SPRC Home> Featured Resources> Training and Events> Conferences> Colorado> Biographies

Preventing Suicide in Regions 7 and 8 Conference

October 28 - 30, 2003
Westminster, CO

Speaker Biographies

(In Alphabetical Order)

Josette Bell
Josette was born in Reno Nevada in 1985 to Roberta Mea Long Chase and Maurice Belgarde. Josette's tribal affiliations are Dakota Sioux and Northern Cree. Josette has resided in Nevada, the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, the Turtle Mountain Reservation, and currently in New Town North Dakota on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Along with her two brothers and sister, Josette strives to follow the spiritual path, and is very active in Sun Dance ceremonies. Josette spends her time helping as best she can, her family, community, and her peers. Josette will graduate from high school in the spring of 2004 with plans of attending college so she can come back to the reservation and help our elders and children.

                                                                           top of page

Alan Berman, PhD
Dr. Berman is executive director of the American Association of Suicidology and in private practice at the Washington Psychological Center, P.C. He is the former Director of the National Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide at the Washington School of Psychiatry. Dr. Berman was a tenured full professor of psychology at the American University in Washington, DC where he taught for 22 years. He is the author/editor of 7 books and more than 90 book chapters and peer reviewed journal articles.

                                                                           top of page

Gayle Berry
Representative Gayle Berry is a four-term member of the Colorado House of Representatives. First elected in 1996, she is currently serving her fourth and final term. Gayle chairs the House Transportation and Energy Committee and sits on the House Local Government Committee and House Appropriations Committee. She served four years on the powerful Joint Budget Committee and has served six years on House Appropriations. Nationally, she serves on a number of legislative committees concerned with tax and fiscal policy, transportation and women's issues. She has received numerous "Legislator of the Year" awards. A graduate of Fruita Monument High School and Mesa State College, Berry is a life-long resident of the Western Slope. Prior to her election to the legislature, she owned and operated a successful small business for fifteen years. She has been active in a wide range of community affairs including business, education and family welfare. She chaired the board for the Grand Junction Chamber and served as its legislative co-chair. Her personal interests include golf, weight training/fitness and sewing. Representative Berry regularly speaks to local, state-wide and national groups on legislative topics. For additional details, please consult the "Meet Gayle" segment of her web site www.gayleberry.com.

                                                                           top of page

Shannon Breitzman, MA
Shannon Breitzman is the director of Injury and Suicide Prevention Programs at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, including sexual assault, violence, suicide, motor vehicle crashes, and falls prevention. Shannon previously directed the state Office of Suicide Prevention. She serves as director for the Colorado Child Fatality Review Committee and facilitates multidisciplinary coalitions and advisory boards, including the Colorado Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, the Colorado Sexual Assault Prevention Advisory Committee, and the Office of Suicide Prevention Advisory Board. Shannon has worked in the fields of mental health and human services for ten years. Her professional experience has included working with children, adolescents, and their families, including assessment and treatment planning for adolescents displaying suicidal behavior or at risk for suicide. Shannon is a certified trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and a public speaker on suicidal behavior and suicide prevention. Shannon has a master's degree in marriage, family, and child therapy, and a master's degree in art therapy.

                                                                           top of page

Carol Breslau, MS
Carol Breslau serves as senior program officer for The Colorado Trust. Established in 1985 and endowed with the proceeds of the sale of Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, The Trust is a grantmaking foundation dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of the people of Colorado. On behalf of The Colorado Trust, Breslau leads the team of program officers, which provides leadership and management in designing and implementing initiative-based grantmaking efforts. She also is responsible for management of several major initiatives, such as the Colorado Violence Prevention Initiative, which focuses on the prevention and reduction of violence in Colorado, Assets for Colorado Youth, an effort to promote and support positive youth development, the Preventing Suicide in Colorado Initiative, which emphasizes a community-based approach to preventing suicide, and the Palliative Care Initiative, which supports compassionate, comprehensive care for people with life-threatening medical conditions. Prior to joining The Colorado Trust in 1995, Breslau spent 18 years working for state and local governments in Colorado, developing and implementing programs in aging and adult services. Breslau holds a B.S. in education from Clarion State College in Clarion, Pennsylvania, and an M.S. in public administration from the University of Colorado at Denver.

                                                                           top of page

Jeremy Brigham, Dmin, PhD
Jeremy Brigham is a Research Associate for Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence, assigned to work on suicide prevention. He has become coordinator of Iowa's Suicide Prevention Strategy Steering Committee which formed in June 2002. Brigham also teaches human geography and Cultures of the Middle East at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His background includes 21 years of ministry in Unitarian Universalist Churches in Arizona, Ohio and Iowa. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Meadville/Lombard Theological School in Chicago in 1971 and a Ph.D. in Geography at the University of Iowa in 1998. Brigham and his wife, Selma, who have been married for 37 years, have three daughters and six grandchildren. They are raising two of them, a 3 year old and a 5 year old, in their home.

                                                                           top of page

Effley N. Brooks, III, MA
Effley Brooks currently is the Director of the Denver Community Leadership Forum (DCLF) with the Centers in the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver. DCLF is a ten-month program that focuses on developing collaborative leadership skills and cooperative problem solving among public, non-profit and private sector participants. Mr. Brooks specializes in training, facilitation and organizational development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Business Administration. Effley Brooks honed his public speaking and motivational talents through his work in the non-profit industry. During his tenure as program director for the Shaka Franklin Foundation for Youth, a youth suicide prevention organization, Mr. Brooks became one of the most sought after speakers on teen suicide prevention in Colorado. In addition, Mr. Brooks has been the keynote speaker at school graduations, as well as national and international conferences. He also has appeared as a guest on local television talk shows and the local news. To further his efforts toward positive social change, Mr. Brooks joined the PeaceJam staff as senior program director in 1998. The PeaceJam Foundation is an international organization that inspires young people throughout the world to become peacemakers in their own communities, through an educational curriculum, service projects, and annual PeaceJam conferences. During the PeaceJam conferences, students interact with a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who encourages them to take action toward peace in their own communities. Mr. Brooks has served as Master of Ceremony at PeaceJam conference throughout the United States and in South Africa. He also has conducted workshops on communication, suicide prevention, and story telling at the PeaceJam conferences. He has had the honor of sharing the stage with inspiring individuals such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jose Ramos-Horta, Dr. Oscar Arias, Jody Williams, Willie O'Ree, Betty Williams and Rigoberta Menchu Tum. Through his work with the Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, the Anti-Defamation League, NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force, Tiger Bee Consulting, and other local and national organizations, Mr. Brooks has facilitated workshops on cultural competence and tolerance for corporations, government agencies, universities, and schools. He also conducts leadership development workshops and seminars. Mr. Brooks uses humor, personal experiences and poetry in his messages to inspire others. His clients include the StorageTek, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Wyoming Hospital Association, Denver Zoo, I Have A Dream Foundation, Northeast Denver Housing Center, The Center for International Studies, Colorado Department of natural Resources, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Mr. Brook's has been recognized with honors and awards for his achievements. He was honored by Denver Mayor Wellington Webb for "fighting hate and discrimination and endeavoring to make Denver a Safe City." He received the Human Rights Award 2000 from the Cherry Creek Diversity Conference for promoting the ideals of peace and understanding to the youth of Colorado. The Colorado School Counselor Association gave him an award for "Outstanding Service," and the Contemporary Learning Academy honored him for his volunteer work and commitment to children. Mr. Brooks serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Resource Center (CRC), Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA), and Metro Volunteers.

                                                                           top of page

Denise J. Bulling, MA, LPC
Ms. Bulling has served as a provider, manager, planner, and trainer in the areas of system development and collaboration, mental health emergencies, and behavioral health across disciplines. She has over 20 years of experience in behavioral health and is frequently asked to speak to groups about suicide, trauma, threat assessment, and collaboration. She is a project manager at the Public Policy Center for the University of Nebraska and is a member of Nebraska's Critical incident Stress Management Team, a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, the American Association of Suicidology, and a mental health volunteer with the American Red Cross.

                                                                           top of page

Aurita Prince Caldwell, M.Ed.
Aurita Prince Caldwell, M.Ed. currently serves as the Assistant to the Division Director of the Division of Community Health in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. She also serves as the lead for suicide prevention efforts in the Department and has been actively involved in planning efforts at the national, state and local level for the last 6 years. She has twenty-five years of public health experience in chronic disease, genetics, injury control, disability prevention and community collaboration. She received an undergraduate degree from Truman State University in Sociology and Psychology with a minor in Law Enforcement and Corrections and a graduate degree in Guidance and Counseling from Lincoln University. She served as Chair for a four state collaborative effort that resulted in a successful regional conference on suicide prevention, "Creating Community Action for Suicide Prevention: Bringing a National Dialogue to the Community." She currently is working on an initiative to increase awareness of violence as a public health issue in her state. She is a certified gatekeeper trainer and has trained hundreds of Missourians to recognize and respond to suicide warning signs utilizing the QPR method.

                                                                           top of page

Andrea Charbonneau, MD
Andrea Charbonneau is a general internist who has recently joined the Division of General and Geriatric Medicine after finisher her general medicine fellowship at Boston University. She is a clinician investigator with research and clinical interests in health promotion and disease prevention. She led a health services grant during her fellowship, during which she and a multidisciplinary research team profiled the quality of depression care in the VA using administrative and centralized pharmacy data. She completed an internal medicine residency at Brown university, a medical degree at New York Medical College, and an undergraduate degree in religion at Columbia University. She was raised in Massachusetts.

                                                                           top of page

Kenneth Conner, PsyD, MPH
Kenneth R. Conner is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center where he conducts research in the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide. His research is focused on the role of alcohol and interpersonal aggression in suicidal behavior, and he has published several articles on these topics including in the American Journal of Psychiatry and the American Journal of Public Health. In 2000, the U.S. National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) awarded him a five-year research award (K23) titled "Alcoholism and suicide." He also has a grant funded by the National Institute on mental Health to study suicide in China. In April 2003 he was presented the Edwin Shneidman Award by the American Association of Suicidology for outstanding early career contribution to suicide research.

                                                                           top of page

Ellen Connorton, MSW, MPA
Ellen Connorton serves as SPRC's Deputy Director. She has worked in preventive health, mental health and education programs for over 15 years as a teacher, counselor, manager and consultant at the local, state and national levels, in government and with many non-profit organizations.

Prior to joining SPRC, Ellen founded the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Working Group / Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention while serving as coordinator of violence prevention and intentional injury at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She organized and chaired the process of developing a Massachusetts Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention, and designed and facilitated a conference to help other northeast states advance their suicide prevention planning.

She has a Bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from the George Washington University; holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in public policy, management, program planning and development; and a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, concentrating in leadership, conflict resolution and negotiation, and political advocacy. Ellen's professional interests include youth violence and suicide prevention, injury prevention, aging issues, health promotion and disease prevention for developing communities, and rights-based approaches to health. When not working, she coaches rowing and divides her time between Red Sox Nation and Cambridge, MA.

                                                                           top of page

Ali Cook
Ali is 16 Years Old and lost her Uncle, Michael Emme to suicide in 1994. She is the granddaughter of Dale and Dar Emme who are co-founders of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program International. Ali is an international youth council member with that organization as well as a volunteer.

                                                                           top of page

Franklin Cook, MA
Franklin Cook is a board member of the Front Porch Coalition, a suicide-prevention and mental-health promotion task force serving Western South Dakota. He originally became involved in suicide prevention and aftercare as a volunteer with a survivors support group, then later as a community organizer and prevention advocate, and eventually as the first executive director of the coalition. He is a professional journalist and holds a master's degree in English.

                                                                           top of page

Thom Danenhower, BA
Thom Danenhower has been the state Injury Prevention Coordinator within the Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention Section of the Department of Public Health and Human Services since 1996. He has resided in Montana since 1990 and moved to Montana to pursue a passion for fly fishing. He went around the world in 1990-91, and has made four trips to New Zealand to fly fish since. Thom has also traveled widely in Canada and Mexico. Danenhower lived in Hawaii for a number of years in the 80's and was a special education teacher at a residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed children. Danenhower was an EMT/firefighter for 11 years in Montecito near Santa Barbara, California. Other work experience includes commercial fishing off the central California coast and islands, work as a hotshot firefighter, managing worker's comp cases as a safety specialist, and work as a Registered Sanitarian and pediatric lead poisoning prevention specialist in local public health departments. Danenhower has a B.A. in Geology, a Secondary Teaching Certificate in Physical Science, is a 40 hour Haz Mat card holder, and Registered Sanitarian. His favorite day off activity is fly fishing for large trout in Montana's ponds and lakes from afloat tube. He currently resides in Helena and can be reached for more information at 406/444-4126, tdanenhower@state.mt.us.

                                                                           top of page

Jean Davies
Ms. Davies has worked in behavioral health for over 17 years. Currently director of Marketing for Wyoming Behavioral Institute, a 70 for profit psychiatric hospital. She has been on the Natrona County Suicide Prevention Task Force for 4 years and also on the Wyoming Suicide Prevention Task Force for the same amount of time. She is a strong advocate for youth and look for ways to involve them in prevention programs. Currently Ms. Davies is the vice-chair for Wyoming Community Coalition for Health Education and also on the advisory board for the Child Advocacy Project in Casper. This is a place that was started to interview and do medical workups on children who have been abused. she also serves as Executive Secretary for the Wyoming Psychiatric Society.

                                                                           top of page

Anthony R. D'Augelli, PhD
Anthony R. D'Augelli, Ph.D. is a community psychologist and Professor of Human Development in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University. His research focuses on the challenges faced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths, especially victimization based on their sexual identity. He is the co editor of three books that review contemporary psychological research on sexual orientation, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identities over the Lifespan (1995), Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identities in Families (1998), and Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identities and Youth (2001), all published by Oxford University Press. Currently he has two National Institute of Mental Health-funded grants, one concerning lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth and the other on factors leading to risky sexual behavior among men in rural communities.

                                                                           top of page

Commander Robert DeMartino, MD
Commander Robert DeMartino, MD, USPHS is Director of the Program in Trauma and Terrorism at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an Agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services, in Washington, DC. He earned his medical degree from Tufts University and completed residency training in both internal medicine and psychiatry in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. DeMartino acts as his Agency's lead in activities related to suicide and since its establishment in 2000, has served in the Federal Steering Group that has been leading the Government's efforts to develop and implement the country's first comprehensive national strategy to reduce the burden of self-directed violence, injury, and death. In the most visible outcome of this endeavor, Dr. DeMartino was managing editor for the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action released in May 2001. In support of the National Strategy Dr. DeMartino heads SAMHSA's program that funds the National Suicide Prevention Resource Center as well as other initiatives in suicide prevention.

                                                                           top of page

Teton Ducheneaux, PhD
Teton W. Ducheneaux has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Teton is a Lakota Sioux enrolled with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in Eagle Butte, SD. He is currently the Mental Health Director/Clinical Psychologist for the CRST Counseling Services Program. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. from The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, and B.S. from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. Mr. Ducheneaux worked with different research projects and a couple presentations in graduate school and beyond, focusing on Native American and Suicide Prevention Issues. He completed his Doctoral Internship at the Norfolk Regional Center in Norfolk, NE, a State Psychiatric Hospital. He also worked for one year each at the Circle of Nations Indian School in Wahpeton, ND, and the Circle of Life Indian School in White Earth, MN, as part of his clinical training. Prior to college he worked for the Our Home Rediscovery Inpatient Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Program, and Inhalant Abuse Program in Huron, SD, with primarily Native American Youth. Teton has been married for 11 year and has three sons. He is a survivor of suicide from a step-father, brother, relatives, and friends. He plans on continuing to work with his tribe and the people, providing services and focusing on suicide prevention efforts, which has been a goal and interest of his.

                                                                           top of page

Brian Dyak
Brian Dyak has been successfully involved in building a bridge between the entertainment industry and health and social issues since 1983. He is Executive Producer of the PRISM Awards, the entertainment industry's annual recognition of television shows, feature films and music that accurately portray drug and alcohol use and addiction. Now in its 7th year, the PRISM Awards airs on the FX network. Dyak serves as the founding President and CEO of the Entertainment industries Council, Inc. (EIC). Mr. Dyak has led efforts in the development of television and motion picture "depiction suggestions" on seat belt use; women and alcohol; the hearing impaired; the elderly; mental health; drug abuse and addiction; HIV/AIDS; organ donation and transplantation; gun violence and injury prevention; and terrorism, narco-terrorism and homeland security. He is publisher of Spotlight on Depiction of Health and Social Issues, a resource encyclopedia provided to the entertainment industry's creative community. Dyak also developed and launched First Draft, a technical referral service that provides entertainment creators seeking accurate information on numerous health and social issues with scientific and technical experts. Most recently, he published Spotlight on A new Normal, a 24-page booklet for entertainment creators providing facts and information, as well as depiction suggestions, on terrorism, narco-terrorism and homeland security. First Draft's services have expanded to provide expert technical assistance and referrals on terrorism-related issues. Mr. Dyak is the creator of a number of significant national media projects that address health and social issues. In 2001, he hosted "A new Way of Looking at Violence," an event featuring a panel of prominent entertainment creators at which he disseminated original audience-based research examining viewer reactions to gun violence onscreen. He also hosted a forum on mental health stigma and teen suicide, with Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher and Oscar-winning actor Sally Field, and was asked to facilitate a Hollywood Radio and Television Society Newsmaker Luncheon panel on the importance of accurate depiction of health and social issues in entertainment. Additionally, Mr. Dyak created landmark national media campaigns "Stop the Madness," a drug awareness campaign and partnership with CBS, "Facts For Life," a national television network campaign about HIV/AIDS, and "Buckle Up," a national cause-oriented marketing and merchandising campaign featuring "The Incredible Crash Dummies." Having served for 19 years at the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.'s President and CEO, Brian Dyak has a long-standing commitment to working with entertainment creators to produce original and compelling, high-quality entertainment, while at the same time addressing health and social issues in the most accurate ways possible. Via EIC and through his individual efforts, Dyak continues to prove an idea that he has held for years: that accurate depiction yields powerful entertainment.

                                                                           top of page

Dale Emme
Dale and Dar Emme founded the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program International in 1994 after losing their youngest son, Michael, age 17 to suicide. The Yellow Ribbon Program is being used throughout the world as a simple, effective tool to save lives. Speaking throughout the US, Canada and Australia, the Emmes' are helping raise awareness about the epidemic levels of youth suicide and are bringing focus, action, intervention, postvention and coalition building to suicide prevention efforts in many communities. Together they have written and published the story "I'll Always Be With You" which appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul book. They are currently working on a manuscript, "Legacy of the Yellow Mustang" about their travels throughout the world, work with youth who have attempted suicide, and families who have lost loved ones to suicide. Dale and Dar were appointed to the Colorado Governor's Suicide Prevention Advisory Commission in 1998 and founding members of the National Council for Suicide Prevention.

                                                                           top of page

Dar Emme
Dar Emme and her husband Dale founded the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program International in 1994 after losing their youngest son, Michael, age 17 to suicide. The Yellow Ribbon Program is being used throughout the world as a simple, effective tool to save lives. Speaking throughout the US, Canada and Australia, the Emmes' are helping raise awareness about the epidemic levels of youth suicide and are bringing focus, action, intervention, postvention and coalition building to suicide prevention efforts in many communities. Together they have written and published the story "I'll Always Be With You" which appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul book. They are currently working on a manuscript, "Legacy of the Yellow Mustang" about their travels throughout the world, work with youth who have attempted suicide, and families who have lost loved ones to suicide. Dar was appointed to the Colorado Governor's Suicide Prevention Advisory Commission in 1998 and is a founding member of the National Council for Suicide Prevention.

                                                                           top of page

Lynn Erickson
Lynn Erickson is coordinator of Well Aware, which is comprised of people who want to work together to improve the health status of the community through partnerships in Laramie Wyoming. Well Aware is made up of more than 400 members of the community and over 90 organizations. Well Aware supports 11 taskforces. The Mental health taskforce is currently working on suicide prevention.

                                                                           top of page

Stephannie Finley
Stephannie Finley has served as the Deputy Director of the University of Colorado's State and Federal Government Relations since September 2002. Prior to coming to CU, Finley was the Assistant Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, where she managed state and federal government relations, and served as the Acting Director of the Office of Suicide Prevention. Between 1992 and 1999, Finley worked as Congressman Scott McInnis' Chief of Staff in Washington, D.C. While working for McInnis, Finley founded and organized the Colorado "Power of One" conference for Denver-metro area women. Finley also worked for the White House in Presidential Advance during the early 90's, in addition to working for the Colorado House Majority Leader for six years. Stephannie served as the 2002-2003 public policy director for the Colorado Public Health Association and is a member on the Suicide Prevention Advisory Board. Her hobbies include traveling, watching the Colorado Avalanche, reading, walking and photography.

                                                                           top of page

Lynne Fullerton-Gleason, Ph.D.
Lynne Fullerton-Gleason is director of the CDC-funded Suicide Prevention Research Center at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. The Center's purview is the eight "intermountain" states, including Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Currently, the Center has projects in the areas of suicide surveillance and epidemiology, medical examiners and coroners' suicide death investigation protocols, and an analysis of the validity of suicide-related data collected in Indian country.

                                                                           top of page

Bill Geis, PhD
Dr. Geis is the Director of Behavioral health Research and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a PhD, interned at Indiana Medical School in Indianapolis and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas. He has spent over 17 years in Kansas City providing clinical services and supervising interns and residents in the treatment of persons with serious mental illness. He has conducted over 120 psychological autopsies involving persons who completed suicide within the urban core. In addition to his studies involving suicide prevention and treatment, his research has included the impact of early life psychological trauma on psychiatric symptoms, homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and access to care. He lives in Shawnee with his wife and two children and conducts a private practice in psychology on the Country Club Plaza.

                                                                           top of page

Joel Gray, MS, LPC
Joel Gray is the chair of the Mental Health taskforce of Well Aware. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor at the South East Wyoming Mental Health Center in Laramie Wyoming where he directs the adult outpatient services for the community.

                                                                           top of page

Arlene Ham
Ms. Ham is currently in her 4th term as Senator. She serves on the Education, Local Government and Health Campaign. This summer she has been working on the corrections committee. Ms. Ham feels that a lot of people that are mentally ill in South Dakota are in the DOC and she wants to change that. She is a retired businesswoman and is married with two children.

                                                                           top of page

George Hanigan
Currently the Deputy Director of Behavioral Health for the State of Nebraska. Licensed as a mental health provider. Have worked as a provider of mental health and substance abuse services. Has directed both a rural and urban mental health center.

                                                                           top of page

Lindsay M. Hayes
Lindsay M. Hayes is a project director of the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives, with an office in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Hayes is nationally recognized as an expert in the field of suicides within jails, prisons and juvenile facilities. As a consultant, he conducts training seminars and assesses suicide prevention practices in various state and local correctional systems throughout the country. Mr. Hayes has served as an expert witness/consultant in suicide litigation cases. Further, as a researcher, he has conducted the only national studies of jail, prison and juvenile suicide for the U.S. Justice Department, National Institute of Corrections (NIC). As a result of research, technical assistance and expert witness/consultant work in the area of suicide prevention, Mr. Hayes has reviewed and/or examined over 1500 cases of suicide in jail, prison and juvenile facilities throughout the country during the past 20 years. Finally, Mr. Hayes serves as editor of the Jail Suicide/Mental Health Update, a quarterly newsletter (produced under a cooperative agreement with NIC), and has authored over 50 publications in the area of suicide prevention within correctional facilities. He was recently presented with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care's Award of Excellence for outstanding contribution in the field of suicide prevention in correctional facilities.

                                                                           top of page

Larry Hejtmanek, LISW
35 year mental health professional, MSW from the University of Iowa in 1971. LISW, professional experience as a therapist, clinical supervisor of mental health center; director and currently vice president of clinical services of the Behavioral Health Resources in Des Moines, IA.

                                                                           top of page

Frank Heise

                                                                           top of page

Pablo Hernandez, MD
Dr. Hernandez has been the Hospital Administrator at the Wyoming State Hospital since 1995. On June 1, 1997 he was appointed as the Behavioral Health Division Administrator (now known as the Mental Health Division) for the Wyoming Department of Health, which encompasses the State Hospital and the State's community programs. Dr. Hernandez received his medical degree from the Salamanca Medical School in Salamanca, Spain. His clinical career began in 1968 in the State of Virginia, where he was Director of Gerontological Services. He moved on to the State of Mississippi, where he spent the next 14 years establishing community based service programs as well as active psychiatric treatment modalities and substance abuse services. He also served as the Director of the East Mississippi State Hospital. Dr. Hernandez moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico to be the Director of the Las Vegas Medical Center prior to his selection as Administrator of the Wyoming State Hospital. Dr. Hernandez has served in multiple state and national committees addressing issues of persons with persistent mental illness, mental health service system changes as well as cultural perspectives to mental health services. He has served as a consultant to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration reviewing service system designs as well as a reviewer of federal grants to states. He is an active member and advocate for the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill. Dr. Hernandez is a member of the National Latino Behavioral Group and the Hispanic Psychiatric Society. Dr. Hernandez also serves as the co-chair of the Substance Abuse and mental Health Services Administration.

                                                                           top of page

Cynthia Hodge, MA
Cindy Hodge is the manager of the Office of Suicide Prevention at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The Office of Suicide Prevention is the lead agency for the coordination of training, education, public awareness and resource regarding suicide prevention across the lifespan in Colorado. Ms. Hodge facilitates the Partners for Teen Suicide Prevention task force and consultation to the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado, Colorado Injury Prevention Advisory Committee and numerous community coalitions. Ms. Hodge has worked in the filed of mental health and child welfare for over thirteen years. Her professional experience has focused primarily on crisis intervention, suicide/threat assessment, family and individual therapy and trauma response. She is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management and is a master trainer for the Applied Suicide Intervention Skill training curriculum. Ms. Hodge speaks publicly on topics including crisis intervention, suicide and suicide prevention. She has a master's degree in psychology, specializing in psychometrics and counseling.

                                                                           top of page

Rodney W. Hopkins, Ph.D., MS
Rodney W. Hopkins, M.S., is a Research Assistant Professor in the Social Research Institute (SRI). Rod earned a B.S. degree in Community Health, with a certificate in gerontology and an M.S. in Health Science from Brigham Young University. He has completed all of the coursework toward a PhD in Health Education. He is the Principal Investigator for a random control trial of the Utah State Office of Education's statewide substance abuse prevention curriculum. Prior to this appointment, Rod had worked as a program manager in SRI and in the Department of Health Education & Promotion where he helped evaluate a 5-year CSAP-funded Community Partnership and 3-year Community Coalition Demonstration Project. Previous to his employment with the University, Rod was the Project Director for a model community health promotion program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation based in Park City. Over the years, Rod has taught a number of courses including: Substance Use and Abuse, Human Sexuality, Program Evaluation, and Community Organizing. He has presented at local and national conferences and meetings including CSAP-sponsored meetings, the American Public Health Association, and the National Prevention Network Prevention Research Conference.

                                                                           top of page

Connie L. Johnson
Rep. Connie '"LaJoyce" Johnson, a Democrat, represents part of St. Louis City (District 61) in the Missouri House of Representatives. In addition to her legislative duties, Rep. Johnson is a lawyer, employed at the Law Firm of Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis, Missouri where she works with the litigation practice group with emphasis on health law and medical malpractice. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of St. Louis School of Public Health. Her extensive experience includes serving as assistant to the director, Division of Aging, Missouri Department of Social Services. She oversaw the minority-aging program and provided leadership and staffed the Commission on the Special Health, Psychological and Social Needs of Older Minority Individuals and the Governor's Advisory council on Aging. She also worked from 1997 - 1999, on the legal team in the Office of the General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Health. There she worked on Personnel Advisory Board cases, childcare licensing and other programming issues. She also served as a member of the Minority Health Advisory Council. After graduation from law school, Rep. Johnson started working for the Missouri Department of Health in the Center for Local Public Health Services. As the administrative liaison, she managed core public health contracts for 114 counties in Missouri. In addition to those duties, she assisted the director in researching special projects, including insurance for Missouri's low-income children. Rep. Johnson is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Mound City Bar Association. She serves on the Walbridge Advisory Committee of St. Louis Caring Communities. She is the committeewoman for the 27th Ward in St. Louis and serves on the St. Louis NAACP Political Action Committee. Rep. Johnson also serves as the Vice President of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. In addition, she is a member of the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life. Honors and awards for Rep. Johnson include: Mortar Board and President's Service Award (Bradley University), Danforth Leadership award, St. Louis Association of Colored Women Community Service award, St. Louis Teachers Union Lifetime Achievement award, 2001 Mtumishi Service award for public service to the African American Community in the field of mental health, Top Ladies of Distinction unsung heroine award, Bradley University's Outstanding Young Graduate Award, Outstanding Legislator Award from the St. Louis Chapter of the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI). She has also received recognition from the Judicial System for her many years of support to the Judicial branch of Missouri state government, and the Missouri Bar for her outstanding service to the state through the improvement of the law.

                                                                           top of page

Kerry Knox, PhD
Dr. Knox is an Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She holds her primary appointment in the Department of Community and Preventive medicine, in the Division of Epidemiology and a secondary appointment in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Knox is an interdisciplinary trained scientist in epidemiology and public health, biological anthropology and neurobiology and physiology. She is the Principle Investigator on an NIMH funded study to prospectively conduct an evaluation of the United States Air Force Suicide Prevention Program.

                                                                           top of page

David A. Litts, O.D., F.A.A.O
David Litts, OD is Associate Director of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, a national center funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). As part of the center's executive management team, he contributes to the strategic planning of the new center and manages a staff that provides technical assistance in evidence-based suicide prevention planning and implementation. Previously, he served for three years as Special Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Health and the US Surgeon General. In this position, he represented the Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary to ensure completion of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and the development of a public-private infrastructure to facilitate its implementation. He has also served as Chief of Staff for the Air Force Surgeon General and Executive Director of the Air Force Suicide Prevention Program. In this post he oversaw the development and implementation of a comprehensive population-based suicide prevention program covering 600,000 Air Force personnel. The program was associated with a statistically significant, 55 percent drop in the suicide rate among Air Force members over four years. This program is now the largest and longest sustained suicide prevention effort associated with significant reductions in suicide. Other positions include three years as Senior Health Policy Analyst for the Department of Defense and 13 years providing and managing clinical care in various outpatient settings. He earned the Doctor of Optometry (OD) from Illinois College of Optometry. He is the recipient of the Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Award and the Secretary's Distinguished Service Award for his work on the National Strategy and the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health.

                                                                           top of page

Mark LoMurray
Mark LoMurray is the project director of the North Dakota Adolescent Suicide Prevention Project. He is an expert in the community and faith-based prevention programs with 25 years experience in working with adolescents and families related to health risk behaviors, especially suicide, substance abuse, violence, and incidents of trauma. He specializes in development of rural and tribal prevention efforts and designed and implemented cutting edge approaches toward using mentoring, teen leadership, and early screening strategies in statewide prevention campaigns. Mr. LoMurray has designed and implemented the North Dakota Adolescent Suicide Prevention Project and the national award winning Anger/Conflict Program. A Central CAPT (Center for Applied Prevention Technologies) Associate and Adjunct Professor for the University of North Dakota School of Medicine brings a broad background in crisis intervention, family counseling, community development, and adventure based programs. Highly regarded for developing science-based programs that have been proven to work with youth and families.

                                                                           top of page

Keri Lubell, PhD

                                                                           top of page

Patrick Magnuson
Patrick Magnuson is a 16 year old student at Fort Zumwalt North High School. He is a junior there and is involved with S.W.A.D, Students Working Against Depression. He is also working with the St. Charles Task Force on suicide prevention.

                                                                           top of page

Elizabeth Makulec
Ms. Makulec joined the staff of Kids Under Twenty One, KUTO in 1994. KUTO is a unique youth focused agency that trains youth with the skills, confidence and courage to help a friend or peer by implementing the "teens helping teens help themselves" philosophy. Utilizing youth and adult partner volunteers, KUTO provides peer facilitated crisis prevention, suicide intervention and post-vention support; the KUTO Crisis Helpline, a telephone hotline staffed entirely by trained youth volunteers; Peer Helper Training, structured skills building that enables youth to serve as "gatekeepers" in their community; SurvivAbility, youth survivors of suicide program; Winning With Wellness, student initiated health and wellness mentoring project; and Community Education, QPR suicide awareness, risk reduction and intervention workshops. Ms. Makulec has facilitated presentation for American Association of Suicidology conference in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2001, and the 2000 National Organization of People of Color Against Suicide conference. In addition to managing operational and administrative responsibilities, Ms. Makulec is very involved in program development and implementation, and coordinates agency compliance in the AAS, Missouri State and National Peer Helpers Associations, the mental Health Association of Greater St. Louis, Family Resource Council, United Way of Greater St. Louis and the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program. Ms. Makulec serves on many community advisory committees; MHA Public Education, Mental Illness Awareness Coalition, St. Louis Safe Schools/Healthy Communities, the Missouri Alcoholism Research Center and is a collaborating partner in the Eastern Region Suicide Prevention Grant funded by the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Prior to joining KUTO, her experience included work in many varied industries, such as residential mortgages, retail merchandising, public relations and customer service. Having graduated from Colorado State University, she feels right at home with the Front Range in sight!

                                                                           top of page

Michelle Ann Moskos, Ph.D., MPH, HSA

Education

  

2000

Doctor of Philosophy University of Utah-Department of Health Promotion and Education

1997

Master Degree of Public Health and Master Degree of Health Services Administration University of Utah School of Medicine-Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

1994

Bachelor of Science University of Utah--Department of Biology (Human Anatomy Major/Chemistry Minor)



Positions and Honors

1990-1997

Inpatient Nursing Assistant, Shriner's Hospital for Children

1996-1997

Community Health Specialist III, Utah Department of Health Bureau of HIV/AIDS

1996-2001

HIV/AIDS Basic Fundamentals Instructor, American Red Cross

1997-1998

Principle Investigator, Utah Department of Health Bureau of HIV/AIDS CDC Grant Physician Compliance with PHS Recommendations for HIV Screening and Testing Among Women of Child Bearing Age

1997-1998

HIV/AIDS Community Health Education Committee Member, American Red Cross

1997-2000

Assistant Instructor, University of Utah Department of Health Promotion and Education

1997-2000

Outstanding University Teaching Award, University of Utah Office of the Dean

1998-1999

Outstanding Graduate Student Award, University of Utah Department of Health Promotion and Education

1998-2000

Associate Editor, RUUSH: a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to student research of the University of Utah, School of Health Sciences

1998-2000

Youth Services Committee Member, Gay and Lesbian Community Center

1998-2000

Suicide and Preventive Health Program Manager, Gay and Lesbian Community Center

1999-2000

Patient Educator, University of Utah Health Networks

2000-2002

Peer Reviewer, Utah's Health: Journal of the University of Utah Health Sciences Center

2000-2001

Annual Conference Co-Chair, Health Education Association

2001-2002

Injury Epidemiologist II, Utah Department of Health Violence & Injury Prevention Program

2001-2003

Co-investigator, Utah Youth Suicide Study Phases II, III, and VI

                                                                           top of page

Hadidja Nyiransekuye, MSW
My name is Hadidja Nyiransekuye. I am a native of Rwanda, a small country in Central Africa. I have a bachelor degree in teaching French literature and applied linguistics that I received in 1976 from IPN a training institute for secondary school teachers in Butare, Rwanda. I came to this country in 1998 to pursue a degree in social work, which I received in June 2000 at the University of Denver, graduate school of social work. I went on to work on a PhD degree in social work and I am in my forth year. Prior to coming to Denver I worked 19 years in the teaching profession as a teacher, teacher trainer and curriculum designer while at the same time participating in women movements for development. I worked extensively with victims of genocide trauma both women and children from 1994 to 1998. In the United States I have worked with survivors of human right abuse and homeless women and children. My academic interest is on refugee and immigrant women health in general and the issue of service delivery to that population. Right now I work with the Mental Health Association of Colorado where I coordinate Colorado Link, our violence and suicide prevention project for youth in school, homeless shelter and a drop in center for youth in downtown Denver. I live in Denver with my four children

                                                                           top of page

Jennifer Personius
Jennifer Personius is a researcher with the Nevada Institute for Children at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. In addition to her work with Nevada's SPRC, she is working on a project examining suicidal behaviors among incarcerated youth.

                                                                           top of page

Lloyd Potter, PhD, MPH
Lloyd Potter is the project director for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. He oversees the strategic plan and its implementation for the resource center. Associate Director for the Center for Violence and Injury Prevention and Director of Children's Safety Network. His current work is focused upon providing assistance to state and local public health officials to develop and implement efforts to prevent suicide, violence, and unintentional injury. From 1993 - 2000 Dr. Potter served as the Leader of Youth Violence and Suicide Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. He has been proactive in promoting suicide as a public health issue. Dr. Potter has his Masters in Public Health from Emory University in Atlanta. He also has a Master of Science degree in Education from the University of Houston. His PhD is from the University of Texas at Austin in sociology and demography. He taught elementary school from 1980 - 1983 before returning to graduate school. He has also worked as an assistant professor of Sociology and Demography at Fordham University in New York.

                                                                           top of page

Jerry Reed, MSW
Mr. Reed serves as Executive Director of the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Inc. Prior to assuming this position on July 1, 2003, Jerry served as an independent consultant working on health care, mental health, geriatric and suicide prevention issues. He most recently worked with the Center for Mental Health Services on a variety of initiatives in support of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and also served as project liaison with the three-year Hotline Linkage and Evaluation Project (HELP) and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). He received an MSW degree with an emphasis in Aging Administration from the University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1982. He spent 15 years as a career civil servant working in both Europe and the United States as a civilian with the Department of the Army developing, implementing and managing a variety of quality of life programs including substance abuse prevention and treatment, family advocacy, child and youth development programs, social services and the range of morale, welfare and recreation programs. Selected as a Congressional Fellow in 1996, he worked in the Office of Senator Harry Reid (NV) serving as senior advisor on health care, mental health, suicide prevention and aging issues. Upon completion of the fellowship he accepted a full time position with the U.S. Senate and completed his assignment in 1999 as Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Reid. Jerry is currently working on a doctoral degree in Health Related Sciences with an emphasis on Gerontology at the Virginia Commonwealth University.

                                                                           top of page

Jeanne Rohner
Jeanne Rohner has been Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Colorado for five years. She has a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Psychology and Communications from Regis University and brings more than 17 years of professional experience in the mental health field. She was with Pikes Peak Mental Health Center in Colorado Springs for over 12 years, serving as both Vice President of the Center and Executive Director of the Foundation. Ms. Rohner is experienced in spearheading collaborative efforts and has a proven track record of developing and managing special projects. Jeanne is chair of the Colorado Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council, a member of the Board of Directors of both the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado and the Mental Health Ombuds Program of Colorado.

                                                                           top of page

Michael Rosmann, PhD
Michael R. Rosmann, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and the executive director of AgriWellness, Inc., a program which builds behavioral health supports for the farmers and ranchers, farm workers and their families in a seven state areas of the Upper Midwest. Dr. Rosmann and his wife live on their farm in Iowa. Dr. Rosmann is an adjunct faculty member of the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa.

                                                                           top of page

Nels Sanddal, MS, BA
Nels Sanddal oversees all research, grants and projects for the CIT Foundation, assists other states with management of federal EMS projects and is a frequent conference speaker. Nels writes and directs video projects, as well as developing, writing and editing reports, presentations, proposals and training materials. Nels has been involved in EMS since the 1970s and has held many state, regional and national positions in organizations furthering EMS causes, including past-president of the Intermountain Regional EMS for Children Coordinating Council and core faculty for the Development of Trauma Systems Training Programs for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. Nels is a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, volunteers with a local fire department, and has been involved with the CIT Foundation since its inception. He holds a MS in psychology and is currently pursuing a PhD in health services.

                                                                           top of page

Phillip Satow, MA
Phillip M. Satow is a Columbia College graduate and ha an MA degree in Economics from Georgetown University. He was a naval officer during the Vietnam War and began his career at Pfizer in New York City. After a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Satow retired as Executive Vice President of Forest Laboratories. He remains a member of the Board of Directors of the firm today and is a director of two other pharmaceutical companies as well. Mr. Satow and his wife Donna founded the Jed Foundation in 2000 after the loss of their son, a college sophomore, to suicide. The Foundation is the only public charity that focuses on suicide reduction among college students. The Ulifeline website is used by over 50 colleges today, where over 600,000 students matriculate. Other Foundation programs include a suicide prevention pilot program and the creation of a college student suicide registry. The Foundation's work has been recently noted in the Journal of the American Medical Association and in articles in many nationally syndicated newspapers.

                                                                           top of page

Clayton Small, Ph.D.
Clayton Small is the Director of the Northern Cheyenne Health Center. Enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. PhD in Leadership and is a former wellness/prevention consultant. Previous experience in school/university administration. Facilitator/training in areas of leadership, organizational development, youth, education, wellness-healing, strategic visioning, prevention and cultural competency.

                                                                           top of page

Ramya Sundararaman, MD, MPH
Ramya Sundararaman is a public health physician. She is currently the Senior Technical Assistance Specialist at the national Suicide Prevention Resource Center. She works with all states in Public Health Regions 3, 7, 8, and 9 and also specializes in suicide prevention amongst elders, first responder, survivor issues and epidemiology. Ramya chairs the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention, the group that developed the Massachusetts Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention. Prior to joining SPRC, Ramya managed the Suicide Prevention Program for Massachusetts. Ramya has presented on different suicide prevention and epidemiology issues at many national and state level conferences.

                                                                           top of page

Carol Mateel Todd, RN, CHES
Mateel Todd is a nurse and health educator with over 30 years of experience in public health settings. She is currently serving as the Adolescent Health Coordinator for Montana DPHHS. Mateel is a suicide survivor, having lost 2 partners to suicide. She is especially interested in the phenomena of alcohol and violence in the LGBTQ community, and in the spiritual/chemical interface that is protective for this. In addition to work activities, Mateel is active as a classical horn player, beekeeper, quilter, and kayaker. She lives with dogs, cats, bees, trees and her partner of 12 years in the mountains outside Helena, Montana.

                                                                           top of page

Michelle Watson, BA
Michelle Watson, the Mental Health Association of Colorado's (MHAC) Director of Development, is an accomplished communication professional with over thirteen years of experience in marketing, public relations, grant/proposal writing and general fund development. She is responsible for developing and implementing the annual plan for financial support and maintenance of the agency's $1 million+ budget and has increased annual revenue at MHAC by over 25% for the past three years. Ms. Watson is responsible for developing and managing agency special events, donor programs, grant requests and general community relations. Additionally, Ms. Watson is practiced in providing technical assistance to both internal and external customers and is skilled in both evaluation and management of grants. Ms. Watson received a Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

                                                                           top of page

Jane Wilson, MS
Jane Wilson is the Acting Regional Health Administrator for Region VII of the U.S. Office of Public Health and Science. Since joining the US Public Health Service in 1990, she has focused on HIV/AIDS, Minority Health, State relationships, and Native American issues. As the Deputy Regional Health Administrator, Ms. Wilson provided assistance in regional coordination of DHHS special initiatives, such as Healthy People 2010, and worked closely with regional programs to support the priorities of the Surgeon General. She was named Acting Regional Health Administrator in January 2003. Prior to 1990, she developed and instituted the AIDS prevention program for the New Mexico Department of Health. Trained as a clinical microbiologist, Ms. Wilson has a Masters of Science degree in microbiology and spent over twelve years in clinical and public health laboratories. The Office of Public Health and Science has responsibility for directing special programs and activities to assure a coordinated and focused public health system that is consistent with national policies, DHHS initiatives, and State, Tribal and Local needs. OPHS programs in Region VIII include: Office of Minority Health, Office for Women's Health, Office of Population Affairs, EPA liaison for environmental health, and emergency Response planning and coordination under the Federal Response Plan.

                                                                           top of page