hospitals, supporting medical, mental health, and resettlement services for more than 250,000 asylum seekers. He previously managed humanitarian portfolios with USAID and coordinated field programs with Doctors Without Borders.

Katherine Mikulski, LMSW

Katherine Mikulski, LMSW, is a licensed social worker based in Owego, NY, with a degree in Social Work from Binghamton University. A survivor of high-risk domestic violence, Katherine brings lived experience to her advocacy. She is a Survivor Consultant to Broome County's Domestic Violence High Risk Team and provide the survivor prospective for their Lethality Assessment Program.

Kristin Beylo, Danger Assessment Certification

Kristin Beylo has worked in local Government for over a decade. Her experience is in Child Protective, Foster Care, and abuse prevention. She is currently coordinating IPV prevention efforts in her County under the NYS STRIVE initiative.

Dr. Cassandra Lenza, DSW, LCSW

Dr. Cassandra Lenza, LCSW is a clinician, eating disorder expert, and published author, with over 15 years of experience working as an individual and family therapist. Dr. Lenza has and currently works with adults, adolescents, and families who are struggling with disordered eating, depression, anxiety, trauma, and body image concerns. Now the owner of a private practice in New Jersey, Healing on Hudson, Dr. Lenza was previously the Clinical Director of BALANCE, a leading eating disorder treatment center in NYC.

Maria Miranda, LMSW

Maria Miranda is a licensed social worker for Presbyterian Senior Services, where she provides in-home support and services to an average of 70 older adults and their families living in the East Bronx area. She is also a therapist for Sandoval Colab, specializing in supporting family caregivers. Maria's social work and therapist role is inspired and informed by her life-long experience as a caregiver to her late grandparents and currently her parents. Maria has brought her personal and professional experience to Albany and Washington DC, advocating for policy change for older adults, family caregivers and the social workers that serve them. She has ties to several caregiver advocacy organizations, most notably serving as a National Advisory Council Member for the American Association of Caregiving Youth, named a 2024 Care Fellow by Caring Across Generations and recognized as a leader within the Caring Majority Rising movement in New York State. She also serves as Board Treasurer for Release Wellness NYC and is a member of the Latino Social Work Coalition and Social Workers for Justice. Maria received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Fordham University and her master’s in social work degree from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service.

Shyvonne Noboa, LMSW

Shyvonne Noboa currently serves as Associate Executive Director for Older Adult Services at Sunnyside Community Services (SCS), a position she has held since September 2022. As a key member of SCS’s executive leadership team, she is responsible for a portfolio of programs that serve over 5,000 older adults and their family caregivers. With over a decade of service with SCS, she is a strong advocate for the aging community and human services sector. She volunteers with the Patient & Family Advisory Council at New York Presbyterian Queens, serves on the American Society on Aging’s Equity & Justice Council and is a board member of Social Workers for Justice. Shyvonne is a licensed social worker with a master’s from New York University - Silver School of Social Work. As a first-gen Latina, Ecuadorian American, she brings a deep understanding of immigrant and multicultural experiences to her work. When not working, you’ll find her running around NYC keeping up with her two kids on some adventure or rooting for the greatest baseball team, the New York Mets.

Joseph DiBenedetto, LMSW, SIFI

Joseph DiBenedetto, LMSW, SIFI, is a community organizer, educator, and licensed social worker with a deep commitment to social justice, aging equity, and policy advocacy. With a Master of Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, Joseph brings over a decade of experience leading community-engaged research, developing advocacy programs, and mentoring emerging social workers. His work spans grassroots organizing, intergenerational coalition-building, and civic engagement, with a growing focus on combating misinformation and advancing equitable access to care. Joseph currently serves as a Project Manager at Mount Sinai’s MINDt Lab and teaches graduate-level social work courses.

Emily Coderre, LMSW, PhD Candidate

Emily Coderre, LMSW, is a Ph.D. candidate at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service and a school social worker at a high school in East Harlem. Her work supports students with social, emotional, and mental health needs while informing her research on equity and access in higher education. Emily’s scholarship focuses on undocumented and immigrant students’ access to higher education, immigration policy reform, and the use of technology to enhance student well-being and learning. Guided by a commitment to social justice and equity, she aims to bridge research, policy, and practice to expand educational opportunity for all students.

Doreen Dorcely, LMSW, PhD Candidate

Doreen Dorcely is a Licensed Master Social Worker, adjunct professor, and doctoral candidate at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service. Her experience in a school-based mental health clinic and as a school counselor has fueled her passion for supporting students and their families throughout their educational journeys. She is deeply committed to advocating for educational equity and students’ rights, particularly within special education. Currently, her research interests focus on of mental health, education, and technology. She also integrates creativity into her work, using innovative approaches to promote growth and empowerment.

Jemel Aguilar, PhD, LCSW, MPH

Dr. Jemel Aguilar earned his PhD and master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, focusing on children and families within generalist social work practice. His extensive background in HIV services and a Master's in Public Health have shaped his academic interests in health promotion for marginalized and low-income populations. Dr. Aguilar has contributed to key journals, including Culture, Health, and Sexuality, and is the author of Decolonizing Human Behavior in the Social Environment. He is currently editing a textbook that explores marginalized identities across the lifespan. Dr. Aguilar also examines how people with invisible disabilities experience society and social structures; these relationships are then linked to the formulation of oppression.

Robyn Wiktorski-Reynolds, LMSW

Robyn Wiktorski-Reynolds has been a social worker since 2001. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo’s School of Social Work program. Her interests are anchored in social work management, specifically the beneficial impact that trauma-informed and human rights perspectives can have on social workers, programs and organizations, as well as the collective influence these perspectives can have on creating more socially just and equitable policies. This includes the role of Unions in social work environments. Ms. Wiktorski-Reynolds spent 21 years as a manager and leader in a Buffalo, NY crisis center that was unionized. She received her BA in English and a Women’s Studies minor in 1997 from SUNY College at Buffalo and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001.

Dr. Kimberlee Thomas-Seales, LMSW

Dr. Kimberlee Thomas-Seales, LMSW, is a licensed social worker, behavioral therapist, and educator with over 20 years of experience in the social-services field. She is the Founder and Program Director of DAKXS Leadership & Empowerment Circle, LLC, an organization dedicated to bridging social work and applied behavior analysis (ABA) through culturally responsive training, early-intervention services, and professional development. Dr. Thomas-Seales teaches graduate-level social-work courses in values, ethics, identity, social justice, and clinical practice. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates the Person-in-Environment (PIE) perspective, ABA principles, and cultural humility to strengthen ethical practice and promote equity across systems of care. Drawing from extensive experience in early intervention, program management, and psychotherapy, she trains professionals to support neurodivergent individuals and families through evidence-based and trauma-informed methods. Her work emphasizes collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and systems change as pathways to more inclusive and equitable social-work practice.