It takes more than vision to bring work to life. At CWEL, it’s our dedicated and talented professionals who show up every day to make things happen.

Their expertise, lived experiences within child welfare systems, and passion are what drive CWEL’s mission of creating excellence in the child welfare workforce.

Executive Leadership

  • Ligia Cushman, MA. Chief Executive Officer, Families Rising

    Ligia Cushman, MA

    she/her/ella

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Nathan Ross, LMSW. National Project Director / COO at CWEL.

    Nathan Ross, LMSW

    he/him

    National Project Director / COO

Culture Keepers Fellowship

  • Rosella Stanley, MSW

    Culture Keepers Fellowship Program Manager

  • Te'Ata Loper's headshot

    Te’Ata Loper, MS

    Executive Director of the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association

  • Taryn Anquoe, Culture Keepers Fellowship Tribal Leadership Coaching Specialist

    Taryn Anquoe

    Culture Keepers Fellowship Tribal Leadership Coaching Specialist

  • Vanessa Dennis's headshot

    Vanessa Dennis, BS

    Culture Keepers Fellowship Tribal Leadership Coaching Specialist

CoachUp

  • Jessica Funk

    Jessica Funk

    she/her

    Coaching Specialist

  • Julia Eusebio, MSW. Coaching Specialist at CWEL.

    Julia Eusebio, MSW

    she/her/ella

    Coaching Specialist

  • Jamole Callahan, Coaching Specialist at CWEL.

    Jamole Callahan

    Coaching Specialist

  • Jaclyn Kodosky, LMSW. Coaching Specialist at CWEL.

    Jaclyn Kodosky, LMSW

    she/her

    Coaching Specialist

Communications

  • Niki Seligman

    she/her

    Director of Communications

  • Jamerika Haynes-Lewis, BA

    she/her

    Communications Manager

  • Jamie Anderson's headshot

    Jamie Anderson, BA

    Communications Manager

  • Jazmyn Strode, BA. Communication manager at Families Rising and CWEL.

    Jazmyn Strode, BA

    she/her

    Communications Manager

RiseUp Fellowship

  • Kendra Lowden, MS, EdD candidate. Director of Leadership and Tribal Initiatives at CWEL.

    Kendra Lowden, EdD Candidate, MS

    she/her

    Director of Leadership and Tribal Initiatives

  • Deanna Jones, leadership development coach at CWEL.

    Deanna Jones

    Leadership Development Coach

  • Kim Johnson, MA. Leadership Development Coach at CWEL.

    Kim Johnson, MSW

    she/her

    Leadership Development Coach

  • Phoenix Santiago's headshot

    Phoenix Santiago, MSW

    she/her

    Leadership Development Coach

Clinical Bridge

  • Myca Jeter, MSW, LCSWA. Director of Pathways to Clinical Licensure & Coaching at CWEL.

    Myca Jeter, LMSW, LCSWA

    she/her

    Director of Clinical Bridge

Site Implementation

  • Britt Cloudsdale, MSW. Director of Site Implementation at CWEL.

    Britt Cloudsdale, MSW

    she/her

    Director of Site Implementation

  • Indi LaBellarte, MA. Coalition Coordinator at CWEL.

    Indi LaBellarte, MA

    he/they

    Coalition Coordinator

  • Meghan Clock. Site Implementation Support Specialist at CWEL.

    Meghan Clock

    she/her

    Site Implementation Support Specialist

Educational Pathways

  • Anita P. Barbee, Ph.D., MSSW, Co-Director of Educational Pathways

    Anita P. Barbee, PhD, MSSW, Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, University of Louisville

    Co-Director of Educational Pathways

  • Dr. Jay Miller, PhD, MSW, CSW

    Jay Miller, PhD, MSW, CSW, Dean, College of Social Work, University of Kentucky

    Co-Director of Educational Pathways

Evaluation

  • Sharonlyn Harrison, PhD. President/Chief Executive Officer at CWEL.

    Sharonlyn Harrison, PhD

    President/Chief Executive Officer

  • Anika E. Sandy-Hanson, PhD. Evaluator at CWEL.

    Anika E. Sandy-Hanson, PhD

    Evaluator

  • Eden Harrison, PhD candidate. Evaluator at CWEL.

    Eden Harrison, PhD candidate

    she/her

    Evaluator

  • JeNean Lendor, MA. Communication/Research Associate at CWEL.

    JeNean Lendor, MA

    Communication/Research Associate

  • Kristine Andrews, PhD. Evaluator at CWEL.

    Kristine Andrews, PhD

    she/her

    Evaluator

  • Lindsey Bryant, project coordinator at CWEL

    Lindsey Bryant, MSW

    Project Coordinator

  • Paul Elam, PhD

    he/him

    Evaluator

  • Stella Cowan, MEd. Evaluator at CWEL

    Stella Cowan, MEd

    she/her

    Evaluator

  • Aiden Resch's headshot

    Aiden Resch, BS

    Statistician

Is your agency ready for change?

Let’s partner to advance best practices in child welfare and improve overall recruitment, retention, and well-being in the workforce.

Find out how to become a participating site with CWEL.