Meet Our Staff

Annie Rasquin

Executive Director

Annie Rasquin, LISW has been working in public service in Santa Fe and rural New Mexico for over two decades. She began her career in emergency medicine as a Paramedic Firefighter with the City of Santa Fe. Trained as a Social Worker and Infant Mental Health Therapist, Annie has worked for the past fifteen years in early intervention and behavioral health specializing with trauma impacted children and families.

Annie has extensive clinical supervision and infant mental health program experience and has consulted with and managed multiple non-profit behavioral health programs specializing in trauma informed care for vulnerable children and families. Annie was formerly the Family Services Program Director with TeamBuilders and Program Director of the Las Cumbres Community Infant Program, designated by SAMSHA as the regional child trauma treatment center. She has collaborated with and provided training to CASAs, CYFD, foster parents, and Head Start on infant mental health, the neuro-biological impact of trauma, the development of early self regulation and social emotional skills and the impact of abuse and neglect on children. Her volunteerism includes hospital fundraising, special events, emergency first response and international relief work.

Annie resides in Santa Fe with her family, dog and chickens. In her leisure Annie explores the wilderness of New Mexico, rock climbs, practices her French, and gardens.

Annie is committed to serving families in Northern New Mexico through advocacy and community partnership.

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Michele Harwood

Program Coordinator

Michele Harwood joins CASA First Judicial District with a strong background in child advocacy and early childhood development. She was first introduced to the foster care system when she became a CASA volunteer in 2002, advocating for children in Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties. During this experience, she witnessed the special needs of children in foster care, including emotional and developmental challenges. This realization shifted her focus to delivering developmental guidance to infants and toddlers with delays. She was an early intervention developmental specialist and family service coordinator for 12 years which allowed her to foster extensive community relationships in the medical, education, and social service areas. Michele mentored new staff, participated with teams to promote children and their development, evaluated infants developmentally and attended extensive trainings on the effects of trauma on children and their development. Additionally, she worked with CYFD on CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act) referrals, was part of a state team that developed outcome measures for children in New Mexico, and worked with families receiving Child Protective Services In-Home services.

Establishing relationships with families, providing developmental guidance, and sharing joy with parents as their child grows was very rewarding, and working for CASA provides Michele the opportunity to continue with this work. Her direct experience with community resources and extensive training —on the complications that drug-exposed babies experience, trauma resulting from domestic violence, and the risks that are associated with multiple home placements — are assets for CASA volunteers and the families they serve.

Michele has made Santa Fe her home for many years. Her three daughters were born and raised here. She loves tennis, animals, hiking, and the people who make up the charm and character of Santa Fe. She finds it a great honor to work with this amazing agency and its dedicated, hardworking, and professional volunteers who advocate on behalf of children and speak in their best interest.

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Jessica Henderson

Volunteer Coordinator

I am very excited and motived to be part of CASA First team. I enjoy working with children and my community. My background involves working closely with children in several different aspects. Through a summer reading and nutrition program called Energy Express, I learned how to assess the situations of underprivileged children and youth in a way to better assist their needs and the needs of the local community. I have worked with a family court judge, in which I learned to better understand the legal process of family cases and the importance of having a GAL or community volunteer in cases involving children. I worked with the Women’s Empowerment and Addiction Recovery Program which provided me with additional knowledge and understanding of criminal cases and those involved, along with a better understanding of the community needs and issues. My time spent with the Victim Assistance Division has been essential in being able to understand and assist individuals in varying situations and circumstances. My background has exposed desire in me to remain in a position in which I can directly assist the community and grow. When I’m not working I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and friends, hiking, and cuddling my dog.

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Elizabeth Eppley

Executive Assistant/Youth Ambassadors Coordinator

Elizabeth was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After graduating with a B.S. in Anthropology from Appalachian State University, she moved to New Mexico where she served for a year as an Americorps VISTA with a Santa Fe-based nonprofit, Community Learning Network. Her biggest achievement during this year of service was a collaboration with SWAIA during the summer of 2020. In this project, she led a group of volunteers who helped indigenous artists create websites for an online-only version of the yearly Santa Fe Indian Market. Most recently, she was a youth mentor and camp counselor for a group of children ages 8-14, helping tutor them with their online class curriculum at a learning center called Greermount.

Elizabeth is very excited to take on this new position with CASA First. Supporting youth from diverse backgrounds is a lifelong goal of hers and she knows the profound impact that can be made when a young person has even one invested, compassionate adult in their corner. She looks forward to participating in community meetings and trainings, reviving CASA’s Youth Ambassadors program and refreshing CASA’s online presence via newsletters, website updates and social media posts. When Elizabeth is not in the office, she loves to explore new hiking trails, paint, read, and enjoy music, yoga and dance in the Santa Fe community.

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Grace Korthuis

Program Support Specialist

Grace Korthuis is joining CASA’s team after working for the past 3 years as Lead Community Engagement Advocate for the Office for Community Partnerships at Kenyon College in Ohio where she facilitated interpersonal connections and reciprocity between the college community and the local community of rural Ohio.

Grace earned a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Religious Studies from Kenyon College. Using her academic background, Grace has conducted research of Zapotec and Mixtec indigenous cultures in Oaxaca, Mexico (where she lived for several months as a student), and material and embodied expressions of spirituality at the Santuario de Chimayó here in New Mexico.

In her free time, Grace loves creative writing, being outside in nature, exploring new places, and spending time with friends and family. Building strong communities and forging interpersonal connections are goals that Grace strives to incorporate into every aspect of her life, from her work at CASA First to her social and communal relationships.

Miranda Saint James

CASA Ambassador at Large

Miranda Saint James, a native of Santa Fe, NM, is a dedicated artist with a heart for serving others, particularly children. Throughout her life, she has actively volunteered with various organizations, consistently drawn to roles that focus on improving the welfare of children. Miranda firmly believes that the strength of a society lies in the well-being of its young generation, and she encourages everyone to take responsibility for making positive impacts.

For nearly a decade, Miranda has been heavily involved with CASA First, contributing her time and skills in a range of capacities. She has served as a special advocate, an administrative assistant, and has successfully organized numerous public events for community outreach. Moreover, Miranda took the lead in founding the CASA First Youth Ambassador program, dedicated to instilling in young individuals the significance of giving back and equipping them with essential skills for their future endeavors.

During her leisure time, Miranda indulges in her love for creating art, exploring nature, and savoring the rich culinary and vibrant music scene of Santa Fe. Above all, she cherishes the precious time spent with her children. Grateful for the opportunities life has granted her, Miranda aspires to extend her advocacy efforts far beyond the boundaries of her beloved community. She strives to make a lasting and positive impact on society, while inspiring others to take action and collaborate in effecting positive change.

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