2021 Virtual Annual Symposium

Mark Nichols, MSW, MBA, ACSW is the Missouri Chapter's Executive Director. Prior to joining the chapter, he worked at the NASW National Office as Manager, Chapter Operations for seven years. He also served as the NASW-Nevada Chapter Executive Director for 12 years. Mark has volunteered on numerous nonprofit boards over the past 25 years, including the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN), Nevada Coalition of Health Care Providers, Nevada Coalition for Homeless Youth, and the Washington State PTA. Mark earned his MSW at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2011. He also holds an MBA from the St. Thomas College (St. Paul, MN), and certificates in Forensic Social Work, Nonprofit Management, and Legal Assistant. Mark completed his undergraduate studies in political science and sociology at the University of Minnesota.

Mildred “Mit” C. Joyner, DPS, MSW, LCSW (Pennsylvania Chapter), is professor emerita of social work at West Chester University (WCU) in Pennsylvania. Joyner received a BSW fromD Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and her MSW from Howard University’s School of Social Work in Washington, DC. Her professional career began at Chester County Children and Youth services as a protective service worker; she was promoted to department head, then legal liaison of the child abuse unit. Joyner later joined the faculty at WCU as an associate professor, where she was elected by the faculty as department chair of the undergraduate social work department. She retired from the university as a full professor, and presently works as a consultant. Joyner is a member of the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, Council on Social Work Education, and NASW, where she recently ended her term as national vice president. In West Chester she serves on the board of directors of Chester County Food Bank and is a bank director at DNBFirst.

Derrick R. Howell, LCSW, CTTP knew that he would be in a helping profession ever since graduating high school. He has embodied this commitment by engaging in a number of local, national, and global community service activities. These have included volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, participating in Howard University's Alternative Spring Break community service project in Chicago, IL as well as Howard University's School of Social Work International Service Learning Program to Cape Town, South Africa and many other local projects designed to uplift and support underrepresented communities. Throughout the course of his personal and professional life, Derrick has remained firm in living out his mission of serving as a mentor, leader, and advocate for mental wellness and therapy. Derrick received a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Methodist University and a Master's degree in Social Work from Howard University. Derrick the founder of Humble Monarch Therapy, which specializes in sports performance and men's issues. He currently holds licensure to practice in New Jersey and Missouri and is a member of both the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports and the National Association of Social Workers.

Gary U. Behrman, PhD, MSW, M.Div., LCSW served as Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Saint Louis University (SLU) Graduate School and taught for 30 years in the Schools of Social Work, Allied Health, and Medicine. Dr. Behrman is recognized for his expertise as clinician, educator, and consultant, and currently has a counseling practice in St. Louis metropolitan area. He has extensive training in trauma recovery and suicide risk reduction and served as a first responder for numerous crisis events around the country, including an assignment at Ground Zero following the attacks on 9/11 and with Ferguson/Florissant, MO School District following the unrest of 2014. His research and publications are in trauma recovery and the role of spirituality and faith in the healing process.

Jessica Tappana MSW, LCSW has experience providing social work services in a variety of settings including a homeless youth shelter, a state hospital and a school. She currently owns a group psychotherapy practice based out of Columbia, MO. Jessica currently focuses her clinical practice on helping teens and adults with several anxiety. However, she has experience working with a range of issues including trauma informed care, PTSD treatment, senior adult mental health, DBT and a wide range of mental health diagnoses.

NASW-MO Chapter Lobbyest

NASW-MO Chapter Advocacy Committee Chair