Meet Your 2026 NASW-AK Board of Directors Candidates

May 4, 2026

NASW-Alaska is pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the 2026 Chapter Board of Directors election! We encourage you to review the candidate information below to learn more about their experience, vision, and commitment to serving our profession.

Voting is now open and will run through May 20, 2026. (All NASW-Alaska members received a unique voting link emailed to them on May 4, 2026)

All elected candidates will begin their terms on July 1, 2026.

You can also learn more about the NASW-Alaska Board of Directors by visiting our website.

Thank you to all of the candidates for their leadership, dedication, and willingness to serve the Alaska social work community.

Candidates

Vice President (2-year term)

MiLee Yu

Goal Statement: My goal as Vice President of the National Association of Social Workers is to support ethical, inclusive, and impactful social work practice by strengthening collaboration among members and leadership. I am committed to amplifying the voices of social workers across diverse settings, advocating for policies that advance social justice, and promoting professional development opportunities that empower our members.

In this role, I will work closely with the President and the board to ensure transparent communication, foster member engagement, and uphold the core values of the NASW—service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. My goal is to help create a responsive and supportive organization that equips social workers to better serve their communities and drive meaningful change.

Leadership Roles: NASW-AK BSW Student Representative (2025-26)

Other Service: 

• Treasurer, UAA MSW Student Coalition: Feb. 2026 – Present
• Mentor, Covenant House Alaska: Feb. 2025 – Present
• Business Manager, UAA Club Council: Jan. 2022 – May 2024
• Treasurer, UAA Feminist Intersectional Rights Movement: Jan. 2022 – May 2025
• Treasurer then President, UAA Student Social Work Coalition: Jan. 2022 – May 2025

Secretary (2-year term)

Joenetta Benjamin

Goal Statement: I am running for the NASW-Alaska Secretary position because I am committed to advancing a stronger, more connected, and more responsive social work community across our state. Through my leadership in student engagement and involvement with NASW-Alaska, I have actively worked to elevate emerging voices and build meaningful connections within the profession. I bring a clear vision of collaboration, advocacy, and growth, and I am ready to step into this role to help move our chapter forward with purpose and impact.

If elected, I will focus on strengthening member engagement, expanding access to professional development, and advancing support for social workers in rural and underserved communities. I am particularly driven to bridge the gap between students and professionals, promote workforce sustainability, and ensure that social workers across Alaska feel empowered, supported, and heard. I am prepared to lead with intention, advocate with integrity, and contribute to a resilient and unified future for NASW-Alaska.

Leadership Roles: NASW-AK MSW Student Representative (2025-26)

Other Service:

• UAA MSW Student Coalition President
• AHEC Scholar 
• PHI ALPHA HONOR SOCIETY- Epsilon Chi Chapter
• S.T.A.R. Crisis Line Responder
• Rural CAP Board Member
• Mental Health First Aid Responder (Cert Holder)
• MSW Student Mentor to Cohort

BSW Student Representative (1-year term)

Robi Naranjo

Goal Statement: My goal for running for student representative is that I would like to be more involved and make an impact in Social work, also Alaska and in every community I belong to. I would like to build connections, learn everything I can about leadership and from Social Workers in and out of this state.

Other Service: I have volunteered for my church and recovery community the last 4 years. I think to be a good leader you have to genuinely love & care for people you have to show this through action.

MSW Student Representative (1-year term)

Jonathan Cuddy

Goal Statement: My goal as the MSW Student Representative is to ensure the needs of social work students are being heard while also providing important information about the ways in which NASW may help future MSW students.

Other Service: 

• President of UAA MSW Student Coalition
• President of UAA Student Social Work Coalition

Southwest Regional Representative (2-year term)

Amanda Cox, LSSW

Goal Statement: In the role of Social Work Representative for the NASW Alaska Chapter, I will advance coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches that connect social work, behavioral health, education, and public safety partners in support of family well-being and safety.  My focus is on strengthening collaboration that prioritizes the protection of women and girls, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault (DVSA), and children, while ensuring that systems of care respond effectively to the needs of families across Southwest Alaska.

Centered on safety and equitable access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed social work services across the remote communities of Southwest Alaska, this work focuses on ensuring that individuals, families, and communities can access timely and effective support regardless of geography.  I am committed to strengthening systems that reduce systemic barriers to care, promote family unity, and enhance well-being, while addressing gaps in service delivery where limited resources often impact access.  This includes active collaboration with VPSO, law enforcement, and tribal leaders to strengthen coordinated responses and protections, as well as promoting on-site trainings that advance school and home safety through psychoeducation and violence prevention campaigns.

Leadership Roles: I have not yet held a formal leadership role within the NASW; however, my professional work has consistently aligned with NASW’s mission through extensive direct practice in school social work, domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy, child welfare, and crisis intervention across Alaska and Texas. My involvement in NASW values and professional social work standards is demonstrated through my roles as a school social worker, DVSA advocate, crisis hotline advocate, CPS investigator, and case manager, where I have provided trauma-informed services, strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration, and supported vulnerable children, women, and families. I am currently completing my Master of Social Work and pursuing LMSW licensure, and I am eager to expand my professional engagement by contributing more formally through leadership and service within the NASW's Alaska Chapter.

Other Service: My professional experience reflects extensive leadership and service in education, child welfare, crisis response, and community-based advocacy, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and systems navigation in high-need settings. In Alaska, I currently serve as a School Social Worker and Teacher in the Dillingham City School District, where I provide direct instruction, special education supports, crisis intervention, referrals, and culturally responsive programming aligned with Yup’ik values. I also serve as a CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Certified Instructor, providing staff training in de-escalation and safe behavioral response practices to support school-wide safety and student regulation.

My background includes extensive work in domestic violence and sexual assault services, including roles as DVSA Advocate and Case Manager with SAFE Shelter and the Houston Area Women’s Center, where I facilitated survivor support groups, provided crisis counseling, and supported emergency shelter placement and comprehensive case planning. I have also worked in child protection as an investigator with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, coordinating with law enforcement, courts, schools, and medical providers to ensure child safety and appropriate service referrals.

Additionally, I bring experience in prevention programming and community education through roles with DePelchin Children’s Center and the Fort Bend Regional Council on Alcohol Abuse, where I facilitated youth-focused psychoeducation and substance use prevention groups. My service history also includes volunteer and leadership roles with the American Red Cross, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), and multiple community-based boards and committees, reflecting a longstanding commitment to advocacy, disaster response, and community engagement across diverse systems of care.

Interior Regional Representative (2-year term)

Christine Schut, LCSW

Goal Statement: My overarching goal is to encourage Social Workers to collaborate and care for each other as well as for the clients we serve. Much of the focus with the AK Chapter is centered in the Anchorage area. I would like to serve on the Board to best integrate the needs of Interior Social Workers into the AK Chapter.