Elections Committee

Please read all about the candidates below and then be sure to come back and vote in October. Please email elections@mamft.net if you have any questions.

President-Elect

Leah Seeger practices at the Lakeside Center location of Lyn Lake Centers for Wellbeing in Minneapolis. Leah has been a member of MAMFT since 2013, first as a student and currently as a clinical member, beginning tenure right before the start of the pandemic. Previously, Leah has taught at St. Mary’s University as an adjunct professor in the Graduate Addiction Studies Program. Lean has also done trainings on systemic therapy for therapists without relational/systemic training and on marketing practices for therapists.

Through her time on the board, Leah has seen MAMFT go through upheaval as well as a great deal of progress. Leah would like to use her extensive experience to help MAMFT as President Elect to continue the work of transitioning to a more modern organization that can effectively serve the needs of the MFT profession in Minnesota. Prior to becoming a therapist, Leah worked in corporate America as an advertising executive for 12 years. Leah is able to combine her passion for the MFT field as well as utilize prior career skills to help MAMFT and other therapists. Qualities that Leah brings to MAMFT are communication skills to work with and support a variety of people in addition to the organizational skills and sense of responsibility to see projects through to completion. Outside of business acumen, Leah brings a good sense of humor, lots of energy and creativity, and a desire to lead through building community. These skills can translate to the type of leadership that ensures MAMFT is responsive to members’ needs, can support and empower staff/board members, follow through on promises, engage members, and have some fun in the process.

In Leah’s time on the board, the board has done foundational work that was designed to set up MAMFT to respond to the needs of our members more effectively. A lot of this work has been behind the scenes work, and thus it may be hard for MAMFT members to see or appreciate the value of all that work. If elected as President Elect, Leah hopes to support MAMFT in building on those foundations, utilize the structures put in place to add current value to members, and create more ways of supporting and engaging MFTs in Minnesota.

Secretary

Serenity Curtis practices therapy at the Edges Wellness Center in Minneapolis where she specializes in LGBTQ+ and neuro-divergent communities with trauma- informed and culturally responsive care. She has been a member of the MAMFT since 2017. Serenity is working towards AASECT certification in sex therapy completion in December 2022, and she would like to become a board- approved supervisor in the near future.

Serenity, currently a Clinical board member, is interested in the Secretary position so that she can continue to promote and transform MAMFT into a culturally responsive and inclusive organization at the forefront of representation and advocacy. Serenity brings a valuable perspective to this position as a queer, neuro-divergent person. Serenity is knowledgeable of MAMFT history and systems, growth-minded, and willing to challenge the status quo. Her focus would be to continue the strategic plan and evolve MAMFT into an organization that is an active part of members’ lives as she works behind the scenes to support and connect with others.

At-Large Board Member

Melanie Aleman is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Melanie is currently in private practice and has been a member of MAMFT since 2010 when she was a student and was a pre-clinical member. Melanie is currently a clinical member and has presented virtually at the fall 2020 virtual conference. Melanie specializes in working with couples and individuals who have experienced trauma, domestic abuse, intimate partner abuse, and family violence. Melanie also works with adults with ADHD/ADD and clients who were in the military. Melanie identifies as a person of color and provides culturally responsive therapy.

Melanie is interested in becoming an at-large board member in order to support the many changes that have recently taken place and how the changes will affect the continuing mission of the MAMFT organization. Melanie is interested in joining a committee that will be of interest to herself and other MFTs. Melanie has voiced an interest in multiple areas such as social justice, inequalities, and disparities that effect both the members of the MFT community as well as how it effects the public that MFTs work with.

As a board member, Melanie feels she will bring her life experiences to the position. Melanie stated some of those lived experiences include obtaining full licensure, her ability to communicate and uphold ethical standards, increased empathy for people as a person of color, her work and understanding surrounding domestic violence, work with neuro divergent clients, and understanding how her work is multilayered and how that influences what she does.

Elections Committee Member

Melissa Bolger is currently in private practice and owner of

Grounding Space Therapy. Melissa’s specializes in working with

high conflict and/or complex families, parents, and teens. She

works with families and individuals who are going through life

transitions or trauma. She works with members of the LGBTQ+

community. Melissa provides individual, dyadic, and group

supervision to pre-licensed individuals working toward licensure.

Melissa has worked as a Child Life Specialist and has been a

member of various professional organization. Melissa has been a member of MAMFT since before 2015 when she was in graduate

school and a student member. She was a pre-clinical member

and is currently holds a clinical membership.

Melissa is interested in become a part of the MAMFT board to help bring change to the profession of Marriage and Family Therapy and society as a whole considering what is happening in the world today. Melissa would like to be a part of moving the profession forward and bring about systemic change. Melissa is a passionate person and is eager and motivated to help accomplish the current goals of the MAMFT organization. She is good at taking on tasks and supported others. Melissa has had a number of clinical experiences that would help her be effective in this position. She is excited to learn more and to be engaged with others as a member of the election committee and the board of MAMFT. As a member of the election committee Melissa would like the opportunity to learn more about the board including how it works, how decisions are made, and how to continue to support the profession moving forward.