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Meet CNMA's Leadership
Current CNMA Board of Directors
President: Elected by the CNMA membership. The president serves a four year term. The first year is as president elect, working closely with the current president. Then they serve two years as president followed by a year as past-president, offering continued guidance and support for the incoming president.
President:
Amita Graham (2023-2027)
President Elect: Perform the duties of the President in the absence or inability of the President to serve. Succeed to the office of President at the end of the presidential term or earlier should the office become vacant during an unfinished term. Perform such duties as may be delegated by the President. Coordinate arrangements and program components of Affiliate meetings. President elect is a voting member.
President-Elect:
Margy Hutchison (2026-2030)
Secretary: Elected by the CNMA membership. Serves a two year term and is responsible for maintaining affiliate documents, keeping BOD minutes, and disseminating election ballots. Secretary is a voting member.
Secretary:
Darcy Stanley (2026-2028)
Treasurer: Elected by the CNMA membership and serves a two year term. The treasurer maintains the fiscal health of the organization. Treasurer is a voting member.
Treasurer:
Mariel Knoll (2022-2024 & 2024-2026)
Reproductive Justice & Anti-Racism Chair: Appointed by the CNMA Reproductive Justice and Anti-Racism Committee. Serves a two-year term. Responsible for guiding CNMA in our aim to become an organization committed to the reproductive-justice framework and to become an anti-racist organization. Acts as liaison between the Board and the Reproductive Justice Anti-Racism Committee.
Reproductive Justice & Antiracism Chair: OPEN
Immediate Past Reproductive Justice & Antiracism Chair: Mayra Lizette Yniguez
Representing Underrepresented Community: Two positions. Elected by the CNMA membership. Serves a two year term. Acts as liaison and represents the interests of a community underrepresented in midwifery and/or on the CNMA board. Representing Underrepresented Community is a voting member.
Member At Large - Representing Underrepresented Community:
TWO POSITIONS OPEN
Northern California Regional Representative: Elected by the CNMA membership. Serves a three year term. Acts as liaison between CNMA and Nor-Cal Midwives. Northern California Regional Representative is a voting member.
Northern California Regional Representative
Ali Kanat (2026-2029)
Central California Regional Representative: Elected by the CNMA membership. Serves a three year term. Acts as liaison between CNMA and Central CA Midwives. Central California Regional Representative is a voting member.
Central California Regional Representative
OPEN
Southern California Regional Representative: Elected by the CNMA membership. Serves a three year term. Acts as liaison between CNMA and So-Cal Midwives. Southern California Regional Representative is a voting member.
Southern California Regional Representative
Sally McNally (2026-2029)
Student Representatives: Two positions. Position rotates annually between Nurse-Midwifery education programs in California. Serves a two year term. Acts as liaison between CNMA and California Midwives. Shares one vote on BOD.
Student Representative
Nicole Quintana (2026-2027)
Outgoing Student Representative
Olivia Godby (2024-2026)
Active Committees
Communications Committee & Workgroup: The communications chair works very closely with the Social Media and Communications Consultant, supporting and directing them in their paid role to grow the social media platforms for both CNMA (content development, interactions with followers, moderating comments) and update the CNMA website. The communications chair also works with the CNMA President to publish CNMA’s bi-monthly newsletter and curate and distribute emails to CNMA membership, and collaborates with other CNMA committees to promote events and share information.
Communications Committee Chair: Lori Link
Continuing Education Committee & Workgroup: Responsible for planning and hosting the annual meeting each fall and puts together continuing education programs made available through the CNMA website.
Continuing Education Committee Chair: Paris Maloof-Bury
Legislative Action and Advocacy Committee: The Legislative Action and Advocacy Committee represents the membership regarding legislative and policy actions impacting the practice of nurse-midwifery in the state of California; promotes the health and well-being of women, pregnant and birthing people, and families in California consistent with the mission of the California Nurse-Midwives Association; establishes and maintains cooperation with other groups and organizations that advance policies, regulations, and legislation that promote the health and well-being of California families, including but not limited to the California Association of Licensed Midwives and ACOG District IX; supports and fosters appropriate legislation and regulations affecting nurse-midwifery scope of practice, professional licensure, and/or policies that affect nurse-midwifery in California, with specific consideration for the health equity of patients and advancement of the profession of midwifery as a whole.
Legislative Action and Advocacy Committee Chair: Liz Donnelly
Legislative Coordinator: Holly Smith
Membership Committee: In addition to managing the active CNMA membership list, the primary responsibility of the committee is to work with the CNMA leadership team to create and implement a membership strategic plan, gather data to assess member satisfaction and needs, help establish membership priorities, set goals for membership expansion, review programs for effectiveness, enhance or eliminate current programs, and develop and implement new programs to achieve these goals. The Membership Committee Chair is also responsible for being an initial point of contact for members with concerns and questions for chapter leaders who need additional support from the state affiliate.
Membership Committee Chair: Ali Kanat
Midwifery Workforce Development and Education Support Committee: A new committee that will focus on building and diversifying the CNM workforce in California, including strategizing to increase the number of clinical placement sites and preceptors in California, establishing and maintaining two-way communication between midwifery programs that have student nurse-midwives in California and the CNMA Board of Directors, and fostering and supporting student mentoring programs. They will work alongside the Student Representatives.
Midwifery Workforce Development and Education Support Committee Chair: Kim Dau
Immediate Past Midwifery Workforce Development and Education Support Committee Co-Chair: Melanie Phipps
Professional Practice Committee & Workgroup: Group is in development.
Reproductive Justice & Antiracism Committee & Workgroup: The Antiracism Committee & Workgroup is the first Reproductive Justice Affinity group and is responsible for supporting CNMA to become an organization that is composed of racially diverse and anti-racist leadership and membership. We aim to diversify the midwifery workforce, and address the racism-based disparities in reproductive health care and promote access to anti-racist training and education for all California midwives.
Reproductive Justice & Antiracism Committee & Workgroup Chair: OPEN
Immediate Past Reproductive Justice & Antiracism Committee & Workgroup Chair: Mayra Lizette Yniguez
White Antiracism Workgroup: The White Antiracism workgroup is a group of white identifying members of CNMA leadership dedicated to learning and educating other white midwives about antiracism and social justice in midwifery care.
White Antiracism Chair: OPEN
Government Affairs Committee: GAC supports ACNM’s strategic plan and advocacy agenda. These advocacy efforts include communicating federal legislative and regulatory developments to the affiliate, coordinating meetings with legislators, and contributing to the dialogue on relevant legislation and regulations.
Government Affairs Committee Liaison: Claire Harper
Bylaws Committee:
Bylaws Committee Chair: OPEN
Open BOD Positions
Representatives from Under-Represented Groups (2 Positions Open)
Representatives from under-represented groups (including but not limited to BIPOC, disabled, LGBTQ, rural, poor, home birth and free-standing birth center midwives) shall:
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Attend monthly BOD meetings
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Ideally have a well-developed understanding of the Reproductive Justice Framework
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Be in community and connection with the members of the under-represented community/communities whose voice they are elevating. Bring awareness to the specific needs of these communities to the BOD and act as a voice for the members to the BOD
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Attend their local chapter meetings, when possible
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Take initiative to be involved in events in their region and to develop relationships with the members of the region
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Possibly be involved with fundraising to support CNMA aims
Voting Status: They are voting members of the BOD
Term: 3 year term: 2 years as Representative from an under-represented group, followed by one year as Immediate Past Representative (the "Immediate Past" role is non-voting.)
Regional Representatives – Central CA
Regional Representatives (one each from Southern CA, Northern CA and Central CA) shall:
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Attend monthly BOD meetings
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Keep in touch with the regional chapters so the regional director is up to date
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Act as a voice for the members to the BOD
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Establish two-way communication with regional chapter chairs and members to update them on affiliate issues, as well as bring issues, comments, needs and requests from regional members to the BOD
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Take initiative regarding events in their region and develop relationships with the members of the region, including participation at local chapter meetings, when possible
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They are encouraged to be involved in fundraising efforts in their region
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Take a leadership role in organizing in-district visits when it comes to grassroots advocacy/legislation
Voting Status: Regional Reps are voting members of the BOD
Term: 3 year term: 2 years as Regional Rep, followed by one year as Immediate Past Regional Rep (the "Immediate Past" role is non-voting.)
Reproductive Justice Anti-Racism Committee Chair
The Reproductive Justice Anti-Racism Committee Chair shall:
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Participate in monthly RJ/AR meetings
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Attend monthly BOD meetings and advise the BOD on issues related to Reproductive Justice & Anti-Racism
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Provide Quarterly communication with CNMA members regarding committee activity
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Interface with American College of Nurse-Midwives and their current committees focusing on racial and reproductive justice issues
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Coordinate collaboration with other professional groups on issues related to anti-racism and racism-based health disparities work
Voting Status: RJ/AR Chair is a voting member of the BOD
Term: 3 year term: 2 years as RJAR committee chair, followed by one year as Immediate Past RJAR Committee Chair (the "Immediate Past" role is non-voting.)
White Antiracism Chair
Started in 2009 in response to a call for action from and for CNMA white identifying BOD members to be supporting, educating and working on antiracism within our organization in an effort to be a more antiracist organization and also to take the burden of work off our colleagues of color to educate and support us. Affinity groups have long been a supportive part of antiracism work. We are looking for someone to lead this group. No experience required. Only humility and dedication to social justice.
Nominating Committee (Two Positions Open)
It is a 3-year term with a 2-term limit. The time commitment for the nominating committee is limited each year – the responsibilities include finding eligible candidates for all open board positions and conducting the election – creating and sending out ballots electronically, and then counting the ballots. This process will take place in the second half of the calendar year, with the search for candidates to take place before the November 1st date when ballots will be sent out.
Bylaws Consultant
Interested in joining the Board of Directors? Contact the President of CNMA,
Amita Graham: 1-415-516-5407 / president@cnma.org !