Speaker Bios

Dr. Michele Winchester-Vega

Dr. Michele Winchester-Vega graduated with a MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work, and a DSW from Yeshiva University School of Social Work. She has attended post graduate trainings at Harvard, NYU and a variety of family/marital therapy trainings. She has held positions of Caseworker, Clinic Supervisor, and Director of Clinical Training in large human service agencies. She has spent over 30 years working within the mental health, academic and addictions arena.

Dr. Winchester-Vega has mentored many professionals over the years and has provided professional trainings at local, state, national and international conferences. She has published articles in professional journals, academic books and has authored anthologies for graduate students.

Dr. Michele Winchester-Vega was on the faculty full time at Yeshiva University from 1992-2000 at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Prior to this assignment she taught at SUNY New Paltz and Orange County Community College in the Social Sciences Division. She enjoys collaborating with other professionals in the community including: medical doctors, nurses, teachers, guidance counselors, acupuncturists, nutritionists and college counselors. She also enjoys providing consultations to corporations on a variety of employee concerns.

Committed to giving back to the community, she has been coined Million Dollar Woman for helping to raise over $1 million dollars for a variety of causes. She has served on The Council of Social Work Women s Commission in Washington, D.C. and on the board of The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill and Kidz4Causes. com. She is listed in the Cambridge Who s Who Registry Among Executive and Professional Women and Who s Who of American Women.

Dr. Michele Winchester-Vega has been awarded:

• 2014 AFP Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award
• 2014 Corsairs Cup, Newburgh Rowing Club
• 2012 Athena Award, Duchess County Chamber Foundation
• 2011 OC Tribute to Women of Achievement Bobbie Lahey Award
• 2010 National Association of Social Workers Hudson Valley Division Lifetime Achievement Award

Eric Haley

Eric Haley is a Registered Nurse at Bon Secour Community Hospital in Port Jervis NY and at the SUNY Orange Wellness Center in Middletown NY. Mr. Haley received his A.A.S. in Nursing from SUNY Orange in May of 2010. Eric s interest in the nursing field came after a successful 7 year career as an advocate at Crystal Run Village Inc. After graduating from the SUNY Orange Nursing Program he was hired at Bon Secour Community hospital and in April of 2015 began working in the Wellness Center at SUNY Orange.