President (Chair)
Roxanne Nichols Anderson
CPM
I began midwifery with a traditional apprenticeship in Texas in the 1980s, heavy on birth experience and included sitting in circles on living room floors for home grown workshops, oral education from senior midwives while reading Heart and Hands and Miles on the side, and organic diversity. It was truly magical. Afterward I went to an unlicensed state and practiced for several years, then took a break for marriage and children (three homebirths, two in Hong Kong). When I returned to midwifery after divorce in 2009, it felt like everything had changed except for birth itself. Much less magic, much more paperwork, expenses and grind. But there were also positive advances, like the CPM. So I did the PEP process, passed the NARM in 2011, at the MANA conference, then became licensed in my state. I have now practiced midwifery every conceivable model: unlicensed, licensed, busy urban birth center, small town birth center, and both urban and rural home births across several states. I have precepted 13 students (ATMMTP, MIA, MCU, NCM and PEP), led a successful apprenticeship program for 7 years and written a curriculum for training preceptors. I served on the Texas Midwifery advisory board for a 6-year term and remain active in my state organization (NTM: North Texas Midwives). I believe I have a comprehensive perspective of the joys and challenges of midwifery from my 37 years of experience as well as the issues we now face.
Vice President (Vice-Chair)
Charity LaRae Howard
Student
I am a midwifery student in Alabama, preparing to sit for the NARM exam again this October. My path into midwifery has been shaped by lived experience as a mother of a large blended family, by my cultural roots as a Black woman of Gullah-Geechee, Mi’kmaq, and Basque heritage, and by years of organizing in the reproductive justice movement.
Before I ever caught a baby, I was fighting for the right for midwives to practice legally in my state. I helped write and pass the legislation that decriminalized midwifery in Alabama and was part of opening both Oasis Family Birthing Center and Alabama Birth Center. On a national level, I’ve organized with the Unitarian Universalist Association and served as a Reproductive Justice Program Associate at Groundswell Fund, always centering the needs of families most impacted by barriers to care.
I chose this work because I believe midwifery is not just about safe birth, but about community survival, sovereignty, and justice. Serving as a student member of the NARM Board would give me the chance to bring forward the voice of students, new midwives, and those of us working at the intersections of policy, practice, and justice. My hope is to help strengthen the pathways into midwifery so that more Black, Indigenous, and grassroots-trained midwives can thrive in this profession.
Secretary
Wendi Cleckner
CPM
I am a Certified Professional Midwife, Licensed in Arizona and Licensed Attorney in New Mexico and Arizona with over two decades of experience in maternal health, birth justice, and professional advocacy. As a practicing midwife, I have attended thousands of births and trained numerous midwives and birth professionals, fostering a strong foundation in safe, evidence-based, and client-centered care.
My legal expertise, focuses on health care, administrative and estate law, uniquely equipping me to navigate the complex regulatory landscape that midwives face across North America. I have successfully advised midwifery practices on compliance, informed consent, risk management, and policy development, bridging the gap between clinical excellence and legal integrity.
Beyond my clinical and legal work, I am an educator and mentor, serving as adjunct faculty at the Midwives College of Utah and leading nationwide trainings on emergency skills, legal landscapes, advocacy, and business development for birth professionals. I am also the founder of Midwife Mentor Consulting, supporting midwives in launching and sustaining successful practices.
With a lifelong commitment to advancing midwifery, expanding access to community birth, and ensuring safe, autonomous care for families, I bring a unique blend of clinical expertise, legal acumen, and leadership to the North American Registry of Midwives. My vision aligns with NARM’s values – Community Midwifery, Equity in Midwifery Access and Representation, Reproductive Justice and Excellence in Midwifery Care.
Treasurer
Jerah Robinson
CPM
Jerah Robinson, CPM, is a certified professional midwife dedicated to ensuring that families have access to safe, individualized, and compassionate care. Her midwifery journey began over seven years ago as a student, where she trained extensively under experienced mentors and gained hands-on experience through over 300 births. Now a practicing CPM, Jerah brings both the perspective of a newly certified midwife and the wisdom of years immersed in the birth community.
Beyond her clinical work, Jerah is passionate about advocacy, education, and community building. She has experience in leadership and mentoring roles, both in midwifery and in youth ministry, where she honed skills in communication, collaboration, and supporting diverse voices. She believes strongly in the importance of credentialing systems that reflect the full diversity of midwifery pathways and ensure equitable representation across the profession.
Jerah’s approach is grounded in the belief that birth is sacred, unique, and not one-size-fits-all. She is committed to uplifting midwives from all backgrounds, protecting access to care, and helping shape the future of midwifery through thoughtful leadership. With fresh experience as a CPM, a strong grounding in community centered care, and a heart for advocacy, Jerah brings both passion and perspective to board service.
Terah Lara
CPM
Terah Lara is a Licensed and Certified Professional Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Clinical Director of Foothills Midwifery and The Birth Cottage in Enumclaw, Washington.
Her journey into midwifery began at 16, when the empowering care she received during the birth of her first daughter inspired her to dedicate her life to supporting families. As a single teen parent, she worked as a medical assistant in obstetrics while attending midwifery school, ultimately participating in more than 1,000 births and serving in healthcare for over 20 years.
Proudly identifying as Latina and Diné (Navajo), Terah has had five children of her own, all born with midwives. She holds degrees in Midwifery, Spanish/Latin American Studies, and Psychology, and is currently pursuing a Master of Clinical Health Sciences in the Physician Associate program at the University of Washington MEDEX Northwest (anticipated 2026). Her goal is to expand continuity of care for clients and strengthen collaboration between midwives and the broader healthcare system.
Beyond her clinical work, Terah has served as a preceptor since 2013, taught at the Center for Indigenous Midwifery, and sits on the boards of the Washington Association of Physician Assistants, the Midwives Association of Washington State, and Smooth Transitions. She has also enriched her practice internationally, traveling to Mexico to strengthen her skills and connect with her paternal culture.
With 15 years in midwifery and two decades in healthcare, Terah remains honored to walk beside families on their journeys into parenthood, blending compassion, advocacy, and expertise at every step.
Noni Limar
Public Member
Noni Limar is a seasoned creative strategist, cultural organizer, and healer with over 25 years of experience leading community-based initiatives at the intersection of art, justice, and healing. She has led creative direction, program development, and film production for national movements and institutions, including Black Lives Matter Global Network, the Center for Third World Organizing, and the Kalliopeia Foundation. Through her work with Soil & Shadow, she spent five years cultivating intentional communities of elders, mothers, farmers, leaders, and artists grounded in the sacred intersection of ecology, culture, and spirit. A long-time resident of Pasadena with her husband TaRaach and their four children, her work has been featured by platforms and institutions including Warner Bros, Lincoln Center, the Los Angeles Theater Center, and MoCADA, and continues to reflect a deep commitment to creativity, connection, and transformative change. She currently is running a non-profit, Community Compound, a recovery effort for survivors of the Eaton Canyon Fire.
Aza Nedhari
CPM
Dr. Aza Nedhari is a visionary leader, architect of change, and relentless advocate for justice. With two decades of experience in grassroots advocacy, reproductive justice, and program innovation, she has dedicated her career to dismantling systemic barriers, improving maternal health outcomes, and advancing justice-centered solutions for Black women and communities.
As a mother, Certified Professional Midwife, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Co-founding Executive Director of Mamatoto Village, she has redefined approaches to perinatal health and workforce development. Her expertise in designing scalable, justice-driven interventions has made her a sought-after strategist and thought leader. Dr. Nedhari’s work challenges the status quo, demonstrating that investing in community-driven care models is essential to strengthening families, creating thriving communities, and achieving lasting systemic change.
She holds a Doctorate in Human Services with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and Management, with research focused on the sustainability and resiliency of Black-led social change organizations. In addition to her executive and clinical leadership, Dr. Nedhari brings extensive Board experience. She has served on the Board of Black Mamas Matter Alliance, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), Co-Chaired the DC Maternal Mortality Review Committee, and she currently contributes to national leadership through workgroups and coalitions to improve perinatal health outcomes.
Guided by a bold vision for a liberated future, Dr. Nedhari leverages her expertise to cultivate leadership and create pathways toward healthier families, stronger communities, and a more just society.
Brynne Potter
Executive Director
Brynne Potter is the Executive Director of NARM and serves on its board as a non-voting member. Brynne is a retired Certified Professional Midwife and has spent her career advancing the midwifery profession. She began her professional career as the legislative liaison for the Virginia Midwives Alliance, then spent a decade practicing midwifery. She founded the first electronic health record designed specifically for community midwifery, Maternity Neighborhood, and served as Vice President of Platform for its acquirer, Quilted Health, an organization providing midwives and midwife facilities with administrative and technology services.
Mariah Strong
Student
I bring over a decade of nonprofit leadership, board governance, and program development experience. As a cofounder of the Pacific Birth Collective, I helped grow our organization from a small grassroots community group into an LLC and ultimately into a thriving 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Over the last ten years, I have worked alongside our team to build systems and structures that now sustain a nonprofit with an annual budget of over half a million dollars, while keeping our focus rooted in community service.
For the past decade, I have served as a board member with consistency, attending monthly meetings and contributing to both short-term decision-making and long-term strategy. During critical moments, such as the Maui wildfires, I have leaned into quick, decisive action while also helping to guide a broader vision that ensures our work remains sustainable and forward-looking.
Currently, I serve as the Director of Programs and Communications at Pacific Birth Collective, where I oversee initiatives that connect families with essential perinatal, maternal, and child resources. I also lead communications efforts, ensuring transparency, accessibility, and strong partnerships within the community and with other organizations.
My experience reflects the ability to build an organization from the ground up, respond effectively in times of crisis, and nurture long-term growth and vision. I am passionate about collaborative leadership and believe my perspective and skills would bring value to any board of directors.
