MAPS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chief Executive Officer at Lykos Therapeutics
- Development Expert
Amy Emerson is the Chief Executive Officer at Lykos Therapeutics is a Delaware public benefit corporation with the special purpose to balance income from legal sales of MDMA with the social benefits of MAPS' mission. MAPS is a majority shareholder of Lykos Therapeutics.
Amy started as a pro bono consultant at MAPS in 2003, and since then has built MAPS' clinical department while managing the MDMA Clinical Development Program with a focus on the PTSD indication. In 2014, Lykos Therapeutics was incorporated to focus on psychedelic drug development, therapist training programs, and future sales of prescription psychedelics prioritizing public benefit above profit.
Amy brings decades of pharmaceutical development and research experience in Phase 1 through Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trials including supporting three successful regulatory approvals for new biologics. Her professional experience at Novartis, Chiron and other pharmaceutical companies (1993-2009) spans various fields including immunology, oncology and vaccines. Pursuing her love of science and nature cultivated while growing up in the woods of Alaska she earned her B.S. in genetics and cell biology from Washington State University in 1992 to prepare for a career in research. Amy is passionate about being a mother and the work of bringing the potential of psychedelics for healing further into the consciousness of the world, leaving a better world for the following generations. She has a lifelong love of travel, living abroad with her husband, exploring in nature and cooking with her family.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer ( CFO ) & Co - Head of Business Development ( MAPS PBC )
Angelica Garcia (she/her) serves as the Project Manager for MAPS' therapist education initiatives, supporting program execution and development for international programs. Since 2019, Angelica has helped produce numerous education events focusing on operations, admissions, scholarships, and curriculum development. At Lykos Therapeutics, she was the Training Operations Specialist on the MDMA-Assisted Therapy Education Program team.
Angelica aims to advance psychedelic training and education programs through a trauma-focused lens. She is passionate about making psychedelic education inclusive and accessible to all, especially communities of color and those who have been historically underrepresented in clinical research. Angelica was the lead for the Health Equity Leadership Program for Practitioners at Lykos Therapeutics, and served on the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) council. Embedded throughout her life and career is a passion for fighting to dismantle systems of oppression for individual and collective liberation.
Before joining MAPS, Angelica worked in clinical research and development at multiple biotech companies. She earned a B.S. in Molecular Environmental Biology and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach with her dog and dancing.
Job Titles:
- Legal Executive
- General Counsel ( MAPS PBC )
Arman is a seasoned legal executive who has served various life science companies ranging from early-stage startups to multinational biopharma companies. He has extensive experience working with not-for-profit organizations and their public benefit corporate subsidiaries.
Arman's experience spans corporate law, FDA law, securities law, employment law, intellectual property law, M&A law, and healthcare risk management and compliance. Arman has established and led numerous legal and cross-functional teams. He has played a key role in, business financing strategies, product research and development, FDA approvals, market access, commercialization, numerous acquisitions and divestitures, and initial public offerings.
Previously, Arman served as Associate General Counsel at Gyroscope Therapeutics, a gene therapy and medical device company acquired by Novartis. Prior to Gyroscope, Arman served as the Head of Legal at the Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California (AMI-USC). At AMI-USC, he led the legal function of a $200M life science incubator, as well as the formation, financing, and successful exits of numerous medical device startup companies. Earlier in his career, Arman practiced intellectual property law at Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP, where he focused on patent prosecution, licensing, and intellectual property litigation in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
Additionally, Arman co-founded and served as General Counsel and Chairman of Global Brigades, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization focused on global health and holistic community development. He also teaches biotechnology law at University of Southern California in his spare time.
Arman graduated with distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Zoology and English. He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School, a Master's in Biological Science from the University of Minnesota, an M.S. in Regulatory Science from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, and an LLM in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown Law Center. He is a registered patent attorney, holds US and EU regulatory affairs certifications, and is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Arman enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Chief Scientific Officer of the MAPS Public Benefit Corporation
Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D., is Chief Scientific Officer of the MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC). Dr. Yazar-Klosinski is responsible for development of strategic, catalytic, and capacity-building activities to facilitate research on the risk/benefit profile of psychedelics in compliance with the global regulatory landscape. She has been actively involved in the various stages of nonclinical and clinical development of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, LSD-assisted psychotherapy, cannabis, and ibogaine.
After gaining experience in clinical research laboratories with Geron Corporation and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Yazar-Klosinski joined MAPS in 2009 to work with an organization where profit wouldn't dictate the agenda of scientific research. Since 2009, she has supported MAPS clinical research and regulatory affairs through all stages of growth. Dr. Yazar-Klosinski has developed a strong track record of success with FDA, state regulatory agencies and multiple regulatory agencies outside of the USA.
Dr. Yazar-Klosinski earned her B.S. in biology with a minor in drama from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in molecular, cell, and developmental biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2010. She is a Turkish hunter-gatherer who is supporting the growth of her family and pets in harmony with the natural world as she works tirelessly to transform the future. Berra is a MAPS employee, seconded to MAPS PBC.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications & Post - Prohibition Strategy
Prior to becoming Director of Communications at MAPS in 2020, Betty Aldworth was the Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy where she led and supported tens of thousands of students and young people united to build a more sensible future through reforming drug policies to be rooted in safety, justice, and education. Beginning in 2014, Betty led the organization through its most substantial growth period and in 2020 left the organization in its most stable and sustainable position in its year history. Since 1999, Betty has specialized in community engagement, public relations, advocacy, and policy reform for nonprofit organizations and, twice, businesses including as spokesperson and advocacy director for the successful 2012 Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the collaborative committee responsible for legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana for adults in Colorado. An activist and advocate since her first anti-nukes demonstration as a child, Betty organized her first action at 13 and learned her first hard lessons in coalition building when it was attended only by her mom. Betty fights to end the drug war to end mass incarceration, reengage citizens in the political process, and build racial and economic justice. She serves as an advisor to DanceSafe and StoptheDrugWar.org and as the Treasurer of the Boards of Directors for the Marijuana Policy Project & MPP Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Chief Communications Officer ( MAPS PBC )
Job Titles:
- Development Research Analyst
Originally from Wisconsin and now calling the Mojave Desert home, Brandy brings a wealth of experience and a strong passion for research and development to our team.
Before her desert adventures, Brandy served as Administrative Director at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Photography & Imaging, ensuring smooth operations in academia. She also handled budgets at NYU's College of Arts and Science. Brandy's journey led her to roles like Grants Analyst at The California Endowment and a tenure in finance at ABC Entertainment within The Walt Disney Company. These experiences provided her with valuable insights into fundraising strategies and financial management.
Brandy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University and earned a certificate in fundraising from UCLA Extension. Beyond her professional life, she's a nature enthusiast who draws inspiration from the great outdoors. She's also an artist and photographer.
Job Titles:
- Donor Experience Officer ( Western Region )
Bridget McKay joined the MAPS team in April 2022. She is a 16+ year advocate for passionate collaboration and relationship building that benefits our community and society in both immediate and visionary ways. Bridget specializes in major and annual gifts, while bringing knowledge of special events, planned giving, stewardship, development systems, and more. Spending much of her career in higher education, she also worked in the arts sector and most recently served at a community hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bridget is inspired by the futurist outlook of MAPS and is thrilled to be championing our audacious goal of changing the mental health landscape globally.
Bridget holds a B.F.A. in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art and an M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University. You can find her in Pasadena, CA, with her husband and two children, enjoying local attractions for kids or running, doing yoga, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Executive Manager to Rick Doblin
Charleen was born and raised on Klamath Tribes land. As an Oregonian with the bona fide spirit of trailblazer, she has worked diligently to break the cycles of addiction, abuse, and incarceration set forth by the generations who preceded her and transform her diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) into post-traumatic growth. She is passionate about assisting and empowering people from all walks of life to gain the knowledge, skills, and strength to heal (intergenerational) trauma and foster resilience. In addition to being Rick's sidekick, Charleen earned a M.S. in psychology with a focus on translational neuroscience and program development, and a B.S. in planning, public policy, and management, with a minor in leadership and administrative skills from the University of Oregon as a recipient of the Ford ReStart and Diversity Excellence Scholarships. Her personal and professional goals are in alignment with MAPS' first Principle, Healing for All.
Job Titles:
- Independent Voting Member
is Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) of Dr. Bronner's, the top-selling brand of natural soaps in North America and producer of a range of organic body care and food products. He is a grandson of company founder, Emanuel Bronner, and a fifth-generation soapmaker. David and Michael established Dr. Bronner's as a…
Job Titles:
- Community & Partnerships Officer
- Creative Strategist
Devon is the Creative Strategist for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and Co-Founder of the Harm Reduction organization "More Life". With his work, Devon develops cultural facing strategies to answer the question "How do we responsibly mainstream psychedelics?". His background is in Behavioral Neuroscience and Human-Centered Design but has a deep love for art, music, and fashion. Before joining MAPS, Devon founded a virtual reality software start-up that was later acquired in 2018. Devon describes himself as a culture nerd that loves the complexity of humanity and wants to be the bridge between our cultures and consciousness exploration.
Job Titles:
- Public Education and Culture Specialist
Dr. Beatriz Caiuby Labate (Bia Labate) is a queer Brazilian anthropologist based in San Francisco. She has a Ph.D. in social anthropology from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. Her main areas of interest are the study of plant medicines, drug policy, shamanism, ritual, religion, and social justice. She is Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines and serves as Public Education and Culture Specialist at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). She is also Adjunct Faculty at the East-West Psychology Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and Advisor for the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition and the Soltara Healing Center. Dr. Labate is a co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies (NEIP) in Brazil and editor of its site. She is author, co-author, and co-editor of twenty-seven books, two special-edition journals, and several peer-reviewed articles (https://bialabate.net).
Job Titles:
- Business Administrator
- Senior Accountant
Emily Williams is an experienced business administrator and bookkeeper who has worked for a variety of for-profit and nonprofit industries. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma and holds two certifications in Nonprofit Management through the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. During her time working in the nonprofit mental health industry, Emily was successful in implementing modern CRM and accounting systems which resulted in the completion of five financial audits with no findings, 20% increased funding for the organization, and doubled the overall donor retention rate, ensuring the nonprofit's long-term sustainability. Emily believes that psychedelic plant medicines are a catalyst to create monumental positive change in people's lives and she is honored and privileged to support MAPS' mission. In her free time, she enjoys taking long walks in nature while listening to Alan Watts lectures, attending music festivals with her husband Tim, and spending quality time with her children and dogs in Norman, OK.
Job Titles:
- VP of Finance and Philanthropy
Rooted in passion to perform in service of purpose, Erin guides the functions of development, grant making, and finance. She wholeheartedly believes that the connection between philanthropy and financial …
Fede serves as the Deputy Director for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) where he oversees day-to-day operations and supports the MAPS team in developing and achieving our strategic priorities. Fede also helps guide MAPS subsidiaries on governance and financing matters.
Born and raised in the Trentino region in northern Italy, he began his career as a civil engineer, working on road and railway bridge construction projects in the Italian Alps. He then joined McKinsey & Co. in Milan, Italy, where he worked as a management consultant advising multinational financial institutions. He later moved to the internet technology sector, most recently at Segment in San Francisco, where he built and led the Business Operations and Business Development teams.
Fede aims to continue building bridges - this time, among people and organizations in the psychedelic medicine field - to further MAPS' mission to provide broad and safe access to mental health treatments for those who are most in need.
Fede received his M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and his M.S. in structural engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Galina began her career in non-profit development ten years ago at the Downtown Women's Center, a center for homeless women in Los Angeles' Skid Row, and has since worked for Friends of the Los Angeles River, the group behind America's largest urban river cleanup, served as a resident volunteer at Tashirat Orphanage in the remote mountains of Tepoztlán, Mexico, and has become involved with a diverse swath of intersecting social and environmental justice movements as a volunteer, event producer, writer, and fundraiser.
She was first introduced to MAPS at the Psychedelic Science 2013 conference in Oakland, California, where she volunteered to interview attendees about their psychedelic experiences for a short video. Profoundly moved by their stories, her interest in the potential of psychedelics for transformative personal and collective healing soon became a reverent fascination, and she is thrilled to join the MAPS team in service to this vision. She is originally from California and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied English. Galina currently lives in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a certified yoga instructor, and enjoys live jazz, old books, calligraphy, thrift stores, and river picnics.
Grace Cepe (she/her) serves as the Communications Officer for MAPS. Broadly, her responsibilities include supporting public education strategies about psychedelic-assisted therapies, health equity, and drug policy reform. She earned her B.A. in psychology cum laude from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). At UCSC, Grace was a research assistant for the social psychology department's Sexual and Gender Diversity Laboratory, an instructor's assistant for an introductory psychology course, and a residential counselor intern for at-risk foster youth. Before joining MAPS as Communications Officer, Grace volunteered with MAPS, San Francisco Psychedelic Society, and the Chacruna Institute, and she was an activist with Decriminalize Santa Cruz.
As of 2023, Grace is pursuing an M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management at UC Berkeley. She seeks to integrate critical consciousness theories, social justice praxis, cultural competency, and mental health equity in her professional career. Since attending MAPS' Psychedelic Science Conference in 2017, she has deepened her interests in culturally-informed psychedelic-assisted therapy, Indigenous ceremonial uses, and inclusivity and diversity within psychedelic storytelling. Outside of MAPS, Grace loves reading books in cafés, hiking in woodsy petrichor, and grooving to R&B, hip-hop, and Latin music.
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy and Advocacy
Ismail Lourido Ali, JD (he/him or they/them) has been personally utilizing psychedelics and other substances in celebratory and spiritual contexts for over half his life, and has been actively participating in the drug policy reform movement for a decade. As the Director of Policy & Advocacy at the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Ismail supports the design, building, and implementation of psychedelic policy reform across the country and world. Ismail co-founded and co-chairs the Board of the Psychedelic Bar Association and is licensed to practice law in the state of California. Ismail advises, is formally affiliated with, or has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations in the drug policy ecosystem, including Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Chacruna Institute, the Ayahuasca Defense Fund, and Alchemy Community Therapy Center (formerly Sage Institute).
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation ( MAPS PBC )
Job Titles:
- MAPS' VP of People & Operations
- VP of People and Operations
Jennifer serves as MAPS' VP of People & Operations. In her role at MAPS, Jennifer is responsible for the development and implementation of intentional and effective people strategies in support of MAPS' mission, values, and guiding principles. She also oversees the learning and development of MAPS' leaders, and manages the operational leadership, specifically supporting MAPS' JEDI, strategy, volunteer, and technology initiatives. Jennifer is an executive level operational advisor in both for-profit and nonprofit workspaces. Previously, Jennifer was an employment law attorney, as well as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for her local legal aid.
Jennifer is passionate about understanding the whole human experience. She strives to design a work environment that reinforces work-life presence. She is deeply committed to cultivating more inclusion and belonging within diverse work ecosystems. Jennifer is trained in Conscious Communication, a technique rooted in active listening and intentional speaking. When not supporting the People of MAPS, Jennifer enjoys living her life on her family's alpaca ranch/retreat center in the mountains of Colorado.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Development
- Associate Director of Annual Giving
Jesse was drawn to MAPS because of the power of psychedelics for positive healing and transformation on the individual and societal level. Prior to joining MAPS in 2023, he led fundraising efforts at the African Wildlife Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, and the Pacific Council on International Policy. While these organizations sought to mitigate the harm caused by a troubled society, Jesse felt that even more could be done to address the root cause of the suffering and harm we see in the world today. Jesse believes that MAPS will be instrumental in achieving truly transformative change and personal healing and is honored to be a part of the organization.
In his role as Associate Director of Annual Giving, Jesse leads efforts to expand philanthropic support for MAPS' groundbreaking work. Jesse's approach to fundraising is to deepen people's connection to the amazing work at MAPS. Outside of work, Jesse tries to enjoy the great outdoors with his spouse and two cats in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
John Gilmore is an entrepreneur and civil libertarian. He was an early employee of Sun Microsystems, early free software and open source author, and co-created Cygnus Solutions, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Cypherpunks, the DES Cracker, and the Usenet's "alt" newsgroups. He's spent 40 years doing programming, hardware and software design, management, advocacy, philosophy, philanthropy, and investment. Along with being a board member of MAPS, he is also on the boards of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Marijuana Policy Project. He is trying to get people to think more about the society they are building. His advocacy on encryption aims to improve public understanding of this fundamental technology for privacy and accountability in open societies. His advocacy on drug policy aims to reduce the immense harms caused by government attempts to control the mental states of free citizens.
John is the Vice Chair of the MAPS Board, the Secretary of the MAPS Board, and the Head of the Audit Committee for MAPS.
KevinCranfordserves as Communications Officer for MAPS.Kevinearned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Morgan State University, the premier HBCU in Baltimore, Maryland. After an early career spent …
Kris Lotlikar serves as the Executive Director of MAPS, overseeing financing and strategic direction of MAPS' organizations globally. Since joining the MAPS, Kris helped shepherd Lykos Therapeutics into the leading psychedelic drug development company, raising over $100 million for MAPS and Lykos Therapeutics. Kris's passion and expertise is in building high-performing organizations in nascent and innovative markets: climate solutions, cannabis, and psychedelics.
In 2002, Kris co-founded Renewable Choice, which was instrumental in creating modern renewable markets. During his 15-year tenure as President, Renewable Choice executed industry-defining financial transactions for Whole Food Market (2006), Steelcase (2010), Amazon (2015), and Walmart (2018) leading to over 10,000 MW of new generation capacity. Renewable Choice was awarded Green Power Supplier of the Year four times between 2011 and 2016 by the EPA. Renewable Choice was acquired by Schneider Electric in 2017 and continues to be a global leader with a dominant market share. Schneider Electric was ranked the World's Most Sustainable Company in the 2021 by Corporate Knights Global 100 Index.
Kris was also active in defining the early cannabis industry as founder of Arcview Market Research. He produced the first cannabis market reports in 2011 and 2013, correctly predicting the five-year market size of $10 billion in retail sales by 2018. He served on the Board of Directors of the Arcview Group which facilitated over $1B of early capital into the industry.
Kris maintains a life-long commitment to changing drug and criminal justice laws. Kris founded Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) in 1998, which has grown to be a UN-recognized NGO with a presence on 300 campuses in 32 countries. Kris has served on the Board of Directors for SSDP, the League of Young Votes, the Flex Your Rights Foundation. Kris believes confronting stigmas around mental health and drug users is key to unlocking the human potential for healing and happiness.
Job Titles:
- Institutional Philanthropy Manager
Lina Hargadon, the Institutional Philanthropy Manager at MAPS, brings over a decade of extensive experience in project management, foundation relations, and development within the nonprofit sector. Formerly …
Lindsay has dedicated the last 20 years to fighting against the failed war on drugs and working to transform the world through thoughtful policy change. As the Director of Development for MAPS, she combines her love of building community and passion for social justice with groundbreaking policy reform to help bring healing through psychedelics.
Before joining MAPS, Lindsay served as the Executive Director of the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), the largest and most influential statewide trade association representing the cannabis industry. While working closely with cannabis businesses, state regulators, legislative allies, Attorney General Bonta, and the Newsom Administration, Lindsay achieved historic wins for the cannabis industry and helped transform CCIA during her six-year tenure.
Prior to CCIA, Lindsay was Director of Development for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Overseeing MPP's national fundraising and membership strategies, along with stewarding policy reform efforts in multiple states. MPP was responsible for passing several adult-use ballot initiatives in 2016 including: Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts, and played a supportive role in California with Prop 64, raising over $18 million for campaigns in the election cycle.
Lindsay serves on the National Advisory Council for the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) at UC San Diego. She earned her undergraduate degree in environmental studies at the University of Vermont and has her master's in nonprofit administration from the University of San Francisco.
Lindsay has dedicated the last 20 years tofighting against the failed war on drugs andworking to transform the world through thoughtful policy change. As the Director of Development for MAPS, shecombines …
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Grants
Matt is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and joined MAPS in 2022 with a passion for the vision of mass mental health. He obtained a B.A. in political science from Hope College, and a M.Ed. in nonprofit …
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Manager
McKenna Leighton first discovered the power of psychedelics during her undergraduate years at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she balanced a B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with studies in the renowned History of Consciousness department. After developing a portfolio of research experiences in ecology, molecular genomics, and user-experience design, she joined a small team of clinical researchers at Lykos Therapeutics in 2020. During her time with Lykos, she worked tirelessly to support the Phase 2 & 3 and Expanded Access programs for MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD, while advocating for diversity issues with considerable success.
McKenna Leighton currently sits on the MAPS Fiscal Sponsorship Committee and serves as the Clinical Research Manager at MAPS, where she builds the organization's infrastructure for conducting both qualitative and clinical research, designs and executes research projects, and supports regulatory battles with the FDA. She loves working in the field of psychedelics because of its multitude of intersections and high-stakes. She passionately believes in our collective capacity to create viable futures together. McKenna's personal practices include playful movement, poetry, somatic experiencing, creative writing, and reading critical theory.
Job Titles:
- Global Impact Officer
- W. Global Impact Officer
Natalie joined MAPS in 2014. She founded the Policy & Advocacy department, and served as its director for 5 years. She also initiated and co-developed MAPS' Health Equity program. As Global Impact …
Ray Allen - Chief Legal Officer
As General Counsel, Ray is responsible for all legal affairs of MAPS. Ray is particularly passionate in crafting creative solutions for MAPS to achieve its goals while also being compliant with the law …
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President
MAPS founder Rick Doblin, Ph.D., presented the first official TED Talk about psychedelics. MAPS published results from the combined analysis of six Phase 2 studies of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master's thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary's Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife and puppy, with three empty rooms from his children who have all graduated college and begun their life journeys. Learn more about Rick by listening to his Origin Story and watching his TED Talk.
Job Titles:
- Community and Volunteer Officer
- Community Engagement Associate
Rudy Maldonado is the Community Engagement Associate for MAPS, where he bridges connections between nonprofit organizations and volunteers within the psychedelic community. His role revolves around inclusive volunteer coordination, particularly for marginalized groups seeking mental health support and education.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Finance
Ryan is a CPA based in Denver, Colorado whose career has been dedicated to non-profit and government agencies. Originally from Miami, Florida, he received his bachelor of science in accounting from Florida State University. His accounting experience includes grant compliance, financial statement preparation, and data analysis. He has a deep appreciation for the challenges and complexity that are present in accounting and enjoys the problem-solving nature of accounting. He loves working with non-profits to streamline business processes allowing for greater focus on the strategic mission. He is thrilled to put his financial expertise to work for MAPS and further the mission of psychedelic access to improve the lives of many who can find great benefit from the unique experience. When not reviewing debits and credits he enjoys many outdoors and creative pursuits in the form of skiing, rock climbing, and playing guitar and banjo music.
Job Titles:
- Grants Officer
- P.M., Fiscal Sponsorships and Grants Officer
As the Fiscal Sponsorship and Grants Officer, Sahar works to support grassroot organizations whose missions aligns with MAPS through granting mechanisms. Sahar earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication …
Job Titles:
- Manager of the "Grateful Dead
Job Titles:
- MAPS' VP of Marketing
- VP of Marketing
In her role as MAPS' VP of Marketing, Shari is responsible for shaping culture, driving learning, and building informed support for the responsible adult use of psychedelics. Shari, along with the Marketing team, is responsible for MAPS' communications, education, professional training, partnerships, membership and events. She is committed to empowering and advancing the psychedelics movement.
Previously, Shari started and ran a marketing agency focused on public private partnerships working with public land agencies and large brands, and spent her early career in consumer product goods.
Shari is passionate about advancing human consciousness and works to create "the more beautiful world we all know is possible" and where every being is sovereign. She is a trained herbalist, and loves spending time outside of work in her garden and nearby canyons, with her beloved family and dogs.
Job Titles:
- Director of Social Justice
Steven Huang is MAPS' first Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Officer, leading teams across the organization to address the psychedelic ecosystem's inequality challenges, as well as its …
Tess began working at MAPS in 2011 after graduating from University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.A. in psychology. While at UCSC, she was part of the newspaper production and design team at City on a Hill Press, where she was first introduced to MAPS' work. Since joining MAPS, Tess has held roles in Sales, Events, Accounting, and Development. In 2018, Tess earned her M.A. in health economics and pharmacoeconomics from Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Tess is honored to share her skills in data management and graphic design to help MAPS help others. Tess' commitment to the field is driven by her belief that everyone deserves access to compassionate, high quality mental health care.
Tess resides on the northern California coast, where she enjoys spending time with her family, drinking tea, reading, and spoiling her cat.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Independent Psychedelic Philanthropic Consultant
Vicky Dulai is an independent psychedelic philanthropic consultant. She advises philanthropists and foundations about emerging opportunities in psychedelic research, treatment, and therapist training. Vicky is the founder of Compassion For Addiction, a non-profit dedicated to a trauma informed and psychedelic medicine approach to treating addiction. She was the first female board member of MAPS in modern times and currently serves as the Board Chair as well as the Treasurer of the Board. Vicky is writing her first book- part memoir, part educational, a decade of an insider's view of the psychedelic renaissance.
Vicky is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the psychedelic assisted psychotherapy certificate program at CIIS. She graduated from Columbia University with a M.S. in Narrative Medicine and has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Houston. A first generation American child of Punjabi Sikh immigrants, Vicky joined MAPS to help expand access to psychedelic medicines to diverse populations, while fostering more women leaders in the field.
Vincent Carbone, a multifaceted individual with a passion for psychedelics is proud to be an Event Manager for MAPS'. Armed with a B.S. in Business Administration, a M.S. in School Counseling, and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Coaching, Vincent brings a unique blend of skills to his role.
Before diving into the realm of psychedelic services, Vincent's journey began in the vibrant music festival scene. He is not only the CEO, but also the Art Director and Co-Founder of the visionary art collective Third Eye Tapestries, Inc. which came into being with his work with Third Eye Pinecones. Vincent's expertise as a merchandise specialist has led him to work with renowned clients such as "Schitt's Creek", "Phish", "Billy and the Kids", "Unsolved Mysteries", "The Disco Biscuits", "Umphrey's McGee", "STS9", "Android Jones", and "Alex Grey and Allyson Grey of CoSM" to name a few he is most proud of.
Vincent's professional journey also includes collaboration with Sam Cutler, the former tour manager of the "Grateful Dead" and "Rolling Stones", showcasing his ability to navigate the intricacies of the music industry. He lives his life by one of Sams sayings: "The world is run by people who get up in the morning".
Beyond his professional endeavors, Vincent is deeply rooted in his personal life. A devoted husband and father. He also shares his home with three canine companions. Vincent's wanderlust has taken him to fascinating corners of the globe, with Egypt, Jordan, and the Amazon in Ecuador standing out as some of his most memorable travel experiences.
In addition to his professional and personal pursuits, Vincent has previously dedicated his time to serving the community as a volunteer firefighter and has held the position of president-elect for his local Kiwanis chapter. With his diverse skill set, commitment to community, and passion for the psychedelic services landscape, Vincent is undoubtedly making a lasting impact on both the business and social fronts.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to Rick Doblin
While studying cognitive science at the University of California, Berkeley, Whitney explored her passions for scientific approaches to consciousness, drug policy reform, and psychedelic research. She first entered the MAPS multiverse in 2017 through volunteer work with the Zendo Project to provide psychedelic peer support and harm reduction at festivals and events. In 2019, Whitney joined MAPS' Communications and Marketing department as a full-time staff member. From late 2020 until mid-2022, she managed the social media profiles of MAPS, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), Rick Doblin, Ph.D., and Zendo Project.
Whitney currently serves as Executive Assistant to MAPS Founder and President Rick Doblin, Ph.D. Upon potential FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, she looks forward to continuing her career in the realm of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Prior to joining MAPS, Zane spent five years guiding public relations strategies in the cannabis, psychedelic, and green tech spaces. He obtained coverage for clients in many mainstream media outlets including Bloomberg, CNN, NBC, and Washington Post; and worked with a wide variety of companies including cannabis MSOs, hemp-CBD brands, cannabis technology platforms, psychedelic medicine providers, and green energy service providers.
Zane received a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Georgia, where he founded and led a chapter of Psychedelic Club. He also served as Secretary for the board of directors of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and volunteered with DanceSafe providing harm reduction and peer-based drug education at music festivals. Zane previously worked at UGA's Center for Research on Behavioral Health, where they conducted the largest and longest comprehensive study on drug abuse treatment in the United States.