Chapter Staff

 

Shakira A. Kennedy, PhD, LMSW
Executive Director
SKennedy.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 (press 864)

Dr. Shakira A. Kennedy is a highly experienced and accomplished professional in the field of social work, with a career spanning over 23 years.  Her expertise encompasses clinical supervision, operational and facility administrative roles, and extensive involvement in community agencies. She has been instrumental in areas such as adoption/foster services, shelter start-ups, early intervention for children with neurodivergent disorders, independent housing/auditing, and certification review for housing grants.

Her leadership roles within large not-for-profit organizations, ranging from Supervisor to Vice President, reflect her ability to oversee and guide diverse teams, including program directors, case managers, and assistant executive directors.  Prior her appointment to Executive Director, Dr. Kennedy was an active member of the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, where she contributed significantly to the Diversity committee, participated in racial justice forums, and student conference series.

Additionally, she is engaged in political advocacy through her membership in the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, supporting African American women in the political process.  Dr. Kennedy extends her impact through training and consultation services on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) for organizations, community groups, and professional associations, emphasizing anti-oppressive practices for organizational sustainability. Furthermore, she is an active member of two community boards, the first, serving young girls and the other, serving students within Westchester County Pelham school district.

As an educator, Dr. Shakira A. Kennedy has a rich history of teaching across all levels of social work education, from bachelor’s to doctoral programs. She has held roles such as Curriculum Committee Chair, co-chair of the policy sequence, and developer of graduate-level courses. Dr. Kennedy is actively involved in academic publications, serving as a journal reviewer for SAGE Open publications, a guest editor for the Journal Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, and a consulting editor for Children & Schools.

Her academic contributions extend to her role as an Association for Social Work Boards (ASWB) scholar and involvement in the Licensing & Regulation Task Force for the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).  Dr. Kennedy played a crucial role in developing the Curricular Guide for Licensing and Regulation, focusing on Competency 2 - Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice.

Dr. Kennedy holds a Bachelor's in Sociology from Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus, a Master of Social Work from Clark Atlanta University, and a PhD from The University of Tennessee.  Personally, she hails from Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to the United States at the age of 5. She is the youngest of five sisters, a mother to an eight-year-old son, and enjoys activities such as playing tennis, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

 

Evelyn G. Williams, MSW (She/Her/Hers)
Policy Director

Evelyn G. Williams has over 30 years of progressive experience in health care administration, consulting, legislative advocacy, and teaching at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. Her primary professional direction was in community health care assisting in opening three community health centers (CHC) and providing technical assistance to CHC’s in the federal Region II locations. She also held several administrative positions in the NYS Department of Health. In 1999, after completing eleven years as the President/CEO of Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center, Evelyn chose to pursue her consulting career, working with community-based organizations in the areas of program development, strategic management, and leadership.
Her consultant endeavors include providing consultant services to state and federal agencies, community-based organizations, and social/cultural groups. She assisted organizations in opening health care programs, developing short and long-term strategic plans, writing grants, conducting organizational performance evaluations, designing fundraising projects, facilitating governing board retreats, and planning and implementing statewide and national conferences and professional meetings.
Concurrent with the progressive experience in health care, Ms. Williams has had varied teaching positions since 1979. Completing her tenure in FORUM and the Center of International Programs within Empire State College, she is currently a lecturer within the School of Social Welfare, University at Albany.
Ms. Williams’ leadership skills are represented through serving on several statewide and regional professional organizations’ governing boards, as well as her role as legislative chair and chairperson of the community health care statewide association.

Ms. Williams, in addition to the above, is a certified yoga & Shake Your Soul/Dancekinetics instructor and a proud grandmother.

 

Amanda Pressly (She/Her/Hers)
Policy Coordinator
apressly.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741

Amanda Pressly is a highly motivated advocate for positive change that has experience in the government sector as well as the non-profit sector. Serving as the Policy Coordinator for NASW-NYS, Pressly has lived in New York State her whole life. After furthering her education at Cazenovia College, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with Minors in English and Pre-Law. Pursuing her Masters, she attended Albany Law School for a graduate degree in Government Affairs and Advocacy, solidifying her understanding about what it takes to invoke change at a local, state, and federal level. Pressly’s expertise is diverse, with a background in Public Relations, Marketing, Policy, and Government Relations.

Prior to entering the social work world, Amanda Pressly has worked as Media Manager for Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees, supporting immigrants seeking asylum in Central NY. She was instrumental in the facilitation of housing projects, which housed families integrating into new communities. Also, she aided the assimilation process to engage neighbors, churches, schools, and the community-at-large to support new families in their transition. Following this era, Pressly served as a Resolution Writer for the New York State Legislative Bill Drafting Commission. Here, she acquired knowledge about the inner workings of the State Capital and experienced multiple legislative sessions, while demonstrating the Bill Drafting process.

Pressly is passionate about supporting the essential social work workforce; eliminating systemic racism; implementing actions towards COVID-19 recovery; ensuring access to health, mental health, and behavior health services; addressing economic inequality and promoting increased funding in those areas; reforming criminal justice and policing; lastly, ensuring workplace safety for social workers and preventing violence.

Pressly’s goals are to identify key issues in the ever-evolving field of social work and to work with the necessary political players or entities to create and fight for solutions. Her drive towards positive change will reach individuals that are members, social workers, clients, patients, and residents of under-resourced communities. Focusing the conversation on advances in social work that will inspire a betterment of services provided in communities and also bring necessary change to society is vital as we engage the public and the government.

Growing up in Cherry Valley, New York, Amanda Pressly is the middle child of two brothers and is family centered. She was originally born in Long Island, and her family still enjoys sailing on the bay. In addition, she played D3 lacrosse and soccer for Cazenovia College, making it to the NCAA tournament in 2021 for lacrosse.

 

Natalya Sandul (She/Her/Hers)
Business Operations Manager
nsandul.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 (press 382)

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 five grand children.

 

Amelia Lochner Malavé (She/Her/Hers)
Director of Operations and Development
alochner.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741 (press 384)

Amelia has served the NASW-NYS membership since March 2015. Previously, she served as the Chapter’s Executive Assistant, Program Coordinator, and Grants and Development Specialist. She is a 2014 graduate of SUNY Geneseo with degrees in Political Science and Sociology. Amelia lives in Albany, NY with her husband Tomás, their two kids, and their cat Buttermilk Pancakes.

Tanitra Partivit
Membership Associate
info.naswnys@socialworkers.org
518-463-4741

Tanitra Partivit is skilled in website design and maintenance, CRM management, and providing technical assistance for optimal program efficiency. She graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy. Additionally, she is a trained chef who attended the French Culinary Institute. One of her greatest joys is traveling.