Martha Molpus, LICSW, President

After 30 years in Maryland earning an MA and MSW and working with children, youth, and families, Martha responded to the call of the Green Mountains and moved to Middlebury in 2003. She now works in health care, primarily with elders and end-of-life care. Martha's interests include reading, gardening, and cows. She loves Vermont.

Lynda C. Schoenbeck, MSW, Vice-President

no bio available at publishing time

Leslie N. Ferrer, LICSW has a BA in Psychology from Boston University and an MSW from Simmons College. Previously, she held the position of Board Secretary, and is currently the Board Treasurer. Her professional experience includes working with diverse populations from infants to adults as a service coordinator, community social worker, crisis clinician, school social worker, medical social worker, and group and individual therapist. She currently works at the University of Vermont's Women's Center as the Coordinator of Programming and Leadership Development and maintains a small private practice in Waterbury. Outside of work, she can be found enjoying reading, running, yoga, and the outdoors. She has also been spotted in local community theater musical productions singing and dancing!

Sara Chase, LICSW, ACSW, Secretary

Sara Chase graduated from Trinity College in 1991 with her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Psychology. In 1993 she graduated from the Florida State University with her Master’s in Clinical Social Work and Social Welfare Administration. In 1998 Sara was accepted at the City University of New York’s Graduate School and University Center’s Doctoral Program in Social Welfare, where she specialized in macro level practice including social policy analysis and planning. Among Sara’s professional experiences are working with in-patient children at Manhattan Children’s Psychiatric Center, Primary Therapist and Social Work Supervisor for the Upper Manhattan Mental Health Center, Clinical Consultant to New York Psychotherapy, Intensive Outpatient Clinician for the Brattleboro Retreat, a small private practice at the Essex Health Center, and since 2003, as a Psychotherapist and Behavioral Health consultant for the Community Health Center of Burlington and Field Instructor for the University of Vermont’s BSW and MSW programs. Sara has also served on a domestic violence/rape task force, as a domestic violence/rape crisis counselor and as a domestic violence court advocate. One of Sara’s favorite professional experiences was her work with the Democratic National Party during the Clinton/Gore campaign where she assisted the Advance Teams in Florida in coordinating site visits for Al gore. Sara’s professional interests are in treating adults with mood, anxiety and substance abuse disorders, trauma, psychopharmacology, politics and legislative advocacy.

Elizabeth Edgerton, ACSW, LCSW, Director

Elizabeth Edgerton has been a member of NASW since 1983, and currently serves on the Legislative Committee –VT. Previously she served on the PACE – VT Committee. After years of agency work in Philadelphia, PA, she is now in private practice in Craftsbury, VT.

Luther Brown, MS, MSW, DSW, Director

Ronald Ceppetelli, MSW, Director

Kelly Mills-Dick, MSW, Director

After years of working in laboratory medicine as a medical technologist, Cathy went back to school and received a degree in psychology from Smith College. She earned her MSW 12 years ago f rom Boston College. An LICSW, Cathy also holds a MA LADC1. She serves as the division director of mental health and substance abuse services of Northeast Kingdom Human Services, which covers Essex, Caledonia, and Orleans counties, better known as the Northeast Kingdom. Cathy’s many additional professional commitments include: Chair of the DMH Clinical Practice Advisory Panel, member of the executive committee for the VISI grant (Vermont Integrated Services Initiative) and the clinical advisory committee for that grant, member of the Women's Treatment Standards committee for ADAP (Agency of Drug and Alcohol Programs), and co-vice president of the Vermont Association of Addiction Treatment Professionals. When not working, Cathy tends to her horses and competes in Eventing. Cathy lives in North Danville.

Andrew R. Morton is a second-year MSW student at the University of Vermont. He received his BSW from the University of Vermont and is a 10 year veteran of the United States Army and the Vermont National Guard. He is currently employed part-time at the Counseling Service of Addison County as a residential instructor for a transitional housing program serving individuals with severe and chronic mental illness. He is also interning at the same agency as an Adult Outpatient Clinician.

Andrew lives in Bristol with his partner Leanne and two dogs. In his spare time, he considers the merits of postmodern social work practice while climbing Appalachian Gap on his road bike during warmer months or backcountry skiing in the winter.

 

Currently in my 2nd year as an MSW student at UVM, I'm gaining more and more of an understanding about social work practice and the profession everyday. After graduating with a sociology degree from the University of Oregon, I worked for such organizations as the March of Dimes and the CHILL foundation in fundraising and coordinator roles. After working behind the scenes for some time, I discovered how much I love direct service and enrolled in graduate school. Having lived in several different states, I love what Vermont and NASW have to offer both personally and professionally, most specifically the opportunity to practice rural social work.

Rilla A. Murray, M..S. (Soc.Adm.) DrPH - Executive Director

Rilla Murray chose social work as her career with an eye to advocacy and social action. Later, she specialized in public health policy. Her career spans the public, private, and non-profit sectors, and ranges from executive management to policy and resource development, advocacy, and training. A Michigan native, Rilla has lived all over the eastern U.S. and abroad. She now lives in Montpelier and enjoys a walking lifestyle. She has one daughter, who works in Spain as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer.

Betsy E. Cody, Chapter Coordinator

Betsy started at NASW-VT in 2003 as the Administrative Assistant. As office needs and Directors changed, so did  her job description and duties. Betsy now works with most facets of the Chapter organization from bookkeeping to conference coordinating. In her personal life, Betsy sits on the Executive Committee of the Barre Congregational Church Board as well as the Finance Committee, and the Barre Community Baseball BOD, which she Chaired for several years. She volunteers for many youth organizations in and around Barre, and has been an active volunteer for the homeless shelter, Good Samaritan Haven, for over 20 years. Betsy lives in Barre with her husband, Michael, two teenage sons, Ethan and Connor and two Golden Retrievers.