Our Team

Rena Abrams received a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.A. and Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia University. She currently resides in Cleveland, OH and is the Director, NYC Implementation at The Jed Foundation. Previously, Rena worked as a consultant for Org-Ology and also worked for the City of New York for 6 years at the Department of Education, and at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. In her work as a civil servant, Rena focused on increasing access to mental health and educational services for children, youth, and families. She enjoys cooking, furniture refurbishment and volunteering.

Vanessa is a seasoned social media and community strategist who has had the opportunity to work for well-known non-profits and brands. Her experience spans all areas of social media strategy, with a strong focus on community engagement. Most recently, she worked with YouTube and helped to launch their first parent-focused Instagram page – YouTube for Families. Vanessa has a passion for public speaking, and during her spare time she enjoys working out and frequent family trips to Disney World.

Liz joined The Jed Foundation as a Campus Advisor in November 2022, and she will be working with northeast campuses to review their current mental and emotional health services and programming. Using her experience in crisis management, student leader development, and student conduct, Liz helps create strategic plans for improvement and expansion of offerings. Prior to JED, Liz worked in student affairs, most recently as the Director of Residence Life at SUNY Adirondack. She earned a master’s degree in higher education administration with a focus on student advising and counseling from Stony Brook University. Outside of work, she’s an outdoor adventurer who enjoys hiking, camping, and kayaking.

Joi Campbell is an experienced Mental Health Counselor with a13 year history of demonstrated work within the nonprofit industry. Joi has worked with through a Social Emotional and Trauma informed lens to cultivate the design, implementation, and supervision of programming meeting the social-emotional needs of scholars across the New York City metropolitan area. She holds her BA in Psychology, and her MS in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University.

Nnemoma joins JED with seven years of experience working directly with middle school and high school youth. Prior to JED, she was the Senior Academic Director at StreetSquash, a college readiness program in Harlem, where she was responsible for developing the academic curriculum and nurturing the relationships between schools, teachers, and students. She also served as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion. Nnemoma is a Licensed Social Worker and received her BS from Howard University in Washington, DC and her MSW from Columbia University in New York City.

Danielle joined JED as the Marketing Manager in June 2022. She is a storyteller, actor, and agent of change with over 10 years of digital and marketing experience. In 2014, Danielle launched She’s a Gent, a blog that celebrates and explores personal style while also using it as a tool to bring awareness to non-binary fashion and lifestyle. It is a space that create visibility for the under-represent LGBTQ+ and QPOC (queer people of color) communities through self-expression as visual activism. She’s a Gent has been recognized in Forbes, The New York Times, Out Magazine, and Vogue.

Kiana joined The Jed Foundation in August 2022, with a background in program management, health education, and public mental health. Kiana works to ensure that JED continually offers high-quality workshops, training, and other education programming to communities looking to learn more about teen and young adult mental health and suicide prevention. Most recently, Kiana served as the Team Lead for HomeLink, a program at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill that connects precariously-housed people living with mental health conditions to support and resources. In her free time, Kiana enjoys researching family history and restoring old photos.

Erlinda joined JED in February 2020. Her experiences include training development, student advocacy, and facilitations or workshops around identity, cultural humility/competency, and mental health in People of Color. She has held positions in residence life and multicultural affairs at St. Peter’s University and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Erlinda grew up in both Houston, TX and Phoenix, AZ. She received a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Film Studies and a M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College.

Jordan is a reverse snowbird, moving from South Florida to New York where he has had a career in the administrative departments of truTV and CNN. He is very excited to be working with JED and looks forward to carrying out their mission statement

Ethan joined JED in October 2018. Most recently, Ethan held positions in residence life and student conduct at Drexel University and Lehigh University. His experience includes collateral assignments in gender violence education and support, equal opportunity compliance, health prevention strategies, student life curriculum, and restorative practices. Ethan grew up in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia and completed his B.A. in History at King University (TN) and a M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at Old Dominion University (VA).

Leah joined JED in June 2020. Prior to joining the JED team, she worked for 4 years in higher education serving students in counseling, career, and veteran services, and also taught courses in Human Services. Before gaining experience in higher education, Leah worked in the non-profit sector developing programs that unified the arts and library services. She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and holds a B.A in English and a M.A in Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Chrysten joined The Jed Foundation in July 2022, following 15 years of experience in higher education and partnership-building. From outreach to scheduling, she guides secondary schools and districts through the initial steps of becoming a JED High School. Prior to JED, she worked as an Assistant Director for new program development, where she not only helped students through the admissions process, but also built agreements and developed educational programs that directly impacted the local community. Chrysten also volunteers as a youth soccer coach, and she loves to play the game herself on weekends.

Aisha joined the JED Campus team in October 2022. Her love for college students and environments was birthed working in student affairs, specifically housing and residence life. Aisha brings to the role her experience in student development, higher education proven practices, social justice and equity-based practices, and student wellness. She grew up in central New Jersey and earned a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from Temple University and a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from the University of Connecticut.

Emilia joined The Jed Foundation in July 2022, serving as an advisor for colleges and universities across the United States. In this role, she works to utilize a multifaceted approach to supporting student mental health on college campuses. Before JED, Emilia worked at the University of California, Davis as a specialist in mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and student wellness. She has over nine years of experience managing and executing public health initiatives in the higher education, nonprofit, and government sectors.

Eddy joined The Jed Foundation in July 2022, with a background working in residence life; training and development; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. At JED, Eddy works with institutions of higher education to assess their emotional wellness efforts, create a strategic plan to enhance those efforts, and implement that strategic plan. Originally from Miami, FL, Eddy has held positions at Florida International University, University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Kansas State University. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida International University and a master’s degree in counseling and student development from Kansas State.

Sophia joined JED at the start of 2022, bringing with her a background in higher education, psychology, and impactful advocacy. Previously, she worked in the Muhlenberg College Office of Alumni Affairs and as a tutor in the college writing center. Sophia has since merged her tutoring experience with her passion for criminal justice advocacy, serving as a volunteer tutor for justice-impacted students with The Petey Greene Program. Additionally, she was project coordinator for the Change the Stage initiative and content manager for Sirkin Research. Sophia is a born and raised New Yorker who graduated with honors from Muhlenberg College with a degree in Psychology and Gender Studies.

Will joined JED as Director of Campaigns in May 2022. Prior to JED, he worked for four years leading digital and in-person social impact campaigns for major entertainment networks (such as Disney and WarnerMedia), nonprofits, and brands to meet their social impact goals, reaching a multitude of target audiences to uplift and empower communities. He has also worked in documentary production, exhibition, and distribution. His passion for storytelling started at Rollins College, where he earned a BA in Economics with a concentration in Behavioral Economics and Film Studies.

Glenn joined JED in September 2021 bringing 20+ years of experience in business development, sales, marketing, and management. He has held positions as Director of Business & Organizational Sales at High School Counselor Marketing and High School Principal Marketing. As Sales, Marketing & Business Development Director at Karaban Media Services, Glenn managed the advertising and sponsorship sales programs for several non-profit Associations including the American Health Information Management Association, as well as numerous consumer and business-to-business publishers including American Express Publishing. Glenn earned a BS in Advertising from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and an MBA in Marketing from the Graduate School of Management at Rutgers University.

Lea joins JED with four years’ experience in youth suicide prevention. Prior to JED, she was the Senior Program Manager for SOS Signs of Suicide, a national evidence-based prevention program for secondary schools. In her role, she trained hundreds of school and community mental health staff, developed program materials, and supported schools in their suicide prevention efforts. Lea holds a B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo and an M.S. in Health Communication from Tufts University School of Medicine.

Emily is originally from Phoenix, Arizona where she received a bachelors in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University in 2012. After graduating, she spent three seasons running a day camp for children aged infant through 12 years old at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Paradise Valley, MT. After leaving the ranch in 2014, she worked as the Outreach Coordinator for a domestic violence organization in Bozeman, MT called Haven for five years and then moved to Missoula, Montana to pursue a Masters in Social Work from the University of Montana, which she completed May 2021. Emily works for The Jed Foundation as a Youth Engagement Advisor for a satellite position located in Park County Montana. 

Joanna joined JED in June 2022. She brings a background in higher education and nonprofit management, most recently managing partnerships for a national professional association supporting higher ed. Joanna also has experience in student affairs and enrollment management through positions at public and private universities. Joanna grew up in Atlanta, GA and completed a Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College (NJ) and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Florida State University.

Michael joined the JED team in April 2021. Prior to doing so, Michael worked in college student support roles at Barnard College, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Ball State University. His experiences include work in residential life, curriculum design and implementation, inclusion and equity, and facilitating meaningful dialogue. He is passionate about the power of storytelling, human empathy and connection, and brave conversations. Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in English at Ball State University and his Master of Science in College Student Affairs at Eastern Illinois University.

Kapi’olani joined The Jed Foundation in November 2022 to help colleges and universities identify best practices for supporting the mental health and well-being of their students and campus community. She has over 18 years of experience supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as policies centered on college student success. Her services have focused on supporting traditionally underserved and low-income college and pre-college students in their academic, social, and cultural well-being. She is also very interested in fitness and has competed in three USAPL Powerlifting competitions and eight USPA Bodybuilding & Fitness Contests. Kapi’olani has paddled outrigger canoes in two long-distance, eight-hour women’s races in Hawaii.

Nicole joined JED in April 2021. She previously worked as a Mental Health Counselor at the University of Montevallo Counseling Services. Nicole is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Alabama and a National Certified Counselor. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Auburn University, and completed her M.Ed in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health at the University of Montevallo.

Jessica joined JED in February 2019. Prior to joining the JED team, she worked in the field of public health workforce development for nonprofit organizations in both Los Angeles and New York City. Before gaining experience in workforce development, Jessica worked in the higher education field devoting several years to the academic, professional, and personal development of new and first-year students at Saint Louis University. Jessica grew up in the suburb of Belleville, Illinois and completed both her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and M.S. in Public Health – Behavioral Science and Health Education at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Laur joins JED with seven years of experience working directly with high school, middle school, and elementary youth in professional and volunteer capacities. Prior to JED, she served as a self-contained special education teacher with Baltimore City Public Schools, where she was responsible for assessing and meeting the diverse academic and emotional needs of students. In this time she also served as a case manager—overseeing the writing and implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities—and the Title I Family & Community Engagement Liaison for her school where she designed programming and outreach efforts aimed at building community investment in students’ long term success. Laur received her B.A. in Psychology from The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ and her M.S.Ed. from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

Mary Bess Pritchett came to The Jed Foundation in January 2022 with a background in film and television, and benefit comedy production. As Student Engagement Manager, she feels honored to support JED’s student outreach, helping to build new bridges in service of JED’s mission. Mary Bess holds a B.F.A. in Theatre from the University of Mississippi.

Jacob joined The Jed Foundation in August 2022, as Executive Assistant to the Office of the President. In his role, he manages the calendar of Rebecca Benghiat and performs administrative tasks like drafting contracts, composing communications, and conducting research. Jacob worked in manufacturing, retail, and fundraising before earning an MFA in Fiction Writing, which brought him to working as a high-school English teacher and legal assistant. He lives in New York City with his wife, Aimee.

Jennifer Reed is a professional educator and Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 15 years of experience and expertise in supporting the social, emotional, and mental health of students through strategic systems and program development. Prior to joining JED, Jennifer was the Director of Strategic Education Initiatives at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, where she supported the growth, development, and implementation of innovative new school mental health programming across K-12, higher education, and other partners across Texas. She previously served in Dallas ISD as Director of Clinical Services in the Mental Health Services department where she led the nation’s largest comprehensive school mental health program. Jennifer’s multifaceted career has advanced collaboration between schools and strategic partners in identifying solutions to improve service delivery and ensure equity in access to high-quality school-linked mental health care to students and families.

Jennifer is a first-generation college graduate and reflects her family’s South Texas Latina roots in her hard work, dedication, and passion. She has bachelor’s degrees in Human Development and Family Sciences, and Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin, and a master’s degree in Counseling from The University of North Texas. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor working with families and adolescents experiencing a variety of concerns.a

Erica is a licensed clinical social worker. She previously worked as a therapist at Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University’s Counseling & Psychological Services. Erica earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from Michigan State University and received an M.S.W. from the University of Michigan.

Kate Rope is an award-winning freelance journalist and author who specializes in physical and mental health. Her work has appeared in many publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, and CNN. Kate focuses her work on providing compassionate, evidence-based support to parents, children, teens, and young adults. She served as Editorial Director for the Seleni Institute where, in addition to supporting the organization at all levels, she oversaw the launch of an editorial site devoted to supporting people through all the challenges of working to become—and becoming—a family. Her work at Seleni—as well as her own experiences with perinatal anxiety—inspired her second book, Strong as a Mother: How to Be Happy, Healthy and (Most Importantly) Sane From Pregnancy to Parenthood. Kate’s most recent project before coming on board with JED was executive producing and co-writing with narrator, Alan Alda, the Audible Original documentary “Soldiers of Science: The Vietnam War, Anthony Fauci & the Doctors Who Revolutionized American Medicine.”

Shannon joined JED in August 2021. Prior to joining the JED team, she worked in student support roles at the University of Texas at Austin and McGill University. She has spent the last 5 years working with college students in advising and student emergency services. She has received a B.A in Psychology from Concordia University in Montreal and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University. She also recently completed a master’s degree in Counselor Education from UT Austin with a concentration in higher education.

Jarlyn joined JED in September 2021. Prior to JED, she worked in administrative support roles in the higher education industry as well as providing individualized support to people with developmental disabilities at JobPath, an employment support services organization. Jarlyn holds a BA in Psychology from The City College of New York and has a strong interest in Mental Health and Wellness.

Tony joined The Jed Foundation in November 2022 as Senior Vice President of Academic Programs. In his role, he structures, expands, and leads JED’s high school and higher education programs to meet the organization’s strategic plan objectives. To fulfill this work, he connects strategy, people management, operations, fiscal responsibility, partnerships, and school recruitment functions. Prior to joining JED, Tony served as Vice President of Education Strategy and Innovation at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, where he led a team of school-mental health consultants and contributed to the public policy discussion around school-linked mental health in Texas and beyond. He previously worked in multiple roles in public education, including as a teacher, school counselor, and most recently as an executive district leader over Student Support Services at Uplift Education, a high performing network of schools serving more than 23,000 students in North Texas. Under his decade of leadership, Uplift developed and implemented one of the largest school-based mental health systems in Texas. Tony is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified School Counselor, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Missouri, a Master’s degree in Counseling, and PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Texas Tech University.

Jeni joined The Jed Foundation in July 2022, with over eight years of experience working in education, including as a clinical college counselor, as a doctoral teaching and research assistant, and as a manager for a school-based mental health counseling program. She partners with colleges and universities across the southeast to strengthen mental health supports and prevent suicide on college campuses, guided by JED’s Comprehensive Approach. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. Jeni also loves to travel internationally and has been to six continents. She has an adorable puppy named Louie.

Russell joined JED in March 2022. He previously held positions in educational technology at McGraw Hill and technology-driven market research with Zappi. His experience includes the management, cultivating, and scaling of relationships, client platform onboarding, and process refinement through Scrum. He has been a volunteer at the AOK Foundation and Pincus Family Foundation for over 15 years, serving their missions for the betterment of young people. Russell hails from Southern New Jersey, near Philadelphia, where he is a passionate supporter of their local sports teams. He completed his B.S. in Marketing at Johnson and Wales University (Providence, RI) and is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM).

Renia is a hands-on, energetic learning and development leader specializing in program design, improving DEIB practices, and evaluating and driving impact. With a passion for learning as a lifelong learner herself, spotlighting marginalized groups, and curating meaningful training experiences, Renia has been at the helm of collaborating cross-departmentally, transforming organizations and individuals, and building future-oriented teams.

After securing a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Grades Education from the University of North Carolina, Renia earned a Master of Educational Leadership Degree from Queens University before achieving a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate from Rutgers University and a Scrum Master Certification. Effectively leveraging her foundational skillset in educational leadership and inclusion, Renia was the Director of Learning & Development at Teach for America NC and has served as an Instructional Coach, Program Manager, and COO to various organizations.

Renia is a creative and self-sufficient innovator known for developing authentic and strong relationships with students, stakeholders, and colleagues. She thinks big picture, envisions solutions, and executes efficiently, ensuring credibility, trust, and prosperous environments for change. Outside of work, Renia enjoys creating memories with her family and traveling. She is excited to be a part of the transformational work here at JED.

Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Kurt received his bachelor’s from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He worked in youth corrections and the addictions fields before earning a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Clinical-School Psychology from Utah State University. Kurt completed his Resident Internship in Child Clinical Psychology at Duke University Medical Center, after which he joined the Psychology Faculty at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. For the past 23 years at Appalachian, he established and sustained a nationally recognized program of funded research and clinical practice in school mental health, adolescent suicidology, and rural healthcare. He recently retired as the Stanley R. Aeschleman Distinguished Professor of Psychology to take on the role of the Clinical Director of JED High School West.

Amanda has led educational programming and internal knowledge-building at JED since October 2022. Prior to her current role, Amanda dedicated her career to working in social impact and professional and programmatic development to ensure individuals, families, educators, and society have resources, support, and knowledge to build accessible, empathetic spaces for all people. Amanda is a nationally-known speaker and the author of a number of books on the topics of learning, special education, and emerging adulthood. In past roles, she’s headed up teams of committed researchers, subject matter experts, and thought leaders. Amanda holds a UDL Associate Credential from the Universal Design for Learning Implementation and Research Network (UDL-IRN), and she is a proud member of the advisory boards of Digital Promise’s Learner Variability Project, Matan, and CAST’s Center on Inclusive Software for Learning. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in education with a focus on child development from the University of Maine.

Dr. Roy serves as the Chief Clinical Office of the Jed Foundation and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry.  She has over 20 years of experience as a psychologist working in college mental health. She served as the Assistant Dean of Health and Wellness at Sarah Lawrence College and most recently was the Associate Dean of Health and Wellness at Rhode Island School of Design. Publications have focused on effective strategies for promoting emotional well-being among teens and young adults as well as treatment and management of at-risk students on college campuses. She has been actively involved in strategic planning initiatives focusing on a holistic approach to education, crisis management and a public health model for delivery of care in high schools and on college campuses. Dr. Roy is a senior advisor for the National College Depression Partnership, serves on the Mental Health Task Force for the Ruderman Foundation and has worked on mental health initiatives with the Surgeon General, the Higher Education Mental Health Alliance, the Department of Defense, The Veteran’s Administration, the Milken Institute, the Clinton Health Matters Initiative and college and university systems across the country. Dr. Roy earned a BS degree from the University of Rhode Island, an MS from the University of North Carolina and an Ed.D. from Harvard University.

Ellen has psychiatric training and over a decade of clinical experience in college mental health, working as the staff psychiatrist in the Sarah Lawrence College Counseling Center. Ellen began at JED as a writing consultant for JED Campus, Set-to-Go, the JED Campus Playbook, a myriad of JED white papers and POV pieces. Currently, Ellen serves as Subject Matter Expert and High School Advisor for schools in the JED Boarding School Program. Ellen studied German at Smith College and earned a B.S. in Nursing from Syracuse University.  She earned an M.D. degree at Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell) and completed residency training in psychiatry at the New York Hospital – Westchester Division.

Kristelle is a certified health education specialist and joined JED in July 2018 after working at Syracuse University as a health promotion specialist with a specific focus on mental health and wellness. Kristelle received a B.A. in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, as well as an M.S.W. and an M.P.H. with concentrations in sexual health and education and social entrepreneurship, from Washington University in St. Louis.

Ryan joined JED in January 2020.  Previously, Ryan worked in student affairs for a combined total of seven years in both Residence Life and Student Conduct at Union College, Manhattan College, and Dutchess Community College.  His experience includes student advocacy, restorative justice, bystander intervention training, Title IX, ally and diversity training, residential education, and curriculum development. Ryan received his B.S. in Business Administration and M.S. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from the State University of New York at Albany.

Dr. Kristen A. Clark is a social entrepreneur. In fact, she has always had deep rooted questions about the social world around her. Kristen’s directive to explore answers to these questions as well as leave behind a legacy of justice comes from a quote she holds close to her by Audre Lorde, “When I dare to be powerful — to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” Through her professional and philanthropic work, she has dedicated her time to ensuring that barriers to access and opportunities don’t inhibit opportunities for marginalized communities. A graduate of student of Rowan University, Dr. Clark has been an educational professional and researcher for over 15 years primarily focusing on the social inequities that impact meaningful engagement experiences as well as Social-Emotional Learning. Clark also teaches courses entitled, Rebel Girls: How Girls Do Activism and Social Problems in Education, at the higher education level. Dr. Clark is a graduate from Rowan University with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She has also earned an M.P.A. from Rutgers University with a specialization in nonprofit resource management and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Leadership from The College of New Jersey. She currently resides in Camden County, New Jersey.

Karen joined The Jed Foundation in July 2022 to provide expertise on the Salesforce Ecosystem and help teams best utilize the CRM. Over the last 10 years, Karen developed her career in a variety of roles in the nonprofit sector. She brings her knowledge and understanding of nonprofits to serve the mission and values of JED. Karen has three boys, with whom she loves to bake and hike with on the weekends.

Sydney is a recent graduate of Pennsylvania State University, where she studied biobehavioral health and psychology. Sydney is incredibly passionate about mental health advocacy and prevention. She hopes to continue work within this field, and return to graduate school to receive a Psy.D. to practice as a licensed therapist.

Nikolaus joined JED in May 2018 after serving with City Year New York for nearly 3 years. He first joined City Year as an AmeriCorps volunteer in East Harlem, then transitioned to their staff after completing his year of service. As an Evaluation Analyst at City Year New York, he gained experience in data management, analytics and systems integration. Nikolaus holds a B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Clark University.

Brian joined JED in November 2022 with over 10 years of experience implementing large initiatives in non-profit, for-profit, government, and academic medical research settings. These initiatives were designed to support diverse groups of students with mental health conditions or adults with disabilities to build life skills to accomplish their goals. Brian holds a Master of Science in Health Administration from Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Kamla joined JED in March 2019 with 15 years of experience in non-profit, academic, community-based, and clinical settings focused on promoting the well-being of diverse groups of youth. In a previous role with the Girl Scout Research Institute, she led national studies with girls and adults to inform Girl Scouts’ programming, policy and advocacy work, strategic direction, as well as to contribute to the body of knowledge on girls’ health and well-being. Kamla holds a PhD in applied developmental psychology from Fordham University and a BA from Rutgers University. 

Michelle is an adaptable, versatile leader with 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’s 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.

Kristia is joining the Jed Foundation as an Administrative Assistant to the Design and Impact team. She received her MPA from Baruch College and has over 5 years of combined experience in administrative support, project coordination and communications.

Rebecca Benghiat has dedicated her career to working in service of the mental health and well-being of children and young adults. Most recently, Rebecca served as the Chief Operating and Advancement Officer at The Quad Preparatory School, a nationally recognized K-12 independent school in New York City that integrates an academically rigorous curriculum with evidence-based social emotional learning, specifically designed to support gifted children with learning differences. Prior to Quad Prep, Rebecca served as Executive Director of Facing Addiction with NCADD, responsible for all executive management functions for this leading national opioid addiction advocacy organization. Previously, Rebecca supported the rapid scaling of citiesRISE, a multi-million-dollar international youth mental health organization, to ensure the organization’s strategic and operational success. Rebecca has also spearheaded the launch of several multi-million-dollar philanthropic organizations, including the Child Mind Institute, the Seleni Institute, and the New Space for Women’s Health. Rebecca is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, certified in alternative dispute resolution and she has mediated a wide variety of claims in New York County civil and small claims courts. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, with a focus on organizational analysis, from The University of Chicago.

Ian joined JED in August 2022, having worked as an Executive Assistant to various CFOs, CEOs, and VPs in financial services, the federal government, and nonprofit agencies both in New York City and Washington, D.C. At The Jed Foundation, Ian provides management and oversight support for the externally-directed activities of the CEO (John MacPhee) and Executive Office, and he acts as a liaison to the Board. Ian hails from West Philadelphia and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies at South Florida Bible College in Deerfield Beach, FL.

Grant joined JED in Decemer 2022. Originally from Alabama, Grant has lived in New York City since 2012. His administrative experience began as Assistant Office Manager at Barkley Kalpak Agency (now known as FIRST Global Events). After working various jobs in the service and hospitality industry, he worked for almost 4 years at MPL Communications, fulfilling the roles of Administrative Assistant for the office and Personal Assistant to the CEO. Grant is also a professional actor, playwright, and live storyteller who has self-produced his own projects in various festivals.

Dr. Laura Erickson–Schroth (she/they), Chief Medical Officer for The Jed Foundation (JED), is a psychiatrist committed to improving mental health through education and resource creation. She provides guidance on how individuals, families, schools, communities, media, and other youth-serving organizations can take actions to protect mental health and prevent suicide in teens and young adults, ensuring that all young people are being served in data-informed and culturally responsive ways.

Dr. Erickson-Schroth joined JED in 2022 after providing crisis intervention and mental health support to thousands of patients in over ten emergency rooms in New York City, including as an attending psychiatrist and associate professor at the Columbia University Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program. Much of her career has focused on LGBTQ mental health, and she continues to see clients at Hetrick-Martin Institute for LGBTQIA+ Youth. Dr. Erickson-Schroth is the editor of “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” (Oxford, 2014, second edition 2022), a resource guide written by and for trans communities. She has appeared on NPR’s “Fresh Air” and “On Point.” She is a former board member of the Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists and of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality.

Dr. Erickson-Schroth obtained her medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School. She completed a psychiatry residency at New York University, public psychiatry fellowship at Columbia University, and consultation-liaison psychiatry fellowship at Mount Sinai.

Valerie brings to JED over 15 years of logical, analytical, and finance experience. She joined JED after over 3 years as Finance Manager at the Quad Preparatory School, a not-for-profit K-12 school for twice-exceptional students. Before then, she worked in finance in the architectural distribution industry for interior design products. She holds a Master’s Degree in Child Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Aleksander Xhuvani University, in Albania.

Leslie joined The Jed Foundation in December 2022, bringing over 25 years of experience at mission-driven organizations, including nonprofits and higher education institutions, to the role. Previously, Leslie served as the Chief of People, Equity, and Operations at Code for America and as the Vice President of People Operations at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Leslie’s passion for equity and helping others also led her to co-found the Piedmont Racial Equity Campaign, which aims to establish racial equity in local systems, schools, and housing. 

John brings 25 years of leadership and management experience from the business and not-for-profit settings to his role at JED. Passionate about supporting young adults in their transition to adulthood, John advises several organizations including the S. Jay Levy Fellowship for Future Leaders at City College, Trek Medics, Crisis Text Line, the Health Policy and Management Department at the Mailman School of Public Health, and HIV Hero.

Earlier in his career, he served in executive positions for Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, where he oversaw functions such as business development, alliance management, clinical development, regulatory affairs, sales and marketing. John continues to contribute to the development of novel medications for disorders such as Parkinson’s disease through board roles with Adamas Pharmaceuticals and Blackthorn Therapeutics.

In 2016, John received The Allan Rosenfield Alumni Award for Excellence in the field of public health from the Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. He earned a BA from Columbia College, an MBA from New York University and an MPH from Columbia University.

Annah joined The Jed Foundation as Executive Assistant to both John MacPhee, CEO, and Adee Shepen, CDO, in October 2022. They work to manage calendars, plan meetings, and arrange any necessary travel, along with assisting the development team as needed with donor relations. Annah’s journey with nonprofits started in college, volunteering for Special Kids, which focuses on providing nursing and rehabilitation services to children with special needs. Since moving to New York City, they have interned with Brooklyn Arts Exchange and worked as a Studio Coordinator at Industria Williamsburg. In their free time, Annah enjoys biking, dancing, and working on DIY projects.

I began my HR career 5 and half years in the Hospitality industry. I have various of HR experience such as recruiting, onboarding, benefits, and learning and development.

Keisha joined JED in January 2020. She brings over 15 years of experience in higher education marketing and communications. Previously, she was the Director of News and Information at Brooklyn College, CUNY for seven years, where she oversaw editorial, public relations, executive communications, and served as the editor-in-chief of the alumni magazine. Prior to her work in higher education, Keisha was a print and television journalist at CBS, PBS, and various national consumer magazines. She is also an author whose poetry, fiction, and essays have been published widely in magazines and anthologies. Keisha holds a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism and African American Studies from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School and College of Arts and Sciences. She holds an M.F.A. in Fiction from The City College, CUNY.

Justin joined The Jed Foundation in June 2022 after nearly 20 years of working in journalism, media/public relations, and health care communications. As the Public Relations Director, Justin leads earned media strategies that elevate JED’s public image, positions JED as an expert resource, and builds broad awareness of its programs through the media landscape. As the father to two amazing kids, Justin is excited to be part of a team that works to create a community of caring for everyone. 

Katherine joined JED in September 2018 after working as a consultant to nonprofits on donor and volunteer engagement strategies. Before focusing on nonprofit work, Katherine held marketing and project management positions at Security Capital Group, New York City’s Economic Development Corporation and Random House. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Manuela joined JED in August 2020 with over 15 years of advocacy and strategic communication experience in the non-profit and government sectors. She previously worked at BerlinRosen, a public relations firm, focusing on advocacy projects across several issue areas including health equity, reproductive justice, criminal justice reform, and immigration. Manuela also worked at the New York City Health Department and at UnidosUS overseeing the implementation advocacy strategies that helped to catalyze broad impact to reduce unjust differences in health outcomes among communities of color. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama and hails from Maryland.

Avery joined The Jed Foundation in August 2022. A recent graduate from Smith College, Avery has previously worked with high-risk children struggling with mental health, which furthered her passion for advocacy work and resource development. As a Fellow for Strategic Partnerships, she helps  identify and meet with potential partner companies and organizations for JED. She also tracks and updates previous high-impact partnerships. Avery hopes to continue to graduate school in a few years with a well-rounded understanding of the different ways to work in mental health promotion.

Tracie has spent her career seeking ways to contribute her talents to sectors that drive social impact, including education, immigration, and the arts. Prior to joining JED in 2022, she coordinated outreach to immigrants and refugees at the barrier-breaking social enterprise, World Immigration Services (WES). Her work includes nearly a decade as a theater critic and entertainment journalist in New York City, and spearheading communications for fundraising at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Tracie has long been dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, having served as the VP of Northeastern University’s Allied Student Coalition, helped launch LCPA’s DEI Council, and co-founded the Racial Equity Anti-Oppression Committee at WES. Tracie holds degrees in English and Theater from Northeastern University.

Meghan joined The Jed Foundation in July 2022, combining her two passions in writing and mental health advocacy. As PR Coordinator, she works on building and distributing  press releases, media pitches, op-eds, and other elements of public relations campaigns to amplify the organization’s mission. Before JED, Meghan interned with Active Minds to coordinate their suicide prevention display: Send Silence Packing. She also worked as a freelance writer for various organizations. Outside of work, Meghan loves Taylor Swift, her three dogs, and writing poetry on Instagram. 

Lauren joined The Jed Foundation in August 2022, bringing her experience in writing, digital media, publishing, and communications to the role. As the primary content writer for the Editorial team, she  researches and crafts a variety of articles and statements for JED’s website, email campaigns, and social media channels. Prior to joining JED, Lauren worked as a freelance writer, a publicist for independent publishers, and a communications assistant. She recently graduated from American University with a B.A. in Journalism, and she is an avid reader and lover of all things fantasy and science-fiction.

Leticia joined The Jed Foundation in September 2022, bringing over a decade of marketing, communications, and brand management experience to the role. To promote JED as a trusted source in youth mental health and suicide preventing, she creates and manages digital communications while implementing and enforcing JED’s Brand Guidelines. Her previous position as the creative marketing director at a virtual care company ignited a passion for mental health, and she has since immersed herself in learning about the social determinants of health. In leading rebranding efforts at her previous company, she increased brand awareness and social media following significantly by elevating the look, feel, and message of the brand. Leticia has also received recognition for her photography work.

Henry joined JED in July 2020 following graduation from Harvard College, with a B.A. in Psychology. He previously served as a Summer Fellow in the Summer of 2019 and is excited to return back to JED. In college, Henry served as a Student Academic Integrity Fellow on the Honor Council and led the organization’s outreach efforts. Additionally, he chaired the student newspaper’s sports section and has experience in marketing, journalism, peer mentorship, and social science research.

Irene joins JED after nearly 20 years of working in development as grant writer, advocate, and fundraiser for universities and medical nonprofits. The focus of her work has been to source support for institutions to develop new areas of research strength and build student equity initiatives. She has written funded proposals on subjects, from college readiness programs to neuroscience, to open educational resources. She has mentored editorial staffs and has published in academic journals.  She brings a reporter’s eye to seeing the story and bringing it to life, and a copywriter’s knack for ferreting out its selling points. Her editorial background includes work as deputy chief of reporters (for Fortune magazine) and research librarian (Time Inc. Library). She holds advanced degrees in linguistics and library science (from Columbia University); in Russian linguistics (from NYU); and in nonfiction writing (from Queens University of Charlotte).

Katie devoted her entire career to healthcare marketing, working across a range of therapeutic areas including opioid dependency, women’s health, dermatology, diabetes, oncology and cardiovascular health to name a few. Prior to joining The Jed Foundation, she was a Managing Partner at CDM, a health and wellness advertising agency. Katie was responsible for overseeing the account management team and ensuring the success of client relationships and agency health alike. She made sure all measures of agency well being were on point – revenue, profitability, client relationships and staff retention. Katie worked with numerous healthcare clients such as Merck, AbbVie, Pfizer, Biogen, NS Pharma and BMS to name a few. Katie’s achievements were recognized with a Healthcare Businesswoman Association Rising Star award. Katie lives in New York City with her husband, Jonathan, and three rising stars of their own, Zoe, Dean and Joshua.

Richa joined JED in February 2022. Prior to JED, Richa worked as a Development Coordinator with the Salvadori Center, handling development operations and managing grants and fundraising. She also worked in production for three years in the Indian news broadcasting industry, producing news stories on political, health care and educational issues. Richa holds a Masters degree in Global Affairs from New York University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism from SACAC (India).

Adee brings more than 20 years of experience in development, community organization, programming and board development to JED. Most recently, she served as the Northeast Director of Community Engagement for BBYO, the leading teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. Adee has also served as Director of Annual Giving at Yeshiva University, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at Weill Cornell Medical College and Chief Development Officer at the Jewish Community Center of MetroWest. Adee attended Clark University.

Thea brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education, volunteer engagement,  wellness initiatives, fraternity and sorority engagement, and training and development to JED. Her passion for supporting teens and college students stems from direct engagement with student leaders across the country through speaking engagements and campus advisement. Thea earned an Associates Degree from Middlesex County College, a bachelors degree in Psychology and Elementary Education from The College of New Jersey, a Masters degree in Student Personnel in Higher Education from University of Florida, and a Doctorate of Education for the Design of Learning Environments from Rutgers University.