Chapter Staff

Bonita Sanchez, MSW
Interim Executive Director
bsanchez.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 ext. 18

Bonita has been an active member of NASW for nearly four decades. She has held several leadership positions at the state and national level, including Treasurer (1982 – 1992), Vice President (2000-2002), and Regional Representative (2018-2019) for the NASW-NYS Chapter and served on the NASW National Legal Defense Trust Fund (1989-1993). Additionally, she has served on various NASW-NYS Chapter committees, most recently as the Chair of the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification (2012-2018).

Previously, Bonita worked in the field of developmental disabilities and children and families for 12 years before becoming a social work educator in the 1980s – first at Siena College and later as Assistant Dean and Director of Field Education at the University at Albany’s School of Social Welfare, where she helped qualify over 10,000 social work students at the university for 28 years before retiring in 2011. She later assumed the role of Field Liaison for the School of Social Welfare – a position she continues to hold today. For her outstanding contributions to the field of social work, Bonita was awarded the 2018 NASW-NYS Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bonita began her new role as Interim Executive Director of the NASW-YS Chapter in April 2019. She partner with the NASW-NYS Board of Directors on organizational planning and the executive director search, as well as oversee staff operations.

 

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Steven Baranowski, LMSW
Continuing Education Coordinator
sbaranowski.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 ext. 17

Steven has been with NASW-NYS since January of 2019. Steven received a Master of Social Work from Fordham University in 1995. Steve has worked professionally mostly in foster care and adoption since 1994 and is currently pursuing a post-master's certification in adoption. He is an active member of the NASW-NYS COMM Committee and actively pursues interests in movies, tennis, and spending time with family and friends.

 

 

Amelia Lochner-Malavé
Grants and Development Specialist
alochner.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 ext. 10

Amelia has been at NASW-NYS since May 2015. Previously, she served as the Chapter’s Executive Assistant and Program Coordinator. She is a 2014 graduate of SUNY Geneseo with degrees in Political Science and Sociology.

 

 

Natalya Sandul
Chapter Accountant
nsandul.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 ext. 20

Natalya has been with NASW-NYS since 2007. She started out as a part-time bookkeeper while earning her bachelor degree in Accounting at Siena College. Since 2011, she has worked full time as the Chapter Accountant and handles the responsibility of all financials of the organization.

Natalya is passionate about gardening, baking, and traveling. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her four children and two granddaughter.

 

 

Christie Shea
Administrative Assistant
cshea.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 ext. 18

 

 

 

 

Aimee Cuevas
MSW Intern
acuevas.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 ext. 17

Aimee Cuevas is the Chapter's social work intern for the 2018-2019 academic year. She is currently working on her master's degree in social work, as well as a Certificate of Nonprofit Management and Leadership, at the University at Albany. Aimee graduated with a B.A in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice and History, which introduced her to having an interest in forensic social work.

 

 

 

Amanda O'Brien
MSW Intern
aobrien.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 ext. 17

Amanda O'Brien is the Chapter's social work intern for the 2019 academic year. She is currently working on her master's degree in social work at Adelphi University and is interested in using her education in the areas of advocacy and policy implementation. When not working or studying, Amanda can be found writing and/or performing spoken word, reading a good book, and drawing.