Officers/Executive Committee
Diana O’Brien is the Director of Impact and Outreach for the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico (CFSNM). She received her Infant Mental Health Endorsement in 2021 and has served on the New Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health Board of Directors since 2022.
Her professional identity consists of four major areas of study and work: 1. Collective impact, 2. Community engagement and advocacy, 3. Teaching and education, 4. Clinical behavioral health. In her full-time role as Director of Impact and Outreach, Diana serves as a steward and advocate for New Mexico and strives to build and strengthen the community through CFSNM and its multifaceted efforts to improve communities. When individuals and systems connect in a congruent, interdependent and healthy manner, communities thrive and individuals flourish. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has worked with children, families, couples, and individuals in diverse settings. She is adjunct faculty for New Mexico State University in the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation, a Board Member of the NMAIMH, and a Board Member for Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation. She serves as a Co-Lead Ambassador for the Doña Ana County Early Childhood Education Coalition, a member of LC3 Behavioral Collaborative, and a Behavioral Health Sector Leader of Doña Ana County Resilience Leaders. She is the founder of the Random Acts of Kindtrip- a project that’s focus is to foster community and connection through acts of kindness and compassion.
Throughout her career, Diana has worked to empower individuals and families across the lifespan. Her focus in her work centers on program development and delivery of services and interventions that create systemic and generational change. She believes in working to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Diana’s passion is providing access to resources and opportunities for all children, families, and individuals from a holistic and strengths-based approach in order to provide access to opportunities for people to be empowered and to foster a supportive community.
Diana resides in Las Cruces, NM with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and the New Mexico mountains, sunrises, and sunsets. Diana is a proud New Mexican and is passionate about serving the state of New Mexico.
Dr. Hudson holds a BS from Kansas State University in Family and Child Development; a MS from Emporia (Kansas) State University in Early Childhood Education; and a doctorate from NMSU in Curriculum and Instruction. Her research focused on advocacy as the purpose of the NM Early Childhood Higher Education Taskforce members from a post-modern perspective.
Hudson’s work career has included teaching in preschools for developmentally challenged preschoolers, dual immersion kinder and preschool, and eight years of home visiting experience. She recently retired from her position as Director of Teacher Education at San Juan College, Farmington, NM. She was chair of the Education, Languages, and Communication Department at San Juan College and served on a wide variety of committees there.
Treasurer
Flor Cano-Soto was born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico to Mexican immigrant parents. She is the first in her family to graduate from college, earning her Bachelors and Masters of Social Work degrees from New Mexico Highlands University with a focus on Bilingual-Bicultural Clinical Social Work. She completed her practicums at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Young Children’s Health Center working with monolingual Spanish-speaking families and their children in the Zero-to-Three program as well as at Enlace Communitario working with monolingual Spanish-speaking victims of domestic violence and their children. Her clinical experience includes working with young adults with psychosis and severe mental illness, conducting tele-behavioral health services in tribal communities, bilingual groups, and individual therapy to perpetrators of domestic violence, and working with children, youth, and families in school and tribal communities incorporating equine therapy into traditional therapeutic models. Working with children and families in underserved communities has been a life-long passion for her.
Flor has been employed with UNM for over 20 years and currently works at the School of Medicine – Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences – Division of Community Behavioral Health (CBH). She is the Program Manager for a large federal grant addressing the opioid epidemic in the state. In this position, she has fostered close working-relationships with federal, state, county, local and tribal community partners. She has extensive administrative and financial management experience which she hopes to contribute to advance NMAIMH’s mission and goals.
Flor is a proud “Tia” to her nephew and niece and “Nina” to 6 (and counting…) Godchildren. When not working or volunteering, you will likely find Flor surrounded by her family and friends eating awesome Mexican and New Mexican food, in the kitchen baking up a sweet treat, or at the baseball park watching her nephew and niece play ball.
Secretary
Felicia Ramirez is a New Mexico native who grew up in La Mesa, a small town in Southern Doña Ana county. Felicia began her career as a Developmental Specialist/Family Service Coordinator with Aprendamos Intervention Team, was a Head Start teacher for Las Cruces Public schools for many years, and is now the Social Emotional Specialist for the Early Childhood Program for LCPS. Felicia earned her BA in Education from the University of Arizona and went on to NMSU to earn her MA in Curriculum and Instruction with and emphasis in Early Childhood Education. Some career opportunities Felicia has enjoyed was being an Online ESL Instructor for a company overseas call VIPkid. She also supports the McKinney Vento Program with LCPS as a tutor/mentor. Felicia also has the privilege of participating in the Flourishing Families Mentoring Program implemented by Jardin de los Niños. Her motivation and passion to become an Early Childhood Educator is driven by her three children; Christopher, Alexie, and Elijah. In her free time, Felicia enjoys reading, working out, and supporting others in an overall health and wellness lifestyle.
Board of Directors
Endorsement Committee
Inez Ingle has been on the Board of Directors and a member of the Association since 2009. Currently, she is serving as Chair on the Endorsement Committee. Inez has been endorsed as Infant Mental Health-Clinical since 2009. Inez graduated from Bennington College with a major in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology then 10 years later received a Master’s in Early Childhood/Special Education from Lesley College. Living full-time in New Mexico since 1982, Inez has worked primarily as an Early Childhood Interventionist mostly in Rio Arriba County. Currently, direct service to infants and toddlers and their families continues to be Inez’s focus, and uses her strengths. In addition, her growing edge for the last 5-6 years has been in the provision of Reflective Supervision. Some words which guide Inez in her work and personal life are: Cooperation, Collaboration, Communication, and Respect, the building blocks of relationship-based work; in addition, slow down and reflect are important actions as she works with others.
Promotion Training and Website Chair
Christina found her heart and home in New Mexico over twenty years ago. She met her husband while working for an Early Head Start program in Santa Fe and earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from New Mexico Highlands University. She spent over seven years with Child Protective Services where she found her spark providing direct support to young children and their families. A brief detour in Bisbee, Arizona allowed Christina to gain both personal and professional experience in infant and early childhood mental health. Christina made the decision to focus on therapeutic interventions with this population and received a Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University before returning to New Mexico (this time to Silver City) with her husband and two children. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to explore old favorites and discover new gems in the state and the whole family is thriving in their adopted home. Christina currently serves as the WNMU Family Counseling Center Program Director which is embedded in an early care and education lab site specializing in the provision of social-emotional and play-based interventions for young children in classrooms, groups, and individuals. Additionally, Christina is in the process of becoming rostered in Child-Parent Psychotherapy which emphasizes the power of secure, nurturing relationships to heal, develop new patterns of interactions, and alter trajectories for a lifetime.
Membership and Nominating Chair
Rachel Morsbach has been a Home Visiting Training and Development Consultant for the University of New Mexico since 2020. Prior to the position, she served as a manager for an Early Intervention program, and has worked with New Mexico families for over 10 years. She has extensive experience in early childhood development, and has loved to support, and serve the families of New Mexico in various capacities. Her passion for Home Visiting has exponentially increased since becoming a consultant, especially with the knowledge she has gained in reflective practice. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Rachel demonstrates compassion in her profession and is committed to further enhancing her expertise, and comprehension of the tasks she engages in. She has 3 children aged 14, 11, and 9 who keep her on her toes. She loves spending time with her family, and doing activities such as playing volleyball, hiking, and traveling.
Lindsey lives in Albuquerque’s South Valley with her family. She has been a Training and Development Consultant at the University of New Mexico for 4 years. She has worked with UNM, HSC, CDD supporting in Home Visiting and now on the academic campus within the College of Education and Human Sciences, Family Development Program. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health and is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, and a Community Health Worker. She also has an Infant Mental Health Endorsement Level II, she is a Circle of Security facilitator, FAN Certified Level II, and recently completed a certificate for an Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. She transitioned to UNM from being the center Director at a Head Start and Early Head Start center and prior to that worked in Early Intervention. Through her work with Family Development Program She has enjoyed opportunities to support community Early Childhood coalitions, WEmagination, and even as a guest on The Early Show with Alax, supporting ECECD’s Moments Together as the, “Champion of Play”.
Staff
Liz Martinez serves as the Executive Director for the New Mexico Association of Infant Mental Health. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Social Work degree from New Mexico Highlands University. She has worked continuously in Early Childhood Education since 2001 and is CLASS Reliable in Infant, Toddler, and Pre-K. This lifelong resident of New Mexico was raised in Roswell and now lives with her husband and daughter in Albuquerque’s South Valley. Join her someday on the softball field or on a walk with her dogs to the Rio Grande.
Endorsement Coordinator
Katrina has been a lifelong resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico and has always been committed to the Early Childhood field. She has a passion for direct service while contributing to the field as a Master II State Approved Trainer. Katrina attended New Mexico State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Arts degree in Special Education with an emphasis in teaching the visually impaired. She has worked with NM GRADS since 2006 as a Director of a Focus 5-Star Center and as a child care mentor and statewide trainer. Katrina has been Infant Mental Health Endorsed since 2014 and has been part of the NMAIMH since 2016. Personally, she is a mom of 7, has welcomed many additional children into her family as a Treatment Foster care parent, and enjoys CrossFit for self-care.
Committees
It consists of not less than five and not more than nine persons, including the officers of the association. The Executive Committee may exercise all powers and authority of the BOD in management of the association between meeting of the BOD’s (within limits prescribed by law) or may have such specific powers and responsibilities as determined by the BOD’s. The President shall act as Chairperson of the Executive Committee. Individuals who are neither directors nor members may participate in Executive meetings upon the invitation of the Chairperson.
Consists of not less than 3 individuals, of whom one shall be a director who will serve as chairperson. This committee assists with Membership promotion and BOD Nominations: call for nominations to the Board of Directors (Follow up on applications, references, create voting ballots, etc).
Assist with promotion of IMH and IMH Endorsement, Coordinate Trainings, Update Website as needed.
(Currently full). The NMAIMH Endorsement Committee’s role is the “keeper” of the copyrighted materials, ensures IMH requirements are being adhered to, and assists with all decisions regarding IMH Endorsement. All committee members must be endorsed and must be recommended by existing committee members (no open invitations).