Advocacy Beyond Graduation: Introducing the 2026 Alumni Board

Stephanie graduated with a B.A in Economics from the University of California, Riverside. Stephanie started her journey with Active Minds by joining her local chapter and after graduation she joined the Send Silence Packing Team for the fall 2021 tour. Stephanie is currently a Program Coordinator where she educates different communities in California about mental health and suicide prevention. Stephanie is deeply passionate about mental health advocacy and she will be pursuing her Masters in Public Policy this fall.

Julie Coker is a licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey working with HIV patients in an outpatient. Julie has a history of working in inpatient psychiatry. Julie earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Stockton University, where she was president and co-president of the Active Minds chapter from 2017-2020. Julie earned her master’s degree in social work from Monmouth University, where she was president of the Active Minds chapter from 2020-2021. During her time as president at Stockton University, Julie helped to lead, create, organize, fundraise, produce, and evaluate 50+ student events per year that were developed by the students, staff, and faculty who participated in the campus mental health education programming. Between the fall 2017 and the spring 2019, she helped screen approximately 3,700 people for suicide, depression, and disordered eating behaviors. In spring 2019, she won the Stockton University Student Development Community Service Award for her work with Active Minds. In February 2020, Julie was nationally honored by Active Minds and Justin Bieber on MTV for her efforts in engaging students in mental health education. In May 2020, Stockton University honored Julie with the LEAD award (Leadership Education Awareness Development), which is given to a select group of graduating seniors. Julie is honored to be an inaugural member of the Active Minds Alumni Board.

I am a registered nurse working in aesthetic dermatology and currently pursuing a Master’s in Case Management while completing her internship at Kaiser Permanente. Deeply influenced by my family and dedicated to cultural health practices, I am passionate about integrating wellbeing and tradition into patient-centered care. I am fortunate to have presented my fellowship work with Active Minds at my university’s Spring Symposium and the DNPs of Color Conference in Philadelphia, focusing on BIPOC healthcare student mental health and culturally informed wellness practices in university settings. My project ultimately evolved into a year-long university program supporting student wellbeing. Committed to advancing equity and leadership in nursing, I am also proud to serve as one of only 15 American Nurses Association NextGen Ambassadors, where I advocate for inclusive, culturally responsive care and the growth of future nurse leaders.

Natalie earned her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) degree in June 2025 from Drexel University after completing a Bachelor’s in Public Health program in June 2024 from Drexel University. Natalie started her Active Minds journey in 2020 and has been engaged in Mental Health and Wellness advocacy ever since. Through her university’s chapter, she has implemented fun events, collaborated with university leadership to enhance school-wide wellness, and provided supportive peer counseling through her school’s peer counseling program. Natalie has experience at both the local and state levels advocating with government leaders to progress mental health policy. She is currently a Family Engagement Specialist, supporting low-income families on their journey to access quality childcare. In her free time, she enjoys playing cozy games and playing with her cat, Muffin.

Emily is an Associate at Avion Consulting Group, a financial consulting firm that serves clients across the globe. She has been involved with Active Minds since 2019 when she started Baldwin Wallace University’s chapter in her first semester. Her senior year, the chapter won Student Organization of the Year at Baldwin Wallace. During her MBA program at the same university, she acted as co-advisor for the Active Minds chapter.

She also served on the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee for two years, where she gained an even deeper respect for the organization and developed lifelong friendships. Emily is thrilled to be involved with Active Minds once again as it holds a very special place in her life.

Sadie graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and Communication and served as president of the Active Minds chapter at the University of Arizona. She is excited to give back to this community as a member of the Alumni Board.

Sadie recently moved from her home in sunny Arizona to snowy Minnesota. She works in Human Resources, which combines her passion for supporting people and advocating for mental health. She is involved with the local AFSP and NAMI chapters and is currently training to become a presentation facilitator for NAMI MN. In her free time, she enjoys mountain biking, reading, playing piano, volunteering with animals, and shopping at Trader Joe’s

Caroline graduated from Georgetown University in 2025 with honors in psychology and English. Throughout her time there, she was involved in volunteer programs, Active Minds, and Hoyas Connected, where she led 22 underclassmen in a course that aimed to increase belonging on campus. At Georgetown, she engaged in research as a member of the Lab on Social and Affective Neuroscience, and continues to pursue this interest of hers as a Research Coordinator at the Psychiatric NeuroCognition Lab at NYU and the Nathan Kline Institute. There, she investigates the neural and behavioral markers of cognitive functioning in psychiatric disorders. Caroline is passionate about making research and mental health care accessible, as she plans to attend graduate school to receive a PhD in Clinical Psychology. She is excited about joining the alumni

Nicole Russell is a mental health advocate, emerging social worker, and graduate student in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at CUNY York College. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and currently serves as a sub paraprofessional in New York City public schools, supporting students across Pre-K through high school.
Nicole is deeply involved in campus and community-based mental health advocacy. She is a leader with Active Minds and the host of Active Minds: Breaking Barriers, a podcast centered on first-generation, immigrant, and underrepresented students navigating higher education and mental wellness. Through her work, she uplifts student voices, reduces stigma, and promotes culturally responsive mental health conversations.

In addition to her advocacy work, Nicole has experience in healthcare and educational settings, including serving as a medical assistant and working with college counseling services. Her professional interests include school social work, youth mental health, and expanding access to equitable, culturally affirming mental health resources.
Outside of her professional work, Nicole enjoys practicing yoga, journaling, creative content creation, and exploring wellness practices that support mental and emotional well-being.

Sophia is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She holds a BA in Applied Psychology and Human Development from Boston College and a Master’s in Education and Developmental Psychology from the University of OxfordHer mission is to promote trauma-informed policies and practices across juvenile justice, child welfare, education, and behavioral health systems. Additionally, she is a research member at the Boston College Center for Psychological Humanities and Ethics, which actively encourages diverse methodologies and interdisciplinary dialogues between psychological science and the humanities.

During her time with Active Minds, she had the privilege to serve as the President of both the Boston College chapter and the National Student Advisory Committee, where she gained valuable insights from fellow students and worked alongside the Board of Directors. Sophia is eager to continue her work with Active Minds by serving on the Alumni Board.

Nycole Waller has been a part of the Active Mind community for going on eight years. Her life was changed when she went to her first Active Minds meeting at Marquette University. She then went on to serve on the executive board of her campus chapter and then become involved nationally as a member of the National Student Advisory Committee.

The Active Minds community was pivotal in her healing when she lost her younger brother, Kodye, in 2017, to mental health. She continues to be an advocate for mental health in her everyday work in the legal world. She currently lives in Wisconsin. In her free time she loves reading books, enjoying a good cup of coffee, and walking her dog Minnie.