Meet Our Team
Active Minds is a team of changemakers dedicated to building and supporting a movement that forever changes how mental health is prioritized and discussed in society.
Active Minds Staff
Alicia Elms
Senior Manager, Workforce Development
Programs
She/Her
Alison Malmon
Founder & Executive Director
Operations
She/Her
Alley Kocinski
Senior Associate, Graphic Design
Marketing & Communications
She/Her
André Scott
Manager, Web & Digital Content
Marketing & Communications
They/Them
Anika Rahman
Director, Policy
Programs
She/Her
Brandi Pretlow
VP, Community Initiatives
Programs
She/Her
Brett Curtis
Director, Community Fundraising
Development
He/Him
Chad Pendleton
Marketing Manager
Marketing & Communications
He/Him
Dani Gomez Convey
Director, People & Culture
Operations
They/Them
Dante Worth
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Marketing & Communications
He/Him
Deborah Shoola
Program Associate, Send Silence Packing
Programs
She/Her
DeHaven Sawyer Mays
Manager, Middle School Engagement
Programs
They/Them
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Board & Committees
Angel Velazquez
Student Advisory Committee Member
Lake Tahoe Community College
He/Him
Faria Tavacoli
Student Advisory Committee Member
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
She/They/Ella
Marissa Smith
Student Advisory Committee Member
Rider University
She/Her
Nadira Akilo
Student Advisory Committee Member
University of Texas at Austin
She/Her
Varsha Penumalee
Student Advisory Committee Member
Virginia Commonwealth University
She/Her
Vashti Trujillo
Student Advisory Committee Member
Colorado State University Pueblo
She/Her
We’re on a mission to save lives. Want to be a part of our movement?
View current opportunities to move your career forward while making a difference.
Youth & Young Adult Boards
Alumni Board
The Active Minds Alumni Board is a leadership initiative for young professionals committed to advancing mental health advocacy beyond college. Members provide strategic insight into workforce development efforts, help design resources that support career transitions, and champion the integration of mental health advocacy into professional spaces. This national network collaborates with Active Minds staff to strengthen alumni engagement and expand opportunities for advocacy across industries.
High School Advisory Board
The Active Minds High School Advisory Board is a paid leadership program for 9th–12th grade students that promotes youth mental health. Members provide feedback on initiatives, create resources, and lead advocacy efforts focused on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. This virtual national program includes monthly meetings, advocacy skill-building, and support for student-led chapters. Students participate in a 50/50 model of professional development and direct influence on Active Minds’ work.
Student Advisory Committee
The Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is a national leadership group of young adults shaping the future of the mental health movement. Members represent thousands of students nationwide, provide input on key initiatives, and help guide the direction of Active Minds’ programs and campaigns. Through collaboration with staff and peers, SAC members influence national conferences, chapter engagement strategies, and emerging advocacy priorities.
Youth Advocacy Policy Champions
Youth Advocacy Policy Champions are emerging leaders dedicated to advancing mental health policy at the federal, state, and local levels. Participants build advocacy skills, engage directly with policymakers, and elevate youth voices in systems-level conversations. Through coordinated campaigns and policy education, champions help drive meaningful community change and strengthen Active Minds’ legislative priorities.
Reach Out
Connect with Active Minds youth and young adults directly to start a conversation that can and will save lives.
More Ways to Get Involved
Our Partners
Our partners understand how important it is to come together to end the silence that surrounds mental health.
Active Minds Ambassadors
Actors, musicians, athletes, and social media influencers who use their platforms to speak up about mental health.