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 550 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

Chief Program Officer

Laura develops innovative strategies and unique partnerships to empower students to help schools and society embrace a comprehensive, public health approach to mental health. Prior to Active Minds, Laura led public health initiatives at the National Association of County and City Health Officials and Tulane University. Laura earned her Master of Public Health degree in community health sciences from Tulane University and her Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Loyola University New Orleans. She enjoys running, reading, finding adventure with her husband and three girls, and following the Washington Nationals and New Orleans Saints. Laura works from Philadelphia.

See Laura’s full bio »

Margo J. Collins

Chief Development & Marketing Officer

Margo has spent her 14-year career helping worthy causes realize the resources needed to continue their important work. Most recently, Margo served as the Vice President, Development & Communications for Grameen Foundation. Prior to that role she served as Director of Development, Campaigns for the United Nations Foundation, guiding the fundraising and donor communication programs of the Shot@Life, Girl Up, and Nothing But Nets campaigns of the UN Foundation, which cumulatively represent more than 1 million supporters and advocates of global development. The first half of Margo’s career was spent as a Vice President at CCS, one of the largest strategic development consulting firms in the industry, where she directed multi-million dollar campaigns and assisted clients in enhancing their fundraising program efficiency. Originally a Midwesterner, Margo has lived in 13 cities across 9 states, and has toured 6 continents since graduating from Lehigh University. She and her husband now happily reside in Washington, DC.

Tanya Bass

Senior Manager of Health Equity

Dr. Tanya Bass previously served as Program Supervisor managing the Cultural and Community Initiatives in the NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCOMHHD). At NCOMHHD, she worked with agencies and individuals to advance racial justice, health equity, and inclusion. As a member of the North Carolina Society for Public Health Education (NCSOPHE), the Association of Black Sexologist and Clinicians (ABSC), and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), she remains engaged in professional growth and development. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator (CSE). Tanya is an alumna of North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) Department of Public Health Education, where she has served as an adjunct instructor for several years and is currently the lead instructor for Human Sexuality. She has a PhD in Education at Widener University in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies. She also has a Master of Science in Health Promotion and Human Services from NCCU and a Master of Education from Widener University. When she is not working, she loves to scrapbook and make beaded jewelry. Tanya uses she/her pronouns.

Lauren Cikara

Senior Manager, K-12 Initiatives

Lauren has spent her entire career advocating for youth and young adult programming in K-12 education, higher education, and community spaces. Most recently, she worked for the Colorado School of Public Health School recruiting schools to participate in the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS), Colorado’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and Smart Source. In this role, Lauren supported schools in administering the surveys and provided technical support to schools and community partners as they navigated using results to inform school and adolescent health work across Colorado. She is a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusive school board policies and ensures the work she is a part of has an equitable and intersectional lens. Lauren’s background is in student leadership, health education and equity, policy and advocacy, and equity and inclusion. She enjoys hiking, baking, and exploring the Denver art and music scene.

Ginger Dockery

Development Manager

For over 15 years, Ginger has supported arts, education, and policy non-profits through strategy and donor relationship building. She grew up splitting time between the DC metro area and New England and values the variety and depth of cultural resources at one’s fingertips all along the East Coast. Ginger’s been involved in all aspects of non-profits since childhood, in capacities from volunteering “on the ground” in shelter environments to serving on fundraising committees and many experiences in between. She brings this personal perspective to her work in supporting the mission and philanthropists of Active Minds. Ginger earned her BFA in Interior Architecture and Design from MICA (Maryland Institute, College of Art) in Baltimore, Maryland. Before joining this team, she supported special events and development endeavors at the education-, national park-, and performing arts-focused Wolf Trap Foundation. Ginger lives in Vienna, Virginia, with her husband and two children. When she’s not volunteering or volunteering non-profits, Ginger enjoys remodeling her home (a family endeavor), hosting friends, attending live performances, and exploring new cuisine.

Emma Edick

Visual Brand Manager

Having grown up in Ohio, Emma moved to Indianapolis to study digital media production at Butler University. While in undergrad Emma grew as a visual storyteller through her internships with documentary filmmaker, Ted Green, WFYI Public Media, Butler University’s Office of Marketing & Communications, and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts here in DC. The semester spent on the East Coast sparked a love for the city that brought her back after graduating from Butler in 2017. She is grateful for the opportunity to combine her passions for peer education, creative collaborations, and storytelling through her work at Active Minds. Outside of the office, you can find her wandering the National Portrait Gallery or Rock Creek Park.

Francis Escaler

Salesforce Administrator

Francis was born and raised in the Philippines and has been a DC resident since 2012. Previously working at the Capital Area Food Bank whose mission was to solve hunger where he learned all about Salesforce and the power of data and automation. He jumped at the opportunity to work at Active Minds understanding that people need to take care of their minds just as much as their physical body. Outside of work, Francis loves to travel to new places and enjoys going to music events. He’s also a DJ who likes to mix deep and melodic tracks together for anyone who will listen.

Becky Fein

Director of Engagement and Training

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.

Amy Gatto

Senior Campus Program Manager

Amy is interested in the relationship between health and education. Blending together her experiences as a former high school teacher, higher education health educator, and young adult health researcher, she has found a niche in working to improve adolescent and young adult mental health. Amy is a doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida in the College of Public Health, holds a Master in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from Elon University. To find balance, Amy seeks out new adventures, teaches and practices yoga, and is usually working through a new DIY home project.

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!

Amanda Horn

Senior Marketing and Public Relations Manager

Chloe Isaac

Social Media Manager

For as long as she can remember, Chloe has loved to connect with others on a personal level and find connections among the things that make us all unique. This interest led her to pursue degrees in Communication Studies and Graphic Design while at the University of Maryland and inspired her to pursue a career in social media, a field she doesn’t think she’ll ever get bored of. Chloe believes good content is made with integrity, good humor, and honesty, and she’s thrilled that this aligns with the work Active Minds does through their online presence.

Chloe makes sure she spends a good amount of time offline as well, usually via a walk to the local gelato shop or a movie night with friends.

Huyen Mac

Contract Graphic Designer

Kelly Madden

Chapter Coordinator

Currently, through her work as the Chapter Coordinator at Active Minds, Kelly supports more than 620 student-led chapters and over 15,000 student leaders as they develop mental health programming, facilitate suicide prevention training, and lead institution-wide advocacy campaigns. Daily, she works with students from varied backgrounds and experience levels to grow as leaders, advocates, and young professionals and elevate their voices and the voices of their communities. Through her community advocacy efforts over the past few years, she has been able to engage in, create, and foster partnerships between students and their campus administrators to work together for change. Kelly received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with concentrations in Counseling and Sociology from Ithaca College. Kelly enjoys reading, video games, tending to her plants, and hanging out with her partner and stepchildren. Kelly uses she/her pronouns.

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.

Sam Piraneo

Development Coordinator

Originally from New Jersey, Sam studied psychology at Ithaca College and was involved in IC’s Active Minds chapter. During his time at IC, Sam interned with the local Department of Social Services and worked at a summer camp for youth experiencing mental health struggles. Since moving to D.C., Sam worked as a barista and local LGBTQ event producer before joining the Active Minds team. Outside of work, you can find Sam riding his bike, exploring new coffee shops, or eating ice cream with his boyfriend.

Luis Ramirez

Development Manager

After interning with Active Minds in his college days, Luis is thrilled to return as Development Manager and continue to change the conversation about mental health. Previously, Luis has had the opportunity to work for two incredible organizations: Food & Friends, a DC based nonprofit providing medically tailored meals to people living with serious illnesses, and Rebuilding Together, a leading home repair nonprofit focused on revitalizing communities and rebuilding lives across the country. Luis is a firm believer that donors should be celebrated at every opportunity and works to build relationships based on trust, transparency and a culture of philanthropy.

Luis holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Health from the University of Maryland. He and his partner live in Riverdale, Maryland with their cat and two dogs.

Maribeth Savoie

Senior Health Promotion Manager, Active Minds Speakers

Maribeth’s work focuses on promoting comprehensive, interactive, and inspirational speaking events with schools and professional groups that focus on mental health education and personal stories. She enjoys working with clients and speakers to help create tailored event experiences through a health promotion lens. Maribeth studied Psychology and Human Development at the University of Maryland for her undergraduate career. She has a graduate certificate in Business Marketing from Liberty University and is currently completing two Master of Science degrees in Health Promotion and Nutrition at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Outside the office, you can find Maribeth soaking up the sun, finding the closest beach, doing yoga, running, or hiking with her husband and their two dogs. Maribeth is originally from Annapolis, MD, and currently works from Reno, NV.

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.