Aaron has also managed pharmacies for Kroger and CVS in the past, receiving the Outcomes Platform Most Outstanding Quality MTM Services in KY in 2013 at Kroger Pharmacy in Walton, KY. Aaron also serves as the Vice-President of Discipleship House in Independence, a non-profit organization supporting local high school and college students.
Adrienne Augustus is a mental health advocate and founder of A Beautiful Mind Foundation Inc., a grantmaking charity dedicated to funding culturally competent mental health support services and programs. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ajanique Dunlap is a student at California State University, Sacramento. Ajanique’s goal is to major in Criminal Justice. After graduation, Ajanique will be pursuing a career in the criminal justice field. Ajanique has experienced foster care and homelessness and has a passion to work for youth and on behalf of youth who have experienced the same.
Alaina Ross is an RN, BSN with 10 years of experience as a nurse in some of the largest hospitals on the west coast. She is also an expert contributor for Test Prep Insight, a test prep company that helps nursing students prepare for exams like the TEAS and NCLEX.
Alexander Belkin is an experienced medical assistant who completed medical school and now works as a physician. During medical school he developed an interest in hematology and oncology. During his free time, Alex enjoys reading books, watching movies and tv shows, and going to concerts.
With a better understanding of neurodivergence as well as some of the reasons online education can benefit neurodiverse populations, let’s hear from a student about her experiences. Alexandrea Holder is a South Florida-based content marketing strategist and copywriter with a passion for creative problem-solving. As a life-long creative, Alexandrea is also an artist, musician, and amateur photographer. When she isn’t working, Alexandrea enjoys volunteering at the local animal shelter, deep diving into true crime podcasts and documentaries, or exploring local parks and nature centers.
After years of providing occupational therapy services at hospitals and rehab centers around Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, Alicia Reiser opened her own practice, dedicated to helping patients “that others have given up on or were never even identified.”Based in the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem, A Rise Above Occupational Therapy Services is dedicated to helping teens and adults living with neurological conditions think, move and perform everyday tasks.She spoke to us about some of the skills she thinks people in her profession need.
Alisha Powell, Ph.D., LCSW graduated from Walden University with a doctoral degree in social psychology. She completed her graduate studies in social work, receiving her MSW at the University of Denver, and her undergraduate studies in social work, earning her BSW at Oakwood University. Alisha completed a post-graduate certificate in marriage and family therapy at Denver Family Institute. She has experience working in a variety of settings, including long-term care, hospitals, outpatient clinics, residential centers, and hospice. Alisha currently works as an outpatient therapist and adjunct professor.
Allison Spain is a Registered Nurse with over 10 years of nursing experience; she holds a BA in psychology and a BSN and MSN in nursing. Beside her nursing experience her other experience includes oncology and med-surg patient care. She has filled administrative positions, care coordination roles, and has staff-authored health care policies impacting patient care, reimbursement, and Medicaid expansion.
Alyssa Kennedy received her bachelor's degree in Health & Societies: Health Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health from the same school. She works full-time at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Infectious Disease department as the HIV Ambulatory Outpatient & Ryan White Program Manager. She also works at Prevention Point Philadelphia as a case manager at their weekly Ladies’ Night event, in addition to being a harm reduction specialist in the mobile syringe exchange program. In both positions, Alyssa has served the homeless population facing either HIV/AIDS and/or substance abuse issues. In the near future, Alyssa is preparing to go to law school to pursue a career as a public health and interest lawyer.
Amanda E. Randles, PhD, is the Alfred Winborne Mordecai and Victoria Stover Mordecai Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Duke University. Randles has made significant contributions to the fields of high-performance computing and vascular modeling. Randles is the recipient of the NSF CAREER award, the ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award, IEEE-CS Technical Consortium on High-Performance Computing (TCHPC) Award, the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award, and the LLNL Lawrence Fellowship. Randles was also named to the World Economic Forum Young Scientist List and the MIT Technology Review World’s Top 35 Innovators under the Age of 35 list. She holds 120 U.S. patents and has published 71 peer-reviewed articles.
Amanda Gorman is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, specializing in primary and urgent pediatric care. An early adopter of health technology for the family, she founded Nest Collaborative in early 2017 to address the growing need for affordable and easy access to reliable health care for families with young children.
Dr. Amanda Jondle is licensed veterinarian who focuses on small animal medicine and surgery. She is a graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and has a special Interest in integrative medicine, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. Besides caring for the animals on her farm, Dr. Jondle enjoys writing for her blog, Vetmewsings.com.
Amy Spark is an environmental scientist (MSc) and advocate specializing in the intersection between ecological and mental health. She has worked as the Sustainability Coordinator at Bow Valley College in Calgary, Alberta, since 2017. Amy is currently a student in the Climate Action Leadership program at Royal Roads University. She loves backpacking, canoeing, and science fiction.
Andrea Clement is the President of Clem.co, Healthcare Communications and Career Collateral. She has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare staffing industry, including ten years as a healthcare recruiter placing physicians and advanced practice clinicians in hospitals and health systems across the country, and more than a decade of experience providing media relations and communications for a variety of corporations including healthcare staffing, clinical research, medical publishing, and physician consulting firms. From 2007-2018, Andrea wrote about healthcare careers and provided online medical career / job search advice for About.com, which is now VeryWell.com and TheBalance.com, both of which host much of her health career content currently.
Andrew Selepak, PhD is a professor in the department of telecommunication at the University of Florida, and Program Coordinator of the graduate program in social media.
Angel Gibson received her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology at Charleston Southern University and her associate degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant at Trident Technical College. She plans to work in acute rehab and skilled nursing alongside travel therapy to try out different settings and see the world. She plans to go back for her doctorate in rehabilitation science in a few years to become a university professor.
Angela Medellin is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She is co-owner of Mind Works Clinical and Counseling Psychology, a private practice for children and families in San Antonio, Texas. She specializes in the treatment of mental health disorders in children ages three and up. She is passionate about helping children and families succeed and receive the best care and support possible. She actively engages others in the profession by providing supervision and mentorship. She is also a strong advocate in her profession and volunteers her time on her state board as the Secretary for The Texas Association for Play Therapy. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, beach getaways, and trying new food. For more information check out her website at www.mindworkstx.com.
A’nna Jurich, MS., LCPC., CRADC, is the Executive Director of the Gateway Foundation in Carbondale, Illinois.
Anna Zivian is Senior Research Fellow at Ocean Conservancy, supporting Ocean Conservancy’s science-based programs. Previously, she was Associate Director of Ocean Conservancy’s Knowledge Management and Senior Manager of the Ocean Planning program. She is currently focusing on issues of ocean climate change mitigation and adaptation. In addition to her work on ocean science and policy, Anna’s past research looks at the intersection of environmental policy, science, and society, and, in particular, issues of democracy and public participation in science. Anna is also co-chair of the Ocean Knowledge-Action Network Development Team, working on bringing knowledge to action. Prior to her work on the ocean, Anna served as an elected official in Colorado for ten years. Anna earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Studies in 2011 from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Her undergraduate studies were in Russian and Soviet Studies at Harvard University, where she earned her B.A. in 1988.
April Hays is the student affairs associate director for the College of Engineering at University of Michigan. As an educational professional with a background in student affairs and DEI, Hays has seen firsthand some of the realities of disability access on campus.
April Preyar is a criminal defense and civil rights attorney. A graduate of Duke University and George Washington Law School, she has practiced for 21 years. She is a partner in her own boutique firm. She created JustUs Junkie, an educational platform that uses videos, workshops, and her original board game, Trials & Triumph, to teach law in simple terms. Preyar's most popular video garnered 1.2 million views in 24 hours! She has appeared on ABC News Chicago, NBC News Chicago, CBS News, Daily Mail TV, and the Oxygen Channel and in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, AfroTech, the ABA Journal, Essence magazine, and many other outlets.
Arelis Benítez is a practical theologian and doctoral student at Vanderbilt University. She is a first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrant parents and a recipient of the Posse Foundation scholarship which facilitated her entrance to academic education.
Ashley Simpson (MSN, RN) received an associate degree in nursing from North Arkansas College in Harrison, Arkansas. She then completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as her master’s degree in nursing through Missouri State University’s online programs. She has worked on the post-surgical floor and intensive care unit at Cox Medical Center Branson. Since 2017, she has been teaching and advising RN-to-BSN students at Missouri State.
Austen is a pediatric occupational therapist, entrepreneur, and total nerd when it comes to child development. In her private practice Steps 2 Grow, which she owns and operates, Austen specializes in typical and atypical movement and motor development of birth to five year olds. She offers pediatric occupational therapy, virtual parent consultations, and online courses for caregivers. Austen's happiest days are spent playing with kids and empowering parents with practical tools to support their little one's development.
Ayna Molina is a special education teacher, wife, mother of four, and grandmother of one. A native of Miami, Florida, she attended the University of Arkansas a single mother. Her experience as single parent and student inspired her to study education. After graduating with her degree, she moved back to her hometown of Miami, where she has worked for the last 30 years in the educational field.
Barbara Olive worked for 20 years as an LPN in nursing homes and home health; 15 of those years were spent on the night shift. Barbara is now happily retired.
Ben Barrett is a social worker who supports adults with mental illness. Ben has a dual bachelor degree in psychology and Spanish language and literature from North Carolina State University and a Master of Social Work from Western Michigan University. He gives back by contributing to his website The How to Social Worker (www.thehowtosocialworker.com).
Ben Tanner is a physician assistant / PA. He's been practicing emergency medicine in Las Vegas since 2014, along with a couple part-time jobs doing family practice and urgent care. Ben launched a medical Spanish website in 2016, as well as an online course on the same topic a couple years later. He continues to enjoy speaking Spanish with his patients on a regular basis.
Caleb is an Ivy League-educated nurse consultant with a strong clinical background, including supervisory positions within ICU and ER settings. In addition to his clinical work, Caleb practices as an expert nurse consultant and nurse writer, having written hundreds of healthcare-related articles and blog posts. He is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and holds multiple advanced certifications in emergency and trauma nursing.
Robert W. Schmidt, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor who lives and practices in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. He taught in the Counselor Education Department at Fairfield University for ten years and served as president of the Connecticut Counseling Association, as well as the Connecticut Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Bob is currently the chair of the Newtown Sandy Hook Community Foundation’s Distribution Committee. Bob and co-staff-author, Sharon Cohen, work to inform the public and healthcare workers about the importance of mental health during crises in their book, Disaster Mental Health and Community Planning.
As a doctoral candidate focusing on language assessment at Columbia University’s Teachers College, Brian A. Carroll knows about test taking from many perspectives. His main academic areas of interest include classroom-based language assessment, second language pragmatics assessment, educational measurement, education technology, and machine learning for educational purposes. Carroll co-founded the edtech company Tiro, which helps classroom teachers design, deliver, and statistically analyze student assessment data.
Brian Jones is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor based in Seattle, Washington. He has been specializing in eating disorders for half a decade, in settings ranging from residential care to individual private practice. He also specializes in working with adults in the areas of religious trauma and spiritual abuse, careers, and relationships. You can visit his website at www.bjonescounseling.com.
Briana Hollis is a licensed social worker and self-care coach. She has a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and currently works in crisis intervention.
Bryan Hall is Academic Dean of the School for Professional Advancement and a Professor of Liberal Arts at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. He is a two-time Fulbright Scholar and the staff-author of three books: An Ethical Guidebook to the Zombie Apocalypse: How to Keep Your Brain without Losing Your Heart (Bloomsbury, 2020), The Post-Critical Kant (Routledge, 2014), and The Arguments of Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason (Lexington Books, 2010). Dr. Hall received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder and his BA from the University of Denver.
Cali Estes, Ph.D is a highly sought after Celebrity Addiction Therapist, Life Coach, Recovery Coach and Wellness Guru that blends talk therapy with forward and positive change to assist her clients in unlocking their true potential. Dr. Estes has over 20 years’ experience working with drug, alcohol and food addictions.
Callie has extensive experience in the criminal law field with both government and private sector employers. As a senior at the University of Maryland she plans to attend law school next fall after graduation. Callie was a previous intern at the United States Department of Homeland Security in Washington DC and worked in the emergency management and safety branch. Additionally, she worked as a law clerk for a full-service firm in New York City this summer. She eagerly awaits her future career in criminal law.
Canon Welch began her career as an EMT-Basic/Firefighter before attending the Foothill College Paramedic program. She holds the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedic certification and works as an instructor for the American Heart Association teaching future generations of paramedics and proctoring the NREMT exam.
Carina Ramirez serves as a case manager for StarVista’s Foster Youth Education Enrichment Program. Prior to StarVista, she worked as a program coordinator for another Bay Area nonprofit. Originally from Brazil and raised in San Francisco, she attended California State East Bay University where she earned a degree in sociology with an emphasis in social services. She has a passion for helping others, and hopes this passion is carried on to her two children.
Caroline is a graduate of the University of Southern California Suzanna Dvorak-Peck School of Social Work where she specialized in military social work and adult healthy aging. Now a Licensed Master Social Worker, she focuses on counseling, skill-building, independent living resources, assessment, and advocacy. She has a passion for mental health and experience working with individuals in herapeutic settings, case management, diagnoses, and assessments.
Cassidy Cobbs (they/them) is a molecular and evolutionary biologist by training and trade, with a BA from the University of North Carolina, a BS from North Carolina State University, and an MS from Vanderbilt University. During their career, they have performed extensive field and laboratory work in animal research. They currently work as a senior project manager and scientific liaison for the Integrated Genomics Operation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. A native of northwest North Carolina, they lived mostly in the woods until moving to Manhattan eight years ago. As they are now a biologist heavy on the molecular, their animal handling is now limited to a 4-year-old pit bull named Mando.
To give you more insight on what to expect as you pursue your degree and start your allied health career, we sat down with Cassie Spencer. As a career coach, Cassie has worked with hundreds of students, young professionals, career changers, and job seekers to prepare them to make their next career move. Prior to working full time as a freelance career coach, Cassie worked on college campuses, coaching students in career exploration, managing internship programs, and providing students with the tools and resources to develop resumes, write cover letters, search for jobs, and explore their career options.Cassie is the co-host of the podcast Your Career GPS and is the host of Happenstance the Podcast. She also shares career-related content on social media at @CareerCoachCassie.
Chalice Blinick is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with 12 years of experience in hospital and outpatient settings including renal care, ortho-neuro-trauma, medical-surgical, family medicine, and urgent care. She also runs a blog nursechalice.com
Chris Drew is an eLearning Advisor with Swinburne University and staff-author of the Helpful Professor blog. He has a Ph.D. in Education and has been teaching online for more than five years. He loves the flexibility online classes provide and believes they offer huge benefits for busy students. His online learning research can be found in the journals eLearning and Digital Media and the Australasian Journal of Educational Technology.
Christian Worstell is a licensed insurance agent and a senior staff writer for MedicareAdvantage.com. He is passionate about helping people navigate the complexities of Medicare and understand their coverage options. His work has been featured in outlets such as Vox, MSN, and The Washington Post, and he is a frequent contributor to healthcare and finance blogs. Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He currently lives in Raleigh, NC.
Christine Stetler is a registered nurse and principal solutions architect with Allscripts FollowMyHealth. Christine is passionate about bringing innovation in healthcare technology directly to consumers to help them live their best lives. With 20+ years in a field that she loves, Christine has helped care for patients both directly and through technology.
Colin Blenis, MSN, RN, CCRN is board certified in emergency, trauma, and critical care nurse. He is a Fellow in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine and uses his position as a nurse educator to promote public health by equipping nurses with the skills needed to practice according to best-available evidence and training to change agents in their communities. Colin possesses a B.S. in Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a B.S. in Nursing from Emory University, an M.S. in Nursing Education from Western Governors University, and an M.P.H. in Global Health from Imperial College in London.
Colin Ma is a problem-solver who loves developing creative solutions rooted at the intersection of technology, marketing, and strategy. He’s built applications for Fortune 500 companies, sold digital businesses, and won breakdancing competitions. He currently works digital marketing and is in the process of applying for medical school.
Cooper Breeden is the Conservation Coordinator at the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative based out of Austin Peay State University. Also serving as the coordinator for the Tennessee Plant Conservation Alliance, he works directly on rare plant conservation projects throughout Tennessee and its neighboring states in collaboration with state and federal agencies, university researchers, and various other organizations. Cooper began his career with a bachelor's in international business. After a few years in the international development field, he decided to play a part in conserving our rapidly deteriorating landscapes. These experiences led him to earn an M.S. in Biology from Austin Peay, specializing in plant ecology, and to his career trajectory.
As senior director of education, Cory Trevena advances the mission of Caron’s Education Department by providing leadership to ensure that world-class prevention and early intervention services are provided to all students, families, and community partners. She focuses primarily on student assistance services for K-12 and higher education. Cory started working for Caron in 2005. Before becoming the senior director in January 2020, she was a regional director for the Student Assistance Program. She takes pride in providing exceptional services for young people and their parents, recognizing the struggles that so many young people and their families face in dealing with substance use. She has a master’s degree in general psychology and is a certified prevention specialist (CPS) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Courtney Fankhanel, MMSc, PA-C, is an Assistant Professor in the Yale Physician Associate Program, and the Associate Director of Clinical Education. Among her responsibilities at the university are clinical curriculum development and assessment, lecturing and teaching transitional skills, cardiology didactics, surgery, and an EKG course. She also earned her MMSc degree at Yale.
Crystal Yarbrough currently is a full-time student at the University of Wisconsin (UW) in the teacher education distance program, where she is working on a bachelor of science in elementary education with a minor in instruction. Upon completing her degree, Crystal’s goal is to teach in a classroom of her own.
Cynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA, is the Executive Director of the Dental Assisting National Board and the DALE Foundation. She has worked for oral healthcare organizations for more than 35 years.
Cyrus Vanover is the founder of the Frugal Budgeter and staff-author of Earn a Debt-Free College Degree, a guide to earning college credit for pennies on the dollar through non-traditional means (CLEP, DSST, AP, etc.). His advice has been featured in Business Insider, Reader's Digest, Fox Business, MSN, Yahoo Finance, and others.
Dana Baker-Williams is a parent and teen coach specializing in ADHD and anxiety. Through one-to-one support and small groups, she gives parents the tools they need to understand the issues, parent more effectively, and connect with their child. She also works with teens and young adults, encouraging them to advocate for themselves, develop resilience, manage their emotions and increase confidence. She’s devoted to giving parents the knowledge, understanding, and hope they need to ease family dynamics and help their children toward happier, independent lives. Connect with her through her website, where you can read her blog and follow her on social media.
Daniel T. Chazin, PT, DPT, is a licensed physical therapist from Nashville, TN. He specializes in acute care rehabilitation as well as working with individuals with neurological impairments. He is a member of both the APTA and TPTA.
Danielle Harris Medlock, RN, BSN, is working as a travel nurse for Gifted Healthcare based in Louisiana during the pandemic. Here are some of her insights into her chosen profession during a pandemic.
Danielle Zolotnitsky is the transplant and digestive disease dietitian at Einstein Medical Center. She works with patients undergoing liver and kidney transplant surgery and patients who have Gastrointestinal disorders such as IBD, Celiac Disease, IBS, and other conditions. Danielle enjoys walking her dog, cooking, and teaching fitness classes.
Dave Bratcher serves as the President of The STAR Center, whose mission is to help any person with any disability realize their potential. This includes taking what some view as a liability and turning it into their greatest asset. The STAR Center was awarded the Non-Profit of the Year in 2008 and 2015. Additionally, The STAR Center was recognized nationally as one of the top 50 Best Non-Profits to Work For in 2017 and 2018.
David Ceron has been an educator for 14 years with experience in elementary, middle school, and high school. He normally has worked in areas where the ELL population is 50% or higher.
Dayana Camacho is a medical assistant at Apex Spine and Neurosurgery in Atlanta, Georgia. Her career began about three years ago after she graduated with a medical assistant diploma from North Georgia Nursing Academy. Her biggest regret is waiting a year before starting school.
Derek Auguste joined the U.S. Army in 2004 and served for 11 years. His first assignment took him to Germany with the 1st Armored Division, deploying to Iraq in 2007. His next assignment was with Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH). He deployed in support of Operation Unified Response, to help the citizens of Haiti after the massive earthquake in 2010. Derek separated from the Army in 2015 and earned his associate degree in International Relations from Miami Dade College. In May 2020, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami in Political Science. Derek is an alumnus of Warrior-Scholar Project, having attended the Humanities Academic Boot Camp at Harvard University in 2019, and in 2020, returned as a Virtual Training Team fellow.
Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse-Board Certified with over 20 years of nursing experience. In addition to her nursing degree, she has a Bachelor of Science in Education and is board certified in both psychiatric and holistic nursing. Dianne has experience working in bedside, oncology, ICU, home-health, clinical nursing instruction, and mental health.
Dominique Hoffman holds a master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. She studied with leading professors in the field of nutrition and biochemistry, including Richard Lord and Albert Grazia. She also studied at George Mason University. Her solutions often take the form of meal programs that are nutrient-dense, delicious, and personalized to satisfy each client’s needs and tastes.
Donna Shisler, RN, BSN, Clinical Manager has 9+ years of experience as a cardiac step-down, ICU travel nurse, legal nurse, and clinical manager. Exhibiting exceptional achievements in her career, she was invited to the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing within only 6 years after graduating from the Methodist College of Nursing. Today, she is a legal consultant helping people when they are most vulnerable to receive justice and a clinical manager at Advantis Medical Staffing, helping educate people about the world of nursing.
Dr. Abraham Halik is a 2020 graduate of the University of Medicine Health Sciences, St. Kitts, a small, mission-driven medical school with a commitment to student support and a legacy of successful residency placements in the United States and Canada. Dr. Halik is a native of New Jersey, but grew up in San Antonio, TX. He is currently working in an Internal Medicine residency at MedStar Union Hospital in Baltimore, MD. MedStar Health has one of the largest graduate medical education programs in the country, training 1,100 medical residents annually, and is the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University. MedStar Health is a not-for-profit, regional healthcare system based in Maryland with more than 30,000 associates and 4,700 affiliated physicians supporting MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy that combines care, compassion, and clinical excellence.
Dr. Amanda (Banes) Darnley is a licensed clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience working with adolescents and parents in a variety of settings including inpatient hospitals, residential treatment facilities, and outpatient practices.
Dr. Angela Velez-Solic has been an educator for 22 years, beginning her career in the traditional classroom environment. She has spent the last 15 years in online learning as a designer, educator, faculty trainer and developer, training over a thousand teachers about how to teach online. Dr. Velez-Solic has recently created and directs a Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation at Rush University in Chicago. You can find her book, Teaching Online Without Losing Your Mind on Amazon.
Dr. Ann Marie Sastry is President and CEO of Amesite. She was invited to the White House in 2015 for recognition in technology entrepreneurship and met with President Barack Obama. Prior to starting her companies, Dr. Sastry was Professor of Mechanical, Biomedical and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Aragona is a family doctor and medical advisor for a prescription doctor telemedicine service. He’s also a general practitioner with a broad range of medical skills and has practiced medicine in three countries. He has prepared for and taken the CMA exam.
Dr. Dean Drosnes is the Medical Director of the Pennsylvania campus of Caron Treatment Centers. He holds board certification in Addiction Medicine through the American Board of Preventive Medicine as well as Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and serves on the ASAM Physicians-In-Training Committee. He is a member of the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine, the Pennsylvania Society of Addiction Medicine, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He holds an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Penn State University College of Medicine.
Dr. Deniece Dortch is committed to getting students into and through college successfully. Hailed as a graduate-school expert by NPR, she is the creator of the African American Doctoral Scholars Initiative and a Visiting Assistant Professor at George Washington University. She holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Teachers College at Columbia University, Vermont’s School for International Training Graduate Institute, and Eastern Michigan University. https://www.deniecedortch.com/
Dr. Enchanta Jenkins is a board-certified OB/GYN physician specializing in women’s health and general/medical care. She has over 25 years of medical/health care experience and enjoys helping clients through medical visits or music or books. She can be reached at dr.enchanta on Instagram or Dr.Enchantaj Gyn on Facebook.
Dr. Fabianna Marie is a best-selling staff-author, writer and Global Health Ambassador. Marie is a naturopathic doctor, with specializations in bio phenotype and holistic nutrition. She is Harvard trained in the science of stem cells and the epigenetic control of gene expression, Yale Trained in the fundamentals of immunology, as well as Johns Hopkins trained in understanding cancer metastasis. Marie launched her first book, Fabulously Fighting in 2016, and just released the second edition, Fabulously Fighting Uncensored in 2020.
Froswa’ Booker-Drew is responsible for the development and implementation of the State Fair of Texas' philanthropic giving and the department’s community and educational programming as the Director of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances. She is responsible for the creation of several State Fair signature programs and is the Co-Founder of HERitage Giving Circle, the first African American Women’s Giving Circle in Texas. She works closely with nonprofits throughout Dallas and has spoken on building strong relationships between donors and organizations.
Dr. Jordin Wiggins is a Naturopathic Doctor, entrepreneur, women’s sexual health disruptor, and staff-author The Pink Canary (published March 10, 2020). She is revolutionizing the way we deliver, educate and talk about sexual health, wellness, and pleasure for women. In her private practice (which she owns and operates), Health Over All, Dr. Wiggins and her team are experts on hormone and mood imbalance, libido, bio-marker testing and providing individualized health care so that their patients wake up energized and ready to take on their day. She is setting a higher standard for women’s sexual health, using pleasure as the way back to better relationships, desire and outstanding health, not another pill.
Dr. Kaple is a writer and researcher with a Ph.D. in the humanities from Indiana University-Bloomington. He has worked as a private tutor and possesses over 15 years of experience as a teacher and student mentor.
Dr. Krystal L. Culler, DBH, M.A. is the Founder of Your Brain Health Matters, LLC and an Atlantic Senior Fellow with the GlobalBrain Health Institute. She holds a doctorate in behavioral health, a master’s in psychology of adult development in aging, a graduate certificate in gerontology, and a bachelor’s degree in gerontology and sociology with a minor in developmental psychology.
Dr. LaTashia Kiel, DNP, RN, CEN is a Doctor of Nursing Practice prepared registered nurse who has an interest in cancer care, acute nursing care, and community advocacy. A three-time graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Kiel received a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and went on to further her nursing education with a Master’s degree in Adult Health with a Focus on Teaching, and eventually her doctorate in nursing. She currently teaches a Professional Nursing Management course at UT-Austin where she helps students prepare for careers in nursing.
Dr. Laura Schwarz, DNP, RN, CNE, AHN-BC is an Associate Nursing professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She teaches in and is the director of the 100% online RN-BS Completion Program. She possesses nearly 30 years of RN experience and 25 years of experience as a nurse educator. Laura is a Certified Nurse Educator and a Board Certified Advanced Holistic Nurse. Dr. Schwarz has multiple publications in professional nursing and technology journals, and presentations at international, national, regional, and local conferences.
Dr. Leann Poston is a licensed physician who holds an MBA and an M.Ed. Her career includes practicing pediatric medicine, mentoring medical students, and acting as Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. Dr. Poston has an extensive background in writing articles for medical journals. Currently, she also works as a professional content contributor for InvigorMedical.com.
Dr. Manfredi is a neuropsychologist and certified school psychologist in private practice in Bensalem, PA. She specializes in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders throughout the lifespan, with particular emphasis on learning differences and disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorders. For more information about Dr. Manfredi or her practice, please visit www.neuroassessconsult.com.
Dr. Michael Gisondi is the inaugural Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Emergency Medicine, as well as the Principal and Founder of the Precision Education and Assessment Research Lab (The PEARL) at Stanford University. He oversees all emergency medicine training for students, residents and fellows in the department and teaches several courses in both the School of Medicine and undergraduate programs. Dr. Gisondi has been a mentor to dozens of trainees and junior faculty and is an advisor to the Stanford LGBTQ-Meds student affinity organization.
Dr. Patricia Celan is currently in residency training in the specialty of psychiatry at Dalhousie University in Canada. She completed her M.D. at the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Patrick Fratellone is an integrative MD/clinical herbalist practicing in New York City and Fairfield Connecticut. He has been in private practice for 25 years. He specializes in cardiology, autoimmune disease, Lyme, and cancer. He is a professor at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. His books and medical journal articles are well-known. www.ratellonemedical.com
Dr. Rajan Grewal is a board-certified psychiatrist in private practice and an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona Department of Psychiatry. She focuses on integrative women’s mental health in her practice, Wildflower Psychiatry (wildflowerpsychiatry.com).
Dr. Rene Roberts is a board-certified Family Medicine physician in the Chicago area with expertise in mentoring and coaching high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in medicine. She was a competitive figure skater in high school before pursuing her career in medicine. She graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine in 2011 and completed her residency in Family Medicine at St. Josephs’ Hospital in Chicago.
Dr. Robert Williams, MD is a family medicine doctor and geriatrician in Lakewood, Colorado and is a medical advisor for eMediHealth.
Dr. Sreedhar Krishna is a Consultant Dermatologist and Honorary Clinical Fellow in Dermatopathology in London, England. He studied at Oxford University, Cambridge University and Imperial College London. He works within the National Health Service and provides online dermatology on www.skindoc.app.
Eileen Johnson is a Master’s prepared Registered Nurse with almost 40 years of experience in acute care, hospice and palliative care, long-term care, education of healthcare students, and hospital medicine. In her career, Eileen has provided direct patient care and has served in multiple leadership positions. She has expertise in quality, risk management, business analysis in healthcare, and process improvement.
Elizabeth Minei is an Associate Professor at Baruch College in New York City. She has taught online for four years and received training as a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Fellow and a Hybrid and Online Educational Instruction Fellow. In addition to teaching courses, Dr. Minei is the host of a podcast called Will This be on the Test? which specializes in tips and tactics to get ahead in online education.
Elizabeth Provanzana is a licensed physician assistant with a multi-specialty background. Having earned a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master of Physician Assistant Sciences from St. Francis University, she has 13 years of experience in clinical medicine in areas of general, vascular, thoracic, gynecology, obstetrics, neurosurgical, orthopedic, and urological surgery.
Eric Endlich, Ph.D. founder of Top College Consultants, helps students worldwide transition to college. He is on the Learning Differences/Neurodiversity Committee of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and recently co-staff-authored an article for IECA Insights on counseling young women with ADHD. A clinical psychologist and special needs parent himself, Dr. Endlich understands the challenges families face and knows how to guide them successfully through the college admissions process.
Fred Amrein is a nationally recognized expert on college funding and student loan repayment.He has the most approved CFP courses covering these topics.Fred is the founder and CEO of PayForED.com, which provides software and training programs to solve the student debt crisis.
Gail Gazelle, MD is a part-time Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and staff-author of the 2020 book Everyday Resilience. A Practical Guide to Build Inner Strength and Weather Life's Challenges. Download a free chapter at https://www.gailgazelle.com/resilience-book/.
Dr. Gayle is the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs for Online Learning and Program Development and Dean of Graduate Education and Professional Studies at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York.
Gauri Joshi is a graduate of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine where she specialized in health education and promotion while earning her Master of Public Health degree. Her work has focused on chronic diseases, substance abuse disorders, and mental health conditions. She specializes in treating people in hard-to-reach populations and is passionate about healthcare in the digital era.
Hailey Reynolds comes from a family of educators. Her mother was a veteran Kindergarten teacher for close to 30 years, while she is currently in her fifth year as an educator. She teaches middle school social studies at a Title I school in Georgia. She holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Belmont University and an M.A. in Elementary Education from Tennessee Technical University.
Hannah Johnson works as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Oregon Health & Science University’s Department of Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery. She obtained her Bachelor of Science from the Honors College at Portland State University and will start her Master of Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in Fall 2020. Having completed her undergraduate Honors Senior Thesis on Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, she is excited to continue studying infectious disease by completing her Master of Public Health in the Global Health Track at Mount Sinai.
Heather ONeal, APRN, CN-M, IBCLC is an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, and Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultant), professional podcaster, staff-author, and clinical faculty at West Virginia University School of Nursing. Heather hosts and manages Breastfeeding for Busy Moms, an international online education and support community for lactating parents. She also cohosts the Milk Minute Podcast, an inclusive evidence-based podcast for lactating parents and their partners all over the world.
A recent graduate of the online executive master’s in health administration program at the University of Central Florida, Hector Rodriguez is employed as a long-term care ombudsman for the United Way of Tarrant County, Texas, where he advocates for residents in long-term care facilities. Hector has also worked with older adults at the Alzheimer’s Association and Austin Groups for the Elderly (AGE) of Central Texas. In addition to his EMHA, Mr. Rodriguez holds a bachelor’s in political science from Texas A&M International University. He currently resides with his family in Fort Worth, Texas.
Hilary Russo is The HIListically Speaking™ Health Coach. In addition to being a college professor of communications at St. John's University in NYC, she’s also an award-winning health/wellness journalist, certified holistic health coach, and certified Havening Techniques practitioner. Hilary not only incorporates Havening, a neuroscience-based approach into her own daily life, but she also puts the power of emotional well-being in the hands of her clients and students to encourage them to be kind to their minds.
Holly Parsons (formerly known as Jeb Edmondson) works as a member of the legislative team with StepUp, a nonprofit advocating for the transgender community both nationally and at the state level. She was the student representative for the department of multicultural student affairs at the University of North Georgia where she advocated for minority groups on campus, ensuring they were both represented and received proper funding. She also spoke before the Georgia Senate in this capacity and advocated for decreased regulations on student freedom of speech.
Holly Severson, LPC, is a therapist, coach, and writer who has a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and has been a practicing licensed professional for over 20 years. She specializes in issues that are relationship-oriented. You can find her newest venture, Grace Untethered, at www.graceuntethered.com or on Facebook. Grace Untethered offers support to women in midlife going through a divorce, focusing on encouragement to grow with integrity, grace, and compassion.
James DeVito works as a radiologic tech in New York. He passed the ARRT exam with an 85% score and more than an hour to spare.
James Wenkheimer has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and exercise science and is currently an emergency room nurse at his local hospital. Previously, James has been an ICU nurse, ER tech, and telemetry technician. Prior to his healthcare career, James was a personal trainer and worked.
Dr. Jami Fraze has worked as a public health scientist for more than 22 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and as a private consultant. She developed the behavioral framework for the Verb Campaign and evaluated the TIPS for Former Smokers Campaign, VERB, and other award-winning campaigns. She has supported healthcare startup companies with medical innovations to obtain grants. Dr. Fraze has 15 publications and has given 35 conference presentations, national and international.
Jane Wrigglesworth is a certified sleep science coach with her own private clinic, How To Sleep Well. She has studied sleep science for the past 12 years, sleep and neurobiology via Michigan University, and natural medicine and nutrition at South Pacific College of Natural Medicine. She consults with individuals and corporate groups on sleep and fatigue management and offers regular workshops. Jane is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Janet Philbin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Hypnotherapist and Certified Conscious Parenting Coach. Janet helps adults heal from the emotional pain and trauma of their past. She is the owner of Janet Philbin, ACSW a private psychotherapy and hypnotherapy practice. For 21 years Janet has been successfully helping people recover from their emotional wounds and change their lives with the power of transformational healing and hypnotherapy.
Jannah Amiel (MS, BSN, RN) has been an RN since 2007. She received her MSN from Florida Atlantic University and her BSN and ASN from Keiser University. Jannah’s clinical background is in Pediatrics, specifically Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU), Pediatric Emergency & Level 1 Trauma, and Pediatric Urgent Care and School Health. Jannah Amiel currently oversees instructional design of the CNA program at Osmosis.
Jason C. McClaren is an Air Force Veteran, Firefighter, and founder of business continuity and disaster recovery consultancy, Jason McClaren & Associates. As a trusted business continuity advisor and practitioner, Jason regularly works with government, industrial, higher education, and healthcare organizations.
Jenn Dazey, ND, RH (AHG), is Core Faculty and Chair of the Department of Botanical Medicine at Bastyr University. She is a registered herbalist, and a practicing naturopathic physician. She is also, admittedly, a pleomorphist and permaculturist. She loves to study and teach abroad, specializing in tropical and temperate folk medicines, seaweeds, and mushrooms. Discovering and uncovering the inherent naturopathic philosophy and principles that connect cultures everywhere, her educational focus includes botanical “fusion” medicine, which incorporates herbal medicine into culinary arts, hydrotherapy, environmental medicine, and mainstream lifestyles. Dr. Dazey graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA in 2008.
Jennifer Duran, RN, is a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse who has worked at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for over 21 years. Throughout her time, she has conducted many professional educational courses for clinical staff and is very passionate about providing education to families or caregivers in the care of their neonate. In November 2018, Jennifer traveled to Mbarara, Uganda as a nursing fellow to work with neonatal staff at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. While there, she worked alongside nurses and other clinical staff members and provided daily educational sessions, with a noticeable improvement in practice.
Jennifer McGivney is a licensed dental hygienist with a decade of experience working in dental care. She began her career as a dental assistant before going on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from Loma Linda University.
Jessica Dzubak, MSN, RN is a Registered Nurse and nursing professional development practitioner. Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Nursing, specializing in education. Prior to working in professional development, Jessica practiced in the emergency department. She currently works as the Director of Nursing Practice for a professional nursing organization and as a freelance healthcare writer.
Jessica Furrer has over fifteen years of experience working in the public service field in both Colorado and Nebraska. From working with at-risk adolescents to helping families of neglected and abused children as a social case worker, Jessica has put her expertise to use in many areas of the profession. Jessica is currently working on earning her Master’s in Criminal Justice and Applied Behavior Analysis. Her passion lies in assisting other in finding a healthy balance for their lives and promotes future-thinking to benefit society and local communities as a whole.
Joelle Jean is a Family Nurse Practitioner, writer, and real estate investor from New York. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two little ones, Nathaniel and Noah, and their cat, Zuzu. Joelle loves to read, write and spend time with family and friends.
Johanna Tiemann, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, hypnotherapist and EMDR practitioner who works in private practice in New York City. She works primarily with those who suffer the sequelae of trauma, which include nicotine addiction.
Jonathan Roberts is the co-founder and director of the Ancient Language Institute, an online language school and think tank dedicated to changing the way ancient languages are taught. He and his colleagues have taught Latin and Ancient Greek to hundreds of students. Jonathan graduated from The King’s College in New York City with a degree in politics, philosophy, and economics and received a master of arts in philosophy from the University of Missouri in 2017.
Judi Alperin King is the founder and director of The Wily Network. Wily Scholars are promising students who are experiencing life challenges such as homelessness or foster care, or whose parents may be deceased, dealing with addiction, mental health issues, or incarceration. The Wily Network provides a critical safety net for these Scholars as they navigate college on their own. The Wily program offers weekly clinical coaching, financial assistance, community-building support, and networking opportunities to help them move from surviving to thriving.
Julia Esteve Boyd has been an etiquette consultant for more than 15 years. She has taught members of royal families and business people around the world; students at prestigious finishing schools; and young graduates preparing for interviews, internships, and first jobs.
Kaitlyn White graduated from Belmont University in 2012. She worked at Vanderbilt University on a surgical floor, then as a Trauma ICU nurse for a few years before starting as a traveling ICU nurse, which ultimately led her to Alaska. Outside of work she enjoys outdoor recreation including rock climbing, camping, snowboarding, yoga, hiking, and enjoying the mountains and scenery that Alaska has to offer. She also enjoys traveling, quilting, and spending time with her sweetheart.
Kanika Sabhan, DPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 2 ½ years at Brentwood Physio in Alberta, Calgary, Canada. Sabhan helps professional athletes as well as “everyday people” recover from injuries. Sabhan holds a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.
Karen Balerna RN, BSN is the Founder and Clinical Director of the private advocacy firm, Nurse Advocate Partners. She is a Board-certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) and received a Dementia Specialist Certificate from The University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health.
Karen Blumberg, MA, LCMHC holds a Master’s degree in counseling psychology and is licensed as a psychotherapist. She has an extensive background working with children, teenagers and trauma. Karen is trained in several clinical modalities including couples counseling, family systems counseling, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Hypnotherapy, and Narrative therapy.
Karen Gross is an staff-author and educator, a former college president, and has been a senior policy advisor to the U.S. Department of Education. She is a certified psychological first aid provider and teaches in the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work Continuing Education Division and at other schools as well. Her recent book, Trauma Doesn't Stop at the School Door, was published in 2020.
Karen Henery is a licensed massage therapist with practice in a variety of techniques including shiatsu, tui na, Swedish, fertility, prenatal, and intuitive massage. Karen has received training as a medical Qi Gong therapist which she offers along with hatha yoga instruction, peer specialist services, and more.
Karen Southall Watts has worked in adult education for 20 years. She currently teaches online at Bellingham Technical College and has taught in a variety of community settings. She is the staff-author of several books including, Success in College: Strategies for New Grads and Non-Trads. Karen brings an eclectic background, including public speaking, counseling, coaching, and her own online student experience into her courses.
Katie Lear is a drama therapist, play therapist, and licensed counselor who specializes in helping children overcome anxiety and trauma. She uses creative arts techniques as well as cognitive behavioral therapy to help children and families overcome fears and adapt to changes and hard times in life. A former New Yorker, Katie worked in all five boroughs as well as taught classes on play therapy for the refugee community in Athens, Greece. She now works in private practice in North Carolina.
Keena Hoyle has been a licensed Occupational Therapist for 20 years. She is a graduate of Chicago State University’s Occupational Therapy program and also holds a B.S in Allied Health. She has worked in hospitals, skilled nursing, home health, and school settings but her specialty is in pediatric therapy. She has held a contract with the School City of East Chicago for the past 11 years. She recently began working to create a new subfield within occupational therapy focused on professional sports. She established her company, Off Season, in 2019 to provide therapies, mental health, financial, educational, and personal care services to professional athletes and their family.
Kelley Kitley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and sought-after international women’s mental health expert and staff-author who has appeared in hundreds of publications, podcasts, live news, and radio including WGN, NBC, The Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post, Self, Shape, and as a columnist for Fitness Magazine, Recovery Connection, and Thrive Global. Kelley has shared her experience, strength, and hope on national media outlets such as Dr. Oz, Megyn Kelly TODAY, and Access Live, and as a TEDx speaker.
Kimberly Hicks is a registered nurse specializing in labor and delivery. She began her career working as a unit secretary on the surgical floor of a hospital before going on to earn an associate’s degree and later a bachelor’s degree from the California State University in Chico. She is experienced working in operating rooms, intensive care units, and the delivery room.
Kori D. Novak, PhD, MBA, is a branch manager of branch manager at a hospice in Southern California. She answers four questions about what it’s like to work in hospice and what skills those who are considering the field should have. Dr. Novak holds a PhD in human services and gerontology from Capella University, an MBA in marketing/PR from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver.
Dr. Kris Boksman, Ph.D., C.Psych. is a clinical psychologist in Kingston, Ontario. She has been providing psychological treatment and consultation for over ten years, with specific expertise in the treatment of depression, trauma, and narcissistic abuse. She is a Certified Brainspotting Therapist. Dr. Boksman owns and directs a mental health clinic called Limestone Clinic.
Krista Wenz has been a Licensed Paramedic for 34 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Safety Management and worked for 23 years as a Firefighter-Paramedic for a large Metropolitan Fire Department in California. Krista has extensive knowledge in Emergency Medicine, including experience as an Adjunct Instructor at community and private colleges teaching EMT and Paramedic students. She has additional experience working as a Mental Health Technician in a psychiatric ward and emergency crises, Drill-Instructor and Field Training Officer for multiple agencies, CPR, First-Aid, PALS, BLS, and ALS instructor, and EMS Captain for a rural Fire Department. Now retired from the Fire Service, Krista is passionate about passing on knowledge and experience for those interested in entering into the emergency medical pre-hospital field.
Kristen Hall is an elementary music teacher in a small town in rural Ohio. She teaches general music and choir to approximately 650 students in grades K-5. She holds a master's degree in music education from Heidelberg University.
Kristy Goodman is the Co-Founder and CEO of PreConception Inc., an online service that provides direct-to-consumer preconception testing for women who are planning a pregnancy. Kristy is a women’s health PA with an M.S. in PA Studies and an MPH in Health Education and Behavioral Science from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Kristy completed a postgraduate fellowship in Ob/Gyn and has worked in a variety of settings including sexual health, obstetrics, and infertility evaluation and treatment. Kristy lives in Los Angeles, California, and can be found on Instagram @theobgynpa.
A marine ecologist and animal behaviorist, Lauren Bergey, Ph.D., is a professor of biology and dean of special academic programs at Centenary University in Hackettstown, New Jersey. She also advises pre-med and pre-veterinary students. Her current research examines the ecological impact of an invasive species of shrimp from Japan on native species of shrimp in New Jersey waters. She is also investigating canine cognition of human social interactions.
Dr. Amiri joined the UICOM team in 2017. As assistant dean for admissions and recruitment she oversees admissions and recruitment for all three campuses of the college of medicine. She is a passionate advocate for holistic review in admissions and a strong supporter for students in helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.
Leo Sanada is co-founder & CEO of WeAdmit, an organization that guides students on the path to the college that matches their passions and long-term goals. Sanada has a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Meiji University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Leo Sanada is co-founder & CEO of WeAdmit, an organization that guides students on the path to the college that matches their passions and long-term goals. Sanada has a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Meiji University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Lillie Marshall has been a public school English teacher since 2003. She has taught on three continents and is also a prolific writer. Her websites are DrawingsOf.com + TeachingTraveling.com + AroundTheWorldL.com and she can be found on social media at @WorldLillie.
Linda Abraham, founder and CEO of Accepted, a prominent graduate admissions consultancy, has roughly 27 years of experience as a medical school admissions consultant. She hosts Accepted’s Admissions Straight Talk, one of the first grad admissions podcasts in the world, and has interviewed dozens of med school admissions directors. In addition to her duties at Accepted, Abraham co-founded the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) and served as its first president and later as its treasurer. Media outlets, including CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, US News, and Bloomberg Businessweek, have all sought her perspective on admissions.
Lindsey Richard is a visual arts educator in the Somerville (Massachusetts) Public Schools, where she helps students become thoughtful and creative problem-solvers. She resides in nearby Medford, Massachusetts, with her fiancé, their cat Poppy, and lots of houseplants. She holds a degree in art and is completing a graduate program in arts education at Framingham State University. In her classroom, Lindsey cultivates an inclusive community that engages students as individuals, prepares them for professional success, and connects their learning to real-world themes.
Lironne Koret is the Director of International Outreach and Projects at the Center for Jewish Impact, where she uses her expertise in diplomacy, public affairs, and Jewish advocacy to develop projects that benefit Israeli civil society and Jewish communities. She has experience working with the Israeli Mission to the United Nations, American Jewish Committee, Israeli politics, and Wikistrat consulting. She holds a BSc in social sciences from Minerva University, with a concentration in government, politics, and designing societies.
Lisa Gallagher has been working in the medical billing and coding field for over 10 years specializing in complete practice management and medical billing consulting. She helps her clients develop the most profitable and patient-centric practices possible.
Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist in private practice, staff-author of Finally Full, Finally Slim, and adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University. She inspires her community, including students, to make healthy food and lifestyle choices.Her website is drlisayoung.com.
Lowell K. Davis, a Dallas native, graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in English Arts-Secondary Education. He has a master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis on College Student Development and holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs with an emphasis on the History of Education from Indiana University. Lowell serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington. He served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success at Western Carolina University (WCU) and came to WCU from the University of Alabama, where he rose through the ranks of both Academic and Student Affairs.
Lynell Ross is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach through Wellcoaches, a psychology-based coaching program; a nutritionist; a Certified Personal Trainer with the American Council on Exercise; and a National Diabetes Prevention Program Instructor. Lynell founded Zivadream, an education advocacy website dedicated to helping people improve their lives. The Zivadream team is composed of experienced professionals with a passion for helping others, to improve the world by providing guidance so they may achieve their personal, educational, and professional dreams.
Mari Verano, M.A., L.M.F.T., is a graduate of UC Berkeley and John F. Kennedy University with over ten years of experience working in mental health and a certificate in Neuroscience for Clinical Practice. As a licensed therapist in California, Mari specializes in treating BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ survivors of narcissistic abuse. Through her coaching and consulting company, Mari Verano LLC, she specializes in helping BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ leaders worldwide identify, cope with, and eliminate toxic behavior from their workplaces and lives.
Marion Taylor is accredited by the Gap Year Association and a current board member. She has been working for 10 years as a gap year counselor combining her social work background (MSW), her parenting perspective (all four of her children participated in gap experiences), and her own gap year experiences pre- and post-college and throughout the course of her adult life, both as a gapper and as an advisor vetting gap program with visits in the field. She serves as keynote speaker at high schools, colleges, and gap year fairs and enjoys working with students of all ages from all economic backgrounds and orientations.
Educated at MIT, Mark Herschberg has spent his career launching and fixing new ventures at startups, Fortune 500s, and academia. He’s developed new software languages, online marketplaces, new authentication systems, and tracked criminals and terrorists on the dark web. Mark helped create the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, MIT’s “Career Success Accelerator”, where he’s taught for twenty years. Mark also serves on the boards of non-profits Techie Youth and Plant a Million Corals.
Martha Paulson, MSN, RN, CEPN, an experienced nurse leader with extensive clinical experience in critical, cardiovascular, and acute care. She has worked for 20 years throughout the largest healthcare systems in Denver, CO, and recently relocated to beautiful Plano, TX. Her strengths include nursing program strategy and design, crisis management, team and individual development, mentorship, and raising the bar on service excellence. Today, she is a Clinical Manager at Advantis Medical Staffing and spends her time interviewing, coaching, and helping new clinicians transition to travel nursing to advance their careers.
Mary Stephens is the founder of PrepForward, a leading provider of self-paced, online courses for K-12 teacher licensure preparation. PrepForward has helped thousands of teachers pass their certification exams and partners with institutions including MA Department of Education, Teach for America, universities, and school districts. Mary has BS and MEng degrees from MIT and has taught all levels from K-12 to higher education.
Matt Hylland is a partner and financial planner at Arnold and Mote Wealth Management in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a fiduciary, fee-only investment advisor. Matt specializes in comprehensive, holistic financial planning that incorporates not only investments, but estate, tax, and education planning as well. Matt has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Kiplinger, and other nationally recognized finance publications.
Matt Kohls is a 2020 graduate of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania currently looking for a PA position.
Matthew Burd is a criminal investigator, law enforcement academy instructor, and technology consultant. He has worked in the fields of law, criminal justice, and emergency services at the local, state, and federal government levels, and in the nonprofit sector. Matthew is retired from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve where he specialized in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and environmental emergency response. He received a B.A. in Political Science and History from Rutgers College, The State University of New Jersey, and an M.P.A. in Investigation and Government Oversight from John Jay College of Criminal Justice at The City University of New York. He is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, The Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration.
McKenna Reitz's life forever changed when she lost all her hair due to the autoimmune disease alopecia. Instead of allowing alopecia to define her, McKenna decided to define it. When most would believe that losing your hair would take away your identity, alopecia actually gave McKenna her identity and true purpose in life. As an AP Psychology teacher and varsity volleyball coach at Springfield High School in Ohio, McKenna uses her strength to inspire others to change their perspective on life and others, while understanding that we are all battling something and must support one another unconditionally. A mother of two beautiful little girls and the wife of the most loving, supportive husband, McKenna is heavily involved in many philanthropic projects that have raised thousands of dollars for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation and donated almost forty thousand toys to the Toledo Children’s Hospital over the past five years.
Meg Marrs is the Founder and CEO of K9 of Mine, a dog care site focused on helping owners understand and care for their furry four-legged friends. K9 of Mine provides a variety of training guides, gear reviews, and breed profiles for owners looking to provide the best life for their pups! Meg is a shelter volunteer and pet foster parent with Austin Animal Center, the largest open-intake, no-kill shelter in the country.
Meghan Sacks, Ph.D, is an Associate Professor and Criminology Program Director at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She teaches classes on Women and Crime, Serial Killers, and Crime Policy. She also serves as the co-host of the Women & Crime Podcast. Her research interests include bail reform, plea bargaining, sentencing policy and corrections. Prior to her academic career, Meghan served as a United States Probation Officer in the Southern District of New York.
Melissa Capps graduated from nursing school with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University in 2007. She obtained a Master's of Science in Nursing with an educator focus from Webster University in 2016. Melissa worked in an acute care hospital with adults on a neuro-tele floor as a staff nurse, charge nurse, and preceptor full time for 11 years. During that time, she also mentored/coached, precepted, and was involved in the onboarding orientation process and training of the new graduate nurses on two telemetry floors in the nursing residency program. She currently works as a full-time nursing instructor at a college, where she has been teaching for the past four years.
Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS, is an associate professor at the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health and USC’s MPH Online Program at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Meredith Essalat has been an educator for over 17 years, supporting secondary and elementary school students as a teacher and now Principal in San Francisco, California. While her journey to become an academic leader may be considered unconventional, it continues to be filled with passion and purpose. Meredith is the staff-author of The Overly Honest Teacher and an active teaching blogger. She uses her love of writing to advocate for students and empower teachers everywhere.
Mike Briscoe has created educational content for fifteen+ years and is currently completing his dissertation in Educational Psychology at George Mason University. He focuses on creating personalized learning environments that support and enrich students’ content knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Michael J. Provitera, DBA, MBA, is an associate professor of organizational behavior at the Adrian Dominican School of Education at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. He has been teaching using hybrid learning for many years. Here’s his advice on how to get the most from hybrid classes.
Michealla Edwards is a cross-trained Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and patient care coordinator working toward her degree in nursing. When Michealla isn’t working with dental patients and studying for nursing courses, she enjoys spending time with her daughter.
Michelle Katz, MSN, LPN, has over 20 years of experience navigating through the healthcare system with an extensive background in healthcare — clinically, administratively, and politically. She serves as the healthcare consumer advocate for many media outlets and is best known for her work on ABC World New Tonight's Real Money series, as well as The Doctor's Doc on a Dime series. She is the staff-author of three well-known publications, Healthcare for Less, 101 Health Insurance Tips, and Healthcare Made Easy, highlighting her successful healthcare cost saving tips and much more.
Mike Lee is an artist and academic with undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Music and advanced degrees in Religious Studies and Ethnomusicology. While a graduate student, Mike was a hall director who supervised several RAs and a residence hall of 200 first-year students.
Nancy Brook, MSN, RN, is a nurse practitioner and career mentor at Stanford Healthcare. She has more than twenty years of experience working with nurses and health care professionals who want to create a more meaningful career and a healthier lifestyle. www.nursepractitionerbook.com
Nicholas McGowan, BSN, RN, CCRN is a critical care nurse with 10 years of experience in cardiovascular, surgical intensive care, and neurological trauma nursing. Nicholas also puts his background in education, leadership, and public speaking to work to help other nurses. Nicholas is an online learner who builds on his foundation of critical care nursing, which he uses directly at the bedside, where he still practices.
Nicolle Merrill is the staff-author of Punch Doubt in the Face: How to Upskill, Change Careers, and Beat the Robots. In her book, she teaches people how to learn new skills and adapt to the future of work. Nicolle is also the host of the podcast 50 Conversations, a podcast for career changers.
Norma is a Master’s prepared Registered Nurse with over 35 years of clinical and leadership experience. With education long being a focus of her career, she has worked teaching and coordinating programs for students, EMS providers, nurses, physicians, and community groups. Norma has been able to combine her knowledge and experience in EMS, acute care, and public health to mentor others to become part of the healthcare solution.
Omaida Bichara is a board-certified Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She is an adjunct faculty member at Barry University in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. She also works at a local hospital as a nurse practitioner in the division of cardiology, serving the adult population community. Prior to cardiology, she worked in critical care medicine. Ms. Bichara completed her bachelor and master of science in nursing at Barry University, and will be completing her doctorate in nursing practice in December 2020. Ms. Bichara is married with two children and resides in Miami, Florida. She enjoys helping with animal rescues, traveling, painting and gardening.
Owen Dubiel earned his Bachelor of Science in Information Assurance Applied Technology with a focus on intelligence analysis from Eastern Michigan University. He holds a GSEC certification as well as multiple Splunk specific certifications in cyber security. Owen currently works as a cyber security professional and enjoys spreading security awareness to the general public.
Pat Byrnes began her career as a nurse in the hospital and medical practice sector before going on to create her own company based on the principle of incorporating the clinical knowledge she possessed with the business acumen she achieved in her work experience. Over the years, Pat has expanded her company to fill the need for competent, skilled, proficient, and capable medical billers, consultants, accountants, and credentialing specialists. With degrees in business management and nursing, she holds an active nursing license as well as her certified medical biller and coder credential.
Patrick Dwyer is an autistic PhD student at UC Davis whose research focuses on autism. His research uses methods like electrophysiology, eye-tracking and questionnaires, and he is particularly interested in sensory processing and attention in autism. Patrick also facilitates a peer-support group for autistic students at his university. If you are interested in more of Patrick’s thoughts on all things autism and neurodiversity, check out his blog at autisticscholar.com.
Phil La Duke is the staff-author of Lone Gunman: Rewriting the Handbook on Workplace Violence Prevention. Prior to his current position as a global business consultant, Phil was a talent development manager for Trinity Health, one of the U.S.’s largest healthcare systems. There he was a certified Just Culture professional and trained many of the healthcare systems’ top executives.
Phil Ollenberg is a recognized thought leader in higher education, with 15 years’ experience in enrolment management, marketing, and student services. Phil has traveled across Canada, the US, and Asia to represent different universities and colleges and speak to audiences of up to 1,000 attendees. In addition to his professional work, Phil is a doctoral student in education management at Taft University.
Dr. Rachel Derr received her BSN from Widener University before going on to earn her MSN in nursing education and administration and a DNP from Duquesne University. She is a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League for Nursing and is additionally certified in Low-Risk Neonatal Nursing through National Certification Corporation. Her experience encompasses nursing academia in the areas of evidence-based nursing education, clinical education, assessment, technology in teaching, and NCLEX-RN preparation. Dr. Derr currently serves as Director of Clinical Operations at Rutgers School of Nursing where she develops, implements, and participates in programs and initiatives that provide learning opportunities in clinical pedagogy with a focus on experimental learning and civic engagement.
Rebecca Buckley is an inpatient and outpatient psychiatric physician assistant who has also served on the faculty at the physician assistant program at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Rebecca Newman, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 14 years of experience in social work and clinical practice. She currently serves as the lead clinician in an academic medical practice. Her expertise spans case management, psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and practice operations. Since 2019, Rebecca has integrated writing into her professional activities, authoring more than 45 articles on topics including mental health, social work, healthcare education, and higher education. Additionally, she has contributed expert advice to over 30 articles in publications such as Prevention, Bustle, Cosmopolitan, and Shape. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Oberlin College in 2010 and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012, practicing social work continuously since that time.
Renee Leuschke is a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Registered & Licensed with over 10 years of experience working in hospitals and outpatient clinicals. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She currently works with clients with neuro-related diagnoses such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis.
Renee Warmbrodt is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience working with pediatrics in a range of settings. She graduated from Saint Louis University with her MSN and currently works with a pediatric urology group in St. Louis, MO. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Renee worked several years with critically ill children as a PICU staff nurse. She also has experience educating, precepting, and mentoring nursing students.
Robert Kohen is an independent educational consultant focused on college admissions. He holds a certificate in college admissions and career planning from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling.
Ron Kness retired in November 2007 as a Senior Noncommissioned Officer after serving 36 years with the Minnesota Army National Guard. For three years, Mr. Kness served as the 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major, traveling to operational theaters, active duty and National Guard posts, and military medical facilities to help soldiers and their families. Mr. Kness also served on the Senior Leadership Team that developed and implemented Minnesota’s “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” program. He holds a BA in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul, MN, and is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy located in El Paso, TX.
Ruth Wilson is a certified principal and a board-certified educational therapist with over 25 years of experience in multiple education-related positions, including teacher, education consultant, advocate, public speaker, and school administrator. She has helped thousands of students experience academic success, earn diplomas, improve grade point averages, enter the workforce, and achieve personal goals.
Dr. Ryan Kaple is currently an assistant professor of medicine at Yale University, where he also earned his M.D. In addition to treating patients, he conducts research on TAVR and mitral valve replacement. He completed his internship and internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He subsequently held fellowships in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell, during which time he served as chief cardiology fellow. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine, and interventional cardiology.
Sadia Chaudhry-Zutshiis an MD graduate with an MBA in Healthcare Management who is on her way to become a psychiatrist. She is experienced in fields such as medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, podiatry, addictive medicine, and pain management. When she is not working towards her career goals, she works with children with disabilities and enjoys spending time with her family.
Sadie Black is a certified and licensed pharmacy technician. She received her Associate of Science in Pharmacy Technician with a pre-major in pharmacy study before earning her state certification and national license from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Sadie has experience working in both chain and independent pharmacies as lead pharmacy tech and is a member of the National Pharmacy Tech Association.
Sai Thumuluru is the founder of DirectShifts, a Y Combinator-backed medical staffing startup. DirectShifts uses AI to match locums and per diem clinicians directly with employers of all kinds who have open shifts. Sai has a PhD and MBA from Georgia Tech, and several years of experience building technology companies.
Samantha Abbinanti is a third-year Public Health and Data Analysis student at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. She is originally from a small town north of Chicago, IL, where she found her desire to study infectious diseases while watching Outbreak in her freshman year health class. She is planning to attend graduate school to get her master’s degree in epidemiology and wants to work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After that, she plans on going back to school to g
Dr. Samantha Alperin is the founder and creator of My Accreditation Assistant and L.E.A.D. Educational Consultants. She has over 20 years of higher education and accreditation experience at both the departmental and institutional levels. As an independent consultant, Dr. Alperin guides departments of higher education through accreditation, providing hope, strategy, and continuous feedback throughout the process.
Sanket Shah is an instructor for the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences (BHIS) at the College of Applied Health Sciences. Professor Shah has created a course curriculum focusing on healthcare business intelligence, healthcare data, knowledge management, and consumer informatics.
Sarah Johnson formerly served as a registered nurse and is currently the Health Ambassador for Family Assets, a popular eldercare resource that provides seniors and their families with a comprehensive guide to a wide range of eldercare options in their area and hundreds of pages of information related to aging and eldercare issues.
Scott W. Cohen, MD, FAAP, is a board certified pediatrician and the staff-author of bestselling parenting guide Eat, Sleep, Poop: A Common Sense Guide to Your Baby’s First Year. The co-founder of Beverly Hills Pediatrics, Dr. Cohen is an attending physician and a member of the teaching staff at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Cohen is also the co-founder of Kids Doctors on Call (KidsDOC), a pediatric telemedicine platform that connects families with their own pediatrician via live video calls.
Scott Winstead is the founder and higher education expert at MyeLearningWorld.com. His reports and analyses on student loan debt have been featured on MSN, Yahoo Finance, FOX Business, and more.
As a teenager, Sean Walsh was often in trouble with the law. Entrenched in alcoholism, substance abuse, and depression, Sean needed a change. He found it through his faith and his knowledge of construction. Opening Walcraft Cabinetry served not only as his saving grace, but as a beacon to others with a history of incarceration. Today Sean is the leader of Walsh Built Homes and Walcraft Cabinetry, two companies that are now known for providing much-needed second chances to those who seek out a better life.
Seema Thomas is an adjunct professor of urban sustainability at the University of the District of Columbia and urban development consultant. Seema Thomas has been working on urban challenges domestically and internationally for the past two decades with a focus on community engagement. She has a master’s in urban planning from Harvard University, a master’s in public affairs from Princeton University, and a bachelor’s in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Shana Myers is registered nurse with over 12 years of experience working in various areas of concentration including medical-surgical nursing, informatics, and nurse education. With a Master of Science in Nursing and a background in gynecology, colorectal, palliative medicine, neurology, orthopedics, urology, she uses her experience to work as a hospital educator helping new graduate nurses transition into RNs.
Shariann Tom is a five-time cancer survivor. Her cancer journeys and 20 years of coaching experience inspired her to start a worldwide movement to change the way people experience cancer. In 2010, she was Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Honoree of the Year.
Siah Bonita Hagin has a passion for working with children and families. She currently works as a School Counselor with the New York City Department of Education and has been employed by the agency the past fourteen years. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, she began writing poetry on her journey to healing and recently published her first book. The Journey Continues: Stories of A Survivor is a collection of poetry that leads readers from tragedy to victory, and from defeat to triumph.
Stephanie Johannsenis a Registered Nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA). Her unique background includes extensive clinical and administrative roles in hospitals, insurance companies, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), drug companies, start-up joint ventures, ambulatory centers, hospice, long term care, home health, travel nursing and overseas education. She also worked as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC) assisting with class action lawsuits, medical malpractice cases and catastrophic injury cases. Stephanie has had an exciting career fully exploring nearly every aspect of health care and thrives on sharing those experiences with others who wish to enter the field.
Dr. Susan Cheng is the Associate Dean for Public Health Practice & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Tade Souaiaia is genetics professor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, a co-founder of a computer vision company, and a former track and field athlete. His research involves developing novel algorithms and statistical methods to improve genetic prediction and using large-scale genomic and transcriptomic data to improve our understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders. He is currently investigating how social effects and environmentally mediated intervention confound our understanding of genetic architecture.
Tara Houston is a nonprofit professional and public servant in Nashville, TN. In her current role, Tara works with patient advocacy groups seeking therapies and cures for the rare, genetic disorders they represent.
Dr. Tasha Holland-Kornegay is passionate about helping others reach their maximum potential. She is an staff-author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. She created Wellness In Real Life to help decrease health care provider burnout.
Terri Bogue began her career in nursing more than 30 years ago and has practiced in both bedside and leadership positions. Terri’s expertise centers around the prevention and reduction of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Her experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist implementing quality improvement projects has provided a unique systems approach to her work. Terri is an accomplished speaker and staff-author on topics related to the impact, prevention, and reduction of HAIs and inter-professional practices, and shares her knowledge in an engaging and encouraging manner. A consultant to hospitals and healthcare systems, Terri provides support related to practice standards and the development of solutions to HAI prevention challenges. She is the co-staff-author of the SHRM published book, Extinguish Burnout, A Practical Guide to Prevention and Recovery.
Tessa is a MSN prepared Registered Nurse with 10 years of adult critical care experience. She specializes in neurovascular progressive care and has a national certification. She was awarded 2017’s Golden Stethoscope, a nurse-excellence award at her facility. When not practicing clinical nursing, she enjoys academic writing and is passionate about educating patients and healthcare professionals.
Thomas Grant Richardson, Ph.D., is a freelance traditional arts consultant, fieldworker, anddocumentarian based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has worked for state traditional artsprograms, universities, and various nonprofits across the country. He has also served as agrant panelist (several times over) on the state and federal level.
Thomas Raulen is a freelance writer specializing in public safety and government affairs. His professional experience is derived from over two decades as a criminal investigator and detective supervisor for a law enforcement agency in Florida. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida. Thomas is also an adjunct professor at Indian River State College where he teaches in their bachelor’s degree program as well as providing instruction on investigative techniques to police academy recruits.
Tim Connon is an entrepreneur born in Florida. His father was a top salesman, and Tim had dreams of one day being just like his dad. From his early 20s to mid-30s, Tim achieved this dream in the life insurance field and became the founder of ParamountQuote.
Tom Shortreed, CRPC, CFP, is the CEO of Financial Psychology and Guidelight Financial Group, a financial advising firm with Ameriprise Financial located in Ohio. During his 25+ year career, Tom has helped clients manage their finances and used financial psychology to help clients achieve their financial goals.
Tori Ford is the founder and CEO of Medical Herstory, an international, youth-led nonprofit eliminating sexism, shame, and stigma from health experiences through medical education, patient advocacy, and undoing stigma. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Health, Medicine, and Society from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies from McGill University. She is an outspoken sexual health advocate who is passionate about empowering and educating others. Her work has been recognized by the University of Cambridge Vice Chancellor’s Social Impact Award and the McGill Scarlet Key award for her enduring gender health advocacy.
Tracy Criswell has worked as a special educator for nearly ten years. She has taught K-12 students with special needs in different schools throughout the state of Iowa and during the summers she taught for her local school district’s Extended School Year program. Tracy holds an undergraduate degree in education and a Master of Special Education from the University of Northern Iowa. She has experience teaching English, social studies, and science.
Tracia Barnett (RN, Certified Diabetes Educator, Massage Therapist, CPR, First Aid and AED Instructor) is a seasoned nurse with over 14 years’ experience working in a wide variety of healthcare settings within hospitals, homes and in the field. She has worked for travel nursing companies and several large hospitals as well as ran medical crews for large music events. Tracia created her own business, Adventure Nurse, as a travel nurse that works directly with clients who are restricted from leaving their homes or facilities due to complex medical needs.
Tyler Faust currently serves as a nurse manager at Mayo Clinic. He has over 7 years of nursing experience in med/surg, GI, and radiology. Tyler obtained his Master’s degree in Nursing and Organizational Leadership and is passionate about leadership and innovation in healthcare.
Tyler Sainato is a school librarian in Nashville, TN. This is her first year in the library after six years of teaching English. She has a Master's in Education from Lipscomb University and is finishing up her Master's in Library Science from Middle Tennessee State University. She currently works at a high school in Antioch, TN where she is also the Project LIT chapter leader and co-advisor for the GSA Club
Victoria Taylor is a writer and teacher with more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She also founded Best Case Parenting to help support first-time parents.
Victoria Turner is the founder and president of Turner Educational Advising, LLC, an educational consulting firm specializing in college and law school admissions and professional development. She served as the Senior Manager of Pre-Law and Professional Development Programs at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, for almost a decade. She is also a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association, the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Vivian Hazzard is a registered nurse, certified in public health, with over 30 years of experience. A proud graduate of Loma Linda University School of Nursing, her clinical experience includes medical surgical, women’s and children’s health, hospice, home and community health. She also has expertise in healthcare management, training, informatics and quality.
Walker LaFleur, RN, BSN is a nurse advocate with Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates and has been a nurse for more than nine years in both Florida and Washington state. He has acute care hospital experience and experience in an outpatient dialysis clinic. He most recently managed two dialysis clinics, overseeing a 50-person team in northwest Washington.
William Christie is an organizational expert who works with students and nurses to help them learn to stay organized and productive while juggling their many responsibilities. He blogs at https://studyinghood.com/.
Xavier is a US Navy Veteran who currently works as a Police Academy Instructor and active Peace Officer out of Texas. Xavier has staff-authored numerous books on the law enforcement profession and is currently pursuing graduate-level studies in Criminal Justice and Government.
