SAC 2022-2023

Apply for the 2023-2024 Student Advisory Committee

The Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is comprised of a small group of students from nine regions across the United States and Canada. The committee is an advisory body to the Active Minds national office that brings the student perspective to organizational decision-making. They show extraordinary leadership and dedication to the mission of Active Minds. The Student Advisory Committee is a paid opportunity.

This year, for the first time, new SAC members will be managing a handful of chapters across the United States or Canada who are part of the Active Minds Student Ambassadors program. They will be responsible for communicating with, mobilizing, and building a community for these chapters. All SAC members will be receiving a $1000 ($500 each semester) stipend during their term to compensate their time, hard work, and dedication to their role.

Learn more about what is expected of our SAC members and hear what exciting opportunities may be in store as a part of this vital Active Minds team in the application itself. Click below!

Applications Due April 23rd!

Apply now!

supporting the next generation of mental health advocates

The Active Minds Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is an advisory group comprised of college and university student leaders from chapters in the Active Minds National Chapter Network across the United States and Canada. The SAC is a national student leadership body that provides a youth perspective to our work in collaboration with the Active Minds national staff, Board of Directions, and National Advisory Committee. SAC members primarily advise national staff in student engagement, program planning, Chapter engagement and management, National Conference planning, and program promotion, and represent the Active Minds’ student voice nationally through media and other student forums.

Student Advisory Committee map

Meet the SAC Members!

Nathan Blanken

President of the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee

Pronouns: he/him/his

School: University of Maryland – College Park

About: Nathan is a junior computer science major with a minor in geospatial information science. He is currently the president of the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee and president of the Active Minds Chapter at the University of Maryland, College Park. Nathan joined Active Minds because he thinks students need more mental health education and hopes to be able to educate students all over his campus. Outside of school, he enjoys skateboarding, going to the beach, and hammocking.

Jordan Kozuki

Vice President, Active Minds National Student Advisory Committee

Pronouns: she/her/hers

School: California State University, Fresno

About: Jordan is a senior at California State University, Fresno, where she is a psychology major. After graduation, she plans to pursue her Master’s degree in cognitive neuroscience and would like to obtain a Ph.D. in clinical pediatric neuropsychology. Her journey with Active Minds has been influential throughout her college career in sharing her personal story as a survivor of suicide loss and has even inspired her to begin researching public stigma on her campus. When Jordan is not at school, she enjoys gardening, spending time with her animals, and traveling.

Natasha Reddy

Secretary, Active Minds National Student Advisory Committee

Pronouns:she/her/hers

School: University of San Francisco

About: Natasha is a senior at the University of San Francisco studying Psychology and is passionate about mental health advocacy. Natasha launched Active Minds at USF two years ago and has served as President since to create a safe space for those struggling with their mental health and to advocate for better access to mental health resources on campus. She has enjoyed helping execute various campus collaborations and is excited to continue positively impacting students as the National Student Advisory Committee’s Secretary. Natasha is also involved with the organization United Students for Veterans’ Health, where she raises awareness about mental health challenges that veterans face. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family.

Geela Ramos

Treasurer, Active Minds National Student Advisory Committee

Pronouns: they/them/theirs

School: University of Central Florida

About: Geela is a computer science major, with a minor in cognitive science, at the University of Central Florida. Joining Active Minds during their first year, they rose to the role of Chapter President and Active Minds Student Ambassador (AMSA) member as a sophomore. With support from their executive board, their Chapter has been able to host successful fundraisers for different community partners; additionally, they have worked in tandem with various student organizations and agencies to advance advocacy efforts in other sectors connecting to mental health. Over the past three years, Geela has enjoyed brainstorming new initiatives and hopes to continue organizing long-lasting programs. In their spare time, they love exploring Orlando and other cities you may find them in to seek out interesting eateries and novelty stores.

Emma Lamoreaux

Pronouns: she/her/hers

School: Temple University

SAC Region 1 – Northeast

About: Emma currently majors in Health Information Management, and minors in Public Health, at Temple University. She intends to use her degree to solve accessibility issues within healthcare using technology. She first got involved with her university’s Active Minds Chapter during her sophomore year, after dealing with mental hardships throughout her first year. She wanted to help those struggling, and attempt to make others feel less alone by sharing her own vulnerable experiences. This year, she is excited to serve as her Chapter’s co-president, and reach more students. Outside of Temple, she enjoys creative writing as well as working on personal graphic design projects, much like how she started as a graphic designer within her Chapter.

Doah Shin

Pronouns: she/her/hers

School: Vanderbilt University

SAC Region 3 – Southeast

About: Doah is a senior at Vanderbilt University studying psychology and public health. She is very passionate about suicide prevention due to various personal experiences with suicide, so seeing the many initiatives and events led by Active Minds inspired her to get more involved. She joined Active Minds in her first year after encountering the Send Silence Packing exhibit in 2019 and learning more about its mission and purpose. She is now serving as the co-president of Active Minds for her second year, and she is excited to engage in mental health advocacy at Vanderbilt and beyond her campus! Outside of Active Minds, Doah volunteers with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, is a peer coach at the Help Club, and is involved with research on-campus.

Emily Muench

Pronouns: she/her/hers

School: Baldwin Wallace University

SAC Region 4 – Midwest

About: Emily Muench is a junior Digital Marketing major with minors in Media Production and Social Media Production. Five weeks into her first year, she started an Active Minds branch on her campus. She is involved with Active Minds because of her struggles with mental health and her passion for mental health advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys painting and singing in her family band.

Blake Matthews

Pronouns: he/him/his

School: Ithaca College

SAC Region 2 – Mid-Atlantic

About: As a current psychology major and a future licensed marriage and family therapist, Blake joined Active Minds because he wholeheartedly understands the stigma around mental health and believes in changing the conversation. He learned about Active Minds through Arizona State University and quickly became the advocacy coordinator and social media head for the 2021-2022 school year. Outside of Active Minds, Blake can be found volunteering for the Crisis Text Line, acting as a board member and peer support program coordinator for American Trans Resource Hub, working on Mission Music Foundation (his own non-profit), or enjoying music. He loves taking photos, traveling, and being active in his community. He is V-A-R® certified and believes that no one should be alone when they are hurting.

Gabriela Aguilar

Pronouns: she/her/hers

School: California State University, East Bay 

SAC Region 5 – Northwest

About: Gaby is a California State University, East Bay transfer student working on her bachelors with a major in psychology. She started an Active Minds Chapter at Chabot College before transferring but continues as an active member as she continues to work at the Chabot campus as a wellness ambassador and mental health navigator connecting students to mental health services on campus and out in the community. She is a passionate advocate for mental health services and believes that students thrive on campus with support and a space to connect with others that validate their mental health journey. She bakes custom cakes in her free time, loves to read, and spends time with her three children.

Tiara Sari

Pronouns: she/her/hers

School: University of California, Riverside

SAC Region 6 – Southwest

About: Tiara is studying education to become an elementary school teacher at the University of California, Riverside. She became involved in Active Minds because she wanted to surround herself with like-minded individuals with the same aspirations as she does to combat mental health stigma and spread awareness about it. Outside of school, she loves going to raves/festivals and traveling. So far, her favorite festival is EDC, and her favorite travel destination is any national park.