2025 Alliance Board Officers

(alphabetically by last name)

Dr. Marilyn Barge

Board Member (2025-2026)

Marilyn Barge holds a doctorate from Tulane University School of Social Work, a master's degree from Temple University, and a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Temple University. She also has a Pre-K-12 School Counseling certification from Rosemont College…more

Yolanda Brown-Spidell

Board Member (2025-2026)

Yolanda Brown-Spidell is a mom, educator, sociologist and parent advocate. She has been an educator for over 25 years and a DEI facilitator for the past 4 years. She completed her undergraduate studies at Eastern Michigan University in psychology and holds a Master’s…more

Melissa Burman

Treasurer (2025-2026)

Melissa Burman serves as Senior Vice President Special Asset’s Manager with over 30 years of finance experience. Melissa provides….more

Dr. Evandra Catherine

Board Member (2025-2026)

Dr. Evandra Catherine is the Director of Disability and Mental Health Policy at the Children's Equity Project, a center housed at ASU that works at the intersection of research, practice, and policy and focuses on a range of equity issues across child serving systems…more

Lynette De Dios

Board Member (2024 - 2026)

Lynette De Dios, LCSW is a bilingual licensed clinical social worker with infant/early childhood clinical, classroom, and home visiting experience who opened her private practice more…

Jessica Hoeper

Board Member (2025-2026)

Jessica Hoeper is a licensed independent social worker, Reflective Consultant, Author, Mother, Wife and Founder of Ray of Hope, LLC.  With almost 20yrs of human service experience; in the roles of reflective coach/consultant/supervisor…more

Dr. Camille Humes

Board Member (2025 - 2026)

Dr. Camille Humes is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Michigan, and a credentialed Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (I/ECMH-C)…more

Dr. Harleen Hutchinson

Board Member (2024 - 2026)

Dr. Harleen Hutchinson, IMH-E® is a psychologist and social worker, an endorsed Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor, and Executive Director of the Journey institute, Inc.  Her life's work is centered more…

Dr. Janice E. Jones

Board Member (2025 - 2026)

Janice E. Jones earned a PhD in Urban Education with a specialization in Counseling Psychology and a minor in Multicultural Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Janice completed three years predoctoral work and one-year post-doctoral work at the Medical College of Wisconsin…more

Jennifer Jonika

Board Member (2023-2025)

Jennifer Jonika, MS, LLP, IMH-E® (IMHM-P) is a Limited License Psychologist with 20 years of experience in the Infant and Early Childhood field as a clinician, non-profit leader, and advocate. Jennifer is currently the Senior Director of Infant and Early Childhood services, and Interim Head Start Executive Director, more...

Katherine Kicey

Board Member (2025-2026)

Katherine Kicey holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University and has recently been endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor in Research/Faculty. She has an extensive background in teaching young children, with a particular focus on infants and toddlers…more

Joaniko Kohchi

Vice President (2024 - 2026)

Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IECMH-E® is the Director of the Institute for Parenting and Postgraduate Programs in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at Adelphi University, where she enjoys teaching and supervising graduate and postgraduate more…

LaJoy Montgomery

Board Member (2025-2026)

LaJoy Montgomery is the proud wife to Baron and mother to Zaria, Zaire-LiBaron, and Zorah. She has over 17 years of Early Childhood experience. She serves as a Regional Early Childhood Manager, supporting five states with a Training and Technical Assistance contractor with the Office of Head Start…more

Danie Rice

Secretary (2024 - 2026)

Danielle (Danie) Rice, LCSW, IMH-E® is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a graduate of the University of Michigan. She is currently a dual-title doctoral student in Social Work and Infant Mental Health at Wayne State University. She has practiced in community mental more…

Carmen Rosa Noroña

Board Member (2023 - 2025)

Carmen Rosa Noroña, LICSW, MS. Ed., IECMH-E® is originally from Ecuador where she trained and practiced as a clinical psychologist. In the United States she obtained master’s degrees in social work and in early intervention. She serves as the Child Trauma more…

Kerrie Schnake

Board Member (2023-2025)

Kerrie L. Schnake, MA, IMH-E®, is a change agent bringing more than 20 years of experience working in infant and early childhood systems. She serves as the founder and CEO of South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association (SCIMHA) more…

Allie Sutherland

Board Member (2024 - 2026)

Allie Sutherland, MS, IMH-E® earned a BA in Mathematics from Denison University, but later discovered her true passion for Early Childhood. She holds a Master of Science in Child Development, with a specialization in more…

Dr. Meyleen Velasquez

President (2024); Board Member (2023)

Dr. Meyleen Velasquez, DSW, LCSW, LICSW, PMH-C, RPT-S™, is a Latina immigrant psychotherapist, trainer, and consultant specializing in infant and perinatal mental health. more…

Joni Zieldorff

Board Member (continuous)

Joni Zieldorff, LMSW, IECMH-E® is approaching two decades in the field of Infant Mental Health (IMH), delivering relationship-focused mental health therapy to infants and toddlers and their families in Wayne County, more…