Speaker Information

Iman Smith is a dedicated social work and education professional with extensive experience in community support and student development. She earned her early education at Wesley College, graduating in 2008, and subsequently obtained an Associate Degree in Social Work from the University of Belize in 2011.

Iman began her career at Transparent BPO in 2011, where she worked until April 2014. She then transitioned to the Community Rehabilitation Department, serving from 2014 to December 2021. During this period, she gained valuable expertise in community-based support services, working closely with diverse populations to promote social well-being and rehabilitation.

Currently, Iman is a Guidance Counselor at Bella Vista High School, where she is dedicated to fostering student development, emotional well-being, and academic success. Committed to lifelong learning, she is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Belize, which she commenced in August 2022.

Iman remains passionate about empowering individuals and strengthening communities through her professional contributions and ongoing academic pursuits, dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of those she serves.

Speaker Information

My name is Andrea Olson. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Santa Cruz and I am a current MSW student at California Baptist University.

I have experience working with high-risk foster youth managing behavioral, mental health, substance use, legal, and abusive challenges. I am currently working in a teen residential treatment center for girls with mental health and substance use disorders.

My areas of interest include teacher and advocacy for victims of commercial sexual exploited children (CSEC).

Once I obtain my MSW, I will pursue my licensure in clinical social work. My goal is to open a group home/STRTP for CSEC victims providing wrap around services.

Speaker Information

Sonette “Sony” Avalos is a public service leader, community advocate, and Master of Social Work candidate at California Baptist University with over two decades of experience across government, nonprofit, and higher education. Her work centers on equity, community resilience, and systems-level change, with a focus on military families, transitional youth, and underserved populations.

Sony’s career began with the Armed Services YMCA, where she rose to Interim Executive Director before joining Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) in 2009. As Deployment Readiness Program Director, she has supported thousands of military families across multiple installations through programs that strengthen family stability and operational readiness—earning multiple General Officer-level Certificates of Commendation.

In higher education, Sony served as Interim Assistant Director and Black Student Success Initiatives Coordinator at CSU San Marcos, developing culturally responsive programming to improve retention and belonging for Black students. She holds a B.A. in Communication from CSUSM and dual Associate degrees from MiraCosta College. Sony is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work from Cal Baptist University with aspirations to continue on to her Juris Doctorate in constitutional law

Currently, Sony is deepening her focus on macro social work practice—connecting policy, advocacy, and community programming to address systemic inequity. Her fieldwork includes an MSW internship with Lutheran Social Services of Southern California and work with Building Resilience Together, supporting young adults aging out of foster care through housing literacy curricula and resource navigation strategies.

Her civic engagement includes volunteering with the League of Women Voters, serving as a Precinct Inspector with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, and helping charter a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority chapter at CSUSM. She also co-hosts The Other Side of Service: Your Place in the American Story, a Secure Families Initiative podcast amplifying the voices and experiences of military-connected families.

Sony believes meaningful change requires both structural reform and human connection—and brings that conviction to every program she builds, policy she advocates for, and person she supports.

Speaker Information

Corretta Apolonio is an aspiring social work practitioner currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at the University of Belize. With over 18 years of hands-on experience working with individuals and communities, Corretta has cultivated a deep passion for supporting vulnerable populations and advancing social well-being.

Currently, she is employed in the juvenile justice system at a rehabilitation facility for youth aged 11 to 17, where she provides comprehensive support. In this capacity, Corretta engages directly with young people involved in conflict with the law, offering guidance, structure, and emotional support to facilitate their rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.

Her academic and professional journey has fostered a strong interest in understanding human behavior and the complex factors that influence it. Corretta is committed to advocacy, empowerment, and the application of evidence-based practices to create meaningful change.

Her research endeavors focus on examining the impact of racial bias on mental health among young adults, with particular attention to how social inequalities affect psychological well-being. She explores targeted interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to improve mental health outcomes for affected populations.

Speaker Information

Xanic G. Fernandez Hernandez is a bilingual Lead Case Manager and MSW student at California Baptist University. With eight years of specialized experience supporting Transition Age Youth, her work is driven by a personal and professional commitment to the Latinx and immigrant communities. Currently, Xanic focuses on the intersection of transitional housing and cultural humility. She views her academic journey as a vital extension of her mission to provide equitable, compassionate support to the next generation of resilient adults.

Speaker Information

Deann Buckley-McFadzean is a professional social worker with over 15 years of experience creating, implementing, and evaluating programs focused on gender responsiveness and youth engagement. She holds a Master of Social Work from Galen University and has extensive experience in case management and designing programs that support youth, families, and survivors of gender-based violence. Deann is passionate about raising awareness, helping clients reach their full potential, and advocating for policy changes at the national level.

Beyond her professional work, Deann is a wife and mother of two daughters, and a committed Christian serving as Treasurer and Young Adults Ministry Leader at her local church.

Speaker Information

Melanie A. Abongo is a public health professional, researcher, nurse, and academic based in Nairobi, Kenya, with extensive experience in maternal health, mental health, clinical research, and health systems strengthening in low- and middle-income country settings. She is currently a PhD candidate in Public Health at the KEMRI Graduate School (JKUAT) and holds a Master of Science in Public Health (Monitoring and Evaluation) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Her professional background spans clinical trials, ethical research oversight, public health programming, and academic teaching. Melanie has contributed to research in maternal and neonatal health, HIV/AIDS, antimicrobial resistance, oncology, and health systems integration, with peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations at national and international levels. She has received competitive research grants from institutions including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the International AIDS Society.

Melanie is also a trained health counselor with Postpartum Support International, where she provides psychosocial support to women experiencing postnatal depression and anxiety. Her work emphasizes evidence-based screening, ethical practice, and strengthening referral and linkage systems for maternal mental health care. Passionate about equity-driven and culturally responsive approaches, she advocates for integrating mental health into routine maternal services and advancing policies that promote dignity, access, and holistic wellbeing for women and families.

Speaker Information

Dr. Robert Gipson is a behavioral health clinician and social work scholar whose work focuses on culturally responsive approaches to trauma and mental health equity. He serves in leadership and clinical roles within integrated behavioral health and social service settings, supporting populations impacted by structural inequities and trauma.

Dr. Gipson’s scholarship examines race-based traumatic stress, culturally congruent interventions, and barriers to behavioral health access among racially marginalized and African American populations. His work emphasizes evidence synthesis, practice-informed research, and the translation of findings into culturally aligned strategies that reflect lived experience, community context, and historical realities.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Gipson provides training and consultation on trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice for clinicians, organizations, and community leaders. His professional background spans clinical practice, nonprofit leadership, research, and community engagement. His work is grounded in advancing equity-oriented mental health systems that move beyond individualistic models towards culturally informed collective approaches to healing.

Speaker Information

Phadia Jean-Pierre is a Haitian-Creole-speaking Trauma Therapist and Ph.D candidate at Adelphi University. She is the founder of SWITCH, LLC, a speaker, certified practitioner of Reiki & Auricular Acupressure breathwork, and a wellness facilitator, inviting you to reconnect with your wholeness through mindful and cultural practices. She is Passionate about empowering you through self-love, personal growth, and reclaiming your voice through somatic and embodied practices. She facilitates training sessions globally and has spoken at notable events like the Caribbean Regional Conference of Psychology, NASW-DE, Project “U” conference, Uplifting Melanin Queens, and the Millennial Social Work conference. Formerly, she co-hosted the Millennial Babes Podcast, promoting self-love and healthy relationships.

Speaker Information

Ana Ponciano, LMSW, is a doctoral student in Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington and a Licensed Master Social Worker in Texas. She has over six years of experience working with first-generation, Hispanic/Latino, and immigrant communities in educational and clinical settings. Her work is informed by social justice, decolonial frameworks, and culturally responsive mental health care, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities affecting historically marginalized populations.

Her research examines decolonizing therapy, Indigenous and ancestral healing practices, and mental health disparities among Hispanic/Latino and Indigenous communities. Ana investigates how structural factors, including education, socioeconomic status, and systemic oppression, intersect with trauma and access to care to influence mental health outcomes and service utilization. She is particularly focused on identifying culturally specific approaches to healing and support in communities historically underserved by mainstream mental health systems.

Clinically, Ana integrates trauma-informed and culturally grounded approaches, emphasizing relational care, community-based interventions, and holistic healing strategies. She strives to create therapeutic spaces that honor cultural identity, ancestral knowledge, and the lived experiences of her clients. Ana is committed to advancing mental health awareness and promoting culturally affirming interventions within Indigenous communities connected to her family’s heritage.

Through her combined clinical and research work, Ana contributes to the development of more equitable and culturally responsive mental health services, underscoring the importance of integrating scholarship and practice to improve outcomes for marginalized populations.