Regional Representatives

Daniella Montoya, LMSW, raised in Sena, NM in Northern NM, is a proud mother to her daughter, and is eager to begin her career in the field of Social Work. She earned her AA from New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in 2012, her BS in Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu in 2014, and her MSW with a Clinical Concentration from New Mexico Highlands University in 2020. She has graduate field experience in the correctional setting as well as in the school environment with elementary aged children. She currently works as a licensed school social worker, and looks forward to the continuation of obtaining knowledge and experience in the field of social work. Being from rural NM, she aims to learn from, empower, and support the social work professionals in the Northern Region. 

 Laura Loewenstein is an advanced generalist social work graduate student at New Mexico State University. In high school she discovered the National Association of Social Workers while conducting a career readiness project. Drawn to the values and principles of social work, she earned her B.A. in Social Work in 2012 with a minor in Spanish from Warren Wilson College. She has 10+ years of prior volunteer, school, and work experience in the Albuquerque metro area in the areas of disability, behavioral health, and early childhood education. Depending on the time of year (and current public health status), Laura enjoys blues dancing, crocheting, and traveling across the southwest to visit family. 

  Monique is a Licensed Master Social Worker in Texas and New Mexico and is currently under clinical supervision. She has been a member of NASW since graduate school. Originally from Houston, Texas, she has been serving the community for over 20 years in schools, community mobile-based, home-based care, outpatient, dialysis, hospitals, and transitional housing facilities. She has worked with children, adolescents, adults, elderly, volunteers, incarcerated and persons on death row, cancer and trauma patients, the transgender community, individuals with severe mental illness, and the military community, especially veterans. Monique is formally trained and has utilized the following modalities in working with clients: DBT, CBT, CPT, Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy (PGDT), and EMDR. Monique is also licensed as a Substance Abuse Associate (LSAA) in New Mexico working with clients that are struggling with alcohol, methamphetamines, and/or fentanyl. 

Monique served in the US Army for 8 years prior to becoming a social worker. She earned her Master of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas in 2015. She was at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and served at multiple veteran nonprofits in the Houston area before relocating to Las Cruces in 2020. Currently, Monique is working at Unite Us as a Community Engagement Manager serving the southern region of New Mexico. Unite Us is a technology-based platform that addresses the social determinants of health by connecting providers across the region through a HIPPA, FERPA, and 42 CFR Part 2 compliant referral network in an effort to build a state-wide network. On a contract clinical basis, she works part-time with 4 Directions Integrative Mental Health in Las Cruces to continue accruing hours towards her LCSW licensure. Finally, she also serves as an Online MSW Adjunct Field Liaison for Virginal Commonwealth University based out of Richmond, VA. 

  My name is Trish Castle. I am a lifelong New Mexican and current Bachelor of Social Work student of Eastern New Mexico University from which I will graduate in December of 2022. I hope to attend New Mexico Highlands University in 2023 to pursue an MSW with a clinical concentration. I completed a portion of my BSW Field Practicum working with students at a high school in the Los Lunas School District, observing and participating in behavioral interventions and the IEP process. I completed the second portion of my BSW field practicum working with the McKinney-Vento Liaison with the Los Lunas Schools, working closely with direct interventions, program administration, and building community partnerships. I am most interested in public policy and how policy shapes access for all, especially in the context of poverty, race, and ethnicity. Additionally, I am interested in the prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences and worked through my field practicum with the 100% Communities effort in Valencia County.   I am seeking opportunities to enhance my skills in these realms. I am interested in learning more about the NASW-NM organization as well as representing Eastern New Mexico University.

My name is De’Vron Walker. My journey as a mental health and social service professional began in 2016 when I started employment at Sequoyah Adolescent Treatment Center. Sequoyah is a state-ran RTC for adolescent males with a history of violent behaviors and mental health disorders, resulting in a gap in their education. Over my 5 years there, I assisted in the classroom, responded to emergency crises, managed teams of up to 10 staff members, oversaw facility-wide schedules, utilized de-escalated techniques when needed, and played an active role on resident treatment teams. Working closely with social workers on these treatment teams made me realize I wanted to become one. Therefore, in December of 2019, I applied to the New Mexico State University Master of Social Work program, where I was accepted as a Child Welfare Scholar. I started the MSW program in the Fall of 2020 and have since earned 36 credits with a 3.8 GPA and am projected to graduate in May of 2023. I completed my first year of clinical experience at Haven Behavioral Hospital, where I was hired on after as an Intake Specialist. At Haven, I review, assess, and process incoming patients who either admit themselves or have been referred from other state psychiatric hospitals. Most patients I work with experience challenges with substance abuse, suicidal/homicidal ideation, and other severe psychiatric conditions. In addition to my education and professional experience, I think what makes me an asset to both the field of social work and to this Board, is my background. I am from Compton, California where I am the last surviving male of my generation due to gun violence. I grew up around extreme gang activity and had every odd against me in having a bright and prosperous future. However, through much trial and error, great mentors, and an immense amount of determination, I was able to come to Albuquerque, New Mexico on a track scholarship where I have since transformed my own life’s circumstances. Upon graduating with my undergraduate degree, my life immediately revolved around connecting community resources to community members through my roles as an educator, coach, and mentor. It is my life mission that others, like myself, are provided the support they need to transform their own life circumstances.