Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners
Term ends: 11/14/2025
Please give a brief biography, including your education, licensure or certification level and employment history:
I am a licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board‑Approved Clinical Supervisor in Louisiana, bringing over 25 years of professional experience across practice, education, regulation, and leadership. My career spans roles as a professor, clinical practitioner, and supervisor, with advanced expertise in social work regulation and program and policy direction at clinical, community, and systems levels. I have served in leadership positions including NASW‑LA regional board member, president of the Louisiana Association of Clinical Social Workers, vice‑president of the Louisiana Association of School Social Workers, and most recently as immediate past chairperson of the Louisiana State Board of Social Workers an office to which I was elected three times by my peers. While at LABSWE, I led collaborative work with board members, stakeholders, public members, and professional associations to promulgate over 70 rules governing social work practice, strengthening public protection and elevating professional standards. I also served as an inaugural Delegate Commissioner representing Louisiana on the Social Work Interstate Compact Commission, as Member‑at‑Large and Rules Committee Chair.
Give a synopsis of your regulatory and professional experience. Please emphasize your involvement with ASWB:
My public service and regulatory experience includes gubernatorial appointments to three commissions. As immediate past chair of the Louisiana State Board of Social Workers, I was honored in November 2024 with the international Sunny Andrews Regulatory Award from the Association of Social Work Boards an acknowledgement I received humbly on behalf of the collaborative work that strengthened regulatory leadership and public protection. This recognition reaffirmed my commitment to title protection, public safety, and service.
Since 2021 I have represented my jurisdiction at numerous ASWB delegate assemblies and served as an active volunteer member of the association, participating as an inaugural member of both the DEIJ Committee and the REAL Committee. To promote member engagement and cross-jurisdictional learning, I currently facilitate the Coffee Chat with the Chairs, a forum designed to share information, surface challenges, and create space for collective experience among regulatory leaders. Committed to growing the next generation of social work professionals and increasing awareness of regulation, I helped establish the ASWB/Phi Alpha Student Ambassador Program.
Finally, make a brief statement on the major issues you see facing ASWB, and how you would address them:
The potential erosion of the social work profession is a significant concern for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Addressing this challenge requires a two‑pronged strategy: strengthening public awareness of ASWB’s mission and deepening member engagement. First, increasing public awareness is essential. The public must understand ASWB’s purpose protecting the public by upholding standards for safe, ethical social work practice and know how ASWB’s work impacts licensure, mobility, and consumer protection. Clear, consistent messaging across media, community outreach, and stakeholder partnerships will make ASWB’s role visible and meaningful to the people it serves. Second, robust membership engagement is critical. Our existing members must be well informed about ASWB’s vision and activities so they can advocate effectively for the profession and the public interest. This includes expanding educational offerings, creating regular forums for dialogue, and providing resources that enable members to represent ASWB’s priorities in their jurisdictions. Strategic expansion of relationships with Canadian jurisdictions will advance inclusivity and cross‑border regulatory alignment.