NASW-CA Leadership Voting Begins

Leadership shapes the direction, integrity, and impact of our organization. The 2026 Leadership Elections provide members with the opportunity to participate in a transparent and values driven process by selecting leaders who will guide our work, represent our collective voice, and advance our mission.

On this page, you will find candidate photos and statements from individuals seeking leadership roles. Each nominee brings unique experiences, perspectives, and priorities to their candidacy. We encourage members to review each statement thoughtfully and consider how each candidate’s vision aligns with the future of our organization.

Your participation in this election is an essential part of our democratic process. By engaging in the voting process, you help strengthen our leadership, ensure accountability, and support a representative and inclusive organization.

Election Timeline

Meet the 2026 Leadership Nominees

Below are the individuals seeking leadership positions for the 2026 term. Candidate information is listed by position and presented in a consistent format to support an informed and equitable voting process.

President-Elect

My name is Muriel Casamayor, DSW, LMFT, and I am honored to run for NASW-CA President-Elect. I am a licensed clinician, educator, and community leader with over a decade of experience advancing mental health equity through clinical practice, leadership, and advocacy. My leadership vision is rooted in strengthening NASW-CA as an accessible, responsive, and justice-centered professional home. If elected, my priorities include supporting early- and mid-career social workers, expanding leadership pathways for historically marginalized members, and advancing advocacy efforts that address workforce sustainability, licensure barriers, and community-informed care. I am especially committed to ensuring NASW-CA continues to show up boldly during times of social and political uncertainty—advocating for both our profession and the communities we serve.

My work has been deeply informed by serving undocumented, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+ communities, particularly those navigating systemic barriers to care, safety, and professional advancement. I have developed and supported programs focused on culturally responsive services, mentorship, and training for clinicians working with marginalized populations, and I continue to advocate for policies that promote access, dignity, and inclusion. I currently serve as President of the Inland Empire Chapter of CAMFT (2025–2026) and have held leadership roles within professional associations and community-based initiatives. I am the founder of Insight Family Counseling & Wellness Services, where I provide clinical care, supervision, and training. I believe in leadership grounded in collaboration, transparency, and collective care. I would be honored to serve NASW-CA and contribute to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for our profession.

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I am Dr. Marya Wright, LCSW, a social work educator, practitioner, business owner, nonprofit founder, and longtime NASW leader, and I am honored to be a candidate for President-Elect of NASW-California. I joined NASW as a student at San Diego State University and continued my membership through my MSW at Cal State East Bay and my doctoral studies as a USC alumna. I currently serve as an Assistant Regional Director for NASW-California, focusing on member engagement, governance, and regional representation. My NASW leadership includes serving as a California Lobby Days Team Leader, as a Committee Member of the Social and Economic Justice & Peace Specialty Practice Section, and as a Member and Co-Author of the NASW Child Welfare Standards Task Force. I have also presented at NASW national conferences and for NASW chapters in Texas and Louisiana. I have been a professor since January 2020 and bring ten years of county child welfare experience. Born in Humboldt County, I have lived and worked in San Diego, completed my doctoral education in Los Angeles, and currently reside in the Bay Area. These lived and professional experiences shape how I understand and connect with the diverse needs of social workers across California. If elected, I will lead by listening to members, engaging across the state, and translating member feedback into action. I invite members across regions, roles, and career stages to connect with me on LinkedIn.

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Member at Large, VP Legislative & Political Affairs

I seek this position because we are living in a moment that calls not for silence, but for moral clarity. There are times in history when neutrality becomes complicity, when patience becomes a betrayal of justice. Social work is rooted in a sacred commitment to human dignity, self-determination, and the protection of the vulnerable. These are not abstract ideals. They are living obligations. Today, those obligations stand in direct opposition to actions that demean, exclude, and terrorize communities already pushed to the margins. When fear is normalized and cruelty is systematized, our Constitution and our shared moral inheritance are placed in peril. I became a social worker because I believe every individual possesses inherent worth and the right to self-determination. I chose to work at the macro level because lasting justice requires courageous engagement with the system. I have served as Executive Director of community-based nonprofit organizations in California, Massachusetts, and Oregon, including SAVE, the Center for Human Development, St. Francis House, NAMI of Massachusetts, Healthcare for All Oregon, and the St. Francis Center in Los Angeles. I have also maintained licensure as an LCSW in Virginia. As Mayor Frey of Minneapolis stated plainly, “To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here.” I would add: not just Minneapolis, but the United States of America. This is where social workers belong, bearing witness, advocating boldly, and engaging peacefully yet persistently. We must meet this moment with courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to justice.

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Member at Large, VP Membership & Organizational Svcs.

Anastacia is a passionate social worker providing hope and healing by utilizing her diverse clinical skills and best practices to support underserved clients. Currently, she works at Telecare Corporation, as a Clinician with underserved clients with complex mental illnesses and often co-occurring issues. Anastacia is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Social Work Program at Capella University. She holds her Master’s degree in Social Work from Capella, where she was President and Secretary of Phi Alpha Honor Society and a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration with a concentration in Gerontology, and undergraduate degree in Community Health Education from CSU, Long Beach. She has been engaged as a NASW member and hopes to expand California’s membership and organizational goals for the next three years. She has previously in her “other life before social work” supported organizations through audits, grant writing, proposals, developing business and strategic plans, contracting, policy reviews, budgetary reviews, and educating others regarding health and human service issues. Additionally, Anastacia has chaired committees with several organizations to support membership, organizational capacity, and education. In her spare time, Anastacia supports the Solano Food Pantry as the Volunteer Coordinator and grant writer, which serves 1400+ families a month and has 500 volunteers. Anastacia enjoys yoga, kayaking, hiking, gardening, cooking for family and friends, and participating in ministries at her church. She continues to expand her understanding of varied Social Work Theories, best practices, social work research in their application to possible research studies. Thank you for your consideration!

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Board of Directors, Student Director North

I am running for NASW-CA Student Director North to strengthen student support, engagement, and pathways into leadership and policy advocacy. My commitment to NASW is demonstrated through direct advocacy: Serving as a team leader during the NASW-CA Lobby Days in 2025 and as volunteer during the 2025 NASW-CA Lobby Days helped me develop real-world policy advocacy skills and confirmed my commitment to macro social work. I earned my B.A. in Social Work from San Francisco State University, where I was honored to serve as the Undergraduate Commencement Speaker and received academic recognitions. I am now completing my Advanced Standing MSW in Policy Practice at Columbia University. For the past three years, my work in behavioral health at Momentum for Health and my public-sector experiences, including policy-focused internships and fellowship opportunities at the SF Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing through the Willie L. Brown Jr. Fellowship and my current MSW internship as a Public Service Trainee with the SF Department of Early Childhood (DEC) have strengthened my understanding of macro social work practice. These roles showed me that many of the challenges clients face are driven by policy decisions, which has deepened my commitment to macro social work and advocacy. If elected, my contributions will focus on: (1) student success support such as mentorship, field/practicum guidance, and professional development resources; and (2) Stronger student engagement and communication through clear, consistent updates on NASW-CA opportunities, advocacy actions, and leadership pathways for Northern California students.

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Region G Director

With over two decades of experience in social work, I earned my MSW degree from UCLA and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, as well as a credentialed school social worker with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. I currently serve as the Clinical Coordinator and Clinical Supervisor of a large therapeutic counseling department within a school district, where I oversee counseling programs for students ages 5–22, supervise therapists, and lead professional development and training initiatives. I also currently serve as the Assistant Regional Director for Region G of NASW-CA, supporting professional development and collaboration across multiple local units. In addition, I founded the Santa Clarita Unit of NASW-CA, maintain a private practice grounded in person-centered, narrative, and trauma-informed approaches, and previously taught as a part-time instructor at California State University, Los Angeles. My commitment to social work extends to active involvement in professional associations and community committees, including the Santa Clarita Valley Suicide Prevention, Postvention, and Wellness Committee, which I co-chair. I have been honored with awards such as the One Hart Award and Santa Clarita NASW Professional of the Year. I am deeply passionate about increasing access to mental health services and strengthening professional development for social workers. It would be an honor to serve NASW-CA Region G as Regional Director, continuing collaborative efforts to build connection, advocacy, and meaningful support for our profession.

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Region G Assistant Director

I am honored to be a candidate for Assistant Regional Director for Region G of the National Association of Social Workers – California Chapter, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and support fellow social workers across our region. I am seeking this role because I believe in strong professional standards, meaningful member engagement, and the collective power of advocacy to strengthen our profession and the communities we serve. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychiatric Social Worker currently working within the Los Angeles Unified School District’s School of Mental Health. My career spans over a decade across school-based mental health, community mental health, developmental services, and child- and family-serving systems. In my current role, I support entire school communities through crisis response, staff consultation, professional development, and multidisciplinary collaboration, while also providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive services to students and families. I am bilingual in English and Spanish and deeply committed to advancing equity, access, and culturally responsive practice, with a strong focus on advocating for marginalized and historically underserved communities, including grandfamilies and kinship caregivers, particularly grandparents raising grandchildren, whose needs are often overlooked within education, mental health, and social service systems. My NASW experience includes prior membership and participation in NASW Lobby Days during graduate school, which strengthened my understanding of NASW’s advocacy role and the importance of a unified professional voice. I am currently pursuing a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at California Baptist University, with a focus on community-engaged and organizational leadership and systemic change. As Assistant Regional Director, I am committed to supporting the Regional Director and Chapter leadership in advancing priorities related to membership engagement, organizational services, professional development, and advocacy. I am prepared to represent Region G as needed, fulfill Board-related responsibilities, and help ensure the continuity of leadership. Thank you for your consideration and for the work you do each day to strengthen our profession.

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Committee on Nominations & Leadership Identification

The CNLI Region B role represents a natural progression in my career, reflecting my long-standing commitment to ethical practice and systems-level advocacy. As your representative, I will strengthen our profession by centering ethical principles, supporting cross-system collaboration, and promoting equitable access to resources for professionals, clients, and communities. I bring over ten years of leadership and advocacy experience. In 2012, as an undergraduate at The Ohio State University, I co-founded a mental health–focused student organization, sparking my dedication to improving mental health access and equity. After graduation, I worked in nonprofit management, where I further developed leadership and advocacy skills in support of fair and accountable practice. While completing my MSW at Ohio State, I participated in NASW lobbying days in 2018 to advocate for criminal justice reform in Ohio. After earning my MSW in 2019, I became a credentialed school social worker in California and advocated for evidence-based interventions across charter school organizations. In 2024, I obtained my LCSW. I currently serve as a school-based mental health therapist with Palo Alto Unified School District, where I focus on advancing mental health supports for neurodiverse learners. Currently a Doctor of Social Work candidate at Tulane University, my research examines relationships in education, disparities among student support staff, and the impact of staffing differences on graduation rates. I have also conducted an analysis of California’s SB-224, which addresses mental health education in schools. Grounded in practice, research, and policy, I respectfully ask for your vote to represent Region B on CNLI.

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Voting Information

Voting for the 2026 Leadership Elections will take place during the dates listed above.

• Voting Method: Online (Every member will be emailed the voting link.) Please add naswca@socialworkers.org to your contact list)
• Eligibility: Voting is open to eligible members in good standing
• Deadline: Ballots must be submitted by March 28, 2026 at midnight

Commitment to Fairness and Transparency

Our organization is committed to a fair, ethical, and inclusive election process. Candidate information is shared as submitted, without edits, and all nominees are provided equal visibility on this page.

If you have questions about the election process or need assistance participating in the vote, please contact us using the information below.

Questions or Support

Thank You for Participating

Thank you for taking the time to engage in the 2026 Leadership Elections. Your voice matters, and your participation strengthens our organization and the communities we serve.