2023 Active Minds Mental Health Conference Speakers

Dayna Altman

Speaker and Entrepreneur, Bake it Till You Make it

Dayna Altman (she/her) is an energetic and dynamic speaker, entrepreneur, author, and creator. The full force and sole operator of Bake it Till You Make it LLC, Dayna harvests her passion for mental health advocacy by using food and baking to create an authentic recipe for vulnerable storytelling.

Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Website

Dr. Maico B. Aperocho

Emerging Scholar, Active Minds

Dr. Maico Demi Aperocho is presently the Fullbright FLTA Visiting Scholar/Faculty at the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, USA. He studies courses related to Communication and Education Politics. He holds a PH.D degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Mindanao, Philippines. His project will be an applied linguistic study on the role of communication and language in Asians’ fight against discrimination and mental health stigmatization.

Brianna A. Baker

Emerging Scholar, Active Minds

Brianna A. Baker is a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her interest broadly includes facilitating authenticity, freedom, and emotional expression through innovation and creation pertaining to diverse Black psychological experiences. Her project, “Liberated Legacies” will explore transgenerational hope and healing between mothers and daughters within the Black family unit through a creative video campaign.

Victor Bartley

Host, Burnout and Beyond Podcast

Victor Bartley (he/him/his) equips leaders to recover from burnout by reframing it for wellbeing. As a resilience coach and international speaker, a frequent response to his presentation is, “This was life-changing!”. From his own experience with burnout, Victor has learned and teaches that burnout is also an invitation to begin living well again. He is a co-author of book #MinistryThatImpacts, and the host of podcast, “Burnout and Beyond”. Victor is a certified mental health coach, holds a masters certificate in organizational psychology and a degree in civil engineering.

Instagram

Brandon Bond

Mental Health & Well-Being Student Advocate Consultant, University of Michigan

Brandon Bond (he/him) is responsible for assessing the needs of students, advocating for systemic-level changes, and implementing solutions that produce health-promoting environments in his role as a Mental Health & Well-Being Student Advocate Consultant at the University of Michigan (U-M). He received a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior & Health Education with an Injury Science focus and had a double concentration in Global Social Work Practice and Management & Leadership with a Trauma-Informed Practice focus for his Master of Social Work. He also did his undergraduate degree at U-M, where he double majored in Biopsychology, Cognition, Neuroscience and International Studies: Global Environment and Health with a Community Action Social Change minor. His research/professional foci include the impact that cultural conceptions of mental health have on one’s health-seeking behavior; DEI/culturally tailored integrative health interventions, 2SQTPOC+ mental health. + community, public safety reform, capacity development, and advancing human rights. Outside of the university setting, Brandon is a Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Ann Arbor and serves on the Board of Directors for Garrett’s Space, a suicide prevention non-profit. He was a 2022 Active Minds Emerging Scholars Fellow and currently serves on the Youth Advisory Council for a campaign between MTV Entertainment/Active Minds. For his own wellness, Brandon enjoys taking cooking classes, swimming, playing tennis, learning languages, and traveling to new places.

Errika Brooks

Manager, Active Minds Chapter Partnerships

Errika, a New York native, comes to Active Minds with over 5 years of higher education experience. The Buffalo State College alum earned a B.S. in Communications/Public Relations in 2016 and completed a Master’s in 2019 at Nazareth College of Rochester in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration. Prior to her work in higher education, Errika worked in the nonprofit world managing a college experience program for students with intellectual disabilities where she co-established the program’s accreditation.

Upon graduating from her graduate program, Errika landed roles in many functional areas of higher education such as Admissions, Student Leadership, Academic Advising, Campus Life/Orientation and Marketing. Errika began her career in Higher Education at Monroe Community College where she led a Success Scholar program assisting students with food and housing insecurities. In this role, Errika was proud to write and receive a grant on behalf of the college from State University of New York (SUNY) to expand the food pantry initiatives across campuses.

Errika has worked with both public and private/small and large institutions throughout her career. She brings valuable expertise in supporting the whole student. Her work leading student clubs and organizations, advising students academically in STEM fields, supporting student needs, large scale event planning and developing college-wide marketing/communications has led her to where she is today. In her spare time, Errika enjoys attending restaurants/coffee shops, traveling, meeting new people and spending time with family.

Howard Cooke

President, The Scooty Fund

Howard Cooke is the current President of The Scooty Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on young adult mental health and wellness, and Project Manager for Gardner Group, a real estate development firm in Salt Lake City, Utah. Howard is committed to improving communities through responsible real estate development and through his leadership of the Scooty Fund. He is especially passionate about advancing and normalizing mental health conversations among those who identify as men.

Brianna Cayo Cotter

Senior V.P. of Social Impact, MTV Entertainment Studios

Brianna Cayo Cotter (she/her) is the SVP of Social Impact for MTV Entertainment Studios where she leverages content and campaigns to create breakthrough moments on social issues and catalyze lasting social impact with a focus on mental health and civic engagement.

Ericka Dawson

Sr. Director of Community Engagement, Peer Health Exchange

Ericka Dawson joined the Peer Health Exchange (PHE) in July of 2018. During her time at PHE she has served as Director of Programs, Director of Strategic Growth, and currently serves as Sr. Director, Community Engagement. This role is responsible for supporting Peer Health Exchange in scoping and directing national partnerships work, most significantly centering the voices, needs and wants of young people.

Jadon A. Demeritte

Emerging Scholar, Active Minds

Jadon A. Demeritte is a second-year undergraduate student at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York pursuing a degree in Medical Technology and Public Health. Jadon’s passions include holistic wellness and “bridging the gap” between different marginalized identities and mental health. Jadon’s project will explore the mental health of BIPOC individuals who are first-generation college students. Jadon strives to break the stigma around recognizing and seeking help for one’s mental health by examining repetitive disparities amongst her research.

Alicia Diaz

Co-Founder, Inseparable

Alicia (she/her) is a co-founder of Inseparable. In her role, Alicia supports Inseparable’s digital communication program, strategy development, fundraising, and organizational administration. Alicia has managed the successful launch of both Inseparable’s Hopeful Futures Campaign and A Better Response.

In addition to her work at Inseparable, Alicia works to make it easier for candidates to run for office. Prior to her work as a consultant, Alicia served as a staff assistant for the Presidential Personnel Office at the White House under the Obama Administration.

Janie Egan

Manager of Chapter Membership, Active Minds

Janie Egan (she/her) uses a public health approach to promote mental health and well-being. Janie is a first generation college graduate, earning her bachelor’s and masters’ degrees in public health from Temple University (2015 and 2017, respectively). She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and led mental health promotion strategy at Temple University for 5 years. During that time, Janie advised the university’s chapter of Active Minds and, in 2022, was honored to receive Active Minds’ Chapter Advisor of the Year Award. She is dedicated to supporting young people as they create positive change, bringing a human-centered approach and love of learning to the work. Janie enjoys knitting and crocheting, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her dog, Benji.

Alicia Elms

Manager of NextGen Initiatives, Active Minds

Alicia Elms (she/her) is a native of Chicago. She comes to Active Minds with eight years of experience in Student Affairs and Higher Education. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a Master’s degree in Student Affairs & Higher Education from Indiana State University. Currently, Alicia will serve as the Manager of NextGen Initiatives for Active Minds where she will provide oversight to the Emerging Scholars Fellowship, Nash Family Scholarship, and workforce development. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, enjoying nature’s beauty, or trying out a new recipe.

Shaymaa Ennajhi

Communications & Content Associate, Inseparable

Shaymaa is a passionate storyteller and lifelong advocate for social justice and policy issues. In her role as Communications and Content Associate at Inseparable, Shaymaa is responsible for supporting Inseparable’s digital communication program, social media campaigns, organizational storytelling, and content creation efforts. Shaymaa brings several years experience in the digital communications world to the mental health advocacy space and hopes to share how people and groups can amplify their voices online.

Dr. Juan-Diego Estrada

Director of Wellness, The John Cooper School

Diego Estrada was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. He holds a PhD in Psychology and a Master’s degree in journalism. He is the Director of Wellness and Upper School Counselor at The John Cooper School in The Woodlands, TX.

Instagram, Twitter

Maddie Freeman

Founder, NoSo November

Madeline Freeman is from Littleton, Colorado. She is a Business Management major with a focus on entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado – Boulder. Maddie is the founder of her nonprofit organization, NoSo November. She is a changemaker in the digital space, spreading awareness surrounding social media’s design techniques and how this business model negatively impacts mental health. She is an advocate for suicide awareness and values leadership, digital wellbeing, and social change.

Instagram

Lucas Frome

Student, The John Cooper School

Lucas Frome is a freshman at the John Cooper School in The Woodlands, TX. He has been learning about mental health his whole life as he has learned how to regulate his emotions with ADHD and anxiety. When he started high school, this interest was further expanded on by the openness of the Active Minds community. He hopes that by being a part of Active Minds that he can help remove the stigma around mental health by being the change he wishes to see in his community.

Emma-Lee Furrowh

Student, Hampton University

Emma-Lee Furrowh (she/her/hers) is from Wilmington, Delaware. She recently graduated from Hampton University in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Emma-Lee works with children at the Western Family YMCA Of Delaware where she instructs lessons that incorporate mindfulness practice and discussions regarding mental health care. She hopes to make substantial contributions that will impact and better the mental health of children, specifically within communities of color.

Jason Garcia

Director of Workforce Development, Project Return Peer Support Network

Jason Garcia (he/him/his) obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from San Jose State University and his Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist Certificate through the Jump Start Fellowship, a program of Mental Health America of Los Angeles. Jason found a home with Project Return Peer Support Network in 2015, where his lived experience was valued rather than something to be hidden and/or not mentioned. He spent seven years working on PRPSN’s Peer Training before moving to his Director position. Jason also spent six years as a Peer Mentor for an in-custody Teaching and Therapeutic Community with the Amity Foundation. Jason approaches life, service provision, and all else from a peer perspective and holds a deep belief that if we all knew each other there would be no stigma, thus; no discrimination.

Facebook, LinkedIn

Chloe Gayer

Student Survivor Fellow, Students Demand Action

Chloe Gayer (she/her/hers) is a sophomore at Drake University studying Political Communication and American Politics. When not in class, she spends her time advocating for gun violence prevention in her home state of Iowa with Students Demand Action. She is a survivor of gun violence and domestic violence and hopes to use her story to impact change in her community.

Instagram, TikTok, Twitter

Sandra Gomez

Emerging Scholar, Active Minds

Sandra Gomez (she/her/ella) is a proud Chicana first generation student from Illinois and Durango, Mexico. She is a third-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Cornell College and her M.Ed in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She currently works at NYC Health + Hospitals, Jacobi providing Spanish bilingual and bicultural mental health services to Latine individuals and their families. Rooted in social justice efforts, collective healing, and her own personal narrative, her project will investigate how culturally specific supports influence academic persistence and mental health among Latine undergraduate students. Her project hopes to re-imagine institutions’ approach to supporting Latinx students by affirming, supporting, being inclusive, and responsive to their strengths, needs, and histories.

Yoelle Gulko

Student Filmmaker, LookUp.live

Yoelle Gulch (she/her) is a rising senior at the Washington University in St. Louis and a human connection filmmaker creating a documentary publicizing the digital wellbeing activists of our generation. “Our Subscription to Addiction” is the story of Yoelle’s journey grappling with phone addiction–after deleting her social media. It illustrates her discovery of three young people who have similarly experienced the debilitating effects of social media and have now joined forces to spark a digital wellness movement.

Anushka Gupta

Student Ambassador, Active Minds

Anushka (she/her) is a student at New York University studying Psychology and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies (CAMS) on the pre-med track. As a former Active Mind’s Student Advisory Council (SAC) member and a current student ambassador, Anushka is passionate about normalizing conversations about mental health in her community through storytelling. Recently, she spoke at her campus’s TED x NYU event where she gave a talk on “Destigmatizing Mental Health and Illness” amongst college students by sharing her own mental health journey. Other than her work as a mental health advocate, she also volunteers as a research assistant for the Social Cognitive Affective Neurodevelopment (SCAN) lab at NYU Langone which aims to study the impact of the pandemic on child development. In her free time, Anushka enjoys exploring different cafes and bookstores around the city. She also loves going to dog cafes in the city with friends.

Steven Haden

CEO, Envision:You

Steven Haden (he/him) is an accomplished mental health advocate, chief executive officer, and founder of Envision:You, a groundbreaking nonprofit behavioral health initiative headquartered in Colorado. Committed to addressing the daily challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, Steven’s organization strives to alleviate the disproportionate burden, disparity in care, and poor outcomes experienced by the community.

In addition to his role at Envision:You, Steven is the visionary behind You:Flourish, an innovative wellness app specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community. Scheduled for launch in the United States in fall 2023, this pioneering app aims to provide comprehensive support and resources, marking a significant milestone in LGBTQ+ wellness.

Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Steven actively practices as a mental health clinician with Queer Asterisk. Through individual and group therapy sessions, he empowers and guides individuals towards enhancing their mental well-being and building resilience.

Donovan Taylor Hall

Youth Advocate & Educator, Donofriend LLC

Donovan Taylor Hall is a youth advocate and educator that teaches how to build positive self-identity. His work aims to help kids build self-determination, while also learning skills to take care of themselves mentally and emotionally. Although his work started with kids, he has recently shifted into helping adults take care of themselves using the same skills and inner child work. Donovan’s goal is to help kids of all ages build a positive relationship with themselves. He teaches his self skills curriculum through youth online coaching, professional speaking, video game streaming, and self-development online content. He has been featured on the Today Show, NowThis, and several podcasts to talk about the importance of positive youth development.

Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube

Krithika Harish

Co-Founder, Inseparable

Krithika Harish (she/her) is a proud co-founder and advisory board member of Inseparable. She helped launch Inseparable’s Hopeful Futures Campaign and lead their policy and partnerships work until early 2022. Krithika now serves as a Senior Program Officer at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies where she leads the Women’s Political Power and Leadership portfolio. Prior to joining Schusterman, Krithika was a Senior Associate at Civitas Public Affairs where she worked to advance a wide range of progressive policies through legislative and advocacy campaigns.

Twitter

Tracy Hill

Emerging Scholars, Active Minds

Tracy Hill is in her final year at Mount San Jacinto Community College. Her project will focus on providing people of color realistic scenarios and solutions through art and research. Tracy’s hope is showcasing solutions on the stage will stimulate conversations in the African American community.

Abigail Hurst

Director of Trauma-Informed Programs, Everytown for Gun Safety

Abigail Hurst, MSW, is the Director of Trauma-Informed Programs at Everytown for Gun Safety, the nation’s largest gun violence prevention organization. In this role, Abigail leads the organization’s trauma-informed initiatives to support people and partners in the gun violence prevention movement.

Andrea Kalfoglou

Associate Professor, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Andrea Kalfoglou (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor of public health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Much of my research and advocacy work revolves around mental health. I also self-identify as a person with mental illness, and I have raised two sons who also struggle with mental illness.

Brandon LaMotte

Mental Health Advocate

Brandon (he/him) is a recent college graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County who has helped work on public health week events with his classes at his college and to advocate for better mental health supports on campus. His main focus is on advocating for disabled and LGBTQ+ people and inclusive mental health systems. He is also helping out in his local community with local advocacy groups to help bring greater access to mental health supports.

Ivy Lee

Manager, Active Minds Chapter Mobilization

Ivy (she/her/hers), a Bostonian living in New York, comes to Active Minds with a non-profit and mental health background. As an undergraduate student, she co-founded The Every Voice Coalition, a non-profit working to reduce rates of gender-based violence on college and university campuses, and, since then, has worked in psychiatric research and as a therapist who specialized in trauma informed and intersectional therapy. Ivy fully believes in the importance of prioritizing accessible and inclusive mental health care and discussions. She is a big supporter of holistic advocacy for others, and for the self, and is looking forward to supporting student advocates. Ivy holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from Boston University. In her spare time, Ivy can typically be found cuddling on the couch with her cat.

Larissa May

CEO, #HalfTheStory

Mental health advocate and digital wellbeing pioneer, Larz (Larissa May) is a public speaker and founder of #HalfTheStory a non-profit empowering the next generation’s relationship with social media, mental health, and technology.

Instagram 1, Instagram 2, Facebook, TikTok 1, TikTok 2

Pooja Mehta

Sr. Policy Associate, Inseparable

Pooja Mehta (she/her) is an outspoken South Asian Mental Health Advocate, and has been telling her story to audiences across the United States for the last 7 years. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Pooja holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia, and currently is part of the policy team at Inseparable and serves on the board of directors for NAMI. As a professional with lived experience and a suicide loss survivor, she is eager to further the conversation around the role public health and patient perspective plays in mental health system reform and looks forward to changing the way we think and talk about mental health and suicide as a society. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her loved ones.

Ashley Miller

Program Coordinator, Shatterproof

Ashley Riley (she/her/hers) is a young person in recovery for 8 years, getting sober at age 21, as a student at the University of Connecticut. She has lived experience with trauma, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder. Ashley served as a student board member for the Association of Recovery in Higher Education and created a Collegiate Recovery Program at Colorado State University. Ashley is a huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, as a member of this community herself. She now works for Shatterproof – a non-profit organization focused on reversing the addiction crisis in America.

Instagram (Ashley’s), Instagram (Brave In Love)

Jakoby Mitchell

Survivor Advocate, Everytown for Gun Safety

Jakoby Mitchell (he/him) is a young advocate who is driven in helping others turn their pain into their purpose. The trauma that Jakoby endured during his childhood left him with pain, resentment, and anger. Jakoby knew that if these emotions remained unresolved, he would not be able to operate in his true desires in life. Therapy and his relationship with Christ allow him to embark on a healing journey. From this, he has realized that in life we will face hardships but those hardships aren’t meant to defeat us but in fact pull the very best out of us and make us stronger than ever.

Mary Mojica

Training Instructor, Project Return Peer Support Network

Mary Mojica is a Peer who works as a Training Instructor with Project Return Peer Support Network, a non-profit peer-run mental health organization that creates opportunities for connection that enrich and inspire individuals with mental illness to pursue a life without limits. She has lived experience being in recovery from PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety and overcoming the barriers of growing up low-income Latinx in East Los Angeles to go from surviving to thriving. She prepares students of the California Association of Peer Supporters Academy for CA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist state certification and to assist in transforming the traditional mental health system.

Instagram, LinkedIn

Randy Moore

Policy Manager, Active Minds

Randy is a proud macro social worker. Following his time at the University of South Carolina, he has worked as a community organizer, policy and advocacy director, researcher, event planner, and program manager. Randy comes to Active Minds from the office of US Senator Mark Warner, where he served as Outreach Representative for the Richmond Regional Office—organizing the senior Virginia senator’s regional outreach and engagements, while also standing in as a representative for the senator where needed. An active music lover, Randy spends much of his free time writing, producing, and performing music as a vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and harpist. He originally hails from rural South Carolina but maintains his identity as a son of Southwest Virginia by frequently spending time unwinding with his family there in the Cumberland Mountains. Randy brings to Active Minds a unique personal story of his own journey seeking emotional wellness which very much informs his work with the organization. In his free time, you can find him with his Springer Spaniel Boyd, who enjoys water, squirrels, and donuts.

Tre Moss

Graduate Student, St. Ambrose University

Tre (he/him) strategizes on empowering others to accomplish their goals. Through years of personal and professional experience, I have learned that helping people achieve their dreams is one of the most fulfilling things I can do. Tre has dedicated his life to therapeutic, mentoring, and inspiring individuals from all walks of life to unlock their full potential. Tre is currently a part-time student at St. Ambrose University receiving his Master’s in the School of Social Work with dreams of going into Private Practice as a Mental Health Therapist.

Instagram, Twitter

Chloe Mshana

Founder, @mentalitymasterpiece

Chloe Mshana (she/her) is the proud founder of @mentalitymasterpiece, an Instagram community of 7,000+ people passionate about mental health. She has also been a member of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education: Making Caring Common Project’s 2021-22 Youth Advisory Board. As the eldest daughter of Ugandan and Tanzanian immigrants, Chloe looks forward to further exploring the intersectionality of cultural differences and mental health advocacy.

Instagram

Keris Myrick

V.P. of Partnerships, Inseparable

Keris (she/they) is a mental health advocate using lived experience to drive mental health systems collaboration. They are also a podcast host sharing diverse lived experience stories with the public.

Patricia Noel

Director of Digital Wellbeing, Peer Health Exchange

Patricia Noel, LMSW, (she/her) serves as the Director of Digital Wellbeing for Peer Health Exchange. She graduated from Penn State University with a BA in Psychology and Public Relations and with her master’s in clinical social work from Rutgers University. Patricia’s background includes crisis intervention, LGBTQ youth mental health, Black maternal mental health, and youth suicidology. Patricia is passionate about mental health and wellness within the Black community, equity, and ensuring young people know their importance and impact in the world, despite age and other circumstances.

Lynne Nouvel

V.P. of Grassroots Engagement, Shatterproof

Lynne Nouvel is the VP, Grassroots Engagement for Shatterproof, national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis. In her role she partners with individuals and organizations that share a connection to Shatterproof’s mission.

Izzy Okojie

Student, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Izzy Okojie (she/her/hers) is a student at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, majoring in public health. She recently completed her Health Justice and Advocacy class with Professor Andrea Kalfoglou, and is looking forward to discussing her experience with others and attend the Active Minds conference where she will have the opportunity to share her insights and knowledge on mental health advocacy among college students.

Ade Osadolor

Activist, Students Demand Action

Ade (she/her) is a gun violence prevention activist and a fourth year at the University of Chicago studying Public Policy on a premed track. She got involved with Students Demand Action her sophomore year of high school because of the gun violence epidemic surrounding school shootings and now her work focuses more on city gun violence in Chicago. This summer she is leading the Summer Leadership Academy in Chicago to help high school students become community organizers.

Leeann Passaro

Chief Operating Officer, The Hidden Opponent

Leeann Passaro (she/her) is the Chief Operating Officer of The Hidden Opponent, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness for student-athlete mental health and eradicating the mental health stigma within sports culture. Leeann is also a full-time educator, teaching high school English and coaching various sports at an independent day school in Annapolis, Maryland. Leeann is a former student-athlete having graduated from Washington & Lee University in 2020, and is pursuing graduate work in Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College and Klingenstein Center. She has been featured in The New York Times and Women’s Health Magazine and loves to combine her passions for education, athletics, and helping others.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Website

Markie Pasternak

Senior Manager of Higher Education, Active Minds

Markie oversees Active Minds’ work in higher education, focusing on mental health support for college and university students, staff, and faculty. Markie is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and received her bachelor’s in psychology from Marquette University. During her time at Marquette, Markie served as the Active Minds’ chapter president and was the president of the Student Advisory Committee from 2015 to 2016. Markie received her Master’s of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University-Bloomington. Before joining the Active Minds Staff, Markie worked at Auburn University focusing on mental health programming and peer health education, and was the co-advisor for the campus’s Active Minds chapter. In her spare time, you can find Markie coaching figure skating at her local ice rink, cheering on her hometown team, the Green Bay Packers, or playing with her dog, Brooks. Markie works remotely from both Georgia and Alabama.

Sragvi Pattanaik

Student, University of Maryland

Sragvi (she/her) is a pre-med undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, double majoring in Neurobiology and Psychology. As an on-campus crisis counselor, she is passionate about improving the mental health of college students and promoting a balanced lifestyle promoting both physical and emotional wellness. She hopes to contribute to the treatment of psychiatric illnesses as a future doctor.

Instagram

Sam Piraneo

Sr. Development Associate of Community Fundraising, Active Minds

Originally from New Jersey, Sam studied psychology at Ithaca College and was involved in IC’s Active Minds chapter. During his time at IC, Sam interned with the local Department of Social Services and worked at a summer camp for youth experiencing mental health struggles. Since moving to D.C., Sam worked as a barista and local LGBTQ event producer before joining the Active Minds team. Outside of work, you can find Sam riding his bike, exploring new coffee shops, or eating ice cream with his boyfriend.

Elly Post

Web Development Advisor, Active Minds

Elly has a strong interest in working on projects that support the LGBTQ+ community, women, and racially diverse communities. They have been making websites and other web applications since before Y2K was a thing. They have expertise in a wide range of web programming languages, content management systems, and other technologies, with a particular focus on custom web applications.Originally self-taught, Elly now holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from Loyola University Chicago where they went on to teach computer sciences courses to adult learners in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. In their freetime, they are often found exploring Hyrule or out bicycling in nature.

Brandi Pretlow

V.P. of Programs & Services, The Steve Fund

Brandi Pretlow (she/her) is the Vice President of Programs and Services at The Steve Fund. Through her work in the education and mental health fields, Brandi focuses on utilizing a person-centered and holistic approach to create equitable systems that work alongside young people to support their mental health and well-being.

Susan Reynolds

Founder, LookUp.live

Susan Reynolds (she/her) has over 20 years of experience in digital wellbeing, youth leadership, and mindfulness. In 2019, she co-founded LookUp.live to discover, empower, and mobilize youth leaders who are taking action to raise awareness, inspire, and design a healthier, more inclusive, and responsible digital world in support of youth mental health. LookUp offers Innovation Challenges and grants for youth-led innovations, solutions, storytelling, and advocacy campaigns while also amplifying youth voices through a podcast. Susan is currently writing an anthology of youth leaders stories and advocacy that showcases Gen Z’s power to change the world.

Nephele Robertson

Student, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Nephele (she/her) is a public health student at UMBC, who is passionate about health advocacy and access.

Hannah Rosen

Research Associate, The Trevor Project

Hannah R. Rosen (she/they) graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2020 with a B.A. in Psychology and three years of experience as a volunteer research assistant, research coordinator, and lab manager specializing in LGBTQ social health and suicide prevention research. Hannah came to The Trevor Project in November 2020, and was formerly both a Digital Supervisor and Senior Digital Supervisor working on Trevor’s Crisis Services team before transitioning to the Research team in December 2021. As The Trevor Project’s Research Associate, Hannah is responsible for supporting the ongoing activities of the Research team, including all organization, copy-editing, cross-team collaborations, and both internal and external knowledge-sharing. Hannah is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is dedicated to building a career in clinical research with the goal of reducing suicide risk among LGBTQ young people.

Twitter, LinkedIn

Andy Saul

Advocacy Director, The Hidden Opponent

Andy Saul is a former football student-athlete from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. He earned his degree in Health Promotion and Wellness, where his passion for mental health started to grow. In his current role as Advocacy Director for The Hidden Opponent, Andy oversees our Campus Captain advocate program where he works with school athletic administrations, supports our advocates with the creation of on-campus chapters, and assesses programs that will improve our non-profit. He is extremely passionate about THO’s mission to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics and he wishes to have a positive impact on every campus across the country.

Instagram, Twitter

Dr. Gina Schneider

Author, "Frazzlebrain"

Dr. Gina Simmons Schneider (she/her) is a licensed psychotherapist, executive coach, and corporate trainer. She serves as co-director of Schneider Counseling and Corporate Solutions. She is the author of Frazzlebrain: Break Free from Anxiety, Anger, and Stress Using Advanced Discoveries in Neuropsychology (Central Recovery Press, April 2022). Dr. Schneider is a coping skills expert with over 25 years of experience helping people regulate difficult emotions and conflicts.

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, GoodReads, Website

Joy Sheppard

Director of Community Programs, Active Minds

Joy Sheppard, a Maryland resident and Pennsylvania native, joins Active Minds with a background in live entertainment, event production, and sponsorship sales. Joy has over ten years of specialized experience in building relationships and has spent much of her professional career managing high profile people and events with a wide range of corporate, government and non-profit clientele. She received her Bachelors of Science degree from George Mason University and enjoys traveling, tasting new cuisines, and living up to her name.

Bill Smith

Founder, Inseparable

Bill Smith (he/him) is the founder of Inseparable, a national nonprofit working to make mental health care available to all. Since founding the organization in 2020, Bill has led a team advancing significant bipartisan wins for mental health on both the state and federal levels. Under his leadership Inseparable launched the Hopeful Futures Campaign, a coalition of organizations dedicated to bringing mental health services to every child in every school across America. His commentary on mental health policy has appeared in USA TODAY, The New York Times, Forbes, The Dallas Morning News, MSNBC, Variety, and more.

Bill also co-founded Civitas Public Affairs Group, a values-based firm providing advocacy and public affairs campaigns to solve the most pressing societal challenges of our time. Prior to co-founding Civitas, Bill was the national political director at Gill Action, where he was a lead strategist in the campaign to achieve marriage equality in the United States. A native of Alabama, Bill resides in Washington, D.C. and serves on the board of End Citizens United.

Twitter, LinkedIn

Edward Sun

Student, University of Pennsylvania

As 1 of 24 incoming freshmen in the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management at the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Science and Wharton School of Business, Edward (he/him) is intent on evaluating public health issues while seeking business applications and political advocacy to bring ideas from the lab bench to patients’ bedside. He is currently working on State of Indiana Senate Bill 1, which seeks to allocate state funds toward the improvement of Hoosier mental health care. He has collaborated with elected officials, public health experts, teachers, and students to promote this legislation.

Instagram

Zoe Tait

Active Minds Student Ambassador

Zoe Tait (she/her) is a current undergraduate student at the University of California, San Diego majoring in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish Language Studies interested in advocating for and participating in continued research examining mental health disorders and treatment outcomes. Zoe is particularly interested in pursuing research using computational methods to examine mental health and well-being. Zoe is currently the Co-President of the UC San Diego (UCSD) chapter of Active Minds and serves as an Active Minds Student Ambassador, passionate about advocating for mental health and promoting awareness of the topic.

Instagram, LinkedIn

Kasey Taylor

Founder, The Scotty Fund

Kasey Taylor, MFT-T, is the Co-Founder of The Scooty Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on young adult mental health and wellness. Pivoting from a career in art and design, Kasey is currently working towards licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She has completed research about young adult suicidality with the University of Washington Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and has served as an Advisor to other young adult wellness organizations.

Trace Terrell

Student, John Hopkins University

Trace (he/him/his) is a mental health activist, peer health educator, and strategic storyteller with a background in adolescent crisis intervention, peer-to-peer support, and youth policy. He has testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on youth hotlines, reviewed mental health policies affecting transition-age youth from across the country, and worked on several national collaboratives and campaigns. A sophomore at The Johns Hopkins University, he studies public health and writing seminars and hopes to pursue a career in health policy and management. In the Spring, he will be part of the inaugural cohort of Hopkins Semester DC—a study-abroad program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington D.C.—and is currently looking for policy-oriented organizations to intern at for the duration of the program.

Kassidy Tolbert

Active Minds Chapter Co-President, San Diego State University

Kassidy Tolbert (she/her/hers) graduated from San Diego State University this past May with a BA in Psychology. She was the Co-President of SDSU’s Active Minds Chapter and has a strong passion for mental health advocacy. Kassidy is a survivor of suicide loss and hopes to support other college students with their grief journey.

Instagram

Marnino Toussaint

Manager of Youth Engagement, Peer Health Exchange

Marnino is the Manager of Youth Engagement at Peer Health Exchange and oversees their Youth Design Group. With a passion for mental health advocacy and a focus on young adults, Marnino is dedicated to saving lives, building stronger families, and fostering resilient communities. Through innovative education, research, and advocacy efforts, Marnino collaborates with organizations like PHE and Active Minds to open up conversations about mental health, creating lasting change in the way it is understood, cared for, and valued in the United States.

Dori Hsin-Ju Tung

Emerging Scholars, Active Minds

Dori Hsin-Ju Tung is a third–year art therapy and counseling student at the School of the Art Institute Chicago (SAIC). Her project aims to explore how East Asian and East Asian American women navigate their race and gender identities through their choice of garments in the United States. She will be doing an art-making workshop designed to prompt discussion around the interplay of race, gender, and culture from the perspectives of East Asian/ American women, including the underlying origins and impact of racialized femininity of East Asian/ Americans.

Grace VandenBosch

Influencer Marketing Coordinator, Shatterproof

Grace VandenBosch (she/her) is an Influencer Marketing Coordinator at Shatterproof. In her role, she supports the National Stigma Initiative team with influencer management and substance use campaign implementation for state partners. Grace received her B.A. in Communication and Community Action and Social Change from the University of Michigan and currently resides in Grand Haven, MI. In her free time, Grace loves returning home to spend time with her family & dog, spending time outdoors, binging reality tv, & finding new recipes to cook.

Instagram, Facebook

Meera Varma

Graduate Student, UCLA

Meera Varma (she/her) is a mental health activist and graduate student at UCLA. She is dedicated to reducing the stigma of mental health and rates of suicide through public policy implementations and facilitating conversations on an interpersonal level. Meera aims to be a voice of hope to those who are struggling in silence.

Instagram, Website

Davy Yue

NextGen Young Adult Advisor, NAMI

Davy Yue (he/him/his) currently serves as a NextGen Young Adult Adviser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In 2020, he earned his Bachelor’s from Vanderbilt University in Engineering Science, focusing on Management and Computing. In his free time, Davy loves playing improvised electrifying melodies on his alto saxophone and folding elaborate intricate origami for luxury home decor; both serve flavorful chicken soup for the soul. The origami and alto sax enhance his own storytelling of mental-health resilience as he spearheads several evidence-based community initiatives that impact young adults, bringing hope to local in-patient behavioral health facilities.

Mia Zaleski

Program Associate, Active Minds Chapters

Born and raised in The Garden State, Mia Zaleski (she/her) has been a lifelong mental health and wellness advocate. She graduated from The College of New Jersey with a B.S. in Public Health and earned her M.S. in Health Communications from Boston University. Before joining Active Minds, Mia has four years of experience working with higher education. In her free time, Mia enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading health and wellness books/magazines, and traveling.

2023 Active Minds Mental Health Conference Speakers & Presenters

Keynote Speakers

We asked each presenter: “How are you a mental health change agent?”

2023 conference

about Conference

learn about the sessions

2023 Active Minds Mental Health Conference Speakers & Presenters

Keynote Speakers

Em Beihold

Dr. Tia Dole

Dometi Pongo

We asked each presenter: “How are you a mental health change agent?”

Dayna Altman

Dr. Maico B. Aperocho

Brianna A. Baker

Victor Bartley

Brandon Bond

Errika Brooks

Howard Cooke

Brianna Cayo Cotter

Ericka Dawson

Jadon A. Demeritte

Alicia Diaz

Janie Egan

Alicia Elms

Shaymaa Ennajhi

Dr. Juan-Diego Estrada

Maddie Freeman

Lucas Frome

Emma-Lee Furrowh

Jason Garcia

Chloe Gayer

Sandra Gomez

Yoelle Gulko

Anushka Gupta

Steven Haden

Donovan Taylor Hall

Krithika Harish

Tracy Hill

Abigail Hurst

Andrea Kalfoglou

Brandon LaMotte

Ivy Lee

Larissa May

Pooja Mehta

Ashley Miller

Jakoby Mitchell

Mary Mojica

Randy Moore

Tre Moss

Chloe Mshana

Keris Myrick

Patricia Noel

Lynne Nouvel

Izzy Okojie

Ade Osadolor

Leeann Passaro

Markie Pasternak

Sragvi Pattanaik

Sam Piraneo

Elly Post

Brandi Pretlow

Susan Reynolds

Nephele Robertson

Hannah Rosen

Andy Saul

Dr. Gina Schneider

Joy Sheppard

Bill Smith

Edward Sun

Zoe Tait

Kasey Taylor

Trace Terrell

Kassidy Tolbert

Marnino Toussaint

Dori Hsin-Ju Tung

Grace VandenBosch

Meera Varma

Davy Yue

Mia Zaleski

2023 conference

about Conference

learn about the sessions