BOARD OF DIRECTORS - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President - Ellen Costilla
(2022-2024)


President_Ellen_Costilla

A licensed clinical social worker who has been involved with both direction social work services and administrative responsibilities for well over 30 years. My current work includes my position as a Clinical Services Coordinator for the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court and also as a part-time therapist with Bosque Mental Health Associates. I am a member of NASW-NM and had served as President of the board from 2005-2008. I have also been a past member of the NM Board of Social Work Examiners from 2009-2015. I am very proud of our profession of social work for NM State University. I additionally continue to provide field social work practicum instruction for social work students and clinical services supervision for social workers who are working toward attaining the level of clinical social work licensure. I love providing training on a variety of topics, have previously presented at the annual NASW-NM social work conference and recently completed the training of trainers offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on "How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses." Additionally, I remain very interested in research that investigates and improves the lives of New Mexicans. I have been the principal investigator on a few grants and I have been serving on the State Dementia Services Leadership Committee. I live and work in the City of Albuquerque and metropolitan area and hope to represent its diversity and growing challenges through public policy input, improving access to mental health and alcohol and drug use disorders treatment and through excellence in continuing education. On a personal level, I am the proud mother of two wonderful adult children, I am a voracious reader and I love movies/films of all kinds and being an active patron of the performing arts - both theatre and music.

President Elect-Daniella Montoya (2023-2024)


PresidentElectDaniellaMontoya

Daniella Montoya, LMSW, raised in Sena, NM, is a proud mother to her daughter Isabella. Earning her AA from New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in 2012, her BS in Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu in 2014, and her MSW with a Clinical Concentration from New Mexico Highlands University in 2020. Daniella has graduate field experience in the correctional setting as well as in the school environment with elementary aged children. She currently works as a licensed school social worker, serving grades 9-12. Daniella also serves as a Field Consultant for New Mexico Highlands University. Daniella is passionate about serving the youth of her community and over the last few years, she has had the pleasure of working with amazing students, caring families, committed staff, and helpful community agencies. It has been, and continues to be, truly wonderful to experience and develop such long-standing, positive relationships with families and see such growth. Daniella looks forward to the continuation of obtaining knowledge and experience in the field of social work. Being from rural NM, she aims to learn from, empower, and support the social work professionals in the Northern Region and across the state.

1st Vice Chair -Tonya M Louis (2022-2024)


1stViceChair-TonyaMLouis

Tonya M. Louis, MSW, identifies as she, her, and hers. She is an enrolled member of the Acoma Pueblo Tribe located in New Mexico. She has more than 15 years of behavioral health and public health experience at the tribal, federal, and state levels.
Currently, Ms. Louis is a Licensed Master Level Social Worker. She specializes in the field of suicide prevention, substance use, and community-based behavioral health. She is also certified in Native American Inspired Equine Psychotherapy. Ms. Louis was recently appointed to serve a two-year term as the Chair for the American Indian/Alaska Native Task Force (2022-2024) and a one-year term as First Vice President for the Board of Directors-Executive Committee (2022-2023) with the National Association of Social Workers-New Mexico Chapter.
Ms. Louis has extensive experience working with program development, adolescent/adult intervention processes, child welfare, treatment interventions and crisis response.
Ms. Louis deeply appreciates the importance and mission of the social work profession which includes enhancing human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to unique needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty including promotion of social justice and social change.

2nd Vice Chair - Vanessa Ragsdale (2023-2025)


M. Vanessa Ragsdale, LCSW, ACSW

M. Vanessa Ragsdale, LCSW, ACSW joined NASW in 1982. She received her MSW from Ohio State University. She is currently employed as a social worker at the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albuquerque and works with homeless veterans in the HUD Vash Department. Previously, she worked for 20 plus years as a school social worker in St. Louis Missouri where she also held several other part time positions in her “spare time.”
I have been a member of the New Mexico National Association for Social Workers since moving here from St. Louis, Missouri. Her career has allowed her to experience a wide variety of rich opportunities where she has worked as a clinical social worker, medical social worker, school social worker, residential recovery specialist and military family life counselor to name a few. In addition to the various positions she has held during her career, she has also worked in various states with the first being in her native east coast, the mid-west and now in her new southwestern home state of New Mexico. She feels that having lived in various places has helped her to continue to grow in her understanding and empathy for the differences that we as social workers see in others who we have the honor to serve. In addition to her professional work life, she has also been privileged to have been chosen to serve in numerous leadership roles in a variety of civic, community and professional organizations.

Secretary - Monique Rodriguez(2023-2025)


Secretary - Monique Rodriguez(2023-2025)

Monique is a Licensed Master Social Worker in Texas and New Mexico and is currently under clinical supervision. She has been a member of NASW since graduate school. Originally from Houston, Texas, she has been serving the community for over 20 years. Monique is formally trained and has utilized the following modalities in working with clients: DBT, CBT, CPT, Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy (PGDT), and EMDR. Monique is also licensed as a Substance Abuse Associate (LSAA) in New Mexico. Monique served in the US Army for 8 years prior to becoming a social worker. She earned her Master in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas in 2015. She was trained at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and served at multiple veteran nonprofits in the Houston area before relocating to Las Cruces in 2020.

Board Nominations



Email resume/CV & interest to info.naswnm@socialworkers.org

BOARD POSITIONS NEEDED



Eastern Program Chair - Portales/Clovis

Northern Program Chair 

Southern Program Chair - Las Cruces

Southeastern Program Chair - Carlsbad or Hobbs 

Student Positions: NMHU, WNMU, ENMU, BSW

BECOME A NASW-NM MEMBER


WE ARE HIRING!

Executive Director
New Mexico

To be considered for this position, please upload your resume and cover letter at the prompt.

Founded in 1955, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.

Application deadline: April 1, 2025


The New Mexico Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), with a statewide membership of 730 is seeking a full-time Executive Director with demonstrated leadership and management skills. In addition, applicants should have a substantial knowledge of and a strong commitment to the social work profession and social work values, with an awareness of the diversity of social work practice.  Applicants should also be able to engage, inspire, and mobilize the Association’s membership. The Chapter Executive Director reports to the NASW Vice President of Chapter Operations at the National Office.

Position requires:

  • Senior leadership experience working with professional or non-profit organizations and their volunteer Boards in a professional office environment
  • Minimum of 5 years of executive level experience. 
  • Four-year college degree required; MSW preferred
  • Exceptional executive management skills, including the ability to provide oversight for organizational and leadership development priorities, and staff supervision
  • Demonstrated budget and financial management skills
  • Solid continuing education program planning and implementation skills
  • Experience with organizing, conducting in-person, virtual, or hybrid meetings
  • Experience in diversity, equity and inclusion practices and strategies
  • Strong advocacy and legislative experience and skills
  • Experience in membership services
  • Community organizing experience
  • Exceptional written and oral communications skills
  • Experience working with traditional and social media in professional settings
  • Commitment to providing excellent membership support and engagement
  • Proficient with Office products software, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as working in the online/cloud environment

The Chapter office is remote, and this position requires travel as an essential function of the job. The role expects the executive director to provide their own means of transportation to attend meetings and activities throughout the state.

Competitive starting salary of $80,000 commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits, including 401k and health insurance.

NASW is an equal opportunity employer.  As such, NASW is committed to promoting and providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees.  The selection of personnel, including new hires and promotions, will be on the basis of qualifications designed to ensure appointments of persons able to effectively discharge the duties and responsibilities of their position.  The Association will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.  The Association will also abide by applicable Affirmative Action requirements mandated by any federal contracts.

NASW offers reasonable accommodation during the application process for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance during the application or interview process and in completing new hire paperwork to accommodate a disability, please email requests to: mthomason.nasw@socialworkers.org

Other details

Click here to apply for the position: Executive Director - New Mexico | Dayforce Jobs