Dan Harris is a fidgety, skeptical journalist who had a panic attack on live national television, which led him towards an investigative interest in mindful ambition and wellness. He went on to write the #1 New York Times bestseller, 10% Happier, followed by a chart-topping podcast, Ten Percent Happier, which ranks in the top 100. Harris, a seasoned reporter with over two decades of experience as an anchor and in the field, seamlessly weaves meditation into his narrative, highlighting its profound effects on stress reduction and clarity of thought, making it an integral part of his mission to promote well-being in the modern world. Renowned for his candid exploration of the interior, journalist Dan Harris inspires others with his personal journey, emphasizing the transformative impact of a mentally resilient approach to ambitious professional endeavors. His guests have included everyone from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Brené Brown to Karamo from Queer Eye. Dan's approach is seemingly modest, but secretly radical: happiness is a skill you can train.

Sharing poignant examples from his own life, Harris lays out the (often winding) road to personal resilience. For his work, Harris has earned an Edward R. Murrow Award and four News & Documentary Emmy Awards. His TED Talk went viral, launching a new movement in mindfulness. He has spoken at Google and shared his mindfulness practice nationally on ABC News, NPR, Good Morning America, and more.

As President and CEO of the National Council on Aging, Ramsey Alwin is leading a nationwide movement to ensure equitable aging for every American. 

Building on NCOA’s 75 years of service and advocacy for older adults, Alwin is renewing the organization’s commitment to improving the lives of millions, especially those who are struggling. She is sparking critical conversations about the resources every American deserves to age well—and what needs to change to ensure all have access.

A seasoned thought leader and policy advocate, Alwin has changed the way people think about older adult poverty and economic security. She designed a new measure of economic security for older adults that better accounts for out-of-pocket health costs and worked to introduce the Measuring American Poverty Act in Congress to redefine the federal poverty measure for the older population. Thanks to Alwin’s efforts, the U.S. Census Bureau formally implemented the Supplemental Poverty Measure nationwide, virtually doubling the elder poverty count and better demonstrating true needs among this population. 

Prior to leading NCOA, Alwin directed financial resilience global thought leadership at AARP and served as Director of National Economic Security Programs at Wider Opportunities for Women. Currently, she serves on the Executive Committee of the UN NGO Committee on Aging, the America250 Health and Wellness Advisory Council, and the National Academy of Social Insurance Finance Committee.

Mary Lazare was sworn in as ACL’s principal deputy administrator on March 3, 2025, returning to the role she held from 2017-2021.

Throughout a career focused on improving the health and well-being of people with disabilities and older adults, Mary has led social services and health care systems in building partnerships across industries and all levels of government, modernizing system infrastructure and leveraging new technology, and creating opportunities for innovation in order to better meet the needs of the people they serve.

During her prior tenure at ACL, Mary led the agency’s overall day-to-day operations and spearheaded several key initiatives, including an interagency task force focused on expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities; a public-private partnership to prevent social isolation; and cross-sector collaboration to align health care and aging and disability services to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.

Before joining ACL, she served as Vice President for Home and Community-Based Services for Lutheran Senior Services, overseeing the operations of home health, hospice, and private duty services to improve patient outcomes and developed partnerships among aging services, health care systems and providers to better meet the individual needs of older adults. In earlier roles, she served as Vice President of Senior Care Facilities and Community Health Ministries at Ascension Health, Vice-President of Senior Services and Home Care Services at BJC Health Care, and Executive Director for the Jewish Center for the Aged. She also has served on the board of the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging Foundation of St Louis, the Continuum of Care Committee of the Catholic Health Association, the American Hospital Association Governing Council for Post-Acute Care Services, and a number of other civic and professional organizations.
Mary received her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri, a master’s degree in gerontology from Lindenwood University, and a Master of Business Administration and Management from Maryville University of Saint Louis.

Art Kleinschmidt, Ph.D. was appointed as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In this capacity, Dr. Kleinschmidt will provide overall leadership of mental health and substance use disorder treatment, prevention, recovery services, intergovernmental and public affairs, agency operations, as well as budget, and financial management for the newly created Administration for a Healthy America.

Dr. Kleinschmidt has served in several leadership roles during his time in the federal government. He was appointed as a Senior Advisor for Substance Abuse at SAMHSA in 2017, and later served as a subject matter expert for mental health and addiction-related issues on the White House Domestic Policy Council. While on the Domestic Policy Council he co-authored the Executive Order #13954 Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental and Behavioral Health Needs during the COVID pandemic. He later received a Presidential Appointment from President Trump to assume the position of Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Policy. As the Deputy Director, Dr. Kleinschmidt received classified briefings on Drug Trafficking Organizations, border security, and was instrumental in crafting the President’s National Drug Control Strategy.

Dr. Kleinschmidt is a licensed mental professional and a licensed addiction counselor. He completed his clinical training at Hazelden Betty Ford. His work has focused on delivering direct treatment services for over two decades by providing individuals, families, and couples with substance use disorders, serious mental illness, and behavioral health complications with crucial and life-saving services. His experience working on multidisciplinary teams in both residential and outpatient and in private practice has resulted in being nationally recognized as a subject matter expert on the nexus between mental health, substance use disorders and criminal justice. Dr. Kleinschmidt has published articles for the Washington Times, Fox News, and the Washington Examiner.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Kleinschmidt earned an MBA and was a licensed Certified Public Accountant in his home state of Louisiana. He has business experience running a nonprofit organization in support of individuals in need of substance use treatment. This provided a strong foundation for his public health leadership.

Dr. Kleinschmidt has many personal connections to supporting individuals, families, and communities connect to treatment and move towards paths of recovery. As an individual living in active recovery since January 4, 2002, he has served as a volunteer peer worker assisting individuals in early recovery while living in the recovery community in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Thomas Engels is the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA is the primary federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for improving access to health care for people who are geographically isolated and economically or medically vulnerable.
As the Administrator, Mr. Engels oversees HRSA’s efforts to expand access to quality health care through grants awarded to state and local governments, providers of health profession training programs.

Under Mr. Engels' leadership, HRSA serves more than 31 million people through 1,400 health centers - an essential component of America’s health care safety net– with 15,000 sites in underserved and rural communities that provide primary care services regardless of patients’ ability to pay. Health centers are providing substance use disorder services–behavioral health–in steadily increasing numbers.

Toward that end, the agency continues to grow the behavioral health workforce and recruit providers to underserved and rural communities by investing in growing the National Health Service Corps, which provides loan repayment and scholarships to providers in return for practicing in these high-need communities.
In keeping with its mission, HRSA programs reach more than 60 million pregnant women, infants, and children; more than 560,000 people with HIV; more than 1,900 rural counties and municipalities; and more than 21,000 clinicians in the National Health Service Corps and Nurse Corps and other programs who provide medical, dental and mental health services to over 22 million Americans.

Mr. Engels is the first person to be twice appointed HRSA Administrator by a U.S. President serving nonconsecutive terms.

Mr. Engels was HRSA Administrator from November 2019 until January 2021.

During his initial tenure as administrator, Mr. Engels oversaw programs to address the opioid epidemic through the integration of behavioral health into primary care and HIV care settings. He also directed the management of the historic $175 billion COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund, which provided relief and assistance to hospitals and other health care professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, he completed the most significant reorganization of the agency in its 40-year history. Mr. Engels also served on the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Prior to first joining HRSA, Mr. Engels was Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services from 2015 to 2019, managing a department with more than 6,000 employees and a $12 billion budget. In that role, he championed and oversaw the expansion of the state’s mental health services, the establishment of a statewide electronic health record system and an increase in staffing at long-term care facilities. He was also an active member of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse.
Formerly Vice President of Public Affairs at the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, Mr. Engels also served as the Government Affairs Director for the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association, and previously held public service positions working as Governor Tommy Thompson’s Deputy Press Secretary and Communications Director for the Senate Republican Caucus.
More recently, he was elected as Sergeant-At-Arms by the Wisconsin State Senate in 2021 and re-elected in 2023 and 2025. The Wisconsin State Sergeant-At-Arms is a nonpartisan constitutional officer.

He also is a certified emergency medical technician, and for many years a volunteer firefighter.

Mr. Engels is a native of Wisconsin and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Maryann Mason holds a doctorate in Sociology from Loyola University of Chicago. Dr. Mason is currently an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine where she serves as Injury and Violence Research Director of the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics located in the Institute for Public Health and Medicine in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Her work concentrates on injury control and violence prevention with significant experience in surveillance system management, population-based research in the areas of violent death, opioid overdose and community-engagement and qualitative methods. Dr. Mason became Principal Investigator of the Illinois Violent Death Reporting System in 2014 when Illinois joined the National Violent Death Reporting System. In 2019, she established the Illinois Statewide Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System.

Kristi Horner is the Founder and Executive Director for Courage to Caregivers. She is a certified, through Ohio's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Family Peer Support Specialist and NAMI Ohio Trainer for this program. She is also credentialed as a Prevention Specialist and Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Instructor.

In 2014, she lost her brother to suicide. She had been one of her brother’s mental illness long-distance caregivers for four years. He lived with depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. As someone who supported someone she loved very much, living with mental illness, she knew there had to be a better way to support mental illness caregivers and the idea for Courage to Caregivers was born!

Shannon is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Light after Loss @ The Hope and Healing Center, and now The Traumatic Loss Care (TLC) Institute. Shannon lost her husband, Craig, to suicide on August 3, 2016, leaving her and their two young girls behind. She was the Director of Counseling Services at The University of Mount Union and the President of NAMI Stark County at the time. She was certainly no stranger to mental health and suicide as it was something she helped people cope with every day. Despite that, the last thing she ever dreamed of was being on the other side of that coin. Craig to manage his mental health and related symptoms for many years, but just like everyone else, she never thought he would become a statistic. In 2018, Shannon stepped down from her positions at Mount Union and NAMI Stark County to heal; to help her two young daughters heal. After being a counselor for nearly 10 years, she also learned that the grief and trauma related to loss survivors are unique to only those who have experienced it. Survivors are at an increased risk of taking their own lives often due to unresolved emotions surrounding the unimaginable. As a result of her own difficult and lonely journey through suicide loss, she wants to be a light for others to spread hope for healing.

Grant Merrell, MDiv came to LivingWorks Education following a five-year career in higher education and a fifteen-year career in nonprofit management that included places of worship, preschools, and community foundations. Passionate about suicide prevention, he brings the strength of being a connector – connecting people and organizations to resources and connecting individuals to their own roles in helping to create communities that are suicide-safer. Outside his role as the LivingWorks Suicide Prevention Manager for the Northeast quarter of the United States, Grant loves hiking, swimming, baking, and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his husband, two children, and two senior rescue dogs.

As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, Kari Benson leads the Administration on Aging in advocating on behalf of older Americans. In this capacity, she guides and promotes the development of home and community-based services and healthy aging programs, policies, and services designed to afford older people and their caregivers the ability to age with dignity and independence and to have a broad array of options available for an enhanced quality of life.

Kari's entire career has been in the aging network. Prior to rejoining ACL, Kari served as the director of the Aging and Adult Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services and as the executive director of the Minnesota Board on Aging.

Kari holds a bachelor's degree in human ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in public policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota.

Jennifer Solomon, M.A. serves as a Public Health Analyst for the Health Resources Services Administration/ Bureau of Health Workforce in the Division of Medicine and Dentistry. Ms. Solomon oversees the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). She has a grant portfolio comprised of several GWEP programs from across the country. Ms. Solomon is a Contract Officer Representative (COR) III overseeing contracts. Ms. Solomon completed the Bureau of Health Workforce’s Aspiring Leaders Program.

Ms. Solomon spent 28 years working for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA)/ Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. As the program lead for developing substance prevention programs for older adults, Ms. Solomon oversaw the development of the Get Connected Toolkit and was the Federal Champion for SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol #26 Treating Addiction in Older Adults. Jennifer also served as the COR III on the State Technical Contact, the Prevention Fellows Contract, and the State Liaison Contract. Jennifer was the Participation Protection Officer. She has been a Project Officer for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program and the Drug-Free Communities Program. Ms. Solomon completed the Partnership for Public Service Fellowship Program.

Dr. Lauren Okamoto is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geriatric Medicine at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). She is board certified in Geriatric Medicine and Family Medicine. She serves as Co-Clerkship Director of the JABSOM Medical Student Clerkship and Rotation and Director of the Resident Rotation in Geriatric Medicine. She is a previous recipient of the John A. Hartford Foundation Junior Faculty Career Development Award and most recently the Geriatrics Academic Career Award (GACA) from HRSA. She serves as medical director of several nursing facilities in Hawaii and is a Co-Investigator of Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program at the University of Hawaii. Her interests include nursing home medicine, medical education in geriatrics, and medical directorship.

Dr. Mary Bonnet is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Geriatrics at the University of Rochester. She focuses her care on treating older adults in assisted and independent living facilities throughout the Monroe County and Canandaigua area. She completed residency in Family Medicine at the University of Rochester and fellowship in Geriatrics at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon in 2019. Dr. Bonnet received the Geriatric Academic Career Award in 2023, a federally funded grant that allows her the opportunity to further her passion for geriatrics with a focus on interprofessional training and community education. She lives in Rochester, NY with her husband, two young children, 13-year-old dachshund and most recently a golden retriever puppy!

Dr. Emily Samuels is an Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. With experience delivering primary care to homebound patients in Manhattan, she now practices as an office-based geriatric primary care physician. In 2023, she was awarded the Geriatric Academic Career Award (GACA), a four-year grant that supports her work in developing and implementing a wound care curriculum, with a special focus on caregiver education. Dr. Samuels is also leading the establishment of a multidisciplinary wound clinic, collaborating with experts in vascular surgery and podiatry, to deliver comprehensive care to both ambulatory and homebound patients.

Dane is a Master of Counselling Psychology student at Trinity Western University. He is completing his own research to better highlight new fathers’ meaning making process of received spousal support. Dane currently works as a graduate research assistant for Retirement Lab, based out of the University of British Columbia, focused on the experiences of highly work-identified people and their successful transition to retirement.

Nicole is a Graduate Researcher and Registered Clinical Counsellor based in Vancouver, Canada. She holds a Masters in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia. Through her research and clinical work, Nicole explores how individuals navigate major transitions and find meaning in new life stages. She currently works as a research assistant on the SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada) funded study, When You Stop You are Nothing: Older Men and the Transition to Retirement.  

Jenessa is currently completing her master’s degree in counselling psychology at Trinity Western University. Jenessa’s research interests include transitions and transformations, particularly exploring the factors that help and hinder the transition to retirement, as well as exploring the transformative emotion of awe, specifically in therapeutic contexts.

Dr. Angela Hauger is a clinical psychologist with a specialty in aging earned at Washington University, St. Louis, MO. She is a Professor Emeritus of the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN where she recently retired as long-time Director of the Gerontology Program and Professor of Psychology. She has been a licensed psychologist in Minnesota since 1991 and has a private practice in Duluth.   

Katrina Kyle is the Health and Wellness Statewide Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. She manages Title IIID with PA’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging and PDA’s endorsement of Healthy IDEAS, Healthy Steps for Older Adults, Healthy Steps in Motion and SMRC’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Suite. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in psychology from Shippensburg University. She has over 30 years of experience promoting access to access to health and access to behavioral health for those in greatest of need. While at PA’s Department of Health she was the lead of the Community Health Challenge Grant Program to fund doctors and dentists in health professional shortage areas or to establish new Community Health Centers in medically underserved areas. She was the lead Pennsylvania’s state health assessment and state health improvement plan. As a county Drug and Alcohol Director she implemented collaborations with the local mental health systems and criminal justice to established ‘no wrong door’ policies for mental health and drug and alcohol treatment as well as treatment alternatives to incarceration. She enjoys walks with her dog or cuddling with one or more of her four cats.

Melissa Donegan is the Director of the Healthy Living Center of Excellence (HLCE) at AgeSpan. Melissa assists in the overall management and dissemination of healthy living evidence-based programs in clinical and community settings across the state of Massachusetts. Melissa is the National Director of the Healthy IDEAS Program, an Evidence-based Program that works 1:1 with older adults to identify and reduce the symptoms of depression. Melissa is a National ReFraming Aging Facilitator and a subject matter expert on ageism. Melissa leads initiatives to promote overall wellness in aging which include health equity, social isolation and loneliness, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and anti-ageism efforts. Melissa began her career at AgeSpan in 2004, healthy living is a passion for Melissa both personally and professionally.

Born in Eastern Europe in the early 1950s, Lucia Novic grew up in Romania during the communist era. She earned a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in Bucharest and, after graduating in 1972, worked for Intercontinental Hotels, which was partnered with Pan American Airlines. This opportunity to work for an American company in a communist country was a significant achievement. In 1982, Lucia emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City, where she continued her career in the hotel industry and enjoyed a successful professional life. After retiring and facing difficult personal challenges, Lucia sought support through psychotherapy, but found the experience to be impersonal and unhelpful. Seeking ways to find assistance, she became a member of Sunnyside Community Services (SCS). There she discovered not only engaging activities but also access to counseling. This new support system helped her navigate major life changes with resilience, courage, and strength, leading her to a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Heather Marriott was brought on to NCOA as a Program Specialist managing the Vaccine Uptake Initiative and supporting the NISC Affiliate Network expansion. She is a community engagement professional with a passion for income equality and health equity! She comes to NCOA from a small local nonprofit in Missouri, where she worked as a Community Engagement Director.

EDUCATION
M.Ed. Special Education: Moderate and Severe Handicaps, University of Illinois-Champaign.
(Dean’s List, Special Education Department Award)

B.A. Psychology/Sociology, Hope College-Holland, Michigan. (Presidential Scholarship, Dean’s List, Mortar Board, Phi Beta Kappa, Psi Chi)

CERTIFICATIONS
Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota Teaching Certificates in Moderate to Severe Mental Handicaps, K-12.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Director of Human Potential, ND Center for Persons with Disabilities – Conducting professional development training for staff to ensure implementation of best-practice initiatives. Providing information, resources, and referrals to individuals with disabilities, family members, and professionals from across the state. (September 2021 to Present)

Project Director, Trauma Informed Approaches for Adults with Disabilities (TRIAD) - Overseeing project activities for providing person-centered trauma informed care to older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, family caregivers, and professionals. (May 2024 to Present)

Research Associate, ND Center for Persons with Disabilities –Assessing individuals with disabilities, developing and modifying curriculum, implementing training, collecting and analyzing data for evaluation. (September 2011 to Present)

Preservice Training Facilitator, ND Center for Persons with Disabilities – Facilitating NDCPD’s preservice activities Teaching an interdisciplinary Disability Studies course for Minot State students. Mentoring undergraduate students in internship programs. Facilitating training activities for interdisciplinary scholars based on a LEND model. (May 1998 to Present)

Instructor, Department of Special Education, Minot State University - Teaching undergraduate and graduate coursework for prospective special education teachers. Coordinating practicum and independent study opportunities for preservice students in the special education and human service programs. (August 1996 to Present)

Project Coordinator, Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment Project (ASTEP) – Served as an advisor and the employment coordinator for students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in Minot State University’s TPSID program. Developed and implemented person-centered plans to support college success. Used a customized employment model to support students’ employment. Provided statewide training for families and professionals on postsecondary education opportunities for young adults with intellectual disabilities. (December 2010 to December 2023)

LEND Training Director, Utah Regional LEND Consortium – Recruited trainees. Coordinated implementation of training activities for North Dakota trainees. Served on consortium committees. Facilitated research/leadership projects as a faculty mentor. Directed family mentorship projects and parent-directed consultations for trainees. (August 2005 to August 2019)

Teacher, Special Education Classrooms in Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota - Taught in classrooms for transition-age students with I/DD. Implemented functional, age-appropriate individualized education in regular education and community settings. Promoted self-determination and effective transition to adulthood. (August 1991 to August 1996)

Detail-oriented project manager, trainer, and public speaker with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit program management. 

EDUCATION 

B.A. Clark University, Psychology, graduated 1976 

M.A. University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Clinical Psychology, graduated 1986 

Ph.D. University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Applied Developmental Psychology, 

Trained in Clinical Psychology, Applied Developmental Psychology and Applied Behavioral Analysis, graduated 1996  

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION 

Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist – License # 3537 

EMDR – Trauma Therapy–Advanced Certification 

EDUCATION
B.A. Communication Disorders Brigham Young University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Abilities Specialist, ND Center for Persons with Disabilities – Co-teaching SPED 234 a class that looks at the lifespan (from birth to death) of people with disabilities. Teaching the importance of person-centered planning and the importance of presuming that all students can learn, live on their own and lead independent lives. Sharing lived experience as a person with a disability.

Certified Navigator, ND Center for Persons with Disabilities - Meet with individuals to provide information about available health insurance plans offered by the marketplace.

Independent living specialist for independence Inc - Developed instructional materials and classes for individuals with disabilities to enhance their independence. Networked across the state to ensure that individuals with disabilities received the support needed to live independently. Ensured client caseload was properly documented and charts were current.

Consumer liaison and consumer service coordinator with North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities–Networked on a national level for potential conference presenters on disability related issues. Served as NDCPD consumer liaison. Coordinated and facilitated all the meetings for the consumer Advisory Council. Coordinated research activities conducted literature reviews and statistical analysis on funded grants with NDCPD. Secured funding from the North Dakota Association of the Disabled for a conference focused on developing the leadership and communication skills of the next generation of advocates.

Committees and Professional Memberships
Peer vision for mental health board of directors

Dr. Nonnemacher received her Ph.D. from Lehigh University and most recently served as the Clinical Director for Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations in the Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs. In this role, Stacy influenced and informed policy and programmatic decisions related to state Medicaid programs focusing on clinical practices and behavioral science to affect change and create best practices in supporting people, their families, and other supporters. With over twenty-five years of experience in the field supporting children, adolescents, and adults in home, community, and school settings, Dr. Nonnemacher also conducted applied research and capacity building efforts embracing the application and replication of positive approaches. Stacy was Editor in Chief of the Positive Approaches Journal for the past five years.

Dr. Nonnemacher will be responsible for leading NASDDDS’ efforts to support states in developing positive support models for individuals with dual diagnosis, medical complexity, multi-system involvement (including law enforcement and judiciary), and other populations with complex support needs. In her role as the Director of Cross-System Strategies, she will lead NASDDDS’ newly established Dual Diagnosis Capacity Building Institute, as well as serve as a key team member for the recently funded ACL Co-Occurring Resource Center for Individuals with I/DD and Mental Health Support Needs.  Stacy will also serve as a key liaison on these issues with partners such as the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), NADD, and Federal partners to inform emerging priority areas.

Dr. Nonnemacher’s new role involves collaboration with the entire NASDDDS team to infuse principles of trauma-informed systems and support into all of our policy and practice initiatives, and to ensure that our existing priorities, including promotion of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and person-centered practices, are reflected in all facets of this body of work.

“Year over year, serving people with complex support needs ranks top among our member priorities,” said NASDDDS Executive Director, Mary Sowers. “NASDDDS is so very glad to welcome Dr. Nonnemacher to help us better support our state member agencies.”

My name is Bailee Brekke, I am a first year PhD student in the Social Gerontology program at  Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I also work as a graduate research assistant in the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami. My research interests surround substance use among older adults, as well as state and federal policies that support this population. The data presented today stems from a project I worked on in conjunction with other Scripps researchers and a local community-based organization in the Midwest.  

Amanda Krisher, MSW, LCSW, brings over 15 years of direct practice and program management experience to the National Council on Aging where she serves as the Associate Director for Behavioral Health in the Center for Healthy Aging. A seasoned professional in the older adult care industry, she previously was the Senior Director for a live virtual training program for older adult care professionals and a clinical social worker for a community health program and hospice organization. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore and is a Licensed Certified Clinical Social Worker in Maryland and Virginia. As a leader in older adult care, she has presented at national conferences and statewide meetings.