Meet the 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.

Michele Harwood

Program Coordinator

Michele has 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.

Sarah Triebel

Volunteer Supervisor

I am deeply grateful to be a part of CASA First’s unique and thriving team. I feel like I am exactly where I should be, as my experiences seem to have perfectly prepared me for this opportunity/responsibility. And I am excited to continue my journey, to learn and grow, with such a remarkable crew.

I have spent the past twenty years in a variety of social work positions working with diverse populations. My journey began at a refugee resettlement agency in Kansas City. I managed an after school program for refugee children and implemented a program to partner volunteers with newly arrived refugee families. I spent the next (and longest) chapter of my career as a case manager and assistant program director of an organization that provides services for teen families, trafficking victims, and youth involved with CYFD and the juvenile system.

I moved to Espanola six years ago and worked with Youth and Family Services in Santa Fe as a case manager for their transitional living program and street outreach. As the intake coordinator and case manager for the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos, I have been able to experience the richness and culture of my community.

I practice holding a safe space for others so they might feel seen, heard, and loved. I believe in the power of connectedness and strength in diversity. In my free time, I find freedom and joy in dance, and I appreciate the magic and imagination my kids bring to my life. I am grateful for my family and community, and I am at peace while exploring the beautiful nature of New Mexico.

Cynthia Lentini

Volunteer Supervisor

Cynthia Lentini is a multidisciplinary professional, artist, and community advocate with a diverse academic background that bridges technology, law, and the arts. She holds associate degrees in Computer Network Operations and Paralegal Studies, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts and Sciences.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Cynthia is a first-generation U.S. citizen who has found a meaningful sense of home in Española, New Mexico with her 3 dogs and cat. Her life and work in Northern New Mexico inspire her creativity and commitment to community engagement. As an artist, she specializes in graphite and colored pencil, creating detailed and expressive works. She is also an avid baker, locally known for her signature piñon pie.

Cynthia is deeply passionate about serving her community with authenticity, bringing curiosity, creativity, and dedication to both her professional and personal endeavors.

Elizabeth Eppley

Executive Assistant

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 trail-running, exploring the world,  and participating in or observing artistic endeavors.

Grace Korthuis

Program Support Specialist & Abrigo Training Coordinator

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.

Katelyn Mitchell

Youth Ambassador Program Specialist

Hi, I’m Katie, and I am incredibly proud to be joining the CASA First team. I am a Queer woman from Santa Fe New Mexico. My hobbies include video games, climbing, and art. My favorite color is purple and I love cats. I’ve lived in Santa Fe for my entire life and have loved seeing how our community has grown and changed over the many years. 

I started volunteering for Youth Ambassadors in 2023 and ever since then it has changed my life in ways that I can never truly put into words. When I came into the program during a very vulnerable moment in my life, I was fresh out of high school and completely directionless. Youth Ambassadors gave me a place where I could safely be myself. CASA First has helped me discover exactly what I want in life, to help people in need. In the future, it is my dream to study Psychology and Law so that I might create a better world than the one I was born into.

Miranda St. James

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.