The CBSW Board
The CBSW Board works to fulfill the mission of the CBSW. Each Board Member is a volunteer and has demonstrated the CBSW Values in their respective communities.
Charlsey Gibson, LMSW
Board Chair | Nashville, TN
Charlsey is a native Nashvillian who earned her BSW from Belmont University and her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania. She has spent over a decade serving her birth city in a variety of settings including hospitals, courts, and mental health facilities. Charlsey is currently pursuing her J.D. at Belmont Law School.
She is a mother to two gorgeous children. In her spare time she enjoys reading, organizing, and watching countless reruns of The Adventures of Captain Underpants.
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Mai Ferrell, CSW, LADAC II, CCTP
Vice-Chair | Nashville, TN
Mai Ferrell, LCSW, LADAC II, CCTP has worked with adolescents, families, and people who
struggle with substance use disorders and has worked in the field since 2005. Currently, she works
as the Director of Outpatient Services at Trustpoint Hospital in Murfreesboro where she’s been for
almost 9 years.
She is the Vice Chair of the Coalition for Black Social workers. She is a member of the UT Alumni Council Board, and is an advisory board member for W.E. C.A.R.E. Rutherford. Mai is working on her M.B.A. in
Healthcare and will complete that program Fall 2023. She plans to transition into Executive
Leadership after earning that degree.
Dr. Keith Ekhator, EdD, LCSW, LSSW, CCTP
Secretary | Nashville, TN
Keith Ekhator currently serves as a Coordinator for the School Social Work Department with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. After graduation, Keith launched his career as a social worker for the local education agency where he has worked serving the needs of many economically disadvantaged families and youth. This opportunity eventually led to a five-year path to a leadership role where he is able to effectively implement change on a Macro scale. His passion for social work has guided him to serve as an Adjunct Professor for Tennessee State University’s Social Work department where he has created course curriculum for the Institution and taught classes on Social Welfare Policy, Policy Analysis and School Social Work. Keith has made State and national presentations for many professional groups, most recently on Toxic Stressors/ Adverse Childhood Experiences at the Tennessee School Social Work conference.
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When Keith isn’t helping in an operational capacity, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing video games, and working out. One of his more recent successes includes his recent completion of the Doctor of Education in Leadership & Professional Practice at Trevecca Nazarene University. Keith is a servant leader that values the importance of learner, collaboration, and empowering people to best person they can be.
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Justin Singleton, LMSW, LSSW
Financial Director
Justin Singleton has served as a youth advocate in various capacities throughout his career. He has served as a residential counselor for the Oasis Center, school social worker for Metro Nashville Public Schools, and the state coordinator for Tennessee’s Education for the Homeless Children and Youth Program. Currently he serves as the Operations Director for the Nashville AfterZone Alliance (NAZA).
Justin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Lander University, and then earned his Master’s of Science Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work with a concentration in Management, Leadership and Community Practice. He is an active member of the Eta Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and serves as the chapter's Director of Education. Justin is currently pursuing his DSW from The University of Memphis.
Justin Singleton, LMSW, LSSW
Financial Director
Justin Singleton has served as a youth advocate in various capacities throughout his career. He has served as a residential counselor for the Oasis Center, school social worker for Metro Nashville Public Schools, and the state coordinator for Tennessee’s Education for the Homeless Children and Youth Program. Currently he serves as the Operations Director for the Nashville AfterZone Alliance (NAZA).
Justin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Lander University, and then earned his Master’s of Science Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work with a concentration in Management, Leadership and Community Practice. He is an active member of the Eta Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and serves as the chapter's Director of Education. Justin is currently pursuing his DSW from The University of Memphis.
Kenya Anderson, LMSW
Memphis, TN
Mrs. Anderson serves as a skilled Social Worker in the Mid-South and West Tennessee providing academic advisement, coaching and mentorship for first generation college students in the School of Social Work at the University of Memphis. Currently, Mrs.
Anderson is a Clinical Assistant Professor and holds a professional license as a Licensed Masters level Social Worker (LMSW) with a concentration in Management and
Evidence-Based Community Practice in the State of Tennessee. Her professional affiliations include National Association of Social Workers, Council on Social Work Education, and the Coalition of Black Social Workers. She is serving a second term as
an appointed Regulatory Board Member to the Tennessee Department of Health-Related Boards for Social Work Licensure. Through her service as a regulator, Mrs.Anderson was elected to the Nominating Committee with the Association of Social Work
Boards (ASWB). She has also been recognized for her dedication in enhancing the Path to Licensure for social work professionals.
Currently, Kenya Anderson serves as Faculty Advisor for the University of Memphis Chapter of the Coalition of Black Social Workers. For the past five years, Mrs. Anderson’s professional appointment is with the University of Memphis as the BA Field
Director and Academic Advisor in the School of Social Work. She is a member of the North American Network of Field Educators and Directors (NANFED) and the Tennessee Statewide Field Consortium.
LaTamera Woodley, MSSW
Founding Board Member | Nashville, TN
LaTamera is a 2006 MSSW graduate of UT College of Social Work. Currently employed with the TN Dept of Human Services as a Business Analyst. In this role, she is responsible for assessing business processes and data needs to help improve program operations and service delivery. Some of the work LaTamera is involved in helps improve service delivery by increasing benefit accuracy, informing policy change, maintaining state and federal mandates, updates, and corrections for the state’s SNAP and TANF programs.
This liaison position fulfills her mantra of helping others be their best. Outside of work she strives to be her best at avoiding the gym. This sometimes leads her to running half and full marathons throughout the streets of Nashville and beyond.
Financial Director
Justin Singleton has served as a youth advocate in various capacities throughout his career. He has served as a residential counselor for the Oasis Center, school social worker for Metro Nashville Public Schools, and the state coordinator for Tennessee’s Education for the Homeless Children and Youth Program. Currently he serves as the Operations Director for the Nashville AfterZone Alliance (NAZA).
Justin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Lander University, and then earned his Master’s of Science Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work with a concentration in Management, Leadership and Community Practice. He is an active member of the Eta Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and serves as the chapter's Director of Education. Justin is currently pursuing his DSW from The University of Memphis.
Erica Gentry, LCSW
Franklin, TN
Erica Gentry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She graduated from Tennessee State University and The University of Tennessee, Knoxville at the Nashville Campus. Her professional background consists mostly of youth development and adolescent mental health. She has worked for Youth Villages for 13 years where my focus has been Trauma Informed Care, Treatment Foster Care and our Lifeset Program which focuses upon youth aging out of foster care. She is currently a Licensed Program Expert for Youth Villages where I oversee the clinical development of teams in Chicago, Illinois.
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Erica is the Founder and Lead Therapist of Resiliency Therapy, located in Franklin, TN. Resiliency Therapy was started in 2021, its mission is to help individuals understand and process trauma so they can live life anew.
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Erica loves serving and helping people. She especially loves being an advocate for the needs of the Black Community. She has been married to her husband for 10 years and they have two sons.
Justin Singleton, LMSW, LSSW
Financial Director
Justin Singleton has served as a youth advocate in various capacities throughout his career. He has served as a residential counselor for the Oasis Center, school social worker for Metro Nashville Public Schools, and the state coordinator for Tennessee’s Education for the Homeless Children and Youth Program. Currently he serves as the Operations Director for the Nashville AfterZone Alliance (NAZA).
Justin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Lander University, and then earned his Master’s of Science Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work with a concentration in Management, Leadership and Community Practice. He is an active member of the Eta Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and serves as the chapter's Director of Education. Justin is currently pursuing his DSW from The University of Memphis.