Board Members and Committees

Nick is a California LPCC and a Nationally Certified Counselor by the National Board of Certified Counselors. He has held various clinical, research, and leadership appointments within the Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and community. Nick is the Lead Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) and LPMHC Director of Clinical Training with the VA San Diego Healthcare System and Assistant Professor with the University of San Diego. Previously, Nick was an Adjunct Professor in the San Diego City College Alcohol and Other Drug Studies program. He was also the Clinical Director and Co–Founder of e3 Civic High’s school–based mental health counseling program. Before his appointment with the Board of Behavioral Sciences, Nick was a California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC) board member and the Legislative and Advocacy Committee co–chair. Nick is an Army Veteran and has served in the Oregon and California Army National Guard as an enlisted military police. He continues to serve in the California State Guard as a Behavioral Health Officer supporting National Guard soldiers across Southern California. Nick received his M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of San Diego and his PhD. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of the Cumberlands.

Susan Friedman was appointed by the Governor Newsom in March 2020. Ms. Friedman was an Emmy-award winning network news producer for NBC News from 1982 to 2008 and from 1968 to 1977. She was a reporter and producer for the local Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) from 1977 to 1982. She is a founding member of the Alliance for Children’s Rights Board of Directors and vice chair and commissioner of the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission.

Justin Huft has been a Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Program Director at Creative Care Calabasas since 2016, Adjunct Lecturer for the Psychology and Sociology Departments at California State University, Fullerton since 2016 and Adjunct Lecturer for the Psychology Department at El Camino Community College since 2018. He was an Adjunct Lecturer in Psychological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine from 2019 to 2020, and in Psychology at Saddleback College from 2016 to 2018. He is a member of the California Marriage and Family Therapy Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, American Sociological Association and Pacific Sociological Association. Huft earned a Master of Arts degree in marriage and family therapy from Chapman University and a Master of Arts degree in sociology from Arizona State University.

Christopher C. Jones is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP #2819) and Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). He is the President and CEO of Dynamic Interventions, the first incorporation of Licensed Educational Psychologists in the history of California. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development from California State University, Northridge, and his Master of Arts degree and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in School Psychology from Tufts University. He worked as a school psychologist in Massachusetts and California, then left public education to open Dynamic Interventions in 2006.

Jones was awarded the Suzanne Fisher Leadership Award by the California Association of School Psychologists (CASP) in 2019. He has been recognized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the William S. Hart Union High School District for his innovative work as a school psychologist, showing dedication to students and their families. He was the recipient of the CASP Outstanding School Psychologist Award, and currently sits on the CASP Board of Directors as the LEP Committee Chair.

Abigail Ortega has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Love Listen and Play, a private psychotherapy practice, since 2016. Before starting her private counseling practice, Ortega worked in several community and medical settings. Her diverse experience included providing assessments and therapy to people and families of all ages and backgrounds. Ortega was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Wilmington Community Clinic from 2016 to 2021 and at Counseling4Kids from 2017 to 2020. She was a Medical Social Worker at the Children’s Clinic from 2014 to 2015. Ortega held several positions at Children’s Institute Inc. from 2011 to 2014, including Therapist II and Clinical Domestic Violence Team Lead. She was a Psychiatric Social Worker at the Child Center of New York from 2010 to 2011.

Kelly X. Ranasinghe was appointed by Governor Newsom in July of 2020. He currently is a Deputy County Counsel in Imperial County, California practicing child welfare law in juvenile court. Previously, Mr. Ranasinghe was a partner at the law firm of Henderson and Ranasinghe LLP and a senior program attorney at National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, where he focused on domestic violence and child sex trafficking. He is a member of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) and a certified peer mental health facilitator through the NAMI Connections program. Mr. Ranasinghe is also a member of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) and a board certified child welfare law specialist. Mr. Ranasinghe earned a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 2005.

John Sovec is a therapist in private practice in Pasadena California who specializes in supporting the needs of the LGBTQ community. He is the clinical consultant for The Life Group LA , adjunct faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute, and guest lecturer at Alliant University and USC School of Social Work. Mr. Sovec is a nationally recognized expert on creating affirmative LGBTQ support, and is the author of multiple publications and speaks at conferences nationwide. He provides training for community agencies, schools, non-profits, and provides professional consultation on LGBTQ competencies.

Wendy Strack was appointed by the Governor in February 2020. She is currently the CEO of Wendy J Strack Consulting LLC, with more than 20 years of experience in creating and delivering award winning advocacy, communications, and outreach programs in Southern California. Strack is a member of California Women Lead, Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), and the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO). She also holds certifications in Basic and Advanced Public Information Officer/Joint Information Center/Joint Information Systems from the California Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Strack has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside and an M.P.A. from the University of Southern California. She has also served on the City of Riverside Human Resources Board since 2018.

Eleanor Uribe was appointed to the Board of Behavioral Sciences in August 2022. Eleanor has been the Faculty Field Liaison at California State University, Fresno since 2012. She worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2008-2012. She was a Social Worker Practitioner at the Fresno County Department of Social Services from 1994 to 2008. Uribe earned her Master of Social Work degree from California State University, Fresno.

Dr. Annette Walker has served as a School Board Member at Hayward Unified School District from 2012 to 2020, where she was Personnel Commissioner from 2010 to 2011. Dr. Walker was Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Life Chiropractic College West from 2020 to 2021. She was Director of Graduate Admissions and Kaleidoscope Mentoring Program Coordinator at California State University, East Bay from 2005 to 2019. She was a Psychology Instructor and General Counselor at Chabot College from 1999 to 2004, where she was a Psychology Instructor from 1998 to 1999. Dr. Walker was a Bilingual Elementary School Teacher at Ravenswood City School District from 1993 to 1997. She earned a Master of Science degree in education and psychological studies from California State University, East Bay and a Doctor of Education degree in Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco. She was a delegate for the California School Board Association, representing California's seventh district, and Legislative Committee member.

Lorez Bailey is an accomplished media professional and community advocate, most recently serving as Publisher of the North Bay Business Journal. Known as “The Connector,” she excels in building professional networks and fostering collaboration. She was honored as "Woman of the Year" by U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson for her impactful work with Sonoma County students. Lorez holds degrees from Sacramento State University and Sonoma State University. She has led significant workforce development initiatives and served in leadership roles at Chop's Teen Club and Social Advocates for Youth. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and serves on several advisory boards in her community.