Dr. Devika Bhushan is a pediatrician, public health leader, author, and keynote speaker with expertise in health innovation, stress and resilience, trauma-informed systems, and gender and health equity. Dr. Bhushan serves on Stanford's adjunct faculty, as Chief Medical Officer at Daybreak Health, which brings virtual mental health support directly to youth in schools, and as a senior strategic advisor to entities that aim to advance health, innovation, and equity, ranging from non-profits to a venture capital fund. She also serves on the Boards for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the California Partners Project. She is an award-winning mental health spokesperson, first disclosing her own mental health journey publicly while serving as Acting Surgeon General for California. She appears in the documentary BrainStorm (2025) and leads a newsletter community (askdrdevikab.substack.com) and YouTube channel/podcast (youtube.com/@drdevikab) to share evidence-based insights for well-being. Dr. Bhushan trained at Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins. She is a parent, an immigrant, and a first-generation Indian-American.
Dr. Amy Watson is a Professor at the Wayne State University School of Social Work. For the past two decades, her research has focused on police encounters with persons with mental illnesses and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model. Dr. Watson has also conducted research and provided consultation to programs serving persons with mental illnesses with criminal legal system involvement. These include CIT programs, mental health courts, and prison reentry programs. Her current work is focused on developing crisis services and reducing the role of law enforcement in crisis response. This includes NAMI funded work focused on crisis response workforce development, evaluation of 988 and mobile crisis team implementation, and analysis of 911 calls that could be diverted to non-police responders. She is currently the President of the Board of Directors of Crisis Response Programs and Training. Previously, she served on the CIT International Board of Directors from 2016-2021, as President of the Board 2020-2021. Earlier in her career, she worked as a probation officer on a team serving clients with serious mental illnesses and as a Forensic Social Worker/Mitigation Specialist working on death penalty cases. She has a BA in Criminal Justice from Aurora University and an AM and PhD from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.
Jeff Harry combines positive psychology and play to heal workplaces, help teams build psychological safety and assist individuals in addressing their biggest challenges by embracing a play-oriented approach to work. Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers and has been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, Huffpost, Shondaland, Wired, NPR, NatGeo, & Forbes. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Over the past 15 years of facilitation and speaking, Jeff’s main goal has been to help work suck less by assisting leaders in building a playground workplace atmosphere that motivates their staff to do their most vibrant work.
Dr. Chris Miller is a religious studies teacher at a Catholic High School in the San Francisco Bay Area. He most recently worked for Catholic Charities Santa Clara County supporting the Community Action Poverty Simulation program as well as serving as the youth and young adult coordinator at a 5,000-family parish in San Jose, CA. Prior to this position, Chris taught theology and served as director of campus ministry at a Catholic boarding school in Connecticut. He also worked as the Director of Youth Ministry at a Catholic parish in Palo Alto and worked as a Catholic middle school teacher in Gilroy and San Jose, CA. Chris is currently enrolled in a post-master’s Certificate in Spiritual Formation at Boston College and recently earned a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Notre Dame de Namur University and a Graduate Diploma in Canon Law through Saint Paul University. In 2019, he graduated with a doctoral degree in education from the University of San Francisco, focusing research on the Kairos Retreat experience in Jesuit High Schools in the United States. A graduate of Santa Clara University, where he received a bachelors’ degree in History, a California Teaching Credential, a master’s degree in Education, and a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministries, Chris is also an alum of Boston College where he completed a post-master’s program in youth and young adult faith. Chris currently serves as co-chair of the Pastoral Care and Mental Wellness Ministry Network through the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, a member of the California State Mental Health Policy Workgroup, a member of the NAMI National FaithNet Steering Committee, and a member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Faith Communities Task Force.
Mark received my undergraduate degree from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a Masters’ Degree in Public Administration, from the University of Maryland College Park and his second Masters’ degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Prior to college, Mark served in the United States Army in a unit that supported the 82nd Airborne. My passion as a community servant leader, especially in the arena of Black men and boys dealing with mental health issues. Seeing the issues that black boys and men dealing with mental health struggles and several losses of close friend to suicide Mark launched a mental health Advocacy organization named Endangered which birthed the new Name of Three Hundred and Sixty Fifth.Currently, Mark has launched a new initiative with his Fraternity Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc. (Alexandria Fairfax, Va). A five-part series entitled Healing Our Brothers that is created to provide a safe space for Black men to have a non-judgmental open dialogue to address barriers and trauma associated with Mental Health and Wellness while providing resources and tools for support and healing. His passion for mental health has offered him the opportunity to speak locally and nationally on several platforms to include radio and print.Mark lives by the motto by one of his famous artist “Jay Z” In order to heal – you must first reveal!
Jessie Harney is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration at Colorado State University. Her research interests are in justice system reform, with much of her work specifically focusing on fostering mental health and well-being. Specifically, the primary questions motivating her work are: 1) how do we improve the mental health of frontline workers in these systems?; 2) how does the well-being of frontline workers impact the way they engage with system-impacted populations?; and 3) how do we improve the well-being of system-impacted individuals and families through specific, direct services or policies? Her academic training is in psychology, biostatistics, and public policy; as such, she believes deeply in the importance of an interdisciplinary and community-driven approach to research and building public policy and programs.
Bio Amy Brinkley CAPRCII, CRS/CHW Recovery Support Systems Coordinator, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Amy Brinkley is a nationally recognized advocate for mental health and substance use recovery with 14 years of direct lived experience. Motivated by personal recovery experience and losses, including the suicides of three brothers and her mother's overdose, Amy is dedicated to driving change across the country through effective peer support, recovery-oriented systems of care, and robust recovery data collection practices and policies. Her goal is to improve the quality of life and sustained recovery for individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness by promoting person-centered, recovery-oriented outcomes. In her professional career, Amy served for five years with the Indiana State Division of Mental Health and Addiction, where she held a state-level position overseeing and building infrastructure for peer/recovery support services statewide. During this time, she made significant contributions to the field, including serving as a contributing author on several publications for the American Psychiatric Association Journals, leveraging her expertise in peer support as a member of the APA Policy Advisory Board. Amy continues to contribute to the APA in this capacity to this day. Since January 2022, Amy has been employed as the Recovery Support Services Coordinator for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). In this role, she provides invaluable guidance and leadership in supporting states and territories across the country in their efforts to expand recovery support services. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in developing recovery data collection practices and policies, particularly from her work in Indiana, where she gained a deep understanding of the lived experience needs related to access to recovery support services at a grassroots statewide level. Beyond her role at NASMHPD, Amy actively serves as a board member for NAMI National, the SURF Center, Recovery Café Lafayette, and as the Board President and CEO for Paul's Plan Ministries. These engagements reflect her commitment to making a positive impact on mental health and recovery at both the national and local levels. Amy takes pride in her role as a wife and mother, nurturing a loving home that includes four children, three cats, and a cherished Labradoodle named Ruby. Indiana is where Amy and her family call home.
In 2002, Mr. Merenstein returned to his native Denver after a decade of health care advocacy work in Washington, DC. Over the course of the next four years, he served as Vice President for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation’s $250 million Imagine the Miracles comprehensive campaign. In December 2005, Ray launched RDM Communications tying his political, media and fundraising acumen into one package on behalf of government, non-profit and corporate clients. He has guided capital campaigns from $250,000 to $25,000,000 as well as lead consultant on strategic plans, communication audits, annual funds, endowment campaigns, and board development. Ray became Executive Director of NAMI Colorado (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in January 2021.He holds a master’s degree in mass communication from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Tulane University. He has been quoted or published in the Wall Street Journal, Science, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Business Week, USA Today, and Nature as well as testified before Congress.Mr. Merenstein presents regularly to health and communication groups locally and nationally. He served as chair Colorado’s Special Education Advisory Committee, and currently sits on Colorado’s Rare Disease Advisory Council. Ray and his wife, Ilana Steinberg, live in Denver and have one son and two daughters. Ray loves Paddington and Lemon Meringue Pie.
Leah G. Pope, Ph.D., is a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Behavioral Medicine in the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry (Division of Behavioral Health Services and Policy Research). Trained as an anthropologist, Dr. Pope has extensive experience conducting mixed methods research in public mental health and criminal justice. Dr. Pope’s research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Science Foundation, and private foundations including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the van Ameringen Foundation, the Wenner Gren Foundation and the Sozosei Foundation. Dr. Pope's current work focuses primarily on crisis response, with research projects on the implementation of the 988 crisis line in New York State, the development of the crisis response workforce, and a randomized controlled trial of Crisis Intervention Team training for police officers.
Hannah Wesolowski serves as NAMI National’s Chief Advocacy Officer. She leads NAMI’s Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy team, which develops NAMI’s policy positions, advances NAMI’s federal priorities and supports the policy work of NAMI’s Alliance at the state and local level. Hannah and her team work with NAMI’s advocates nationwide and with partners and policymakers to enact policies that will improve the lives of all people affected by mental health conditions. Hannah serves as a member of NAMI’s Executive Team and is a frequent NAMI spokesperson to the media on mental health policy topics. She serves on the Executive Committee of Friends of NIMH and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council and the American Brain Coalition. Before her current role, she served as NAMI’s Director of Field Advocacy for more than four years. Before joining NAMI, Hannah worked at the Public Affairs Council, providing support to leading associations and nonprofit advocacy groups to build grassroots advocacy programs. She also previously led political advocacy efforts at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and developed engagement efforts at the American Institute of Architects. Hannah graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, where she also earned a Master of Public Administration degree.
Julie M. Piepenbring, Ph.D., LCSW is an Associate Professor at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York, and an adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). She earned her doctorate at Fordham University, and both her BSW and MSW from SCSU. Julie has an extensive clinical practice history and was managing partner of a private practice for ten years. She also has extensive executive leadership experience in nonprofit social service organizations and was Chief Clinical Officer and Executive Vice President for a nonprofit organization. She began teaching in 2012 and since joining St. Rose in 2018 has presented at 24 national and local conferences. Julie co-authored Leadership and Management in Social Work: A competency-based approach (Springer Publishing, 2019), Practicum and Capstone Handbook. 1st Edition (Kendall/Hunt Publishing), and is co-authoring Turning Toward the Sun: Stories of Hope and Healing of Suicide Grief by Mothers (Kendall/Hunt, Innovative Inc. Publishing) due in the spring of 2024.
Laura J. Albee, DSW, LCSW, BCBA, LBA is a visiting Assistant Professor of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice at the University of Saint Joseph. She has an extensive background working with children, adolescents, young adults and their families in community, residential, and academic settings. She chaired Post University’s Pathways Program and served as a part-time social work faculty member at Southern Connecticut State University. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Florida State University, her Master of Arts in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorders from the University of Saint Joseph, and her MSW and Doctor of Social Work from SCSU. She has had publications in Autism Spectrum News and contributed chapters in Dr. Peggy Whitby’s book entitled Cases on Teaching Sexuality Education to Individuals with Autism, and Susan V. Alstyne’s (Ed.), Perspectives and Considerations on Navigating the Mental Health Care System with IGI Global Publishers. Laura is coauthoring Turning Towards the Sun: Stories of Hope and Healing of Suicide Grief by Mothers under Innovative Ink Publishing: Kendall Hunt with an anticipated release slated for April 2024. Laura’s research interests include autism, sexuality, and education, suicide and maternal grief, and posttraumatic growth and resilience. She has presented at numerous conferences around the country speaking about suicide grief and posttraumatic growth. Laura’s son died by suicide in 2015. She has devoted much of her research and clinical work encouraging the bereft and those navigating mental illness to keep hope in their heart.
James Garofalo is a distinguished figure in the mental health sector who has made significant strides from his early diagnosis of ADHD at age 5 to becoming a leader in mental health advocacy. His experiences, marked by early struggles and a transformative enlistment in the US Army, shaped his empathetic approach and drive in the field.In 2018, James took a significant step by founding a mental health clinic that became renowned for its patient-centered and comprehensive care. His visionary leadership and innovative strategies led to the clinic's rapid acclaim and subsequent acquisition by a national healthcare conglomerate, amplifying his impact across the industry.Currently, James serves as a Cofounder & CEO of a growing intensive outpatient and psychiatric clinic in Colorado. James continues to push boundaries in mental health care and encourages his team to do the same. His leadership emphasizes a culture of compassion, advanced treatment methodologies, and a staunch commitment to destigmatizing mental health.
Jorge Alvarez (he/him) is a first-generation college graduate and son to a father who immigrated from Cuba and a Puerto Rican mother. Jorge applies his lived & living experience with mental illness and background in Public Health through advocacy for his community and youth & young adult BIPOC. He has been platformed and recognized by The White House, Business Insider, The New York Times, TikTok, MTV, and more. As a Social Impact Strategist & Mental Health Advocate, Jorge has worked with corporations, nonprofits, and policymakers to ensure voice & representation of BIPOC youth and young adults are centered from ideation to execution in building accessible resources, intentional initiatives & programs, impact driven campaigns through strategic partnerships, & policy. From consulting to speaking across the country, Jorge has a passion for direct community engagement which he fulfills by educating and equipping young people with the frameworks needed to prioritize their mental health or be advocates themselves. He’s taken his voice to social media, where as a Creator, Jorge uses his love for storytelling to combat stigma by cultivating space for collective reflection, unlearning limiting beliefs, and breaking cycles both on and offline. He’s grown a community of +130,000 across his social platforms and was recognized by MTV as 1 of 30 participants to be part of the inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum at The White House where he spoke alongside Selena Gomez, the U.S. First Lady, and the U.S. Surgeon General. Most recently, Jorge advised MTV and Active Minds on their new national multi-year mental health campaign called ASK, received the Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Tech Award, and spoke at The White House Youth Policy Summit. Today, Jorge continues to apply a community-centered and intersectional approach to his work addressing youth mental health, through highlighting BIPOC youth voices and ensuring solutions are culturally sensitive and acknowledge the ways in which mental health is connected to other social and health determinants.
Dr. Harmes began her role as the Project Director of NAMI Kansas’s Justice Involved Project in December 2021. This project places NAMI signature programs inside of local county jails and state correctional facilities. In this role, she is responsible for the coordination, implementation, and expansion of this project. In 2019, Dr. Brest received her PhD from WSU in Community Psychology with an emphasis on mental health and trauma. Prior to her current role, she previously worked for the Kansas Department of Corrections as a parole officer for two years and within the El Dorado Correctional Facility. Dr. Harmes has also previously worked on a research team where she focused on evaluations with mental health organizations and work with Consumer Run Organizations.
Itzel Moya is a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) in the state of Kansas and obtained her Masters of Social Work through Fort Hays State University in 2021. She is the director of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Project for NAMI Kansas. In this role, Itzel is responsible for networking with the counties involved and providing education regarding NAMI signature programs. She is an advocate for bringing more mental health resources to Western Kansas, a primarily rural area. Itzel is also an advocate for mental health education in the Latinx/ Hispanic communities. She was one of the founding members for the NAMI Southwest Kansas affiliate and is currently the Chair of the NAMI Southwest Kansas affiliate.
Donielle works at NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, as part of the Youth and Young Adult Initiatives team. Donielle manages Trauma Awareness Initiatives, where she is currently creating a virtual training on trauma awareness for youth serving professionals. Donielle has been focused on expanding trauma awareness to organizations and individuals for the past 6 years. Past roles have included counselor for children and adults, and program evaluation researcher addressing topics such as youth development and school-based mental health. Donielle is a San Francisco Bay Area native currently living in Sacramento, California.
Mike has spent 40 years in the insurance industry on the carrier and brokerage side, advising large firms on managing risks. He is a partner at BRP Group and CEO at iPEO Solutions.
Mike is the founder of Christine Ortoll Charity (COC), in honor of his daughter, who passed away from a fentanyl overdose in 2020. COC is a 501C3 produces media to inspire and provide hope for those affected by mental health and/ or substance abuse.
Our first production is a feature documentary called "One Second at a Time: Battling the Monster of Addiction" which is a story of his daughter's struggle with mental health and substance abuse for ten years. It is told via Christine's journals she left behind following her overdose, experts and loved ones. To date, it has won 59 film festivals as one of the most impactful feature documentaries of the year. This will be available via major streaming platforms by summer 2024.
Mike also began a national initiative to develop recovery programs at every college in the US, as students between 18-25 are one of the highest at-risk groups. He produced a mini doc, called "Safety Net: Helping College Students in Recovery Thrive" which showcases the successful recovery community, called LIFT, he helped build at his alma mater, Florida State University.
He lives in Tampa with his wife Laureen and has a son, Michael and two stepdaughters, Jordan, and Hannah.
Mike is a Miami native with strong ties to the Cuban/Latino community.
He is an active speaker in the commercial insurance industry and an activist for mental health / substance use disorders.
Michael T. Compton, M.D., M.P.H. is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, in the Division of Behavioral Health Services and Policy Research. He is also a Research Psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, which is part of the New York State Office of Mental Health. Dr. Compton is triple-boarded in psychiatry, preventive medicine, and lifestyle medicine. He has maintained continuous NIMH research funding for more than 20 years, conducting research on first-episode psychosis, the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of collaboration between law enforcement and mental health, and several other areas. His research has led to more than 250 publications. He is also very interested in incorporating public health and prevention into psychiatry, one means of which is by addressing the social determinants of health. His books include a manual for police officers responding to persons with mental illnesses, a guide for patients with first-episode psychosis and their family members, a textbook on the complex connection between marijuana and schizophrenia, and six American Psychiatric Association books: The Clinical Manual of Prevention in Mental Health (2009); The Social Determinants of Mental Health (2015), Marijuana and Mental Health (2016), The American Opioid Epidemic: From Patient Care to Public Health (2019), Struggle and Solidarity: Seven Stories of How Americans Fought for Their Mental Health through Federal Legislation (2023), and Entangled: How People with Mental Illnesses Get Caught Up in Misdemeanor Systems and Pathways to Reform (forthcoming).
Ray Lay is a formerly homeless honorably discharged U.S. Marine living with a dual diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance abuse issues.
David is a 49 year old male that was diagnosed with a rare disease 8 years ago. There about 7000 different rare diseases impacting about 300 million people around the world with 95% of them having no treatments and cures and being impacted by rare condition can have an increased risk to your mental health compared to the general population.He set up a virtual rare disease male mental health group in 2020 for guys around the world providing a safe space for men to share their feelings, seek support if needed and listen to others stories .His other current projects are working in a mental health partnership network and social policy group with rare disease organisation Eurordis . He has also made a 13 minute called beyond limits which is about the importance of rare disease men taking care of their mental health. The purpose of the filmwas also to raise awareness about the need and importance of making sure all voices are heard and no one should be forgotten about !
Pernille Bülow, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Mind Blossom, a 501(c)(3) public charity providing free of cost mental health education to under-resourced and historically marginalized communities. Pernille received her PhD in Neuroscience at Emory University, followed by a short post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. In her academic research, Pernille uncovered novel brain development mechanisms, significantly advancing our understanding of how the developing brain adapts to its environment. As a first generation immigrant and college graduate, Pernille was not introduced to the concept of mental health literacy until her early 20s. Throughout her undergraduate and doctoral studies, she experienced firsthand the therapeutic and empowering effects of delving into the intricacies of the human brain and psychology. This knowledge not only facilitated her personal recovery from a serious mental illness but also equipped her with the tools to provide crucial support to family members grappling with mental health challenges. Together with academic collaborators, Pernille is now conducting research on the social and economical effects of mental health education programming. Pernille’s passion, and Mind Blossom’s mission, is to democratize mental health knowledge with a particular focus on empowering caregivers and people at risk. Pernille has been featured on various webinars and podcasts and is a writer at Psychology Today.
Dr. David Palmer is a champion for dynamically diverse students, blending three decades of expertise in special education with personal insights from his own journey with ADHD. As the driving force behind Inclusion Matters Education Services (IMES), he champions the unique strengths of neurodivergent learners, pushing beyond traditional support to celebrate their potential. An award-winning researcher and certified ADHD, ASD, and Trauma professional and educator, Dr. Palmer's approach is deeply rooted in empathy and a commitment to inclusivity. His advocacy is personal, shaped by his role as a father to six, five of whom are neurodivergent teens, offering him a firsthand understanding of the nuances of neurodiversity. This intimate perspective makes Dr. Palmer not just an expert but a trusted guide for families, educators, therapists, and community leaders on similar journeys. Dr. Palmer's vision extends far beyond his professional achievements; he envisions a world where dynamically diverse individuals are empowered to leverage their unique talents and abilities to fulfill their passions and live their purpose. His commitment to this cause is evident in his dedication to family and students, his enjoyment playing guitar, unquenchable thirst for learning, and love of telling dad jokes. At NAMICon 2024, Dr. Palmer will share his transformative insights and strategies for fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates every individual's capabilities while cultivating thriving resilience. His session is a source of inspiration and a practical guide for creating a world where dynamically diverse children are seen, valued, encouraged, and prepared contributors in all aspects of life.
Aaron Arnold is chief development officer at All Rise (formerly the National Association of Drug Court Professionals), where he works to develop new initiatives to support and strengthen treatment courts across the country. Prior to joining All Rise, Aaron spent 15 years at the Center for Court Innovation, overseeing the Center’s national work in the areas of treatment courts, community justice, alternatives to incarceration, tribal justice, and more. Aaron has served as a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Phoenix, Arizona, where he gained first-hand experience working in several problem-solving courts. Aaron is graduate of Cornell University and the University of Arizona College of Law.
Christina Camomilli-Starkey is a double board-certified nurse practitioner w/ a passion for mental health in children & teens. Christina began her advocacy for kids & adolescents in 1996 as an RN in the Pediatric ICU. In 2001, she graduated with her master’s in nursing & worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in a pediatric primary care clinic as well as at a center for children with special needs. The best “work” experience of Christina’s career began in 2003 with the birth of her daughter, Erin. Christina took time to be a full-time mother to Erin & later also to her brother, Brad, who was born in 2006. Perhaps the most pivotal time in Christina’s career began in 2018, when her daughter began to show signs of mental illness. Erin faced many challenges & roadblocks in her pursuit of remission. Christina’s knowledge as a pediatric nurse practitioner & mother were ineffectual in her attempts to navigate the world of mental health. Christina’s efforts to advocate for her child were impeded. Erin lost her battle with mental illness & died by suicide on September 5, 2019. This was the moment that the true work of Christina’s life began. Christina graduated from UCCS Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences in 2022 with a post master’s certificate and started work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
My name is Joe DiGiovanni. I’ve been married over 33 years, have four adult children, served in the United States Air Force on active duty, and continue to serve as a civilian as an enterprise architect at Scott Air Force Base. During my career I’ve earned two master’s of science degrees in Information Management and Cyber Leadership. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love of an amazing, patient wife, my faith in God, the virtues of humility, patience, perseverance, and resilience - reinforced by my Air Force community, and the right combination of medicine and therapy. These things were all essential to taming the beast - managing my bipolar disorder to the point where its effects have been absent since 2011. Since that time, my mission has been to do all I can to help others prevent or mitigate mental illness. First, I joined NAMIWalks St Louis in 2013, became a team captain the next year and have served in that role ever since. I became a speaker in the In Our Own Voice program in 2019, and in 2021 was honored as Presenter of the Year. Several times over the years I’ve shared my story with various groups including my church, the Cursillo group, and graduate psychology students. I’m most proud of being able to help out family members who have struggled immensely with mental illness. They have not yet tamed the beast, but I’m confident that through those virtues I mentioned earlier, we will get there together.
As a board-certified general pediatrician, child abuse pediatrician, and integrative medicine specialist, Dr. Gilgoff brings a multidisciplinary approach to ACEs, toxic stress, healing, and well-being. Over the course of her career, she has been the Medical Director of the Clinical Innovations and Research Team within Center for Youth Wellness, and co-founder of the National Committee on Asthma and Toxic Stress. She co-developed the Resiliency Clinic, a group clinic intervention model to treat toxic stress. More recently, she co-created the “Stress Busters: Clinical Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating Toxic Stress,” a free, on-line course to help health care professionals develop their clinical response to childhood adversity and toxic stress through a comprehensive exploration of seven evidence-based, stress management strategies, called stress busters. In addition, she helped develop the ACEs Aware Stress Busters Resource Webpage, sharing tools and resources to prevent and heal toxic stress for all of us. She is currently an advisor with the California Aces Aware Initiative, clinician at GetzWell Personalized Pediatrics clinic in San Francisco, and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Gilgoff is dedicated to addressing health issues resulting from child abuse and toxic stress, creating systems of care that incorporate the science of stress biology and wellness, and collaborating across sectors to develop multidisciplinary, integrative, human-centered, and holistic approaches to healing.
Jeannie Mecorney spent 25+ years as a graphic designer in film, print, television, and the Web. She became a professor teaching digital art and publication design and created a graphic design degree at Cañada College in Redwood City, California. Currently she is creating a graphic memoir describing her childhood in the 1950s, growing up with a father diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, a codependent mother, and a lack of resources for her father and family.* The process of drawing her trauma allowed her to break through denial and work on lifelong failed strategies learned in childhood. Adapting her drawings as zines** she shared her story at the 33rd Annual Boston International Trauma Conference in 2022. That same year she presented her work at the Graphic Medicine Annual Conference at the University of Chicago where she described the importance of understanding past painful experiences through drawing. Creating these short comic zines has proved to be an invaluable process towards the larger memoir project. She has exhibited at several Zine Festivals including the San Francisco Annual Zine Festival. Her easy and fun workshop will show you how to create a short comic zine from a single piece of paper. Attendees do not have to be artists! * http://www.mecorney.com/memoirmecorney.mov
Hannah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with many years of experience in community mental health and crisis services. She has many years working in crisis response, initially as a crisis worker, then as the clinical manager for the crisis services for Kennebec and Somerset Counties. In this work, she worked collaboratively with community providers and first responders in planning and responding to the community. During this time, she also provided mental health support for first responders. Hannah was then contracted as a Psychological Health Coordinator with the Maine Army National Guard before coming to NAMI Maine. Her work includes working with first responders and regional councils across the state in the implementation of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), Mental Health First Aid, and programming involving the mental health of first responders and veterans, as well as the lead regarding advocacy initiatives. Hannah is a member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and a nationally approved instructor for Critical Incident Stress Management for individuals and groups. Hannah was awarded the Maine Chiefs of Police Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement in 2022, the James Durant Civilian Recognition Award by the Maine Association of Police in 2023, and the Sam Cochran Criminal Justice Award at NAMICon 2023.
Christi Venable is an award-winning Business Owner, Organizational Leadership and Culture Change Expert and Speaker. She’s the founder of SMILE Therapy Services, a multi-milliondollar mental health agency that she managed to build from the ground up. SMILE Therapy Services is committed to providing top-notch mental health services that help people heal and lead happier lives through transformative counseling — one person, one spirit, and one smile at a time. In 2020, Christi was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Businessperson of the Year for Washington D.C. In 2022, Christi was honored as an Enterprising Women of the Year awardee. In 2022, SMILE Therapy was named one of the fastest growing companies in the United States by INC. 5000, and the honor was granted again as SMILE was recognized by INC 5000 a second year in a row in 2023. As a minority and women owned company, she’s proud to be certified with WBENC, 8a and NMSDC Today, Christi employs a dynamic team of therapists -- all people of color – while continuing to serve individuals, school systems and fortune 500 organizations. As a leadership and culture expert, she’s now helping top leaders improve their culture so they can increase employee wellness, retention and build a happy workforce. No matter the industry, you can count on Christi’s team to weave in leadership training focused on dynamic topics such as emotional intelligence, productivity, and effective communication. SMILE Therapy staff have been leading facilitators in the mental health and wellness arena since its foundation in 2015. Over the years SMILE Therapy has developed an arsenal of workshops that speak to the needs of a diverse market and an ever-changing social climate. Some of the most sought-after topics include Leading with Effective Communication, Leveraging your Leadership Style, Mental Health SpotChecking, Sexual Harassment, Resiliency, Self-Care and Stress Management, The Power of Patience and many more. Christi is a proud member of THE BOW COLLECTIVE, ™ an organization and sisterhood of the Nation's top 1% of small business owners. As "Business Philanthropists" we work together to bring awareness, business opportunities, and capital resources to entrepreneurs. Christi received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree from George Washington University. Christi Venable is a National Certified Counselor, A Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
Kimberly Comer is the President and Co-Founder of Ceeport Health LLC., a mental health peer support organization headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. Kimberly is a Nationally Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS), Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) with the State of Florida, a Copeland Institute certified Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) trainer and is certified to teach as well as facilitate all of the peer and many of the family signature classes in addition to the support groups developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Kimberly is a NAMI Florida Board Member as well as the NAMI Florida Peer Leadership Council Representative and a Mental Health Court Advocate. She has delivered presentations on the impact of peer support in mental health recovery at National Conferences throughout the US. She has been actively involved in advocating for mental healthcare reform in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Florida, as well as on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Prior to her relocation to Florida, Ms. Comer was the Executive Director of NAMI Greater Indianapolis and served on the board of directors for NAMI Indiana - the NAMI state organization.
Babu has been serving on the NAMI Colorado Board Directors from 2018 and as President from 2020. He currently serves his second term as Secretary on the NAMI State President’s Council and since 2019 on the NAMI Faithnet National Advisory Committee. Along with his board leadership at NAMI Colorado, Babu has been collaborating with the NAMI CCIE team on Faithnet outreach to interfaith communities and Chai & Chat initiative that centers on destigmatizing the conversation around mental health and wellness in South Asian communities. For his outstanding contribution in raising public awareness about mental illness, reducing stigma in diverse communities, Babu was presented with the NAMI Cross-Cultural Innovation and Engagement Award at the NAMICon 2023. His lived experience as a family peer for over a decade has shaped his calling to be a passionate Mental Health Advocate. Since 2015, the local NAMI Family Support Group has been a safe sanctuary and support for him. He is a certified teacher for the NAMI Family-to-Family program and Program Leader for the NAMI Family & Friends. He has completed the Mental Health First Aid training. Babu has attended NAMI National Conventions from 2016 and the 2020 CIT International Conference. Back in 2014, he led a Refugee Mentoring Project from his church in collaboration with the Lutheran Family Services and the Denver Rescue Mission. He has over 2 decades of experience in Sales & Marketing in India and the U.S. He lives in Morrison, Colorado with his wife of 40 years.
Kristen Rasmussen has more than 35 years of experience in the behavioral health field, with a decade of service at ICAN. Currently, Rasmussen holds the position of Chief Clinical Officer at ICAN, a nonprofit provider of innovative home and community-based interventions in Upstate New York. Rasmussen earned a Bachelor of Science in Cultural & Women’s Studies from SUNY Empire State College. Additionally, she holds a Master of Social Work degree from Syracuse University. Rasmussen began her work with ICAN twenty-one years ago as an Independent Contractor. She joined the Executive Team ten years ago. Rasmussen is a trauma-focused mental health practitioner who embraces the intersection of trauma, social justice, and equity throughout her work. Rasmussen sees deep wells of value in combining traditional and non-traditional methodologies in her service to others. Since 1998, she has led workshops and training on various mental health, behavioral health and wellness topics. She has presented at numerous professional conferences, colleges, and community organizations. As a strong advocate for wellness in the workplace, she also facilitates yoga, breath work, and meditation sessions with the staff. Her efforts have played a significant role in positively impacting the organization’s culture. Kristen leads ICAN’s Inclusion Coalition. The organizations Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging coalition that guides the initiatives and policies to ensure that ICAN remains an employer and service provider that values racial, gender and ability diversity. Kristen and her partner Kent live in Utica, NY. They have three children, Britt, Emma, and Lukäs, and a grandson, Quinn.
Amber Drake is the current NAMI Maui affiliate leader, sits on the NAMI state board of directors, and is a graduate student in the UH Hilo’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Ms. Drake also volunteers with Mental Health America and is a certified instructor for NAMI’s Peer to Peer support group, Mental Health America’s Youth Suicide and Bullying Prevention,and is a National instructor for Youth Mental Health First Aid. Ms. Drake also facilitates the NAMI Maui Strong support group for the Lahaina wildfire survivors.
Butler has spent more than 25 years working in the behavioral health field. In his current role, as Chief Innovation Officer, he oversees the agency’s Independent Practice Association (ICAN IPA), Elevate CNY Sports Complex, Community Education and Training Department, and School-Based Services. He has spent the bulk of his career building high performing teams. He has designed, developed, and delivered hundreds of trainings at the local, state, and national level. He is a certified trainer in a variety of training disciplines ranging from Cornell University’s Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Mental Health First Aid for Youth, Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP), PBIS, Peer Mediation, to Screening of Persons through Observational Techniques (SPOT) through LSU, among many others. Butler earned a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Syracuse University. He is the current Co-Chair of the NYS Children’s Behavioral Health Coalition’s School-Based Mental Health Coalition, the MV Regional Youth Justice Team and a former past President of the Oneida County Youth Services Council. In addition to running his own training and consulting business, Butler is also an Event Specialist for Grand Dynamics International (GDI), helping to lead the design, delivery and implementation of EPIC Leadership Development Experiences from coast to coast for some of the most prestigious companies in the world. Butler has a passion for the outdoors and has spent 20+ years providing Adventure Based learning and Leadership Development for groups on various High Ropes Challenge Courses located throughout the Adirondack Mountain Region in upstate New York.
Jennifer Rothman has worked with NAMI at both the National and state level for a total of 16 years. In her time with NAMI, her focus has always been on youth, young adults, their families and the individuals who touch their lives regularly. She is passionate about providing any and all resources needed to help young people live happy, healthy and productive lives. As someone who experiences mental health conditions personally and as a family member, her drive for ending stigma and providing education never ceases. Jennifer is a mother to two daughters (11, 15) and a bonus mom to a 13 year old daughter and 5 year old son, making her forever grateful for the years of experience and continued knowledge she's gained while working for NAMI.
Becca Lane is the National Peer Education Programs Manager at NAMI National. She manages NAMI Signature Education Programs, NAMI Peer-to-Peer and NAMI In Our Own Voice. She Becca joined NAMI National a year ago after spending six years on at the affiliate level with NAMI Philadelphia. She held numerous positions during her tenure at NAMI Philadelphia including NAMI Ending the Silence Coordinator, Youth & Young Adult Education & Outreach Manager, and Education and Advocacy Manager. Becca is a subject matter expert in her own experiences living with a mental health diagnosis and has brought a wealth of knowledge in growing NAMI programs in Philadelphia from the ground up. She also has many years of experience in publicity and journalism on both a local and national level. As both a publicist and a journalist, one of the primary skills she has developed is how to shape a narrative to the reach the largest possible audience.
David Kendrick Jr is a Purple Heart Veteran from New York who has taken his experience in the military to speak and inspire others. “In Iraq I was severely injured and my life was changed forever,” Kendrick Jr. recalls. After losing friends, and going through a long recovery himself, David Kendrick Jr. saw it as his duty to be a Mental Health advocate for others. This would have David speaking across the country opening up, being vulnerable, and educating others on his story, the importance of Mental Health, and more.
Paris Scobie is Host of the top 1.5% globally ranked podcast, Live Well Bipolar, Author of Crooked Illness: Lessons From Inside & Outside Hospital Walls and Speaker for NAMI Valley of the Sun. She shares how she went from being a patient struggling from inside the walls of a psychiatric hospital newly diagnosed with bipolar to returning to work at this same hospital years later. This unique perspective of being both a patient and provider has allowed Paris to share her experiences on what truly made a difference for her to help others. Paris received her BA in Psychology from The University of Arizona and her MBA in Healthcare Administration from Western Governors University. Today, Paris uses her platform to highlight the stories of her guests who inspire hope in her day after day. After conducting over 200 interviews on her podcast, Paris has seen the great power that lies in each of our stories. They hold the power to eliminate stigma for ourselves and others while featuring resources that are impactful. Through storytelling, Paris illustrates how each conversation demonstrates the value our lives hold through the strength of community. Paris works to illustrate how everything she told herself she could never have or be is everything she has become today. Stay connected with Paris and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/livewellbipolar/
Deborah Urbanik is a global organizational culture consultant with over 25 years of industry experience. She co-founded D. Whitney Consulting with the purpose of creating inspired human connection at work so ALL can thrive. She has helped to improve culture at companies like Liberty Mutual, Daiichi Sankyo, Takeda, FIS, Charles River Labs, Lumentum, Rite Aid and more. Deb is a passionate advocate for mental health and serves on the Board of Directors for NAMI NH. She is also one of NAMI NH's state support group facilitator trainers, an active support group leader, and a trained Life Interrupted speaker. She has spoken on mental health at work for chapters of the National Human Resource Association (NHRA) and The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as well as for numerous global corporations.
Dr. Grant is an internationally recognized and award-winning media psychologist, author, published researcher, Doctoral Addictions Counselor, speaker, educator with specific expertise in technology's impact on mental health, and National Advisor of Healthy Device Management for Newport Healthcare. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), served as the 2022 President of the APA Division 46 (The Society for Media Psychology & Technology), currently serves as a Division 46 Executive Board Member At Large, Chair of the APA (D46) “Device Management & Intelligence” committee, is an APA Advocacy Division Partner Liaison, APA Science Partner, and also Treasurer of the California Psychological Association Division VI (Media Technology and Communication). Current projects include an international publisher commissioned “Healthy Device Management and Practices of Good Digital Citizenship” guidebook and companion curriculum/group process workbook designed specifically for clinicians, treatment programs, educators, and professionals, serving as Chapter Leader, Co-Editor, and contributing author in collaboration with a cohort of global experts on a series of white papers to be published in a special handbook by Springer Publishing (in partnership with Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development) a paper recently published in the international journal Addictive Behaviors, as a chapter author on the beliefs, behaviors, influences, and impacts of device-centric engagement for two different academic handbooks with specific focus on media psychology and science, and working with the “Youth Services Committee” of the National Association of Behavioral Healthcare on the creation, development, and launch of their new national “Youth Services Cyberhealth” campaign.
Pooja Mehta is an outspoken South Asian Mental Health Advocate and suicide loss survivor, and has been telling her story to audiences across the United States for the last 9 years. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Pooja holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia, and is building a career working in Health Policy in Washington, DC. As a professional with lived experience, she is eager to further the conversation around the role public health and patient perspective plays in mental healthcare and looks forward to changing the way we think and talk about mental health as a society.
Dr. Broaddus's research interests are in the development and evaluation of community-based, clinic-based, and public health programs to improve mental health, substance use, and outcomes along the HIV care continuum. Throughout her career Dr. Broaddus has prioritized addressing health equity and the needs of vulnerable populations. In 2016, Dr. Broaddus became the Principal Investigator of the Advancing Behavioral Health Initiative (ABHI). The ABHI was funded by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Endowment to build the networks, systems, and structures best suited to address the challenges Wisconsin residents faced and has set the standard for large-scale mental and behavioral health improvement. This 8-year, 3-phase project funded ten community coalitions across the state, including urban, rural, and tribal communities, to improve behavioral health at a population-level through systems change. An Academic Partner Team, led by Dr. Broaddus, was also selected to support coalitions, collaborate on data collection and analysis, and conduct a global evaluation of the project. Over the eight years of this project, funding was used form coalitions, identify priorities, build sustainable programs, and measure their effectiveness. Dr. Broaddus has collaborated with each community coalition, providing tailored support to local coalition staff, participating in a Learning Community to bolster relationships and build trust with all coalition staff, and implementing a global evaluation.
Kathy Hammes has been part of NAMI Hawaii since 1997. Her first involvement with NAMI was as a family support group participant then leader, and she has been co-leading Connection Recovery Support Groups since 2022. In 2023 the Maui Wildfires Disaster struck and Anisa Wiseman, NAMI Hawaii Deputy Director, approached Kathy to join her in providing disaster support. Kathy was ready to help and learn how to adapt our NAMI support group model to a new and pressing situation. This is Kathy’s second NAMICON and she looks forward to enjoying the program and meeting others with lived experience and a passion for NAMI. She hopes to attend sessions related to her favorite NAMI programs and activities including Family and Peer Education, Advocacy, NAMIWalks, fundraising and writing grant proposals. Kathy retired from social work in mental health, lives on the Big Island of Hawaii, and enjoys family life with her husband, David, her younger son, Steven, and the family cat, Beau Jangles. Kathy is in her second year serving at NAMI Hawaii State Board President and she is active as a Family-to-Family Education Program facilitator, Speakers’ Bureau volunteer, and mental health advocate.
Ernest (Ernie) Stevens is a published author with a #1 best selling book on Amazon titled: Mental Health and De-escalation: A Guide for Law Enforcement Professionals. Ernie was also a contributing author for, Police Mental Health Barricade. Ernie was a police officer for 28 years, serving 26 of those years with the San Antonio Police Department where he was a founding member of the Mental HealthUnit. Ernie has been featured on the Emmy Award Winning HBO Documentary, Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops. He has also been featured in NBC’s documentary, A Different Kind of Force. Ernie was interviewed by ABC’s Nightline’s Byron Pitts, and featured on officers trained to respond to mental illness calls. Ernie has been featured in over 40publications and deemed an expert in Crisis Intervention Training. Ernie is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University and holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice. Ernie was one of the founding members of the San Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health Unit. Ernie continues to assist law enforcement agencies aound the nation by providing technical assistance and best practice approaches to mental health crisis calls. Ernie currently serves as the deputy director of law enforcement for the Council of State Governments Justice Center where he works closely with the Dept of Justice to assist agencies across the nation develop and strengthen their crisis response models.
Rebecca Mullaney is a therapist, public speaker and mental health advocate. She owns and operates Stable Ground Counseling, a private psychotherapy practice in North Carolina focused on trauma recovery utilizing equine assisted psychotherapy. Additionally, she provides mental wellness consulting to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and helps to shape the wellness offerings for military caregivers. Rebecca has consulted for several VSOs to include Team Red White and Blue, Give an Hour, and Team Rubicon. Prior to her current roles, she worked for The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) where she managed media messaging and communications for military suicide loss survivors. Rebecca's drive for supporting military families stemmed from her time as an elementary school teacher and later school counselor supporting military children on Fort Hood, and more personally from her experience as a surviving military spouse. She has had the distinct honor of focusing much of her professional life on advancing mental health and wellness supports for America's military members, veterans and their families, and feels encouraged by the progress made. Rebecca has been featured in multiple publications to include TIME Magazine, NBC News, and the Army Times, and frequently visits Capitol Hill to advocate on military issues. She has earned a bachelors (BSIS) degree in Elementary Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Master of Arts in School Psychology and Counseling from Mary Hardin-Baylor University, and an Educational Specialty (Ed.S) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The George Washington University.
Lisell serves as the Interim Lead of Programs and Director of Clinical Education and Mental Wellness for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. In this role she manages the Foundation’s clinical education programs through the Campaign for Inclusive Care and the Hidden Helpers Clinical Transformation Subcommittee. She also leads the expansion of the Foundation’s Mental Wellness program offerings, including the Caregiver Mental Wellness Framework and Caregiver Mental Wellness Workshops. Before joining the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Lisell worked in the mental health field, serving as a Residential Counselor at a children’s hospital and as a Mental Health Counseling Intern at a university counseling center. Prior to pursuing clinical training, Lisell worked at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), where she served as the Research and Training Coordinator followed by the Grants and Research Program Manager.Originally from Woodstock, New York, Lisell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from American University and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College. She currently resides in Dover, NH.
Michelle offers nearly twenty years of experience in independent research as well as program design, evaluation, and implementation. Michelle pairs her formal training in implementation science and commitment to equity through participatory action/stakeholder engagement to inform all aspects of her work from designing interventions/programs to evaluating impact. Her areas of expertise are mental health, young adult services, young adult career development, and enhancing academic persistence of college students. At JED, Michelle leads a multiple disciplinary team to implement and evaluate programming focused on improving help seeking; help giving, enhancing mental health, and preventing suicide with teens and young adults in schools or other key settings. Michelle is also a researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School and previously at Rutgers University. Michelle’s research focuses on career development of young adults; standardizing complex interventions to better support college students with mental health conditions; and evaluating the effectiveness of various educational supports to enhance persistence of college and high school students. Michelle received her Master’s degree from Boston University and her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.
Lucy Wooyeon Kim is a joint undergraduate and graduate student completing her bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale College and her master’s in Public Policy at the Jackson School. Before Yale, she worked with several nonprofit organizations in making health care more accessible to low-income and undocumented immigrant communities in her hometown of Los Angeles. At Yale, she has been selected as a Global Health Scholar and serves on the leadership boards of the HAVEN Free Clinic.Lucy found Elis for Rachael when seeking support during her own medical withdrawal from Yale. She was in the final cohort to be reinstated under Yale’s reinstatement policies before the settlement with Elis for Rachael. Following her reinstatement, Lucy has worked closely with Elis for Rachael on fortifying mental health resources and restructuring campus culture at Yale. Currently, she is working on a project to build a time-away center to support current students during their health crises. In the future, she hopes to use her background to achieve equitable and accessible health care across the globe.
Grace is a veteran of the human resources industry and profession, with over 25 years of experience in human capital strategy and transformation. She is passionate about nurturing talent and human potential while cultivating a sustainable inclusive culture. Grace is Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer at Lumentum Holdings, Inc; headquartered in Silicon Valley. She is a recipient of multiple recognitions in culture and diversity include Top 50 Chief Diversity Officers, Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes, Top Workplaces Award, America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, and Best Large Companies in America by Forbes. Grace is an independent board member at Asure Software where she is chair of the Nominating Governance committee and member of the Compensation Committee. Grace serves as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at Cornell University, ILR School. She is also serving as Co-Chair of Gartner’s Evanta CHRO Southern California Governing Body. Grace holds a master’s degree in human resources from Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and a master’s degree in global leadership from the School of Business at the University of San Diego.
As one of two student plaintiffs in a landmark legal case against Yale University, I spent the latter portion of my undergraduate career suing my school. My advocacy began on a personal level. In the fall of 2019, I withdrew from Yale in the midst of a struggle with depression, an eating disorder, and various other mental health concerns. In a time when I was supposed to be healing, I was instead faced with countless barriers to accessing adequate support and accommodation from Yale. Two years later, I became involved in a surge of mental health advocacy at Yale, ultimately choosing to confront these systemic injustices through legal action alongside a group of dedicated students and alumni. In less than a year, we settled the lawsuit, leading to sweeping reforms in mental health resources and accessibility at Yale. However, our work is far from over. I hope to continue dismantling stigmas surrounding mental illness not just on college campuses, but nationally, in an effort to create a world where everyone has access to the care they need.
Jackson Beck is a senior program associate with the Vera Institute of Justice’s Redefining Public Safety initiative. His work focuses on improving public safety system responses for people with mental health, substance use, and other unmet needs, with a focus on expanding access to specially trained civilian responders as an alternative to police. This has included researching and uplifting the promising practices of existing programs that are successfully dispatching civilian crisis responders to certain 911 calls, for which he was awarded Researcher of the Year in 2022 by CIT International. Jackson also provides technical assistance to support the development of these responses across the country, partnering with local practitioners and advocates to drive change in their own public safety ecosystems. Before joining Vera in 2018, Jackson assisted the communications team at Families Against Mandatory Minimums in Washington, DC. He also supported advocacy to expand resources for people in recovery with United Strategies in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Jackson holds a BA in political science from Yale University.
Dr. Abid is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also has an MBA from the Broad School of Business at Michigan State.
He completed a full rotating internship at Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital (now Metro Hospital) and was one of the first DOs to do a Residency in Psychiatry at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry by the ABONP (MD) and the ABONP ( DO). He is a Fellow of the APA and American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists. He is a member of the AMA and AOA.
Dr. Abid practiced Community Psychiatry in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Massachusetts in community hospitals, CMHCs, and in private practice, for 27 years before joining Wellcare Health Plans in 2006.
At Wellcare, he has held a number of positions within the company including Behavioral Health Medical Director and Sr. Medical Director, Pharmacy. He was Behavioral Health Medical Director for the SMI specialty plan for Staywell, now Sunshine, Health serving almost 3 Million health plan members in Florida and 120,000 seriously mentally ill, after Wellcare was purchased by Centene Corporation.
Now in the Centene Pharmacy Services division, Dr. Abid is responsible for utilization review for pharmacy services for the 23 million members in Centene’s Medicare, Medicaid and Exchange lines of business across the United States.
Dr. Abid has been on the faculty and taught medical students at MSU, Chicago COM, NECOM and NOVA SE.
He is currently on the Board of NAMI Florida and is a Board Member of Oakland Community College Foundation in Detroit Michigan.
Dr. Abid is married, has 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 4 dogs
Jennifer Thompson has a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in the non-profit sector, including more than 15 years in non-profit healthcare. Acknowledged for her notable contributions, she was awarded the Gen2Gen Innovation Fellowship by CoGenerate in 2019 and recognized as a Healthy Communities Next Gen Fellow by the American Hospital Association in 2015. Jennifer is also an alumna of the Fund-Raising School of the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. In 2022, Jennifer assumed the role of Executive Director at NAMI Maine, providing visionary leadership, guiding the organization through strategic planning initiatives focused on addressing the mental health needs of individuals, families, and communities across Maine while staying true to its mission and vision. Under her stewardship, NAMI Maine recently celebrated its 40th year of dedicated service to the state. Before her tenure at NAMI Maine, Jennifer served as President of Health Equity Alliance, where her advocacy efforts centered on marginalized communities, particularly those impacted by HIV+ status and substance use disorder. Before her relocation to Maine, Jennifer spearheaded Pennsylvania's largest school-based food insecurity program. In addition to her professional roles, Jennifer holds positions on the NE Delta Dental and Carpenter’s Boat Shop Boards of Directors, contributing her expertise to furthering their respective missions. She also generously volunteers her time and skills to the Multiple Sclerosis Association. During her leisure time, Jennifer has a passion for cooking as a retired Chef, whittling wooden spoons, and exploring all that Maine has to offer.
Nadika Paranamana, Psy.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University School of Medicine and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Connecticut Healthcare System. Dr. Paranamana’s work is grounded in humanistic-existential framework and is centered on justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging of marginalized, disenfranchised, and historically disadvantaged people and communities. She is a qualitative researcher dedicated to investigating lived experiences. Clinically, her work focuses on serious mental illnesses, especially psychosis and the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Dr. Paranamana received her doctorate in clinical psychology from University of Hartford and serves as Chair of the Ethnic Diversity Task Force (EDTF) at the Connecticut Psychological Association.
Pastor Cynthia McKnight is a devoted advocate for mental health and well-being initiatives within faith communities, serving as NAMI's FaithNet Manager. With a passion for fostering community engagement, Cynthia leads training sessions, facilitates stakeholder meetings, and supervises grantee sessions, all aimed at advancing mental health awareness and support. Drawing upon her educational background from Hinds College and DeVry University, Cynthia brings a wealth of expertise in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as Mental Health advocacy. Her robust skill set, coupled with exemplary communication and organizational abilities, enables her to navigate complex challenges and achieve impactful outcomes. Guided by her unwavering faith and commitment to transcending barriers, Cynthia is an inspirational force, empowering individuals to embrace their divine calling and live lives of purpose and passion. As the visionary Founder of Revolving Hearts Outreach Ministries, she utilizes her gifts in writing, intercession, preaching, and teaching the Gospel to uplift and inspire countless lives. Cynthia's radical and authentic ministry approach resonates across diverse demographics, facilitating transformative experiences and fostering healing and restoration. Her recent publication, "Ladies’ In Waiting" (Sister Fix Your Crown), exemplifies her dedication to empowering women through testimonies of faith, mental and emotional health, and perseverance. With a heart for service and a commitment to making a difference, Cynthia McKnight continues to shine as a beacon of hope within the Christian community and beyond, leaving a lasting impact on all who encounter her ministry.
Sakinah Slayton is a 24-year veteran of the New Castle County Police Department, where she has made significant contributions in both the Operations and Administrative divisions. As a Lieutenant, Slayton expertly blends her educational background — holding a master's degree in human resources management from Wilmington University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Cheyney University— with varied professional experience. She held a supervisory role in the Professional Standards Unit (Internal Affairs), led as a patrol squad commander, and demonstrated her proficiency as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Her experience also extends to the Research, Accreditation, Media and Policy (RAMP) unit as well as the Professional Development Unit. Currently, Lieutenant Slayton serves as the Community Engagement Executive Officer and leads the Behavioral Health and Community Services Unit, following her tenure as the Operations Branch Executive Officer. Deeply committed to community involvement, she actively participates in community service, contributing through coaching and mentoring both her peers and young people. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, her community service and mentoring efforts are an integral part of her personal life as well. A passionate advocate for wellness and mental health, Lieutenant Slayton integrates these values into her professional life.
Caitlyn Branine is a Girl Scouts alumni and a senior at UCCS. Positive teen mental health has always been a passion of hers, especially in regards to social media and the impact it can have. This interest began in middle school when she was invited to speak at eighth-grade graduation. She found it very healing to be able to publicly share some of the pain she had experienced during her middle school years. She continued to research the topic and discovered that sharing your story can indeed have a positive impact on one’s mental health. As a result, she completed her Girl Scout's Gold Award project by developing a positive social media site and nonprofit called A Safe Place 2 Share. It provided teens and young adults a safe place to share their stories with others online. After graduating high school, she expanded her ideas through her college radio station, which she rebranded with the mission to allow college students the opportunity to share their stories over the air. The station allowed students to express their ideas, interests, and experiences through podcasts and music shows. Due to its wide variety of student content, UCCS Radio recently won 2024 College Radio Station of the Year at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conference in New York. Branine also won Best Student Station Manager in the nation.
Jack Kim is the Executive Director of NAMI Boulder County, where he finds endless inspiration through the caring and supportive community of NAMI members and volunteers. Jack has spent nearly thirty years in education and work that supports families, including two decades teaching at a progressive school in Boulder, Colorado that fosters whole-child development, with focus on creating meaningful learning experiences in support of independent critical thinking, emotional well-being, and social emotional learning. Jack is thrilled to support and share the new learning opportunities made available through the InsideU learning app. He knows this will make a world of difference in the lives of all children and families who have the opportunity to experience and learn through it.
Kaylea Dillon joined the NAMI family through NAMI-On Campus in 2018. She is a member of NAMI Ohio's NEXT Gen Project and YouthMOVE leadership team. She is a medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and was the first Certified Youth Peer Supporter in Ohio. In addition, Kaylea helps NAMI and YouthMOVE Ohio by leading a team of peers who work to create training curriculums and facilitate certification trainings for young professionals working in the behavioral health field.
Meet Risha Hegde, a dedicated premedical student hailing from the state Georgia. With an academic journey centered around the complexities of the human mind, Risha majored in psychology with a keen focus on neuroscience, delving into the intricate workings of the brain.Passionate about the intersection of psychology and medicine, Risha aspires to become a psychiatrist, blending the realms of science and empathy to enhance mental health care. During their college years at the University of Georgia, Risha served as the president of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter, demonstrating leadership and commitment to fostering a supportive community for mental health advocacy.Risha is not only an advocate in words but has actively contributed to the cause by founding and leading peer groups dedicated to addressing issues of disordered eating and body image. Through these initiatives, Risha has made a meaningful impact, providing a safe space for individuals to share experiences and support one another on their journeys toward mental well-being.Beyond academic and advocacy pursuits, Risha is a social butterfly who thrives on meeting new people and connecting with fellow mental health advocates everywhere. With a genuine enthusiasm for forging connections, Risha is poised to make a lasting impact on the field of mental health, bringing a unique blend of academic expertise, compassionate leadership, and a deep commitment to promoting psychological well-being.
Katrina Norris earned her Master of Social Work degree in 2008 from IUPUI in Indianapolis. In addition, she holds four additional undergraduate degrees, two licenses, and a board certification. Katrina is the Executive Director of Indiana’s State Psychiatric Hospital Network within the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. In her role she oversees all six of Indiana’s state hospitals. Katrina has taught as an adjunct professor for Ivy Tech Community College and the IU School of Social Work for the past 13 years. Finally, Katrina has been a well-received and respected presenter at professional development conferences in Indiana as well as on national platforms. In addition, to her professional roles Katrina has been a valued asset to the state and regional communities serving on multiple advisory boards, including the IU School of Social Work Alumni Board, Indiana Rural Health Association Board and is the former President of the National Association of Social Workers-Indiana Chapter. She was a proud member of the IU Grand Challenges initiative to enhance research and programming through the State in response to the opioid crisis. Katrina was awarded the NASW Region 5 Social Worker of the Year in 2014 and the Distinguished Alumni Award from IU School of Social Work in 2016. In 2020, she received the prestigious bicentennial medal from Indiana University. In 2022, Katrina was awarded the Distinguished Chapter Service award by the National Association of Social Workers.
Karena Dawn, mental health advocate and co-founder of Tone It Up, the leading women’s fitness community, is a wellness entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, NAMI board advisor, and founder of the mental health charitable foundation, The Big Silence Foundation. For more than a decade Karena Dawn has empowered millions of women around the world to live their healthiest and happiest lives. Her lifelong passion for fitness, mindfulness, and spiritual empowerment has made her a leader in the wellness space. Dawn has been featured in Forbes for creating a “fitness empire” and on the Create & Cultivate 100 List honoring women who are masters in their field. She has also headlined the POPSUGAR Play/Ground Festival and has been a keynote speaker at the PoWer Up Women’s Conference. She is a mindful meditation coach for Chopra Global, and a regularly featured speaker and instructor for TED Women, and other national platforms. More info, copy & paste the media kit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HdfXKhrG6mDlp77XbSC7RhLqBZVWIQ6A/view?usp=drive_link
Felishia McPherson is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who began her career as a Certified Peer Support Specialist with over a three decades of lived experience in the areas of childhood trauma, domestic violence and former justice involvement. Felishia’s daily mantra is #PowerPower as she strives to be the “living proof” to empower those navigating the obstacles of re-entry and mental wellness with support and community resources.
Dr. Jenna Sage currently serves as Director of Organizational Wellness and Wellbeing for a large allied healthcare institution. She is a noted author, speaker and dedicated nearly 25 years of career to public education and working with students with emotional behavioral disorders and trauma histories. Today this work evolved into leading strategic wellness programming and organizational culture change to produce workplace thriving.
Angela Lariviere is the Director of YouthMOVE Ohio. She joined the NAMI Ohio team in 2013She has extensive experience in strategic planning, policy and advocacy, trauma informed program development, peer support, and youth leadership. As a peer, she used her life experience to create the Youth Empowerment Program to give disconnected cross-systems youth a voice.Through this work Angela created coalitions and created programs to address the needs ofspecial populations of youth including: Military youth, Youth in Gangs, Trafficked Youth, Youth in Foster Care and Homeless Youth. Angela has developed and led youth programs for Local Schools, the Ohio Governors Community Service Council, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, The Ohio State University Department of Human Ecology, Star House Youth Drop IN Center, Youth Empowerment Program and NAMIOhio. As director of NAMI Ohio YouthMOVE, she supervises staff and leaders to develop strategic plans and advocate for multi-systems youth services in Ohio, participated in the development of Certified Youth Peer Support, provides training and support for youth leaders, partnerorganizations and county groups. She also oversees grants and chapter development and participates on state management teams. In addition, Angela has served on National committees to address issues facing youth and young adults, including serving as an AmeriCorps Leader at the Corporation for National Service, a Diversity Fellow with the Kellogg Foundation, and peer advisor for the US Inter Agency Council on Homelessness.
Hello! My name is Janelle Freman. I am currently a full-time third year psychology major and I attend University Of Louisville fully online. The short time I have worked at Nami Urban Greater Cincinnati and YouthMove Ohio has provided me with so many opportunities to learn about mental illness and network with professionals. A little bit more about my background. Growing up in a one-parent household, depression and anxiety have been a part of my life since I was 15. Even though I had my mother's support, I still wish I had peer support or another program to express myself through. The experience that I have gained. I have been able to provide support and advocacy to other kids and young adults within my community while working at Nami Urban Greater Cincinnati and YouthMove Ohio. Throughout this career path, I have discovered my purpose, which is to support and advocate for kids and young adults who need support and advocacy with their mental health, parental issues, stability, and just a friend to talk to.
Amanda Wilson-Eck has been with NAMI-OC since 2020. She began her work as a program coordinator for Transitional Aged Youth programs and has since become the Youth Programs Manager. Amanda has worked closely with Orange County transitional-aged youth to give them a platform to share their unique journeys and educate young adults to support their mental well-being.
Patricia Ortiz, M.D. is an Assistant Professor in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Psychiatry, the Psychiatry Clerkship Director for the TTUHSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, and the Academic Medical Director for Emergence Health Network (Local Mental Health Authority) through their partnership with TTUHSC El Paso. She supervises medical students, psychiatry residents, and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows in various clinical and forensic settings. In addition, she is planning to establish a Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship training program at TTUHSC El Paso beginning July 2025, and has partnered with the El Paso County Attorney’s Office to increase services to justice-involved individuals with mental illness. She was elected to the NAMI El Paso Board of Directors in February 2024. Dr. Ortiz received her medical training at the TTUHSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in her hometown, El Paso, TX. She completed her psychiatry residency in Washington, D.C. at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, followed by a Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult and Forensic Psychiatry. She returned home to join the Texas Tech Department of Psychiatry faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2020. Her main interests include adult and juvenile forensic psychiatry, women’s mental health, community psychiatry, and medical education.
Sierra Grandy is a dynamic public speaker, disability advocate, and recent law school graduate dedicated to promoting mental health and wellness. Drawing from her own journey of mental health recovery, Sierra brings authenticity and insight to her speaking engagements, which have reached over 60 audiences across diverse platforms, including mental health conferences, police intervention trainings, podcasts, and corporate wellness initiatives. In addition to her speaking engagements, Sierra is deeply involved in advocacy work, serving as Minnesota's Representative on NAMI's Peer Leadership Council and as a council member on Minnesota's State Advisory Council on Mental Health. Her commitment to effecting change within the mental health system is fueled by her lived experience and passion for ensuring equitable access to support and resources for all. Sierra's dedication to advocacy is complemented by her academic achievements, having recently graduated from law school with a focus on disability and tax law (strange mix—she knows). Her undergraduate degree is in psychology, which she has continued to self-study as she has continued her education. To achieve her goals, Sierra has created a flexible system that makes quests out of life. Gamification has allowed Sierra to use creative tools to make her life more interactive and fun. She is excited to teach this system to NAMIcon attendees. For more information about Sierra Grandy and her work, please visit SierraGrandy.com.
Assistant County Attorney, Daniela Chisolm, is a Senior Trial Attorney in the Mental HealthLitigation Unit at the El Paso County Attorney’s Office. Chisolm represents the State of Texas inthe civil court commitment processes. Chisolm is a former defense attorney for those individualsin the court commitment process. She has a unique perspective of being on both sides of thecivil commitment laws creating in depth insight to the systemic barriers for both sides in themental health system. Chisolm serves as the Vice President on the Board of Directors for NAMIEl Paso. Chisolm is passionate about mental health and is a family member of an individualsuffering from a severe mental illness.
Nelson J. Dunlap, J.D. currently serves as the Vice President for Public Policy & External Affairs in the School of Global Health at Meharry Medical College. In this role he helps to lead health policy for the School, all while keeping health equity centered at the core of the mission.As a dedicated health policy advocate, author, and experienced public speaker, Mr. Dunlap has utilized every opportunity in his career to fight on behalf of marginalized communities and push for the advancement of health equity. His commitment to the pursuit of health equity has recently been recognized as he was named to the de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health. Before joining Meharry, Mr. Dunlap served as the Chief-of-Staff for the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine where he helped to lead the government relations and health policy initiatives of the institution. Along with this role, Mr. Dunlap also served as the Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs for the Health Equity Leadership and Exchange Network. Mr. Dunlap’s passion for shaping the minds of the next generation of learners and leaders, and doing so with an eye towards leveraging the law and the political determinants of health, has afforded him the opportunity to provide numerous speaking engagements and author a number of publications centered around health policy and health disparities.Mr. Dunlap graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law.
Julianne Carbin, MSW is the Deputy Director, Division for Behavioral Health at the NH Department of Health and Human Services. Julianne works in partnership with other state agencies and community partners to advance statewide policy, funding and program initiatives aimed at building a comprehensive, integrated, and high quality behavioral health continuum. Prior to working for the state of NH, Julianne spent 13 years working as part of Wisconsin’s community based mental health system. She served as Executive Director of NAMI Wisconsin where she worked in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance grassroots policy, funding, public outreach, and peer support initiatives statewide. Prior to that she worked as the Executive Director of a county based nonprofit that provided supported employment services to individuals with serious mental illness. Julianne has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts (Rhetorical Studies) and Master’s degree in Social Work (Mental Health).
Austin Messick has been with NAMI-OC since 2019. He started as a volunteer after a mental health challenge and has worked his way up to the Associate Director of Programs role overseeing all classes, support groups, presentations, programs for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), CIT for first responders and NAMI-OC's innovative programs. Austin has experience with mental health as a family member and peer. He is a certified In Our Own Voice speaker and Peer-to-Peer teacher.
Amanda Kay Lipp is a documentary filmmaker, speaker, and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of mental health care, storytelling, and technology. She is the Owner of Lipp Studios, Founder at The Giving Gallery, Co-Founder at neuroTree, and Technical Assistance Specialist at the Center for Applied Research Solutions. She previously worked at the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA). Amanda's own lived experience going through the mental health care system during college drives her passion. Since age 18, she has produced over 100 short films about mental health, and given over 150 keynotes around the U.S. sharing stories and resources. Clients have included Columbia Psychiatry, Sutter Health, Stanford Medicine, and UCSF. She is focused on elevating complex topics like youth psychosis, disaster relief, alternative housing, and recreation therapy. Her films have been used in research studies about stigma reduction, and digital advertising campaigns in New York City to promote awareness. She has served on numerous state and national boards, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Mental Health Advisory Panel at Google, and the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Committee (ISMICC) created by Congress. Amanda graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Human Development.
Dr. Margie Balfour is a psychiatrist and national leader in crisis care, quality improvement, and law enforcement responses to behavioral health emergencies. She is Chief of Quality & Clinical Innovation at Connections Health Solutions and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona. Dr. Balfour was named Doctor of the Year by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing for her leadership at the Crisis Response Center in Tucson, Arizona, and received the Sam Cochran Criminal Justice award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness for her work to help law enforcement better serve people with behavioral health needs. She co-authored Roadmap to the Ideal Crisis System: Essential Elements, Measurable Standards, and Best Practices, and her work on crisis outcome measurement has been cited as a national standard. Dr. Balfour is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and serves on the APA Council on Quality of Care. She has also served on the boards of the American Association for Community Psychiatry, American Association for Emergency Psychiatry, and numerous expert panels for SAMHSA, the DOJ, and others. A native of Monroe, Louisiana, Dr. Balfour received a BA in Biology at Johns Hopkins University and then her MD and PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati. She completed residency and fellowship in Community Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Jenny Braun, PsyD, HSPP, is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Clinical Director of Evansville State Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, one of five adult hospitals within Indiana’s State Psychiatric Hospital Network under the purview of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Dr. Braun received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California and worked as a psychologist for the California Department of State Hospitals in Napa, CA before moving back to her home state of Indiana. Dr. Braun is an adjunct professor at the University of Evansville where she teaches courses on trial competency and psychology. She integrates in-depth psychological theories into the treatment of severe mental illness and is drawn to trial competency as a natural meeting place between the fields of law, mental health, and social justice.
Prior to joining the Meadows Institute, Tim served as the Associate Commissioner for State Hospitals at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Overseeing the state hospital system, Tim was at the epicenter of forensic psychiatric inpatient care – a major crossroads of the criminal justice and mental health systems. Prior to serving in this role, Tim practiced law in a variety of roles, including serving as the Deputy General Counsel for Government Law at the Department of State Health Services and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Texas Attorney General’s office, as well as in private law practice in New England. Prior to the practice of law, Tim worked as a mental health counselor providing treatment services and emergency psychiatric evaluations in county jails and hospital emergency centers through a community mental health center in New Hampshire. As Vice President for Justice and Health Policy, Tim serves as the Texas team lead on Justice and Health initiatives and support various national system-focused projects associated with the Center for Justice and health. As a former behavioral health system decision-maker, Tim also serves as a thoughtful advisor for system actors providing technical assistance on health system integration, competency restoration, and various treatment diversion strategies for those currently entrenched or at risk of being justice-involved. Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of San Diego, a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of New Hampshire, and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.
Lily Colby (she/they), is a community organizer, attorney, and legislative advocate. Her current projects areas include foster care, disability rights, housing injustice, and LGBTQIA+ rights. Lily graduated Yale University with a B.A. in Economics and received their law degree from Berkeley Law School in 2015. Lily worked on foster care and education policy as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the Youth Law Center and the National Center for Youth Law. Lily served as a Commissioner for the ABA Commission on Youth at Risk and is currently on the Board of Legal Services for Children. In 2021, after the death by suicide of Yale student Rachael Shaw-Rosenbaum, Lily began organizing community meetings for students, alumni and family members impacted by Yale’s mental health policies. The work lead to co-founding Elis for Rachael, https://www.elisforrachael.org/, a non-profit which successfully sued Yale to change mental health policies for the better. Lily currently sits on the Board of Directors for Elis for Rachael and runs With Lived Experience, https://www.withlivedexperience.org/. Her areas of practice include coaching, organizing, and assisting people impacted by systems injustices to change those systems. If you have a project where you’d like to make a difference in your community feel free to reach out [email protected].
I have both a professional and personal interest in improving mental health policies in higher education.I began working as a psychiatric research interviewer while studying at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. After withdrawing from medical school I spent 2.5 years as the Senior Research Analyst in the Psychiatric Epidemiology Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital, working primarily on the Stirling County Study1. I am currently a Biostatistician at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA, where I work closely with psychiatry residents on their research projects. I also teach a diverse student population at Berkshire Community College2.I am a suicide survivor who has struggled at times with depression, and spent productive time at the Austen Riggs Center. My cousin died by suicide at age 55, leaving two daughters. Another cousin lived with schizophrenia most of his adult life.One of my cousin’s daughters went on to the Yale Law School, where she authored a report on mental health entitled, “Falling Through the Cracks.” So when first year Yale undergraduate Rachael Shaw-Rosembaum died by suicide in March, 2021, I was aware of the decade-long student advocacy efforts that had fallen on deaf administrative ears. And I was angry, because I felt that Rachael’s was an entirely preventable death.My advocacy work with Elis for Rachael3 is driven by a desire to channel my own experiences into protecting vulnerable students against inhumane and/or illegal university policies that interfere with their receiving the emotional and academic support they are entitled to.1 https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/in-memoriam-jane-murphy-renowned-psychiatric-epidemiologist 2 https://www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/columnists/paul-johansen-lisa-mattila-mental-health-on-college-campuses/article_9264e2bc-5646-11ee-8316-cfdab323bcb9.html 3 https://www.ctinsider.com/opinion/article/opinion-ending-mental-health-stigma-at-yale-18343776.php
Yolanda is a nationally recognized justice executive with over 25 years of experience in the government and philanthropic sectors. Her career is defined by driving change through leadership, including the design of strategic and scalable solutions to improve the effective administration of justice and accessibility to health systems. Before joining the Meadows Institute as the executive vice president of justice and health, she was the senior director of safety and justice with The Pew Charitable Trusts. In that role, she oversaw research and policy reform work to improve justice-related efficiencies at the state and local levels of government, including oversight of public safety performance, mental health, and civil legal system modernization. Yolanda's executive leadership experience includes serving as the district and trial court administrator for the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, where she managed the courts in Fulton County, Georgia, designing initiatives to improve public safety, including a focus on judicial administration, criminal and civil case management, mental health, and justice reinvestment. Lewis has served as a faculty member for Michigan State University's Judicial Administration program, vice president of the National Association for Court Management, founding member of the Fulton County Smart Justice Advisory Council, and president of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators. A certified court manager, Lewis has experience as an executive producer and host for media platforms covering justice-related issues, is a mayoral appointee to the Racial Equity Advisory Board for the District Court of Columbia, a board member for the National Center for State Courts, and a former board member of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. Yolanda holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in public administration from the University of South Alabama. She also graduated from the executive leadership program at Yale University.
Jay is the director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Prior to joining DMHA, he served as managing attorney and director of Medical Legal Partnerships for Indiana Legal Services. Chaudhary holds an JD from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Ball State University. Jay is the chair of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission, and an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow. He is the recipient of the 2020 “Distinguished Service” award from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law; the 2022 Ramstad-Kennedy Award from the National Association of State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Directors; and the 2023 “Champion of Justice” award from the Indiana Judges Association. He was recently named a “top 20 under 40” leader in the country by the Council of State Governments.
Dr. Sam Hubley is an Assistant Research Professor at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research focuses on novel delivery methods of evidence-based psychological treatments and art-based approaches to mental health and wellness education.
As the Director of the Crisis Service Bureau, Chris Richardson has over 19 years of clinical expertise working with behavioral health populations that intersect with criminal justice systems and integrating sequential intercept planning into alternative criminal justice solutions. Operating as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addictions Counselor, Chris oversaw the creation and growth of Denver’s Co-Responder Program in 2016, Civilian Response program (STAR) in 2020, and Court based assertive community treatment teams in 2018. Grounded in trauma informed practices, the Crisis Service Bureau additionally houses the Victim Assistance Unit, supporting victims of crime and accessing care to engage individuals in the healing process. To its core, the Crisis Service Bureau seeks to be able to engage effectively in community collaboration, connect community partners with first responder programs to streamline and gain access to low barrier services, and most importantly serve the citizens of Denver in solution focused, individual driven way.
Christine Michels is currently a Program Administrator with the City of Saint Paul and is responsible for the creation and implementation of Familiar Faces. Prior to working with the City of Saint Paul, Christine was the Emergency Services Division Director for Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Christine is a Human Services professional with over 25 years of experience in the fields of criminal justice, re-entry, housing, and homeless services.
Morgan Johnson is a third-year student at the University of Colorado, Boulder in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. Morgan also is an active undergraduate research fellow with the Renee Crown Wellness Institute where she participates in various research plans with a focus on community engagement through wellness.
Roland Behm is the co-founder of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership and a past chair of the board of directors of the Georgia chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He is the father of two children, one of whom, his son Kyle, died by suicide in August 2019. A lawyer by training and practice, Roland has been advocating for mental health and suicide prevention for more than thirteen years, including drafting portions of the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act (2022).
Cecilia McGough is a New York City/Boston-based mental health activist, nonprofit executive director at SWP, VASTS mentor at NASA Langley, keynote speaker, co-author, consultant, and former pulsar astronomer. Although being autistic and having schizophrenia, she refuses to let her diagnoses define her. McGough is the founder and executive director of the global nonprofit Students With Psychosis, a 501(c)(3) organization empowering student leaders and advocates worldwide through community building and collaboration. She currently serves as a VASTS mentor through NASA Langley Research Center and is a former Global Shaper and task force member of the World Economic Forum. In 2020 and 2022, McGough was consulted as a conference advisor for Healthevoices and is currently serving on the planning committee for the Women's Mental Health Conference at Yale from 2022 to the present. McGough made her mark early in her career at the age of 17 by co-discovering PSR J1930-1852, which has the widest known orbit around another neutron star. This discovery opened doors, leading to her publication as a co-author in the Astrophysical Journal and representation of the United States in the International Space Olympics in Russia. McGough's story as a radio astronomer is documented in the film "Little Green Men," and her advocacy journey can be seen in the PBS Documentary "Mysteries of Mental Illness," which is available for streaming on Amazon Prime. With over 40 million views, her journey has been featured in prominent media outlets such as CBS This Morning, Glamour UK, Fortune, The Boston Globe, Women's Health Magazine, Forbes, PBS, USA Today College, Healthline, Barcroft TV, Anthony Padilla, Daily Mail, The Indian Express, Astronomy Now, MTV University, Parade, TEDx, SBSK, WGBH, Mental Health America, Psychology Today, and more.
Rei Scott is one of two Presidents of the Students With Psychosis Executive Board. He has spoken at several events with SWP, including South Southwest MHTTC's First Episode Psychosis Conference and the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations' Early Psychosis Conference in 2022. Rei is also a social work student at Ohio State University who graduated from Columbus State Community College with his AAS in Social and Human Services. He is working on his Peer Recovery Specialist training which he hopes to finish this year. He has served on several other boards, including Mental Health America's 2023 Young Mental Health Leaders Council and a local Youth Action Board through the Community Shelter Board. He advocates for disability rights within his community but hopes to expand his reach further. As someone who is trans, disabled, and Jewish, he is very passionate about the lived experience perspective and the inclusion of minorities and intersectional identities in mental health research. He is especially interested in peer support and art as vehicles for change in the treatment process. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his cats, draw, and play video games.
As Deputy Director of NAMI Hawaii State, Anisa brings over a decade of experience in supporting individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. With a deep commitment to fidelity in support group facilitation, Anisa has been a dedicated facilitator for five years, navigating the unique challenges posed by the pandemic.Drawing from personal experience, Anisa lives in recovery from PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This lived experience informs their empathetic approach to supporting others in their journey towards mental wellness. Additionally, Anisa has a firsthand understanding of the impact of mental health conditions on families, with her mother diagnosed with bipolar disorder and severe psychosis.Anisa is passionate about adapting support groups to meet the diverse needs of communities, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters such as the Lahaina fires in Maui. After undergoing specialized training in natural disaster response, it became evident that our existing support group model was ill-equipped to address the unique challenges posed by such events. We have taken everything day by day and adapted as we moved forward. Through her involvement with NAMI Hawaii State and dedication to fidelity in support group facilitation, Anisa is committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment where individuals and families can find solace, strength, and healing on their mental health journey.
Emeka Chima (he/him) is 25 years old and has been formally diagnosed with autism and paranoid schizophrenia. He currently lives in D.C., Maryland area. Since April 2020 he has been an active participant and Student Leader within the Student with Psychosis community which aims to break the stigma around mental illness. Chima received his Bachelor’s degree in the field of Information Systems Management in August 2022. Currently, he serves as co-President on the SWP Executive Board and as Peer Support Specialist for the First Episode Psychosis program OnTrack Maryland the latter since July 2022 serving fellow peers and their families through the eye-opening and transformative recovery process. As a mental health advocate, Chima has established many roles and is striving toward a more diverse and inclusive outlook on mental illness and psychosis which has been his prominent goal when facing the stigmatized culture throughout mainstream society. Chima has been a proponent and activist of achieving mental wellness and continues to represent his values through public speaking and storytelling. His advocacy work has reached numerous audiences in several virtual and in-person settings namely the Schizophrenia International Research Society in Florence, Italy, the Mental Health America Conference in Washington, D.C, and most recently a panel talk at Harvard Medical School. Chima has contributed his expertise to other platforms including an interview with CureTalk, the Students with Psychosis 2023 Annual conference, an interview with Youth Engaged for Change, a podcast with HealthHats, the Living with Psychosis podcast, and recent board member for the Young Adult Advisory Council for On Our Own of Maryland. An interesting fact about Chima is that his hobbies are playing cello and writing poetry.
Kim H. Jones is the Executive Director of NAMI Georgia. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, dedicated to building better lives for those affected by mental illness. As executive director, Kim H. Jones is responsible for the strategic management and financial operations of NAMI Georgia. NAMI Georgia is responsible for supporting 21 local NAMI Affiliate’s across the state of Georgia. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, education, training, marketing, and business development. Mrs. Jones is also a member of: the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission, appointed by the late Speaker Ralston, the Crisis Intervention Team Advisory Board, and the DBHDD 988 Advisory Board. She is also co-founder of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership (GMHPP). Under her leadership, NAMI Georgia’s advocacy and GMHPP were key to the passage of the Mental Health Parity Act, Georgia General Assembly - HB 1013 which ensured that behavioral health and physical health are covered equitably by public and private insurance.
Jennifer Snow is the National Director of Government Relations and Policy for NAMI. She is responsible for developing and implementing NAMI’s overall federal agenda to advance public policies that support people with mental health conditions. She and her team work to ensure an integrated federal strategy, overseeing the analysis of and strategic response to Congressional and administrative activities.
Laura Slocum serves as the Senior Director of Crisis Systems Transformation and Chief of Staff for Justice and Health at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. Laura has 20 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, with a focus on the intersection of behavioral health and justice systems. Laura believes that working in the field of justice and health yields responsibilities and opportunities to advance social justice and that matters of inequities in these systems must always be the explicit lens through which policies and programming are conceived, developed, and evaluated. Laura completed her bachelor’s degree at Loyola University New Orleans and completed her master’s degree at Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio. She has been a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas since 2006.
Diane Banks is originally from Charlottesville, VA and currently lives in El Paso, TX where she proudly serves as the Chair for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Peer Leadership Council. She also serves as the NAMI Texas National Peer Representative, where she was the NAMI Texas State Peer Representative for over six years. She has amplified the Peer voice ensuring that people with lived experience of a mental health condition are able to have access to resources to improve their quality of life. As an 18-year Army Veteran she also serves on the NAMI National Service Member, Veteran, & Family Council (SMVFC) where she works tirelessly to provide hope to Veterans, active-duty personnel, and family members of those who served or are serving. Diane is one of the chosen contributors to NAMIs first book, “You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health”. She is a Certified Mental Health Peer Support Specialist who is trained in various NAMI Signature Programs, Initiatives and Trainings. As founder of Monarch Mental Wellness, LLC. she uses her platform as a mental wellness strategist to instill hope and transform lives. Diane holds a Master of Science Degree in Forensic Psychology and is currently working on finishing her dissertation from Walden University to complete her doctoral degree in Forensic Psychology. She is a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success and a lifetime member of Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. Diane’s purpose and passion is to improve the lives of all peers to include people of color, and those impacted or involved in the Criminal Justice System.
Mike Radu has seen the healthcare industry from many sides: from payer to provider to regulator. As its CEO, this diverse perspective has given him the ability to shepherd AbsoluteCare to its full potential as an innovator in value-based healthcare for the most vulnerable and chronically-ill individuals many of whom are impacted by behavioral or substance used disorders. Mr. Radu’s payer experience included was Regional President of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid and dual Medicare plans; and EVP/President of WellCare’s Medicaid PDP. He also ran business development, clinical operations, and quality/risk adjustment departments for several health plans. Mr. Radu began his career in the provider space, running various value-based medical groups in Arizona. He was part of the founding team and COO of Optum Care, the multi-state medical group and accountable care organization (ACO) for commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid patients under value-based care relationships. He also served as CEO of a regional hospice and palliative care organization. Mike’s policy background includes running a lobbying/government affairs organization for UnitedHealthcare and serving as Senior Advisor for CMS in the Innovation office, working for ACO programs. Mike graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology and from USC with an Master’s in Business Administration.
Marie Olivett, LCSW, LAC, is the Director of Mental Health Programming at the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver. Prior to joining BGCMD, Marie worked with justice involved youth, and she has experience in private practice and school settings. She is especially passionate about working with youth who may be under resourced or who have experienced trauma, and loves thinking outside the box to find meaningful ways to connect, such as through animal assisted therapy. When she's not at work, you can probably find Marie on an adventure traveling or outside with her family, friends, and dog.
John Dellick is a dedicated young professional with a passion for promoting mental health among youth. With an MBA and certification as a peer specialist since 2017, he combines business acumen with empathy to innovate in the field of peer support. John's approach is both effective and engaging, marked by his ever-present, reassuring smile, reflecting his commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Shannon Scully is the Director of Justice Policy & Initiatives at NAMI’s national office, where she provides strategic guidance and leadership on the organization’s work at the intersection of mental illness and the criminal justice system. She engages federal agencies and Congress to advance NAMI’s key priorities in the areas of justice reform and crisis response and supports leaders across the NAMI Alliance to advance reforms at the state and local level to reduce justice system impact in the lives of people with mental illness.Prior to joining NAMI, Ms. Scully has worked on a variety of issues to address the impact of the criminal legal and carceral system in disproportionately impacted communities. She began her career advocating for victims of crime in the court system in Cook County, IL. Originally from Minnesota, Ms. Scully lives in the greater DC area with her family.
Claire Ryder serves as the Director of Business Development and Innovation for the national health and human services organization, Resources for Human Development (RHD). RHD manages the fourth branch of the emergency response system in New Orleans, the Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit (MCIU). She co-leads the International Crisis Response Association (ICRA) and works as a consultant for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Claire has completed her course work for a doctorate in Population Health at Jefferson University and expects to defend her dissertation in August 2024. Her dissertation explores staff safety in civilian crisis response models. Claire has a master's degree in clinical psychology and spent six years in mobile crisis response and community trauma before moving into health administration where she has worked for the past 12 years.
I have been a Girl Scout leader for the last 16 year and a service Unit manager for the last 8. I help girls and troops in my unit to share education and ideas. Both of my daughters started scouts in kindergarten and went through out school.
Clara Pritchett, an impassioned advocate for social justice and mental health, serves as the Executive Director at Body Empowerment Project. Leading a team of 40 volunteers, she spearheads eating disorder prevention efforts and oversees daily operations, guided by her dedication to body liberation and social equity. Beyond her role at Body Empowerment Project, Clara advises the National Alliance on Mental Illness Next Gen Board, leveraging her expertise to propel mental health initiatives forward. A Brown University alumna with a degree in Africana Studies, Clara's academic background enriches her work. At Brown, she crafted and taught a course on "Diet Culture and Fatphobia in the US," and her thesis, "It is a War on the Body: The Racial Construction of the American Obesity Epidemic," earned honors. With a robust history in volunteer management, fundraising, and curriculum design, Clara authored the BEP curriculum and contributed to organizations like NAAFA and Direct Action for Rights and Equality. A Philadelphia native, Clara is deeply rooted in her community, actively addressing mental health, body liberation, and systemic racism within the public school system. Her advocacy and expertise continually drive progress in the realms of mental health and social justice.
Darcy Gruttadaro serves as NAMI’s Chief Innovation Officer. In this leadership role, she works with her team to advance NAMI’s strategic goals designed to address the mental health needs of youth and young adults, expand NAMI’s workplace mental health initiatives, and foster cross-cultural innovation and engagement across diverse communities.
Darcy previously served as the director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), Center for Workplace Mental Health. In that role, she expanded the Center’s national reach through new strategic partnerships and by creating a broad array of high impact tools, trainings, and resources that met the immediate and unique needs of public and private organizations in diverse industries.
A nationally recognized expert on workplace mental health, Darcy served as the APA and APA Foundation’s lead media spokesperson on workplace mental health. She has been quoted in multiple major media outlets including the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, ABC News, Bloomberg Business, and more.
Darcy received the 2020 APA Leadership Award in recognition of her achievements and stature as a nationally recognized leader on workplace mental health issues and more.
Before joining the APA Foundation, Darcy served in multiple senior level roles at NAMI. She practiced law at the Harris, Beach law firm in upstate New York, concentrating her legal practice on healthcare, mental health, and related issues.
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John Kissinger and his wife Lona have been residents of Florida since 2003. They have four children and many grandchildren. He has a BS from Georgetown and an MBA from Columbia. After completing graduate school, he went on to serve on active duty in Vietnam, as an Army Officer. Following the military, he began his career in corporate finance as a commercial banker serving in a wide variety of line and staff roles during 35 years at Chase Manhattan and Sumitomo Mitsui. He was also head of the American Enterprise Fund in Slovakia after retiring from banking. He is currently on the Board of OBP Surgical Inc., a medical products company and has served on a number of local and not for profit boards. In retirement he and a colleague set up a macroeconomics study group shortly after he moved to Florida in which he has been actively involved to the present, as part of his efforts to stay current and engaged in retirement. He enjoys swimming, Biking, golf and Tennis. He and his wife have traveled extensively in business and for pleasure.
Barb is passionate about mental health awareness, education, and advocacy, especially after the loss of a friend to suicide. Barb’s lived experience developing a mental health condition as a young person also motivates her work improving outcomes for young people with mental health concerns. Barb oversees NAMI’s youth and young adult initiatives team, which develops resources for kids, teens, young adults, educators, and caregivers, as well as NAMI’s workplace mental health initiatives, including the StigmaFree Workplace initiative. Barb believes strongly that not only is creating a mentally healthy workplace the right thing to do, it’s an economic imperative.
Prior to joining NAMI, Barb worked with organizations, executives, legislators, and political candidates to hone their strategic messaging. Barb served as the Communications Director and Deputy Manager on former Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak’s first-term campaign, as a strategic communications manager for Los Angeles’ winning bid for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, and as an advisor to over a dozen congressional candidates at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Meg is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Organizational Psychology Professional, and the Director of Workplace Mental Health with NAMI, specializing in burnout and relationships. She has provided education to organizations on topics such as psychological safety, DEI & mental health, burnout, and trauma in the workplace. Currently pursuing her doctorate in Human & Organizational Psychology, Meg is passionate about understanding human behavior in professional settings and working to break down the stigma around mental health. Since joining NAMI last year, her work focuses on partnering with organizations to better understand the needs of their employees, build awareness around mental health at work, help create more caring corporate cultures, and provide the resources needed to be more mentally well.
Dr. Marsden McGuire currently serves as Director, Continuum of Care and General Mental Health in the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) in Washington, DC. His portfolio includes oversight of the continuum of mental health care, including inpatient, residential, specialty and general outpatient services as well as cross- cutting services including evidence-based psychotherapies, substance use disorders, geriatric mental health, psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery services, women’s mental health, family services and military sexual trauma. During his 10 years at VACO, Dr. McGuire has led numerous interprofessional and collaborative initiatives within VA, with other federal agencies, and with private sector stakeholders aimed at promoting Veteran-centered care that is effective, safe, and measurable. Previously, Dr. McGuire held leadership positions in psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Sheppard Pratt Health System, and the VA Maryland Health Care System.
Dr. McGuire received a BA (History, the Arts and Letters) from Yale University, an MD from the University of North Carolina, and completed his internship, psychiatry residency and a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Johns Hopkins (where he later completed an MBA in medical services management and remains on faculty). He is board certified in General and Geriatric Psychiatry, a recent President of the Maryland Psychiatric Society, a Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a 2018 recipient of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Exemplary Psychiatrist Award.
Dr. Theresa Schmitz currently serves as National Director of Family Services in the Office of Mental Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) in Washington, DC. In this role, Dr. Schmitz promotes strategic growth of Family Services in couple and family clinical service delivery, training/education, partnerships, and program development. Dr. Schmitz has over a decade of leadership in mental health, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, key program offices, other federal agencies, and staff at all organizational levels to support innovation and policy implementation. Dr. Schmitz partners with leaders to assure access to the highest quality Family Services across the mental health continuum and promotes the application of measurement driven process improvement and service delivery.
Dr. Schmitz is a licensed clinical psychologist with a career focus on evidenced-based interventions and program development in the areas of family interventions, trauma, intimate partner violence, and resilience. She received a BS (Psychology) from Pennsylvania State University, and a MA and PhD from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, completed her internship at the San Diego VA Medical Center and her fellowship at the Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. She joined the VA as a trainee and has held a variety of clinical and administrative roles across her career. She dedicates time to numerous professional service activities aligned with her professional passions, including a recent appointment to co-chair APA’s Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, serving as past co-lead of the Association of VA Psychologist Leaders mentorship workgroup, active involvement in numerous working groups and task forces, and mentoring leaders inside and outside of VA.
Michael is a compassionate leader with lived experience who has advocated for youth for nearly 10 years. He is from the Southside of Columbus, OH where he was reared by his father Michael, Sr. He is a regional leader for Youth MOVE Ohio. As a teen Michael worked with multiple youth advocacy and social justice groups as a grassroots advocate and as a counselor and teacher’s assistant for younger children. He has experience in Peer Support, prevention, and culturally based mental health advocacy. He works with his local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) where he enjoys giving Ending the Silence (ETS) presentations, promoting mental health awareness, at local high schools. He teaches chess with the Royal Oak Initiative where they promote leadership, critical thinking, and cultural competency through chess instruction and gameplay. He is also a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the State of Ohio.
Assistant Chief Deputy Manuel F. Zamora manages the Administration Bureau for the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and leads the regional police academy, communications center, regulatory affairs, grants section, public information office, special crimes task forces, and criminal investigations. He began his career with the Houston Police Department and served 30 years, honorably retiring in 2012. He accepted a position as Assistant Professor at the Angelo State University Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Security Studies. There, he and colleagues designed undergraduate and graduate curriculum in border security, anti-terrorism, and intelligence. His education includes undergraduate and graduate degrees in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Social Work. His doctorate degree from the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work, focused on mental health. His dissertation, The Effect of Crisis Intervention Team Training on Attitudes of Houston Police Officers, guided the Houston Police CIT program. Throughout his career, Dr. Zamora developed subject matter expertise on police policy and procedures and violent crime. He manages a recent COPS Office grant award on Crisis Call Diversion, where consumers in crisis receive immediate assistance, referral, and service. His research interest includes provision of quality services to persons in need, particularly those in the criminal justice system.
Andrew A. Nierenberg, MD is the Director of the Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. In addition to directing the Dauten Center, Dr. Nierenberg is the co-director of Mass General’s Center for Clinical Research Education and associate director of the Depression Clinical and Research Program. He also holds the Thomas P. Hackett, MD, Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at Mass General.
Dr. Nierenberg graduated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY. After completing his residency in psychiatry at New York University/Bellevue Hospital, he studied clinical epidemiology at Yale University as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. Dr. Nierenberg then joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School, first at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA and then at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also an Honorary Professor in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health at Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, and an Honorary Skou Professor at Aarhus University in Denmark.
Dr. Nierenberg focuses on clinical trials for bipolar disorder and depression with over 595 published papers and a Google scholar h-index of 126. He has been listed among The Best Doctors or Top Doctors in America for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders yearly since 1994. He has been honored with the ISBD Mogens Schou Award for Research and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation’s Colvin Prize. Current projects include organizing a Bipolar Disorder Learning Health Network and leading the SMART-BD study (Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Treatment for Bipolar Depression).
Lindsay England is the Vice President, Office of Transformation at Ultimate Medical Academy with responsibility over the Curriculum function, Enterprise Project Management Office, and Program Implementation team. In her role, Lindsay works cross-functionally to support strategic initiatives and organizational growth, and to ensure successful outcomes for those that UMA serves.Lindsay has been with UMA since 2012 and has operated in numerous roles within the organization throughout her tenure. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science in Applied Organizational Psychology from the University of Southern California.
Susan Stearns is Executive Director of NAMI New Hampshire. Prior to becoming Executive Director in January 2022, she served as the agency’s Deputy Director and has been employed by NAMI New Hampshire for more than a decade. Susan has worked in the non-profit sector in New Hampshire for over 30 years, advocating for families, children, and individuals with disabilities. Throughout her career, Susan has been first and foremost an advocate, often testifying at New Hampshire Legislative hearings and interfacing with policymakers. As Executive Director, she leads NAMI New Hampshire’s policy work, as well as representing the organization on a number of boards, committees, and commissions. Her personal experience advocating for loved ones in both the child and adult mental health systems drives her passion for transforming New Hampshire’s system of care in order to improve the lives of all Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide. Susan does this work because no mother’s child should have to fear seeking help for a medical condition because of stigma and discrimination.
Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. He oversees an extensive research portfolio of basic and clinical research that seeks to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.Dr. Gordon pursued a combined M.D.-Ph.D. degree at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Medical school coursework in psychiatry and neuroscience convinced him that the greatest need, and greatest promise, for biomedical science was in these areas.During his Ph.D. thesis with Dr. Michael Stryker, Dr. Gordon pioneered the methods necessary to study brain plasticity in the mouse visual system. Upon completion of the dual degree program at UCSF, Dr. Gordon went to Columbia University for his psychiatry residency and research fellowship because of the breadth and depth of the research opportunities there. Working with Dr. Rene Hen, Dr. Gordon and colleagues studied the role of the hippocampus, a brain structure known to be important for memory and emotional processes associated with anxiety and depression. He joined the Columbia faculty in 2004 as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry.Dr. Gordon’s research focuses on the analysis of neural activity in mice carrying mutations of relevance to psychiatric disease. His lab studied genetic models of these diseases from an integrative neuroscience perspective, focused on understanding how a given disease mutation leads to a behavioral phenotype across multiple levels of analysis. To this end, he employs a range of systems neuroscience techniques, including in vivo imaging, anesthetized and awake behavioral recordings, and optogenetics, which is the use of light to control neural activity. His research has direct relevance to schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and depression.In addition to his research, Dr. Gordon was an associate director of the Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute Adult Psychiatry Residency Program, where he directed the neuroscience curriculum and administered research training programs for residents. Dr. Gordon also maintained a general psychiatric practice, caring for patients who suffer from the illnesses he studied in his lab at Columbia.Dr. Gordon’s work has been recognized by several prestigious awards, including the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation – NARSAD Young Investigator Award, the Rising Star Award from the International Mental Health Research Organization, the A.E. Bennett Research Award from the Society of Biological Psychiatry, and the Daniel H. Efron Research Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.
Doug Beach is the Executive Director of NAMI Greater San Antonio, a NAMI Family to Family Instructor and leads a Family Support Group for families impacted by a mental illness. In 2016 Doug helped launch PATHWAYS TO HOPE, a conference for mental health professionals, clergy, lay leaders, social workers, educators, law enforcement, family members and people living with a mental health diagnosis. After the 2020 Pathways to Hope Conference, Doug led the formation of the Bridges to Care San Antonio initiative in conjunction with the COSA Dept. of Human Services.
Doug is the past Chairperson and current Member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (BHAC) of the Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services and is the Chair of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Local Mental Health Authority, the Center for Health Care Services. He is also the Co-Chair of the Bexar County Task Force on Mental Health and Criminal Justice.
As a Senior Program Manager, Guy Farina delivers consulting, and training and technical assistance (TTA) as part of the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) National Deflection TA Center. Guy also supports and supervises Program Managers in assisting public safety and public health agencies, with a primary focus on deflection and diversion.Throughout his 20-year career, he has excelled at traditional and non-traditional policing strategies, advocating for those living with substance use disorders, adverse childhood experiences, special victim crimes, and their intersections. Guy is a former School Resource Officer, Drug Recognition Expert Instructor, and Detective Supervisor. He served as the Hudson Valley Regional director for the New York Gang Investigators Association (NYGIA) and the Regional Coordinator for the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee's Drug Recognition Expert Program. Additionally, Guy oversaw the first Diversion/Deflection Program in New York and became the first-ever Law Enforcement Liaison for "Hope Not Handcuffs" in the Hudson Valley. Guy has become certified as a Victim's Advocate, Domestic Violence Advocate, Sexual Assault Advocate, Victim Impact Specialist, and Certified Forensic Interviewer of Child Sexual Assault Victims. He is certified in victim's assistance, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and a victim's impact to sexual assault and was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician for 18 years. He earned his BA in history and education from Concordia College.Passionate about making a difference in people's lives, Guy is dedicated to enhancing collaboration between the police and the community.
Nicole Vera, a respected Deputy Director at NAMI Maine, boasts over five years of leadership, driving the organization's success with dedication. Known for her skills and commitment to excellence, Nicole ensures NAMI Maine's smooth operation, pioneering initiatives to support the community.
Before NAMI Maine, Nicole thrived in the start-up realm, aiding small businesses through grant-funded R&D, product commercialization, and business strategy development, including investor pitches.
Nicole holds an MBA from Southern NH University and previously owned New To You Recycled Fashion, earning accolades such as the NH Business Excellence Award. She also serves as Treasurer for Smithfield Volunteer Fire & Rescue and coordinates the Smithfield Food Pantry, showcasing her dedication to community service.
Driven by her passion and talents, Nicole remains committed to meaningful contributions to the non-profit sector and the broader community.
Aleta Barnett, BA, graduated from Edinboro University with a Bachelor in Sociology. Aleta has a long history in social services, working with people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges.
In 2019 Aleta started at NAMI Keystone as the Mental Health advocate and was able to assist many families and individuals with information around mental health and provide resources. In 2021, Aleta was promoted to Director of Education and Support and worked to provide NAMI signature classes and trainings across the state.
September, 2023, Aleta became the Director of Mental Health Equity and Community Engagement. Aleta is passionate about educating minority communities with information and resources about mental health. With the new position it will allow Aleta to concentrate more on bringing more educational events and resources to the communities that are underserved.
Angelina Brown Hudson, MPA is the Executive Director of NAMI Greater Houston. In this position, Hudson determines and executes strategic initiatives, collaborations, and partnerships to improve services, resources, treatment care, and recovery outcomes of people with mental illnesses in Greater Houston--an area that encompasses Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.
An organization executive leader since 2011, and a mental health advocate, spokesperson, and trainer on the local, state, and national levels for more than two decades, Hudson has targeted much of her focus on earlier identification of those facing a mental health condition; removing barriers to mental health services and supports; de-criminalizing those living with mental health conditions by encouraging appropriate treatment options; and connecting adults disabled by their mental health diagnosis to supported-employment opportunities, cross-training, and entrepreneurial development.
Dr. Jacobs earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University and his Master of Arts and Doctorate of Psychology degrees from Alliant International University. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist and he has been providing individual, couples and family therapy to individuals from various walks of life for the past 17 years. He is currently employed with the Clark County Department of Family Services where he has worked in a clinical capacity for the past seven years. He previously worked for the Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice Services for six years. He opened his own part-time private practice, Dr. Sheldon A. Jacobs Counseling Services in September 2020, where he works with youth, adults, and professional athletes. He has taught at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Phoenix-Las Vegas Campus at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Dr. Jacobs was appointed by Nevada Governor, Steve Sisolak, in July 2019 to serve on the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors. He is the President on the NAMI-Southern Nevada Board of Directors, and he was appointed to the Hope Means Nevada board in 2021, which focuses on addressing youth mental health and suicide prevention amongst teenagers across the state of Nevada. In June 2022, Dr. Jacobs was elected to the Board of Directors for NAMI National, which makes him the first Nevadan to ever serve on the national board. He was elected to the NAMI National executive committee, as secretary on June 7, 2023. Dr. Jacobs founded and chairs a coalition that is comprised of mental health professionals that addresses the shortage of minority mental health providers in Southern Nevada. In this role, Dr. Jacobs has created a pipeline for students of color to enter the field of mental health at the high school and college levels. The coalition also provides outreach efforts to underserved and underrepresented communities of color to increase awareness of mental health.
When Dr. Jacobs is not practicing, he is usually giving back to his community by offering town hall discussions centered on mental health at schools, community centers and churches. His goal is to normalize mental health so that more underrepresented communities feel comfortable accessing services. Because of his work in the community, Dr. Jacobs has received numerous local and national awards. In 2023, Dr. Jacobs was one of the only mental health professionals in the country to be given his own column in a major newspaper. His “Mental Health Matters” column is a monthly publication featured in the Las Vegas Review Journal that focuses on various topics related to mental health. Lastly, Dr. Jacobs has published several professional journal articles and he released his highly anticipated memoir in November 2020, titled “48: An Experiential Memoir on Homelessness” where he went undercover as a homeless man for 48 hours in downtown Las Vegas to raise awareness for homelessness and mental health. Half of the proceeds from his book sales have gone to various organizations in Nevada and Southern California that serve the homeless population.
Ashley Floyd is the Program Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Nevada, a grassroots mental health nonprofit that provides education, support, and advocacy at no cost for individuals impacted by mental health conditions or challenges. Ashley leads the staff who implement NAMI SNV programs, services, and opportunities that support and inspire peers and families to know they are not alone, and that recovery is possible. Ashley was drawn to the field of mental health from her own lived experience as a peer since youth and a family member of individuals who live with mental illness. For the last seven years, she has served in several volunteer roles with NAMI as a trained Peer and Family Presenter, Support Group Facilitator, Teacher, Youth Presenter, and State Trainer for four NAMI programs. She has been especially involved in outreach and partnership work with NAMI in the Black/African Ancestry community and Faith/Spiritual Communities. She served as Outreach Coordinator of Volunteers for NAMI SNV from July to September 2019, Program Coordinator from October 2019 to August 2022, and Program Director from September 2022 to present.
Before her non-profit work, Ashley worked in higher education as a Leadership Development and Special Events Coordinator at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Ashley’s education includes earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, a Master of Science in Leadership and Policy Studies, and Certificates in Organizational Leadership, Management, and Human Resources. Ashley feels blessed daily to use her lived experience, education, and skills to further NAMI’s mission and support the quality of life and mental health of the Southern Nevada community. In the community, Ashley is a member and ministry worker of New Antioch Christian Fellowship, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Las Vegas Branch 1111, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Las Vegas Alumnae Chapter, the Nevada Minority Health and Equity Coalition (NMHEC), and PACT Coalition. Ashley is also a Companionship Instructor for Pathways to Promise.
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Sita Diehl serves as Public Policy and Advocacy Director for NAMI Wisconsin (National Alliance on Mental Illness), having previously worked as Executive Director of NAMI Tennessee and Director of Policy and State Outreach for the national NAMI organization. On behalf of NAMI Wisconsin, she facilitates the Mental Health Action Partnership (MHAP) a new statewide coalition gathered to improve Wisconsin’s mental health service system. She is an advanced practice social worker focused on systems policy, design and implementation. She earned her MSSW from the University of Tennessee and Master of Arts in Community Psychology from Antioch University.
Ms. Diehl has co-authored reports on mental health caregiving, mental health parity, mental health legislation, supported employment, the state mental health budget crisis, military mental health and Medicaid expansion. She has developed mental health curricula for peers, families, providers and criminal justice personnel. Her research experience includes a two-state comparison of women and children in public managed behavioral health care, the SAMHSA multi-site study of consumer-operated services and a longitudinal study of mental health services in Tennessee county jails.
During his 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Rhode Island’s First Congressional District, Patrick J. Kennedy fought to end discrimination against those with mental illness, addiction, and other brain diseases. He is best known as the lead sponsor of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which was passed with bi-partisan support and signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 3, 2008. The Federal Parity Law provides millions of Americans, previously denied care, with access to mental health and addiction treatment by requiring insurance companies to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer.
In addition to the Federal Parity Law, Kennedy authored and co-sponsored dozens of bills during his time in Congress to increase the understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including the Positive Aging Act; Foundations for Learning Act; National Neurotechnology Initiative Act; Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act; COMBAT PTSD Act; Nurse-Family Partnership Act; Alzheimer’s Treatment and Caregiver Support Act; and Ready, Willing, and Able Act, which called on the Department of Homeland Security to deploy a civilian response system to blunt the psychological impact of terrorism. He served on various committees and subcommittees, including the House Appropriations Committee; the Subcommittee on Health, Education and Welfare; the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.
In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a non-profit organization whose mission is to lead a national dialogue on transforming mental health and addiction care delivery by uniting mental health advocates, business leaders, and government agencies around a common set of principles, including full implementation of the Federal Parity Law. The Forum aims to achieve health equity by advancing evidence-based practices, policies, political will, and programming in mental health and addiction treatment.
In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times bestseller “A Common Struggle” in which he shares both his personal narrative and his experience shepherding the Federal Parity Law. The book ends with Kennedy’s detailed roadmap to achieve health equity in the United States.
In 2023, The Kennedy Forum launched the Alignment for Progress, a movement to align leaders from across industry and across the aisle to achieve 90/90/90 by 2033: 90% of all individuals will be screened for mental health and substance use disorders; 90% of those screened will be able to receive evidence-based treatment; 90% of those receiving treatment will be able to manage their symptoms in recovery.
Kennedy’s second co-authored book “Profiles in Mental Health Courage” available April 2024 will delve into the compelling stories of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with their mental health – many of whom are sharing their stories for the first time.
Patrick J. Kennedy is also the founder of Don’t Deny Me, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-founder of Psych Hub, the most comprehensive online learning platform on mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention topics in the world; co-chair of the Action Alliance’s National Response to COVID-19, which brings together public and private sectors to lead a coordinated mental health and suicide prevention response; and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force.
Amid countless recognitions, meaningful partnerships, and political affiliations, Kennedy’s most important achievement continues to be leveraging his family legacy in the arenas of civil rights, mental health, and intellectual disabilities to advance the cause of social justice and health equity for all people. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Amy, and their children.
Daniel H. Gillison Jr. provides strategic leadership to NAMI through his role as Chief Executive Officer with more than 30 years of professional experience. He also currently serves on numerous boards, including the National Institute of Health (NIH)’s Advisory Mental Health Council, the Lululemon Global Wellbeing Advisory Board, the National Health Council Board of Directors, and the Austen Riggs Center Board of Trustees.
Recognized as a Change Agent in Lifestyle magazine and a Leader in the NonProfit Times 2022 Power & Influence Top 50 List, Dan has received numerous awards for his work advancing mental health equity, including the 2022 Hope in Action Award from Hope Center Harlem, the Honor of Distinction Award from the Bowman Foundation Annual Global Impact Awards, the American Mental Health Counselors Association 2022 President’s Award, and more.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan spearheaded the creation of the CEO Alliance for Mental Health, which brings leaders across the industry together under a unified vision to meet the unique and unprecedented challenges our most vulnerable communities are facing today. He is also the host of NAMI’s inaugural podcast, Hope Starts With Us. You can follow Dan on Twitter at @DanGillison.
Dr. Perivoliotis has been involved in mental health treatment and research for over 20 years, with a focus on developing innovative applications of evidence-based psychotherapy for improving functioning and quality of life in people with serious mental illness (SMI). He currently is a staff psychologist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCSD School of Medicine. His primary research and clinical interest is psychedelic-assisted therapy. He oversees the design and implementation of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and other psychotherapeutic services at the VA San Diego Neuromodulation Program, a recovery-oriented clinic for Veterans with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Dr. Perivoliotis is a co-investigator and study therapist on a pilot study of MDMA-assisted brief cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy for Veterans with PTSD and their partners, the first of its kind at the VA San Diego (principal investigator: Dr. Leslie Morland). Previously, he served as Lead US Adherence Rater for the Lykos Therapeutics (formerly Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Public Benefit Corporation) Phase III clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. He also managed an award-winning psychosis clinic and psychosis training program at the VA San Diego. Along with Dr. Aaron T. Beck and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, he co-developed a promising new approach to cognitive therapy for promoting recovery in people with SMI and co-authored the book, Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy for Serious Mental Health Conditions.
Amy Durham is celebrating her 10th year with NAMI Orange County. As the CEO, she has successfully funded seventeen innovative programs for her affiliate. She currently serves on the CIT Board of Directors and is also a CIT Trainer and a trained CIT Coordinator. At NAMICon 2023, Amy and her Signature Programs managers presented on their innovative program C.A.R.E. Together. Amy's career has focused on non-profit development. As a family member she is passionate about providing programs that promote understanding, stigma-reduction and empathy
Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon is currently Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). She previously served as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and served in this role for six years. Prior positions held at DMHAS include Deputy Commissioner, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of the department’s Office of Multicultural Healthcare Equity. In her role as Commissioner, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon was committed to promoting recovery oriented, integrated, and culturally responsive services and systems that foster dignity, respect, and meaningful community inclusion. In addition, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon served on faculty in Yale Department of Psychiatry for 20 years, most recently as Adjunct Associate Professor and previously as Assistant Professor, Assistant Clinical Professor, and Instructor. While at Yale Dr. Delphin-Rittmon also served as the Director of Cultural Competence and Health Disparities Research and Consultation with the Yale University Program for Recovery and Community Health. In May 2014, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon completed a two-year White House appointment working as a Senior Advisor to the Administrator of SAMHSA with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While at SAMHSA, she worked on a range of policy initiatives addressing behavioral health equity, workforce development, and healthcare reform. Through her 23-year career in the behavioral health field, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon has extensive experience in the design, evaluation, and administration of mental health, substance use, and prevention services and systems and has received several awards for advancing policy in these areas. Most recently, she received the 2023 Human Values Award from the Art of Living Foundation, the 2023 American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Children’s Mental Health Champion Award, the 2022 Distinguished Public Service in Psychology Award, from the National Register of Health Service Psychology and The Trust, Washington, DC, and the 2019 State Service Award from the National Association of State Drug and Alcohol Directors. Dr. Delphin-Rittmon received her B.A. in Social Science from Hofstra University in 1989, her M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University 1992 and 2001, respectively, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical community psychology at Yale University in 2002.
Anita Herron serves as the Senior Manager of Family Education Programs for NAMI. Prior to joining the NAMI National team in 2017, Anita worked for seven years at NAMI North Carolina as Young Families Program Advocate. However, before becoming an employee of NAMI, Anita's first introduction to NAMI was as a parent attending the 2008 pilot for NAMI Basic in 2008. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Troy University.
Ayelet Talmi, PhD is a Professor and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Talmi is the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health, Director of the Harris Program in Early Childhood Mental Health, and the Director of Project CLIMB, an integrated behavioral health services initiative in pediatric primary care settings. Dr. Talmi engages in early childhood and integrated behavioral health systems and workforce capacity building and implementation, direct service, advocacy, and policy in Colorado and nationally. Her primary clinical and research interests focus on integrating behavioral health into primary care settings, early childhood mental health, workforce capacity building for health professionals, and service delivery systems for children and families. Dr. Talmi is a Past President of the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health, a Graduate Fellow of Zero To Three’s Leader’s for the 21st Century Fellowship, and currently serves on several committees related to her areas of expertise at the national level.
Sofia Amezcua serves as NAMI National’s Manager of Youth and Young Adult Initiatives, where she oversees the NAMI on Campus initiative. Prior to joining National, Sofia both interned and worked at NAMI California where she focused on the NAMI On Campus High School program. In those roles, she supported the development of new curriculum and materials, and worked to make an on-campus club model accessible for both in-person and virtual students to meet the evolving safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sofia is motivated by her experience supporting friends and loved ones experiencing mental health challenges in college, and her mission is to ensure that youth and young adults receive early education to learn how to support themselves and their loved ones and live fulfilling lives. Sofia holds a BS in Business Administration from Sonoma State University.
Marielle Luhdorff is the youth programs coordinator at NAMI California. She supports and provides oversight to youth programs including the NAMI On Campus High School (NCHS) program, which empowers high school students with the tools and resources they need to raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma on their campuses. Marielle previously worked with organizations such as Active Minds and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to engage her peers in mental health awareness and education at Sacramento State University. Drawing on this experience with peer health education and peer support organizations, Marielle advances NAMI's mission to combat stigma and improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
Dr. Christine M. Crawford is the associate medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She is an adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist who sees patients in the Boston Medical Center Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis (WRAP) program where she provides psychiatric care for young people experiencing symptoms of psychosis. Dr. Crawford is an Assistant Professor and Vice Chair of Education at Boston University School of Medicine within the Department of Psychiatry. She completed her adult psychiatry residency as well as child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital. She received her MD from University of Connecticut and her Masters in Public Health at BU School of Public Health where she concentrated in Social and Behavioral Sciences. She has made appearances on numerous media outlets including the New York Times, Boston Globe, The New Yorker, NBC, CBS News, The Today Show, WGBH, among many others. She is also the author of the forthcoming book titled “You are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health”
April Simpkins is an Ambassador for the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). She is also a board member for NAMI Piedmont Tri-County where she serves her local community. April has received her Mental Health First Aid and QPR-Training Certifications. She is also trained in Emotional-CPR. April is a c-suite executive and a certified diversity professional with more than 30-years’ experience in developing people strategies for small to mid-sized businesses. She has also received numerous awards for her business acumen and community service.
Rick Kellar is the President and CEO of Peg’s Foundation, a position he has held since 2005. Born out of personal experience, Rick challenges the status quo to advance access to behavioral health care, student achievement, and appreciation for the creative arts. He believes Ohio can serve as a template for the nation, inspiring others to “Think Bigger!”Prior to the foundation, he spent 28 years in the U.S. Army including service in the Infantry and Special Forces (Green Beret). His work included a variety of leadership positions at the Joint Special Operations Command and at the Pentagon as the Director of Resourcing for the United States Army Operations and Readiness Initiative, supervising an $8.6-billion annual program.Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point and a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University Summa Cum Laude.Rick previously served 17 years as a member and president of the Tallmadge School Board. He currently serves on the LeBron James Family Foundation Community Advisory Board, is a member of the CEO Alliance for Mental Health, and is a founding board member of Mindful Philanthropy. Rick was awarded a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, from Northeast Ohio Medical University.
Gregg F. Martin, PhD, Major General, US Army (Retired), served on active duty for 36 years, until May 2015. He is a combat veteran, Bipolar Survivor, Airborne-Ranger-Engineer qualified soldier, and Army Strategist. He holds a Ph.D. and two masters degrees from MIT, masters degrees in national security strategy from both the Army and Naval war colleges, and a bachelors degree from West Point. He commanded an engineer company, battalion, the 130th Engineer Brigade in combat during the first year of the Iraq War in 2003-04, including the attack from Kuwait, up the Euphrates River Valley, to Baghdad and beyond. He served multiple overseas tours, and, as a general officer, commanded the Corps of Engineers Northwest Division, was Commandant of the Army Engineer School, commanded Fort Leonard Wood, was Deputy Commanding General of Third Army/US Army Central, Commandant of the Army War College, President of National Defense University, and Special Assistant to the Chief of Engineers. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (twice), the Bronze Star Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.He is married with three sons, two of whom are Army combat veterans, and one an artist. His wife is an “Army brat” and heroine for persevering though their Army career and surviving and overcoming their bipolar ordeal, which has been the toughest fight of their lives. They live in Cocoa Beach, FL, where he is writing, speaking, and sharing his story of “battling bipolar disorder” to help save lives and stop the stigma.
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