Principle, AIRERoots Chair, AIRE Counseling and Consultant

Beth is a passionate community organizer, therapist, teacher, mentor, and facilitator. Since 2015, Beth has been a Teaching Associate for the University of Washington, School of Social Work, Child Welfare and Advancement Program (CWTAP). Beth’s work is influenced by her experience as a transracial/transnational South Korean adoptee, growing up in the ancestral land of the Coast Salish people (PNW), earning her MSW from the University of Washington School of Social Work and CWTAP, and as a student of Amadeo Cruz Guiao (Lunas Consulting). Beth is passionate about working together with individuals and organizations to find healing and liberation, particularly those who have been historically marginalized. Beth’s work for almost 2 decades has included working with individuals as a therapist , child welfare social worker, CWTAP Field Instructor, curriculum and program development. facilitating focus groups, and co-founding mentoring programs for young people and students.

AIRERoots Chair and AIRE Consultant

Saul (He/Him) is a transracial/transnational adoptee from Vietnam, adopted in 1975. Since 2016, Saul has been an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Washington, School of Social Work, Office of Field Education. Prior to joining UW, since 1997, Saul has had the privilege of supporting BIPOC children, youth, and families in a variety of professional settings and positions including: Asian Counseling and Referral Services (CYF Mental Health Counselor and Program Coordinator), Holt International (Post Adoption Services Social Worker and Heritage Camp Director), and Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (Adoption Unit, Home Study Assessor). Saul has been volunteering with the Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington Adoptee Mentorship Program since he helped co-found it in 2012.

AIRERoots Chair and AIRE Consultant

Michelle Bagshaw is a transracial/interracial adult adoptee and an adoptive parent. She has over 25 years working in the community and is passionate about serving adoptees and families. Currently she serves as the Assistant Director of Academic Services for the Integrated Social Sciences Program at University of Washington.

Michelle’s area of practice interest and experience include services for children, youth, older adults, adoption, foster care, families and students in higher education. Michelle began her career with youth in a crisis-residential setting and continued to work with young adults in employment programs, independent living for teens aging out of foster care, and in supporting higher education access for youth in foster care. Michelle also worked for five years in a child-abuse prevention program for parents. She consulted as a parent educator with foster parents and adoptive families focusing on transracial and open adoption. Michelle served for years as a faculty adviser for multiracial students and transracially adopted students.

AIRERoots Chair and AIRE Consultant

Over the last 10 years, Hanna has helped build curriculum and guide program development to meet the needs of growing youth adoptees within the Adoptee Mentorship Program through AAAW. She also has volunteered and helped lead and facilitate community programming for families and enjoys building community with other adult adoptees over meals and shared interests. Prior to her volunteer work, she previously attended and volunteered at both Holt Camp International and KIDS camp in Seattle and has been fortunate to be able to travel to Korea multiple times. Her previous trips have been full of exploration. Her first trip back was on a Motherland Tour and has since been able to explore the Korean countryside, hike in numerous Korean National Parks and meander through the bustling neighborhoods in Seoul. One of her most memberable trips was when she volunteer recreational therapy aide at the Holt Ilsan Center for People with Disabilities in Ilsan, South Korea and then travelled the country by train with a fellow adoptee friend. Hanna is currently taking Korean language lessons and looks forward to visiting Korea again with her new language skills soon!

AIRERoots Chair

Diego is a Colombian adoptee. He's all about helping other adoptees which he primarily does as an adoptee focused therapist, helping others to understand their own unique experiences. He knows the power of hanging out with others in community, creating space for both opportunities for figuring yourself out as an adoptee within the larger community, as well as just kicking back and having a good time. Get to know him, and soon you’ll see he’s the life of the party; energized by the opportunity to create lasting memories!

Digital Marketing Coordinator, AIRERoots

Liz Ward (she/her) is a transracial adoptee from Guatemala. Liz graduated from Dickinson College with a B.A. in Sociology with a focus in families & gender. She has a decade of experience working in customer facing roles, and her love for people inspired her to become a certified HR professional gaining her SHRM-CP in 2023. Liz considers herself a social media guru and is excited to bring the mission of AIRE to life through digital platforms.

Associate- AIRE Consultant and AIRE Policy Advocacy Committee Member

Erica Gehringer (she/her), is a queer Korean Adoptee and social worker in Washington State. She has over 10 years of experience working directly with children, youth, and families and has been practicing in the field of public child welfare for over 5 years. Erica has worked for the WA State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), WA State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Parents Representation Program (PRP), and currently serves as an expert forensic social worker in dependency proceedings. Erica has additionally volunteered within the adoptee community for several years, previously mentoring young Asian American adoptees, facilitating adoptee-centric groups, and serving on the KAAN Advisory Council. While in undergraduate and graduate school, Erica participated in adoptee research projects as well.