LEADERSHIP STAFF
Fred Finch has provided and expanded upon innovative, effective services to youth and families in California for 129 years. We are proud of our internal and external leadership, comprised of our staff, who make things happen on a daily basis, as well as our amazing Board of Directors who have given countless hours of their time, talent and commitment to our cause.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Thomas N. Alexander, LCSW
PRESIDENT & CEO
The Fred Finch Board of Directors appointed Tom as President and CEO in October 2012 after his service as the Interim Chief Operating Officer in Fred Finch’s Southern California region where he initiated the development of the Fred Finch Youth Center’s residential dual-diagnosis program and spearheaded the growth of additional programs. Today, our Southern California Division houses seven programs, over 140 staff, and serves over 400 children, youth, and families daily.
Tom’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern California, a Master’s of Social Work from San Diego State University and a certificate in non-profit management from Chapman University. Tom has over 30 years of experience in clinical and leadership roles serving youth and families at various mental health and social service agencies. Before joining Fred Finch, Tom held esteemed leadership positions at a number of child and family service agencies.
Sandra Dalida
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Sandra Dalida brings over 20 years of leadership experience in finance, administration, and operations, including more than 15 years as Chief Financial Officer for Social Services in Santa Clara County and as Finance & Administration Deputy Director for the Alameda County and San Francisco Probation Departments. She has held high-impact roles at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and Apple, Inc., where she managed $8 billion in contracts, procurement, and supply chain operations.
Sandra’s extensive background includes consulting for public agencies and nonprofits, serving as City Treasurer/Finance Director for Saratoga and El Cerrito and as Chief Financial Officer for the Spanish Speaking Unity Council. She is an expert in technology automation, successfully transitioning organizations to modern ERP systems to enhance efficiency and accountability.
Sandra earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco and completed the Leadership and Transformation Program at Stanford University’s Center for Professional Development, Project Management studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Center for Leadership & Transformation Program in Santa Clara County.
Teresa Chapa. PhD, MPA
VICE PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Dr. Teresa Chapa is a lifelong advocate for mental health and wellness, health equity, cultural and linguistic competence, and workforce development. With nearly 40 years of experience in behavioral health and social justice, she leads advocacy and policy efforts at Fred Finch Youth & Family Services that prioritize access to high-quality care through a lens of equity and inclusion.
Dr. Chapa has been with Fred Finch since 2019, previously serving for six years as the Regional Vice President for Southern California. In that role, she oversaw a wide array of programs serving youth and families, while championing culturally responsive practices and integrated systems of care.
Her distinguished career spans government, higher education, and direct clinical service. Prior to joining Fred Finch, Dr. Chapa served as Executive Dean of the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University and held senior leadership roles for more than 16 years within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She has also contributed more than three decades of board and advisory service, including her current role as advisor to the Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence.
Dr. Chapa holds a diploma in nursing from Santa Rosa College, a BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University, a PhD in Clinical Psychology from CSPP-Berkeley, and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Timothy Trickett-Robles
CHIEF OF STAFF
Tim joined Fred Finch in 2009 and brings over 20 years of experience in business management, development, training, and systems implementation. He leads the agency’s Information Technology, Data, and Strategic Planning efforts, overseeing the quality, accuracy, and integrity of both participant and operational data reporting.
As the organization’s longstanding Privacy and Security Officer, Tim also directs agency-wide cybersecurity and confidentiality practices to safeguard sensitive participant information. His broad operational perspective allows him to serve as a key liaison to the Board of Directors and contribute to cross-functional decision-making at the executive level.
Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is deeply committed to advancing access to high-quality mental health care. His combination of technical expertise and clinical awareness enables him to support direct care staff while driving continuous quality improvement throughout the organization.
Daniela Ogden
VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Daniela joined Fred Finch Youth & Family Services in 2024, bringing with her a wealth of experience and knowledge in fundraising and social impact communications. Prior to joining Fred Finch, she served as the Director of Communications for The Sobrato Organization. Before this role, Daniela worked as a consultant for Bay Area nonprofits and served as the Vice President of Communications, Advocacy, and Fund Development for Eden Housing.
With a passion for supporting nonprofit organizations, Daniela has held various roles aimed at achieving fundraising and communications goals. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Colorado at Boulder, where she studied Creative Writing and Studio Art.
Desiree Kane, LCSW
VICE PRESIDENT, CLINICAL AFFAIRS
Desirée Kane joined Fred Finch in 2011 and brings over 20 years of clinical and executive leadership to her role as Vice President of Clinical Affairs. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Desirée has extensive experience in quality improvement, evidence-based practice implementation, and staff development. She leads the agency’s clinical vision and ensures high standards of care across all programs.
Her leadership has driven major initiatives in accreditation, racial equity, and clinical training, while also strengthening regulatory compliance and data-informed service delivery. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Desirée is a key architect of systems that improve outcomes for youth and families with complex needs.
With a strong background in direct service, program design, and organizational strategy, Desirée is committed to fostering a culture of clinical excellence, integrity, and equity. She earned both her BA and MSW from San Diego State University.
Laura McClarin, LMFT
VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAM OPERATIONS
Laura McClarin, LMFT, is a mission-driven leader with over 20 years of experience as a mental health practitioner and program director. Since joining Fred Finch in 2012, she has brought a deep commitment to accessible, high-quality care—leading comprehensive services for youth and families across diverse systems of care.
Laura has successfully designed, implemented, and expanded both evidence-based practices and innovative pilot programs, with a strong focus on measurable outcomes and continuous quality improvement. She is highly skilled in all facets of program development, including data analysis, outcome measurement, staff recruitment and training, and service delivery rooted in impact and equity.
Her professional background includes leadership roles in group homes and outpatient clinics, along with additional clinical experience in community college settings and private practice. Across these environments, she has consistently aligned services with organizational values to create meaningful, lasting impact in the lives of the individuals and families served.
Laura holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and a master’s degree in Psychology from California State University, San Luis Obispo.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Nicole Austin, LMFT
DIVISION DIRECTOR, FAMILY-BASED SERVICES
Nicole Austin is a visionary, results-driven leader in behavioral health with over a decade of experience designing and scaling transformative mental health programs. She brings a proven track record of impact through strategic innovation, operational excellence, and values-driven leadership.
Grounded in the belief that mental wellness is sacred, Nicole champions care models that affirm the dignity of every individual—regardless of background or circumstance. Her leadership blends strategic foresight with a moral imperative: to empower mental health providers, uplift communities, and reimagine mental health systems as spaces of healing, equity, and hope.
At the core of Nicole’s mission is a guiding truth: access to high-quality mental health care is not a privilege—it is a divine right. This conviction drives her work to build systems that are not only effective, but deeply compassionate and rooted in justice.
Roger W. Daniels, LCSW
DIVISION DIRECTOR, HOUSING & TAY
Roger W. Daniels, LCSW, is a seasoned leader in behavioral health and social services for transition-age youth (TAY), currently serving as Division Director of Housing and TAY programs at Fred Finch. He oversees a wide range of services, including the Enhanced Care Management program, and brings over two decades of experience in supporting youth with behavioral health and employment needs.
Roger joined Fred Finch in 2007 as Program Director for the Supported Services for Transition Age Youth (STAY) program. In 2015, he was promoted to Senior Director, overseeing TAY community-based programs and the Rising Harte Wellness Center.
Prior to joining Fred Finch, Roger spent approximately 11 years at Alternative Family Services, a foster family agency, providing clinical case management and overseeing services in Sonoma and Marin Counties. He began his career in the private sector, working for eight years in management, sales, and marketing before transitioning to social work.
A Bay Area native raised in Berkeley, Roger earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Florida A&M University and his Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of California, Berkeley.
Joslin Herberich, LCSW
DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Joslin Herberich, LCSW, joined Fred Finch in 1997 as a Residential Social Worker and later advanced to Clinical Supervisor and Program Director for Wraparound Services. In 2006, she was promoted to Senior Director of Community-Based Services for youth and families in Northern California.
In 2025, Joslin stepped into the newly developed role of Director of Clinical Services to lead agency-wide efforts in training, professional development, program consultation, crisis response, supervision for the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), and evidence-based practices.
Prior to joining Fred Finch, Joslin gained clinical experience in Kaiser’s psychiatry departments in Oakland and San Francisco, as well as on the child and adolescent psychiatric unit at First Hospital Vallejo. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of California, Berkeley.
Maria Luna, LMFT, BCBA
DIVISION DIRECTOR, RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
Maria Luna is a bilingual and bicultural Latina therapist with nearly 20 years of experience in behavioral and mental health. A strong advocate for cultural competency, Maria provides clinical supervision in Spanish to associate therapists across the agency.
As the former Senior Director of Dual-Diagnosis Community and Home-Based Services, she oversaw critical programs supporting children, youth, and their families navigating both developmental disabilities and mental health challenges.
In her current role as Division Director for Residential Services, Maria is focused on integrating programs into a comprehensive continuum of care—providing mental health, behavioral health, psychology, psychiatry, and ABA services to youth with complex needs. This new model promotes enhanced care coordination and expanded services to improve outcomes for our participants.
Maria holds a B.A. in Psychology from UC Riverside, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University, and a graduate certificate in Executive Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
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Dr. Nydia Mershani, Psy.D., LMFT
DIVISION DIRECTOR, SCHOOL & COMMUNITY-BASED, CASE MANAGEMENT
Dr. Nydia Mershani, Psy.D., LMFT, is a seasoned leader and changemaker in the behavioral health field, currently serving as Division Director of School & Community-Based and Case Management Services at Fred Finch. In this role, she provides strategic and clinical oversight for a diverse portfolio of high-impact programs—including school-based initiatives across Alameda, Contra Costa, Antioch, Mt. Diablo, John Muir Health, and Screening to Care in San Diego, as well as critical community-based services such as Visiting Therapist, In-Home, and Child and Family Team (CFT) services.
Since joining Fred Finch in 2015 as Program Director for Alameda County School-Based Programs, Dr. Mershani has held several leadership roles, most recently serving as Senior Director of Alameda County School-Based Services. With more than 20 years of experience in psychology and mental health services, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating healing-centered systems that empower youth and families. Her leadership is deeply rooted in cultural humility, cross-sector collaboration, and building sustainable, community-rooted responses to complex needs.
She holds a Doctorate in Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University, and a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from the University of Redlands.