Board of Directors

President Elect

Grace Ott (Term ends 2028)

Grace Ott (she/her/hers) is a LCSW currently working in a private telehealth practice, A Personal Call LLC. She has served on the NASW Maine Chapter’s Policy Committee since 2022 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2023. Grace has been a member of NASW since graduating with her MSW from City University of New York Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. During the covid-19 pandemic, Grace served as a Behavioral Health Clinician for Pen Bay Family Medicine/MaineHealth’s Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) program. Prior to moving to mid-coast Maine, Grace lived and worked as a clinical social worker in Florida and maintained a LMSW in New York State. Due to working and maintaining licenses in multiple states, Grace became passionate about the importance of having Maine join the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact. She is proud that Maine’s legislature approved LD2140 in the spring of 2024 making Maine the 10th state to join the compact. In 2024, she completed the 9hr NASW ME certification for LGBTQIA+ Competencies for Clinicians adding to previous experiences working with patients in a variety of settings including: in-home, primary care offices, hospitals, through telehealth, and group facilitation. She maintains her training in EMDR, CBT, DBT and other evidenced-based practices.

1st Vice President

Cynthia Cushing (Term ends 2025)

Cynthia Cushing (she/her/hers) is a Community Case Management Team Leader with Summit Support Services and has worked as a case manager assisting adults with developmental disabilities for the last 12 years. Cynthia assists new and upcoming case managers with learning the duties required for this valued profession, including assistance with paperwork requirements, as well as emotional feedback.

Cynthia is pursuing her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Maine and looks forward to becoming a licensed clinician once she completes her program. She is working to start a business which incorporates mentoring for folks from when they are in utero, and for as many years as needed afterwards, as a way to give all children, young adults, and adults the best opportunity for success throughout their lives. The opioid crisis, and the number of young adults dying of drug overdose, promoted this vision. The concept behind this business is to combine mentoring efforts already in place and make them more accessible for people at any age.

Cynthia received her certification as a health coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in 2010 and has been a certified Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) trainer since that time as well. She also has experience working as a reporter and editor for the Kennebec Journal, a career which began following her graduation from the University of Maine at Orono in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

In her free time Cynthia enjoys photographing birds, dancing at Motor Booty events, hiking, and trips to Baxter State Park.

2nd Vice President for Budget and Finance

Kate Marble (Term ends 2027)

Kate Marble (she/her/hers) is the Clinical Director at Health Affiliates Maine, a statewide behavioral health agency, providing clinical direction and oversight of community-based psychiatric services, behavioral health counseling and case management programs. She has been working in community mental health for twenty years, leading initiatives in domestic violence, Veterans suicide prevention, and community mental health. She has over fifteen years of nonprofit board work and has previously served as Board Chair at the Center for Wisdom’s Women and Safe Voices. Currently, Kate is most passionate about policy issues impacting frontline social workers and their clients. 

Secretary

Kassandra Pierce (Term ends 2026)

Kassandra Pierce (she/her/hers) recently received her MSW from the University of New England along with a Trauma-Informed Care certification. Kassandra has a passion for early childhood education and intervention advocacy. Kassandra also sits on the board of directors for Down Syndrome Awareness Project of Maine (DSAPME). Kassandra lives in Topsham, Maine and enjoys spending weekends hiking with her husband and dog.

Board Members At-Large (Terms end June 2025):

Katrina Ladd

Katrina Ladd (she/they) received her masters in social work from the University of Maine (Orono) in 2022. She lives in Farmington, Maine and works in RSU 9 as the day treatment clinician at the local middle school. Katrina’s passion is working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings. She has experience working in crisis services, child protective services, and school/community based behavioral health. In her free time, Katrina loves to watch documentaries, play softball with a local league, and spend time with family/friends. 

Board Members At-Large (Terms end June 2027):

Judith Josiah-Martin

Dr. Judith Josiah-Martin (she/her/hers): For the past 17 years, Dr. Judith Josiah-Martin, PhD, ACSW, CADC, has been an integral part of the University of Maine community, serving as a faculty member in the School of Social Work and as the Director of Multicultural Student Life. She holds a PhD in Clinical Social Work from Smith College School of Social Work and a MSW degree with an emphasis in Social Welfare, Administration, and Community Development from Washington University-St. Louis. Recently honored with the 2021 President’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award at the University of Maine, Dr. Josiah-Martin is deeply committed to both her students and the broader community. She serves on the Board of Trustees for St Joseph’s Healthcare System and the Board of Directors for Maine Migrant Health Program. With over 40 years of experience in the field of social work, Dr. Josiah-Martin has worn many hats including clinical social worker, program administrator, mental health trainer and consultant, community advocate, educator, social activist, grant coordinator, and researcher. Her areas of expertise span clinical practice, substance use and trauma-related disorders, family life matters, practice interventions for under-represented populations, and intercultural communication focusing on equity and inclusion in the workplace. In addition to her work at the University of Maine, she is owner of JAMA Professional Development Services where she offers her services as professional speaker/trainer, mentor, consultant on a variety of mental health and wellness topics. Outside of work, Dr. Josiah-Martin is a passionate reader, musician, and world traveler who thrives on outdoor adventures. Her diverse experiences and dedication to social work make her a valuable asset to both the university and the community at large.

Jeremy Lynch

Jeremy Lynch (he/him/his): Jeremy is a General Education School Social Worker at Saccarappa Elementary School in Westbrook, ME.  In addition to General Education School Social Work, he has also worked as a Special Education School Social Worker and has provided outpatient therapy for children and families across several roles such as a Spurwink Public School Counselor, an outpatient therapist, a counseling affiliate, and as a social worker at Spurwink’s Glickman Academy day treatment school.  Jeremy is currently the membership liaison for NASW Maine’s School Social Work Committee and a member of NASW Maine’s Policy Committee.  He is also a recently elected board member of Seedlings to Sunflowers Non-Profit Childcare and Family Center.  Jeremy lives in Gorham, ME with his wife and two children and when not social working, Jeremy is improvising with The Teller's Garden playback theater group in Portland, ME.

Alicia McConkey

Alicia McConkey (she/her/hers) received her MSW degree from the University of Maine in May 2024. In previous work with NASW, Alicia was an MSW Student Representative to the Executive Board, member of the Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) and Policy Committees, where she has enjoyed bringing educational opportunities to fellow social workers on JEDI topics and working on policy issues important to social workers in Maine. JEDI topics that have been of special interest and Alicia has helped bring educational opportunities to Social Woker are LGBTQIA+ issues, Service Dog advocacy, and Disability rights. Policy topics that have been of special interest are LGBTQIA+, Student Loan Repayment, and ASWB Exam legislation. In her clinical work, she specializes in trauma-informed, strengths-based therapies tailored to fit each individual client. She has experience working with adolescents and young adults in the LGBTQIA+, Neurodivergent, and Disabled communities. In her private life Alicia is an outspoken advocate for Service Dog handlers and their Service Dogs and spends time educating anyone who will listen about Service Dogs and is interested in changing laws within Maine to increase protections for Service Dogs and their handlers. In her free time, she enjoys training and spending time with her Service dog, reading, music, art, and nature.

Ken Rautiola

Ken Rautiola (he/him/his) is a Nationally Certified School Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He has earned his MSW, M.Ed., and Educational Specialist (Educational Leadership) degrees from the University of Maine and is currently an Ed.D. (Educational Leadership) student at Liberty University. For the 2023-24 school year, Ken has served as the Mental Health Distinguished Educator at the Maine Department of Education. In this role he has had the opportunity to facilitate a statewide webinar series promoting the US Center for Disease Control’s Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: A New Action Guide for School and District Leaders as well as supporting other school based mental health initiatives. Outside of this MDOE opportunity, Ken works as a clinical social worker at a regional day treatment school. Ken currently serves on the NASW National School Social Work Specialty Practice Committee as well volunteering on the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) National Standards and Practice and Professional Development committees. He is a lead rater for the National Certification in School Social Work process and has presented at the last two SSWAA national conferences. Locally, Ken serves on the suicide prevention and mental health advisory committees for his school district, and NASW-ME school social work committee. He has also served as Branch E chair and Vice President of NASW-ME, the training chairperson and executive board member of his local boy scout council and has served on his local school board (MSAD23).

Lacey Sawyer

Lacey Sawyer (she/her/hers): Growing up amidst generational and working-class poverty in rural Aroostook County, within a lineage characterized by a matriarchal, single-parent family structure, Lacey has cultivated a unique yet common perspective on the crucial and missing components necessary and vital for people and their communities to not just survive, but to thrive.

Lacey pursued her academic journey, earning a BA in Psychology from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and completing her MSW in 2011 from the University of New England. With a significant portion of her career devoted to rural social work, both in generalist and clinical practice, Lacey eventually transitioned into roles within higher education, consulting, and policy advocacy. Lacey believes that authentic expertise at any table arises from those with lived experiences, giving voice to address the nuances of what does and does not support social and economic justice by the very people who have survived those systems. The fundamental lesson she imparts is the necessity of creating resilient communities that nurture equity and access while building on social connectedness and inclusivity. 

Beyond her professional credentials as a dual-licensed clinical social worker, alcohol and drug counselor, and clinical supervisor, Lacey is deeply engaged and invested in her local and state communities as an educator, policy advocate and activist. Alongside her teaching positions, she volunteers her time with organizations such as Agape and Maine Equal Justice, serving on boards and leadership teams. Lacey lends her expertise as a subject matter expert and consultant with the Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Center. Lacey’s pursuits extend beyond her professional realm; she is a homesteader, a devoted mother, an enthusiastic outdoor adventurer and reader.

Shawna Traugh

Dr. Shawna Traugh, LCSW (she/her/hers) is the Director of Field Education at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She is also a Per Diem Clinical Consultant to the children’s services programs for the Aroostook Mental Health Center. Shawna is passionate about community advocacy and child/youth mental health awareness. She is the Chair of the Board for Pride Aroostook and is devoted to LGBTQIA2S+ advocacy in rural communities. In addition, she is a Board member of the Maine Women’s Lobby/Education Fund and is a member of the Development Committee. Shawna is a member of the NASW Maine chapter JEDI Committee.

Shawna was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and moved to Tobique First Nation (Neqotkuk), NB, Canada as a teen. She has lived in Maine since 2003. She has been a licensed clinician since 2006. Shawna has worked in the social service/social work field since 1997 and has worked in micro, mezzo, and macro-level social work throughout her career. 

Shawna is passionate about education and inspiring others to learn. She has 2 Bachelor's degrees [BA/Psychology (UNB) & BS/Mental Health and Human Services (UMA)], a Master's in Social Work (UNE), a Post-grad certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (USM), and a Doctorate in Social Work (Tulane). She enjoys traveling, singing, dancing, and acting.  

Shawna lives in Caribou with her partner and a very high-maintenance cat named Rex.

Student Representatives (Terms end June 2025):

Angie Holmes

Angie Holmes (she/her/hers) will be graduating from UMaine with her MSW in May 2025. Her internship this upcoming year is with Wellpath, providing mental health services to people experiencing incarceration at Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston Maine. Angie has a strong interest in harm reduction approaches to substance use disorder and was a research assistant this past summer with Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center examining the Maine Naloxone Distribution Initiative. She is a Mom to a wonderful 15-year-old son and lives in Midcoast Maine. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and kayaking with her Westie and son (when he is willing), crossword puzzles, sudoku, and reading.

Abigail Zier

Abigail Zier (she/her/hers): Growing up on an island in Maine and earning her BFA in fine art from Syracuse University laid the foundation for Abigail's journey into social work. However, it was her four years as an elementary school art teacher in Germany, alongside her German husband and faithful dog Lucy, that ignited her passion for community engagement and cultural understanding. Since returning to Maine in September 2023 to embark on the MSW program at UMaine, Abigail has experienced her home state through fresh eyes, fostering a deeper connection to its people and challenges. Her practicum experience at Northern Light Health in Pittsfield, Maine, has been instrumental in honing her skills as a compassionate and effective social worker, allowing her to forge meaningful connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Driven by her fervor for advocacy and policy, Abigail has eagerly immersed herself in shadowing and engaging with social workers at the State House and NASW Maine's Policy Committee. She is deeply committed to championing the rights of social workers and those we serve, fueled by a desire to enact positive change in our communities. Looking ahead, Abigail is excited to continue contributing her student perspective and learning from the esteemed professionals on NASW Maine's Board and continue bringing positive change to the communities in Maine.