BOARD OF DIRECTORS - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President

Nikka Peralta, LCSW

I am deeply honored and excited to accept the position of President of the NASW New Mexico Chapter. As a proud native New Mexican and graduate of New Mexico Highlands University with a Master’s in Social Work, this role holds profound personal and professional meaning for me.

Since founding Mending Hearts, from my heart in 2016, I have been committed to advancing social justice, advocating for systemic change, and supporting individuals and families across our communities. I believe that the foundation of our work as social workers is built on connection, compassion, and the collective belief that together, we can be difference makers.

As we move forward, my vision for NASW-NM is one of collaboration, inclusion, and growth. I am eager to work alongside each of you to strengthen our presence across the state, create meaningful opportunities for engagement and education, and continue uplifting the values and ethics that define our profession.

Thank you for your trust and support. I look forward to building the future of NASW NM together.

Nikka Peralta, LCSW

Vice President

Adam Zamora, LMSW, MHA

I’m deeply honored to be part of the Social Work movement in New Mexico—a place rich in culture, resilience, and community spirit. Over the past 25 years, my career has been rooted in service to those who are disenfranchised and marginalized, always guided by a commitment to equity and inclusion.

I began my journey in case management at a large nonprofit, where I learned the importance of listening deeply and honoring the lived experiences of those I served. After earning my Master of Social Work in 2012, I worked briefly for the State of New Mexico before transitioning into managed healthcare. For the past decade, I’ve focused on supporting aging and disabled populations, striving to ensure that care systems reflect the values and needs of the communities they serve.

As New Mexico prepares to become one of the states with the highest proportion of older adults in the next five years, I remain committed to working alongside providers—especially those embedded in culturally diverse communities—to ensure they have the tools, training, and support to thrive. I believe that a responsive regulatory ecosystem must be built on cultural humility, recognizing that communities are the experts in their own lives and that policy must reflect their voices.

Thank you,
Adam Zamora, LMSW, MHA

Vice-President, Budget and Finance

Angelina Valdespino, LCSW

I’m honored to serve as NASW-NM’s Second Vice President for Budget and Finance. I was born and raised in Albuquerque and I’ve lived in Las Cruces for the last twenty years. My personal and professional roots are here, and I’m deeply connected to the histories and landscapes of New Mexico. My clinical work has centered on intergenerational and complex trauma, resilience and healing, and equitable access to care. As a social work educator, I ground my teaching in cultural humility, discerning thought, and deep self-reflection to strengthen students’ capacity to grow in the face of complexity alongside their practice.

New Mexico is culturally distinct. Tribal nations, colonias, rural communities, and marginalized families carry inherited wisdom and historic harm. Social work in New Mexico needs to be grounded in place, history, and relationship, and our social workers deserve a professional home that reflects that.

My vision is for NASW-NM to help amplify New Mexico’s strengths and needs, and to shift toward policy that is informed by lived experience and away from policy that requires conformity to values that do not reflect the communities we serve. In this role, I’m committed to aligning our financial strategy with our values and using our budget as a tool to expand access, invest in our members, foster community and collaboration, and build a sustainable chapter that supports the people who support New Mexico’s communities.

Angelina Valdespino, LCSW

MSW Student Representative

Madeleine Brown, MSW Student

I am deeply honored to accept the MSW Student Representative position on the NASW-NM Board of Directors.  I have spent my career working in public and nonprofit spaces to help those who have been marginalized have access to needed resources and I am excited and committed to continuing this work.

Originally from Los Alamos, New Mexico, I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from New Mexico State University in 2011.  I graduated with my Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management in 2016.  I decided to pursue social work when I worked as a Case Manager for the State of Oregon Department of Human Services, serving primarily TANF participants and domestic violence survivors.  I hope to continue working with those who have experienced domestic violence as well as the LGBTQ+ community in New Mexico.

I look forward to working alongside other professionals in the field to advocate for important causes, offer meaningful educational opportunities, support our already resilient communities, and to see New Mexican social workers thrive.

Madeleine Brown, MSW Student

BSW Student Representative

Andrés E. Uribe

I am deeply honored to accept the BSW Student Representative position on our NASW-NM Board of Directors. Born in Las Cruces, New Mexico and raised by a bilingual public educator and family nurse practitioner in public service, I was inspired by my parents' dedication to service and social justice.

Passionate about macro, policy, and system-level social work, I have worked in the New Mexico education nonprofit sector since 2017, elevating the needs and rights Native American students, English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and students from families experiencing poverty to an equitable education.

Now organizing change efforts in higher education, I am eager to be a part of an advancing new movement in our state ensuring that social work, as an academic discipline and practice-based profession, is relevant, community-driven, transformatively experiential, sustainable, and builds off the strengths of our diverse communities.

Albuquerque/Central Chair

Natalie Tavitas, LCSW, MBA

I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and for the past 15 years I have had the honor of serving my community through social work in a variety of settings. My experience includes protective services, medical social work, school social work, and clinical therapy, allowing me to support individuals and families across the lifespan. I hold both a Master of Social Work and a Master of Business Administration, which gives me a unique perspective that blends clinical practice with organizational leadership, systems thinking, and sustainable advocacy.

As a proud Burqueña, I am deeply connected to Albuquerque and continually inspired by the diversity, strength, and resilience of our community. My greatest passion is working alongside young people (one of our most vulnerable populations) and helping amplify their voices as leaders of our future.

Serving on the NASW board comes at a critical time when our communities need social workers more than ever. I am committed to strengthening our profession, advocating for meaningful change, and uplifting the voices of social workers and the communities we serve so that everyone has the opportunity to develop, thrive, and be heard.

Natalie Tavitas, LCSW, MBA

Southwest Chair

Ky Miller, LMSW, LADAC

My vision starts with us, social workers backing each other up. I am here to build real personal connections across New Mexico, expand access to supervision, and make CEUs meaningful, affordable, and worth attending.

After a period of transition for NASW in New Mexico, we now have a fully engaged board again. I want to reintroduce NASW NM to our community, remind everyone what we are here for, and make membership feel valuable in real life. Part of that means creating spaces for listening, applied learning, mentorship, and real connection— things that recharge us and sharpen our craft.

My passion is addiction, homelessness, and lowering the recidivism rate in New Mexico. I am in long term recovery, so I know the fight from both sides. I believe in housing first, harm reduction with a clear path to recovery, and care that does not drop people the moment treatment ends. Recovery is a continuum, not a countdown. Treatment should not stop at four or six months. People need sustained support, smart reentry planning, and true coordination between behavioral health, medical care, housing, and community partners. I will keep pushing for Medicaid and MCO coverage that funds what actually keeps people stable over time.

This is life and death work, done with clear eyes and a steady heart. My goal is to keep us connected, sharpen our skills, and make sure the systems we work in reflect the reality we see every day.

Ky Miller, LMSW, LADAC

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