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College of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Social Work

Advisory Board

Learn about the advisory board members who support our Social Work Mission and our School.

Natalie Ames, MSW, Ed.D.

Associate Professor and Faculty Liaison at the NC State School of Social Work.

Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP

Executive Director, Society for Social Work and Research. Board member since 2018.

Mary Bethel, M.Ed.

Executive Director of the NC Coalition on Aging (Retired). Board member since 2015.

Kenisha Hinton, MSW

I/T Project Manager, Innovation Partner – Wake County Government. Chairperson, board member since 2017.

Stephanie Francis, MSW, PhD

Director of Field Education at the NC State School of Social Work

Tayler Mariner, MSW, LCSW-A, LCAS

Director of Detox Services at Healing Transitions. Board member since 2020. 

Heather Palmateer, MSW

Lead Crisis Counselor, C.A.R.E Team, Chapel Hill Police Department Crisis Division. Board member since 2025.

Ann Marie Hoo, LCSW, LCAS-A

Mental Health Licensed Clinician, WakeMed Health & Hospital. Board member since 2025.

Lisa Sellers, MSW, LCSW

Child Welfare Quality Assurance Case Consultant, Wake County Social Services. Board member since 2025.

Karsyn Forehand, LCSW-A, LCASA

Psychotherapist, Third Wave Psychotherapy. Board member since 2026.

Lauren Zingraff, MSW

Director of Advocacy & Policy, National Association of Social Workers – North Carolina

Interested in Becoming a Student Representative?

Contact Dr. Natalie Ames at [email protected].

Email Natalie