,Meet the 2024-2025 AMTA Board of Directors
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Angela M. Snell, MSEd, MT-BC (she/her) – President
Angie is a school music therapist and educational consultant from Monroe, Michigan. She specializes in music therapy services in least restrictive environments, assessment, and special education law. She is an experienced change agent with graduate degrees in Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration. She has served in local, state, regional, and national leadership roles inside and outside of our field. In addition to AMTA President, she serves on the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapists Associations (NCCATA), Michigan Music Therapy Task Force, Michigan Music Education Association’s Inclusive Instruction Committee, and she is the Professional Development Coordinator for Roman Music Therapy Services.
Jennifer Sokira, MMT, LCAT, MT-BC (she/her) – Vice President
Jennifer is a private practice owner, consultant and educator from Monroe, CT. Founding Director of Connecticut Music Therapy Services, LLC, Jennifer’s clinical work focuses on supporting survivors of individual and collective trauma using music psychotherapy methods. She supervises and consults with individuals and organizations to assist them with disaster response and trauma-informed program development. In addition to writing and presenting, she teaches at Alverno College, Southern Connecticut State University and Quinnipiac University, and is Director of Educational Programming with EnlightenCE. Her previous professional service has included president of New England Region of AMTA, as a member of the AMTA Ethics Board, as well as various committees and task forces.
Lori Fogus Gooding, PhD, MT-BC (she/her) – Past President
Lori is Associate Professor of Music Therapy at Florida State University. In addition to her role as Past President, she serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Music Therapy and is a past president of the SER-AMTA. She has published and presented nationally and internationally and is the recipient of multiple grants, including a Fulbright award to Malaysia. Dr. Gooding’s clinical work has primarily been hospital-based, and she also worked in public school systems. Her research interests include music therapy-based psychosocial care, music therapy education policy and practices, and work-life factors for music therapy practitioners and students.
Leslie Orozco Henry, MM, MT-BC (she/her) - Treasurer
Leslie is employed with Alverno College as the Program Director and Associate Professor of Music Therapy. She has worked in various settings, including behavioral health inpatient hospitals, hospice, multigenerational daycare, a community music school, and physical rehabilitation/skilled nursing settings. Many of these positions utilized non-profit models where Leslie has written grants, sought contracts, and managed and created budgets. In addition, she has also served as her local Marching Band, and Music Parents' Booster clubs President for several years. At Alverno, she teaches a grant writing course for music therapists in their graduate program. Leslie has served in state, regional, and national roles all her student and professional life. Her goal is to help AMTA shift the budget formula to one that is equitable, transparent, accessible, and sustainable.
Mia Iliopoulos, MM, CDP, MT-BC (she/her) – Assistant Speaker - Assembly of Delegates
Mia resides in Chicago, IL and is the Clinical Supervisor with Greater Chicago Music Therapy, Inc. which serves adults with dementia, neurodiversity and disabilities, various neurological disorders, and end of life care. There, she facilitates individual and group sessions, supervises team music therapists, practicum students, and interns, helps with new program development, and often presents about music therapy in the community. Mia's clinical work focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Parkinson's disease, in addition to end of life care and other neurologic, vocal, and respiratory functionality. She received her BM and MM in music therapy from Western Illinois University and Colorado State University, respectively. Additionally, Mia serves as President of the Illinois Association for Music Therapy and is the Illinois Representative on the GLR Executive Board. She has also previously served on regional conference planning committees and is a frequent presenter at conferences and surrounding Midwest universities on topics including harmonica protocols, various neurological disorders, hospice music therapy, and becoming a new professional.
Kate Myers-Coffman, PhD, MT-BC (she/they) – Assembly of Delegates Representative
Kate is an Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at Molloy College. Their clinical work and research focus on trauma-aware, resource-oriented programming for youth and families who have experienced trauma and loss. Their approach to music therapy practice, education, scholarship, and service is guided by equity-centered, culturally humble, relational, and collaborative values. Kate is also on the editorial board of Music Therapy Perspectives and serves the Mid-Atlantic Region of the AMTA through the Anti-Sexual Harassment Subcommittee and the Anti-Oppressive Accountability Ad Hoc Committee.
Chelsea Mabes, MA, MT-BC (she/her) - Council Coordinator for the Council on Association Services
Chelsea resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. She supports hospice patients and people with IDD in north-Indy. She completed her BM at Ohio University, her MA at St. Mary of the Woods College, and is currently studying for her PhD in music therapy at Indiana University. Her master's thesis explored the understanding of trauma-informed care in the music therapy profession, and she has presented her research in various settings over the years. She is also passionate about education, and she has supervised numerous practicum students and interns as a professional as well as teaching a course at the University of Indianapolis. Chelsea serves on the GLR executive board as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee as well as engaging in regional strategic planning. Chelsea deeply values building relationships with the music therapy community and its stakeholders and prioritizes relational learning in organizational leadership settings.
Leslie Henry, MM, MT-BC (she/her) – Council Coordinator for the Council on Professional Practices
Leslie is a seasoned music therapist with diverse experiences in her professional career. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Alverno College and a Master of Music specializing in Music Therapy from Colorado State University and is a Neurologic Music Therapist – Fellow with the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. Leslie has experience in skilled nursing, physical rehabilitation, community music, intergenerational day care, hospice, mental health, and academia. She has served the profession of music therapy in a variety of capacities, including: Vice President (1996-2000) and President (2000-2004) of the Wisconsin Chapter of Music Therapy, GLR Conference Co-Chair (1996 & 2005), GLR Executive Board (2000-2004 & 2009-2015), GLR of AMTA Professional Advocacy Representative (2009-2015) and AMTA Professional Advocacy Co-Chair (2015-2021). Leslie believes in empowering and supporting music therapists in their work and advancing the profession by including communities not served by music therapy, building partnerships and sustainability of our work force and payor systems.
Shannon Kiley (she/they) - DEI Committee Liaison, SER Representative (photo/bio forthcoming)
Vienna Sa (she/her) - DEI Committee Liaison, WR Representative (photo/bio forthcoming)
Susan Hadley (she/her) - DEI Committee Liaison, SER Representative (photo/bio forthcoming)
Anurati Jain (she/her) - DEI Committee Liaison, GLR Representative (photo/bio forthcoming)
AMTA DEI Committee Members are serving in an interim, rotating basis to provide continuous DEI Board Representative presence on the Board at this time. This position information will be updated as representation changes.