meet our team

Alison Malmon

Founder and Executive Director

Alison Malmon is the founder and Executive Director of Active Minds, and a sought after mental health expert. Alison formed the organization in 2003 as a 21-year-old, following the suicide of her brother and only sibling Brian. Wanting to end the silence that caused her brother to suffer alone and ultimately take his own life, Alison created a group on her campus at the University of Pennsylvania to promote open dialogue around mental health. Since then, Active Minds has grown into the country’s foremost mental health organization for students and young adults, with award-winning programs and a vibrant network of campus chapters located at more than 450 colleges, universities, and high schools nationwide.

Alison lives in Boulder, Colorado, and is the mother of three young girls. In her spare time, she loves flying 23 feet in the air at the Trapeze School in Washington, DC.

See Alison’s full bio »

Carin Levine

Chief Operating Officer

Carin, a Bethesda, MD native and resident, comes to Active Minds with a background in entrepreneurship, business development, and management. She owned Hitched, a bridal boutique in Georgetown, for almost ten years and is also the co-founder and owner of the start-up, FONBOOTH. Prior to starting her own businesses, she worked as a consultant and large scale event producer for non-profits and national corporations. Carin received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from Yale School of Management. Carin loves spending time with her husband and two elementary school age children and hosting friends.

Laura Horne

Director of Programs

Prior to Active Minds, Laura led public health initiatives at the National Association of County and City Health Officials and at Tulane University. She studied communications at Loyola University New Orleans and earned her Master of Public Health degree from Tulane University. She also has certification as a Health Education Specialist by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. She enjoys running, reading, finding adventure with her husband and two girls, and following the Washington Nationals. Laura works from New Orleans.

Emma Edick

Communications Coordinator

Originally from Ohio, Emma moved to Indianapolis to study digital media production at Butler University, trading in her pointe shoes for video equipment. Peer education, creative collaborations, and storytelling are her main sources of inspiration. As a new DC-resident, you can find Emma playing tourist any day of the week (National Portrait Gallery is her go-to).

Becky Fein

Associate Director of Programs

Becky oversees and leads the Active Minds California Mental Health Services Act (CalMHSA) funded initiative. She has been supporting the creation of peer-powered student advocacy programs, under CalMHSA contracts, for five years, beginning in 2012 at Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University. Becky served as Adjunct Faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College, where she taught a course on personal health and issues at the forefront of public health. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from University of California, Davis, and a Master’s of Public Health from Columbia University. Becky also co-founded the Powerful Voices Project, a documentary film series highlighting the stories of resilience and recovery from people who have experienced sexual assault. In her spare time, you can find Becky hiking among the oak trees and redwoods of Northern California.

Angela Gillis

Communications Manager

Angela is a southern-grown storyteller who recently cooked her way through 50 Shades of Kale. She graduated from Clemson University with a degree in communications and journalism, and has since pursued a variety of copywriting, digital storytelling, and marketing opportunities. If she’s not hosting tea parties you can find Angela biking, hiking, or camping with her favorite Englishman.

Hayley Harnicher

Program Manager, Send Silence Packing

Hayley, having spent most of her childhood in Salt Lake City, UT, and high school years in Houston, TX, considers both places to be home. She graduated from the University of Rochester in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and was immersed in Active Minds throughout her undergraduate career. Joining at the beginning of her freshman year and serving as Co-President for her junior and senior years, Hayley considers Active Minds to be a pivotal part of her college experience. In addition, Hayley served as a member of the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee, an intern at the national office, and as a Spring 2016 Send Silence Packing Tour Coordinator. With friends and family spread out over the country, you’re likely to find Hayley traveling in her free time (or catching up on sleep). Her favorite DC spot is District Doughnut in Georgetown!

Nicolle Hill

Program Coordinator

If you have any questions about the ice cream scene in DC, look no further. Nicolle, proud INFJ and Type 6 on the Enneagram, grew up in Eastern Connecticut. She attended Eastern Connecticut State University, where she studied Communications and minored in Psychology and Sociology. Following graduation, Nicolle served a year with Americorps VISTA at a small nonprofit in Connecticut and continued to work there for two years before heading south to DC. Today, you can find her enjoying the monuments at night and exploring different ice cream shops to find the best dish of Chocolate Moose Tracks.

Megan Larson

California Mental Health Services Authority Fellow

Megan is a self-described musical theatre nerd and tries to live by the saying “no day but today” from Rent (so much so that it’s tattooed on her arm!). Hailing from the Golden State, Megan double-majored in biology and religion at UCLA. During her time on campus, she joined UCLA’s chapter of Active Minds and found her passion for advancing the conversation about mental health. Megan can frequently be found at any one of the Los Angeles Salt & Straw scoop shops. Eggplant custard? Avocado and Oaxacan chocolate ice cream? Count Megan in. Otherwise, you can find Megan snuggling with her furbabies Bandit and Jasper.

Emelyne Ndikumasabo

Office Manager

Emelyne comes to Active minds with a background in international programs and operations, and has worked in conflict zones for the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Previous to Active Minds, Emelyne served as the Procurement staff at the United Nations office in Ivory Coast. She has over 10 years providing operational support and program/project management support in the nonprofit realm. In her spare time, Emelyne enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and being outdoors with her daughter.

Chris Pahler

Special Projects Coordinator

Chris was drawn to Active Minds’ mission for its focus on educating the younger generation that it’s okay to not be okay, and to not be afraid to ask for help. Hailing from Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Chris studied Music Business at Berklee College of Music. When he’s not breaking out into a Kelly Clarkson song, Chris enjoys traveling, exploring DC’s best brunch spots, napping, and Grey’s Anatomy.

Maribeth Savoie

Sales and Marketing Manager, Active Minds Speakers Bureau

Maribeth, originally from Annapolis, MD, was drawn to Active Minds for the advocacy, message and empowerment it shares with audiences all over the country. She studied Psychology and Human Development at the University of Maryland, College Park, and has a graduate certificate in Business Marketing at Liberty University. Prior to joining Active Minds, Maribeth was a Marketing Assistant, a Community Focused Assistant Manager of lululemon athletica, a yoga instructor, and underwent a Mind-Body Medicine Professional Training Program where she learned how to integrate self-care and mindfulness practices. Outside the office, you can find Maribeth soaking up the sun, finding the closest beach, doing yoga, running, or hiking with her two German Shepard/Labrador Retrievers mixes and husband.

Robyn Suchy

Chapter Manager

Robyn has been immersed in intersectional mental health advocacy on his campus, in the community, and on a statewide and national level. He graduated from Cabrini College with a dual degree in Philosophy and English, and concentrations in Social Justice and Women’s Studies in 2014. He was involved in the Active Minds chapter at Cabrini starting his freshman year when he took over the presidency. From there, he served on the Active Minds National Student Advisory Committee, the Active Minds Board of Directors, and as a Programs Team intern. Robyn has struggled with mental health for most of his life and through Active Minds, he channels his journey into transformational advocacy. Robyn founded a group for transgender men and transmasculine individuals, he is a Crisis Counselor for Crisis Text Line, and he is on the steering committee of a transgender legal advocacy group. Robyn uses he/him pronouns.

Kell Wilkinson

Program Manager, Pittsburgh, PA

Kell is a Program Manager with Active Minds and is based in Pittsburgh, PA.  Kell brings professional experience working with non-profit organizations as well as local and state governments.  Their primary focus has been in human services administration and in advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations. Kell was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania and earned a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. When they’re not strolling in the local park with their dog Posie, you can find Kell playing card or board games with friends or exploring both new and old parts of Pittsburgh.