MEADOWS MENTAL HEALTH POLICY INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Implementation and Veteran Integration
Aaron Smith, MBA, is the Vice President of Implementation and Veteran Integration at the Meadows Institute. In this role, he leverages his expertise in cross functional collaboration to work with local, state, and national organizations to support health system changes in the veteran, justice-involved, and data spaces.
At the Institute, Aaron provides technical assistance to organizations and communities, and contributes his expertise and insights into actionable strategies for communities working with the Institute to improve their mental health systems. He helps communities plan and implement federal and state mental health grant programs, with a focus on policy development for meeting the mental health needs of Texas veterans and their families,
Aaron served as a Hospital Corpsman Second Class (Fleet Marine Force) in the United States Navy from 2004-2009 and deployed with both the Army and Marine Corps. He received his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare administration from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi and completed his undergraduate degree at Southwestern University (Georgetown).
Aaron Smith, MBA, is the Vice President of Implementation and Veteran Integration at the Meadows Institute. In this role, he leverages his expertise in cross functional collaboration to work with local, state, and national organizations to support health system changes in the veteran, justice-involved, and data spaces.
At the Institute, Aaron provides technical assistance to organizations and communities, and contributes his expertise and insights into actionable strategies for communities working with the Institute to improve their mental health systems. He helps communities plan and implement federal and state mental health grant programs, with a focus on policy development for meeting the mental health needs of Texas veterans and their families,
Aaron served as a Hospital Corpsman Second Class (Fleet Marine Force) in the United States Navy from 2004-2009 and deployed with both the Army and Marine Corps. He received his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare administration from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi and completed his undergraduate degree at Southwestern University (Georgetown).
Job Titles:
- Immediate past President of the Board of Directors, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Adrienne Kennedy, MA, immediate past president of the board of directors of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Arlington, VA., is a retired educator and researcher with decades in curriculum design, collaborative learning and teacher development. Adrienne now devotes herself to mental health education and advocacy, after years of lived experience with mental health issues spanning five generations. Adrienne is a national trainer of NAMI programs for providers, as well as those designed for families or professionals working with children and teens.
In addition to her NAMI leadership, Adrienne was appointed to her second term (2021-2023) as a commissioner with the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health, a permanent commission established in 2018 by the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Adrienne's advocacy efforts now include her ongoing search of forefront breakthroughs in the neurosciences, promising practices in public health and crisis interventions, and interdisciplinary, interagency partnerships that both inform and impel calls to action across major sectors. She tirelessly champions cutting-edge research, systems change, interprofessional collaboration, integrated healthcare, cultural humility and effective redress of disparities across all areas, especially in the justice system.
Adrienne's academic and early professional life centered in California, where she began her career as teacher, administrator, adjunct lecturer (University of California at Santa Cruz), California state credential supervisor, and consultant to schools and universities in California and Utah. She considers herself extremely blessed to have worked side-by-side with forefront leaders in education, social emotional learning, cognitive sciences and the neurosciences, including her years of research toward her doctorate in curriculum design and teacher development at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Education. Adrienne continues to press tirelessly for community commitment to the needs of children: from safeguarding developmental milestones to quality school-based services and supports capable of mitigating adverse childhood events and the social determinants of health.
During her time as a researcher in computer-assisted learning at Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International), Adrienne met and married her husband, Hal Puthoff. They welcomed their first four children in California then relocated to Texas in 1985 where they welcomed their fifth child. As only children themselves, Adrienne and Hal treasure their experiences of their large family that now includes 11 grandchildren - each of whom inspires them in their professions as well as in the causes that they passionately pursue.
Adrienne Kennedy, MA, immediate past president of the board of directors of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Arlington, VA., is a retired educator and researcher with decades in curriculum design, collaborative learning and teacher development. Adrienne now devotes herself to mental health education and advocacy, after years of lived experience with mental health issues spanning five generations. Adrienne is a national trainer of NAMI programs for providers, as well as those designed for families or professionals working with children and teens.
In addition to her NAMI leadership, Adrienne was appointed to her second term (2021-2023) as a commissioner with the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health, a permanent commission established in 2018 by the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Adrienne's advocacy efforts now include her ongoing search of forefront breakthroughs in the neurosciences, promising practices in public health and crisis interventions, and interdisciplinary, interagency partnerships that both inform and impel calls to action across major sectors. She tirelessly champions cutting-edge research, systems change, interprofessional collaboration, integrated healthcare, cultural humility and effective redress of disparities across all areas, especially in the justice system.
Adrienne's academic and early professional life centered in California, where she began her career as teacher, administrator, adjunct lecturer (University of California at Santa Cruz), California state credential supervisor, and consultant to schools and universities in California and Utah. She considers herself extremely blessed to have worked side-by-side with forefront leaders in education, social emotional learning, cognitive sciences and the neurosciences, including her years of research toward her doctorate in curriculum design and teacher development at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Education. Adrienne continues to press tirelessly for community commitment to the needs of children: from safeguarding developmental milestones to quality school-based services and supports capable of mitigating adverse childhood events and the social determinants of health.
During her time as a researcher in computer-assisted learning at Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International), Adrienne met and married her husband, Hal Puthoff. They welcomed their first four children in California then relocated to Texas in 1985 where they welcomed their fifth child. As only children themselves, Adrienne and Hal treasure their experiences of their large family that now includes 11 grandchildren - each of whom inspires them in their professions as well as in the causes that they passionately pursue.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Huston - Tillotson University
- Human Services Commissioner
Board Secretary; Former Health and Human Services Commissioner
After a distinguished, 30-year public service career, Albert Hawkins brings an extensive level of executive experience, knowledge, and insight to the policy-consulting sector. His areas of expertise include health and human services policy, financing and operations, and Texas legislative processes and practices. He has gained substantive understanding and knowledge across a broad array of state fiscal, regulatory, and policy areas as well. Mr. Hawkins is widely acknowledged for his effectiveness in developing strategic solutions, formulating appropriate policy actions and responses, and facilitating successful business decisions.
In January 2003, Governor Rick Perry appointed Albert Hawkins to serve as Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner for the State of Texas, where he served until September 2009. As Commissioner, Mr. Hawkins provided leadership and strategic direction to the health and human services system in Texas. The Executive Commissioner oversees the operations of the five health and human services agencies comprising more than 54,000 employees, and works with a total annual budget of $25 billion. Direct responsibilities included coordinating policy decisions, adopting administrative rules and regulations, formulating a consolidated health and human services budget, improving system-wide business operations, and administering eligibility determination functions, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicaid Acute Care programs.
Prior to his appointment as Health and Human Services Commissioner, Mr. Hawkins served as assistant to President George W. Bush and secretary to the Cabinet from January 2001 through December 2002. In this senior White House staff position, Mr. Hawkins served as the liaison between the White House and the President's Cabinet. Key duties included (1) advising the President of Cabinet activities and issues affecting Cabinet departments, (2) facilitating effective Cabinet involvement with White House policy development efforts, and (3) communicating White House plans and policies to Cabinet departments.
From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Hawkins was state budget director for Texas Governor George W. Bush. In this capacity, he served as the chief advisor to the governor on state fiscal issues, oversaw the development of the governor's state budget, and represented the governor before the legislature on budgetary matters.
From 1978 through 1994, Mr. Hawkins was employed at the Texas Legislative Budget Board where he served as deputy director, assistant director for program evaluation, senior program analyst and program analyst. At the Legislative Budget Board, he was responsible for evaluating state agency funding and performance levels and providing staff leadership to members of the House Appropriations Committee.
Mr. Hawkins earned a bachelor's degree in government from The University of Texas at Austin in 1975. He received a master's of public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas in 1978.
Mr. Hawkins currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees of Huston-Tillotson University and as a member of the St. David's Foundation Board, Board of Directors of Child, Inc., and Advisory Council of the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Program Operations, Trauma & Grief Center
Alexis Santiago has over 20 years of experience in health and human services, focusing on healthcare quality, compliance, and risk management for the past 14 years. Alexis has a solid foundation in healthcare clinic operations management with an emphasis on program development, building strong relationships with community partners, meeting accreditation standards, understanding state rules and regulations, continuous quality and process improvement, and championing for change.
Alexis started her career as a social worker providing direct care services for non-profit organizations serving children and families. Her clinical experiences have enabled her to successfully transition from a direct service practitioner to the administrative setting. She has held an array of leadership positions including director of quality and compliance for an outpatient children's behavioral health clinic; director of risk and quality for a 300-bed acute inpatient behavioral health hospital for children; and national director of quality management to a senior director of compliance for large multi-state non-profit organizations that provides residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Alexis serves as an adjunct faculty member in the social work department for Pima Community College and has been a consultant for healthcare organizations on quality and compliance initiatives. In her role at the TAG Center, Alexis oversees the coordination and effectiveness of all TAG Center initiatives, operations, and processes. She also manages the development, implementation, and monitoring of grant deliverables and continuous quality improvement initiatives within the TAG Center.
Alexis received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Central Florida and is a Licensed Master Social Worker with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. She is also a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional. Alexis lives in Tucson, AZ with her partner and her two sons.
Alexis Santiago has over 20 years of experience in health and human services, focusing on healthcare quality, compliance, and risk management for the past 14 years. Alexis has a solid foundation in healthcare clinic operations management with an emphasis on program development, building strong relationships with community partners, meeting accreditation standards, understanding state rules and regulations, continuous quality and process improvement, and championing for change.
Alexis started her career as a social worker providing direct care services for non-profit organizations serving children and families. Her clinical experiences have enabled her to successfully transition from a direct service practitioner to the administrative setting. She has held an array of leadership positions including director of quality and compliance for an outpatient children's behavioral health clinic; director of risk and quality for a 300-bed acute inpatient behavioral health hospital for children; and national director of quality management to a senior director of compliance for large multi-state non-profit organizations that provides residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Alexis serves as an adjunct faculty member in the social work department for Pima Community College and has been a consultant for healthcare organizations on quality and compliance initiatives. In her role at the TAG Center, Alexis oversees the coordination and effectiveness of all TAG Center initiatives, operations, and processes. She also manages the development, implementation, and monitoring of grant deliverables and continuous quality improvement initiatives within the TAG Center.
Alexis received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Central Florida and is a Licensed Master Social Worker with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. She is also a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional. Alexis lives in Tucson, AZ with her partner and her two sons.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate Dean for Community Health Engagement, the College of Medicine, University of Tennessee
Altha J. Stewart, MD, is Senior Associate Dean for Community Health Engagement and Director, Center for Health in Justice-Involved Youth at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She served as APA President (2018/2019), the first African American elected in the 175-year history of the organization.
She served as Executive Director for Memphis' federally funded System of Care program for children with serious emotional disorders. Dr. Stewart was Director of Systems of Care for the Shelby County Office of the Public Defender. She worked for decades as CEO in public mental health systems in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Altha J. Stewart, MD, is Senior Associate Dean for Community Health Engagement and Director, Center for Health in Justice-Involved Youth at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She served as APA President (2018/2019), the first African American elected in the 175-year history of the organization.
She served as Executive Director for Memphis' federally funded System of Care program for children with serious emotional disorders. Dr. Stewart was Director of Systems of Care for the Shelby County Office of the Public Defender. She worked for decades as CEO in public mental health systems in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Job Titles:
- Data Analyst, the Hackett Center for Mental Health
Alyssa Hiarker, MPH, has four years of experience in data management and analysis. She is extremely passionate about identifying the most effective ways to utilize data to promote policy and program development.
For the past two years, Alyssa has worked to manage data for Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine's Career Services office. In this role, she spearheaded an equity project that utilized graduate outcome data to identify disparities and she subsequently developed and evaluated the organization's programming to best support student needs. She has worked in data-centric roles for a variety of other organizations, including the Texas Department of State Health Services' Center for Health Statistics, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Tulane Allergen Reduction and Child Health Study.
In her role at The Hackett Center for Mental Health, Alyssa works with the research team in collecting, managing, and analyzing data that support program monitoring, evaluation, and research efforts, including coordinating and preparing data-related deliverables such as presentations, grant proposals, reports, and research requests. Additionally, to best support the needs of community assessment and evaluation projects conducted by The Center, she works closely with the Senior Director for Research, Evaluation and Performance to help manage qualitative and quantitative data and create data dashboards to monitor programs.
Alyssa received her Masters of Public Health from Tulane University. Prior to that, she attended The University of Texas at Austin where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies, a Bachelor of Journalism in Journalism and graduated as a Dean's Distinguished Graduate. Alyssa was born and raised in Houston and is excited to have an opportunity to help serve her community.
Alyssa Hiarker, MPH, has four years of experience in data management and analysis. She is extremely passionate about identifying the most effective ways to utilize data to promote policy and program development.
For the past two years, Alyssa has worked to manage data for Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine's Career Services office. In this role, she spearheaded an equity project that utilized graduate outcome data to identify disparities and she subsequently developed and evaluated the organization's programming to best support student needs. She has worked in data-centric roles for a variety of other organizations, including the Texas Department of State Health Services' Center for Health Statistics, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Tulane Allergen Reduction and Child Health Study.
In her role at The Hackett Center for Mental Health, Alyssa works with the research team in collecting, managing, and analyzing data that support program monitoring, evaluation, and research efforts, including coordinating and preparing data-related deliverables such as presentations, grant proposals, reports, and research requests. Additionally, to best support the needs of community assessment and evaluation projects conducted by The Center, she works closely with the Senior Director for Research, Evaluation and Performance to help manage qualitative and quantitative data and create data dashboards to monitor programs.
Alyssa received her Masters of Public Health from Tulane University. Prior to that, she attended The University of Texas at Austin where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies, a Bachelor of Journalism in Journalism and graduated as a Dean's Distinguished Graduate. Alyssa was born and raised in Houston and is excited to have an opportunity to help serve her community.
Job Titles:
- Regional Director for the Texas Panhandle and Senior Advisor to the Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Mathias holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of experience in both community social services and community mental health.
Her service throughout Texas has centered on the indigent, homeless, and underserved populations. In her clinical and programmatic development opportunities, Dr. Mathias has applied her focus to individuals living with serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, and complex medical conditions through evidence-based and innovative care. Her concentration in program development has been in integrated, trauma-informed, person-centered treatment models while developing and implementing a supervision/leadership model supporting the clinicians of these highly intensive assertive treatment projects.
In her current position with Meadows Institute, Dr. Mathias applies her clinical expertise to transforming the local systems through integration of evidence-based best practices in Texas and the US. She has led and contributed to MMHPI's local systems work by providing assessment and clinical implementation strategy aimed at improving the community mental health systems. She works closely with national leaders seeking to improve quality and access to care through innovative and sustainable practices.
Dr. Mathias holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of experience in both community social services and community mental health.
Her service throughout Texas has centered on the indigent, homeless, and underserved populations. In her clinical and programmatic development opportunities, Dr. Mathias has applied her focus to individuals living with serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, and complex medical conditions through evidence-based and innovative care. Her concentration in program development has been in integrated, trauma-informed, person-centered treatment models while developing and implementing a supervision/leadership model supporting the clinicians of these highly intensive assertive treatment projects.
In her current position with Meadows Institute, Dr. Mathias applies her clinical expertise to transforming the local systems through integration of evidence-based best practices in Texas and the US. She has led and contributed to MMHPI's local systems work by providing assessment and clinical implementation strategy aimed at improving the community mental health systems. She works closely with national leaders seeking to improve quality and access to care through innovative and sustainable practices.
Amber has more than seven years of experience in the accounting industry. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked as a subcontract auditor within the Defense Industry. She has held positions in public accounting where she gained knowledge in financial statement preparation, state and federal tax filings, as well as assisted with financial compilations. Amber is well rounded in nonprofit accounting where she has worked internally to support financial boards as well as prepare and track annual budgets.
As part of the accounting team, Amber assists Kristina De Lattes, Controller, with managing financial project budgets as well as grants payables and receivables. She also monitors Institute grants compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Amber is a graduate of the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She resides in Kingston, Oklahoma, with her husband and daughter.
Amber has more than seven years of experience in the accounting industry. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked as a subcontract auditor within the Defense Industry. She has held positions in public accounting where she gained knowledge in financial statement preparation, state and federal tax filings, as well as assisted with financial compilations. Amber is well rounded in nonprofit accounting where she has worked internally to support financial boards as well as prepare and track annual budgets.
As part of the accounting team, Amber assists Kristina De Lattes, Controller, with managing financial project budgets as well as grants payables and receivables. She also monitors Institute grants compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Amber is a graduate of the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She resides in Kingston, Oklahoma, with her husband and daughter.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Center for Child and Family Wellness
Amy has worked in social services and behavioral health policy and program operations for 15 years, with a focus on programs providing mental health support for children and families. She began her career providing direct services in school and hospital settings, primarily providing short term and crisis intervention services. It was during this time that she witnessed firsthand the importance of individuals having access to the appropriate mental health services when and where they need them.
Amy comes to the Meadows Institute from the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) system where she led several key behavioral health programs and initiatives including the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver, development and implementation of the of the behavioral health assessment tool for children and youth entering conservatorship, and implementation of evidence based, high fidelity Wraparound. She served as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Mental Health Coordination leading projects to enhance collaboration across child welfare, education, juvenile justice, and other child and family serving systems. In her most recent role, she provided broad operational and implementation support for Medicaid and CHIP program operations. In her daily work at the Meadows Institute, Amy contributes to a variety of projects at the intersection between clinical practice, system design, and policy.
Amy has a bachelor's degree in government and a Master of Science in Social Work, both from The University of Texas at Austin.
Amy has worked in social services and behavioral health policy and program operations for 15 years, with a focus on programs providing mental health support for children and families. She began her career providing direct services in school and hospital settings, primarily providing short term and crisis intervention services. It was during this time that she witnessed firsthand the importance of individuals having access to the appropriate mental health services when and where they need them.
Amy comes to the Meadows Institute from the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) system where she led several key behavioral health programs and initiatives including the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver, development and implementation of the of the behavioral health assessment tool for children and youth entering conservatorship, and implementation of evidence based, high fidelity Wraparound. She served as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Mental Health Coordination leading projects to enhance collaboration across child welfare, education, juvenile justice, and other child and family serving systems. In her most recent role, she provided broad operational and implementation support for Medicaid and CHIP program operations. In her daily work at the Meadows Institute, Amy contributes to a variety of projects at the intersection between clinical practice, system design, and policy.
Amy has a bachelor's degree in government and a Master of Science in Social Work, both from The University of Texas at Austin.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Health System Integration
Andrew D. Carlo, MD, MPH is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with extensive experience in physical and behavioral health integration in primary care from both clinical and implementation perspectives. Andrew also has extensive research experience in health services and health policy, with a particular focus on behavioral health integration and the Collaborative Care model. His work has been published extensively in numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journals, including JAMA, JAMA Psychiatry, Psychiatric Services, Health Affairs, World Psychiatry, Medical Care, and the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Andrew is primarily driven by his goals of achieving behavioral health equity and increasing access to high-quality, evidence-based mental health care for all people.
Andrew is also a part-time Health System Clinician at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, where he sees patients, works with trainees, and assists with research. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and completed his residency training in adult psychiatry at Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital in Boston. Andrew then received his Master of Public Health Degree as part of his post-doctoral training in primary care psychiatry research at the University of Washington in Seattle, working closely with the Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions (AIMS) Center.
At the Institute, Andrew serves as our Vice President of Health System Integration and plays a leadership role in our multi-pronged approach to adoption of collaborative care and measurement-based care. Specifically, Andrew supports the Health System Integration team by supervising behavioral health integration subject matter experts and, in concert with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshni Koli, provides oversight of Institute Clinical Senior Fellows.
Andrew D. Carlo, MD, MPH is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with extensive experience in physical and behavioral health integration in primary care from both clinical and implementation perspectives. Andrew also has extensive research experience in health services and health policy, with a particular focus on behavioral health integration and the Collaborative Care model. His work has been published extensively in numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journals, including JAMA, JAMA Psychiatry, Psychiatric Services, Health Affairs, World Psychiatry, Medical Care, and the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Andrew is primarily driven by his goals of achieving behavioral health equity and increasing access to high-quality, evidence-based mental health care for all people.
Andrew is also a part-time Health System Clinician at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, where he sees patients, works with trainees, and assists with research. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and completed his residency training in adult psychiatry at Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital in Boston. Andrew then received his Master of Public Health Degree as part of his post-doctoral training in primary care psychiatry research at the University of Washington in Seattle, working closely with the Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions (AIMS) Center.
At the Institute, Andrew serves as our Vice President of Health System Integration and plays a leadership role in our multi-pronged approach to adoption of collaborative care and measurement-based care. Specifically, Andrew supports the Health System Integration team by supervising behavioral health integration subject matter experts and, in concert with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshni Koli, provides oversight of Institute Clinical Senior Fellows.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner of Gilliland Group
Andrew Hall is a sixth-generation Texan and holds a strong sense of pride for his Texas roots. Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, and currently living in his hometown, he has a deep passion for his community.
Andrew holds a BBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from SMU's Cox School of Business. His education has provided him with a solid foundation in financial management and strategic planning, which he has applied throughout his business career.
Currently, Andrew Hall is the managing partner of Gilliland Group, an integrated commercial real estate company, actively engaged in development, construction management, brokerage and investment. He is also involved in oil and gas as well as private lending.
In addition to his professional achievements, Andrew is deeply committed to community involvement and charitable causes. He serves as a board member of the Amarillo Area Foundation and Texas 2036. He is on the leadership team of the R.A.N.G.E. and is the current board chairman of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). He is also the founder and chair of the HOODOO Art Foundation and an active member of their Gilliland Family Foundation.
When he's not working or volunteering, Andrew can be found enjoying the great outdoors with his wife Lauren, and their two young children Winn and Wells.
Andrew Hall is a sixth-generation Texan and holds a strong sense of pride for his Texas roots. Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, and currently living in his hometown, he has a deep passion for his community.
Andrew holds a BBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from SMU's Cox School of Business. His education has provided him with a solid foundation in financial management and strategic planning, which he has applied throughout his business career.
Currently, Andrew Hall is the managing partner of Gilliland Group, an integrated commercial real estate company, actively engaged in development, construction management, brokerage and investment. He is also involved in oil and gas as well as private lending.
In addition to his professional achievements, Andrew is deeply committed to community involvement and charitable causes. He serves as a board member of the Amarillo Area Foundation and Texas 2036. He is on the leadership team of the R.A.N.G.E. and is the current board chairman of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). He is also the founder and chair of the HOODOO Art Foundation and an active member of their Gilliland Family Foundation.
When he's not working or volunteering, Andrew can be found enjoying the great outdoors with his wife Lauren, and their two young children Winn and Wells.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
- President and CEO, Linda Perryman Evans Presidential Chair
Andy Keller, PhD, is President, Chief Executive Officer, and Linda Perryman Evans Presidential Chair of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, a Texas-based nonprofit that provides nonpartisan policy and program research, development, and advice to local, state, and national leaders towards a single goal: improving mental health care delivery in Texas and across the country.
Andy is a clinical and community psychologist with more than 25 years of experience in behavioral health policy, financing, and best practices. His work has centered on helping federal, state, and local health systems implement evidence-based and innovative care, as well as helping federal, state, and governments develop the regulatory and financial frameworks to support them.
Prior to moving full time into policy work, Andy was a managing partner for 15 years at a national behavioral health management consulting firm where he focused on health financing and system improvement. Before that, he worked in Colorado with a leading Medicaid HMO and the local community mental health system, where he directed and led a range of community-based and care management programs.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Clinical Implementation Specialist, the Trauma and Grief Center
Angeles Araujo, MS, LPC-A joined the Meadows Institute with extensive experience treating adolescents in both Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP). Angeles primarily serves as a clinician at the Lucine Center, providing assessment and treatment to youth exposed to trauma and loss, particularly those from Spanish-speaking families. In her role at the TAG Center, Angeles helps to facilitate trauma- and grief-focused trainings and consultation with community- and school-based clinicians, with a particular focus on supporting immigrant youth and their unique needs.
Angeles received her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston Clearlake and is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Counsel.
Angeles Araujo, MS, LPC-A joined the Meadows Institute with extensive experience treating adolescents in both Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP). Angeles primarily serves as a clinician at the Lucine Center, providing assessment and treatment to youth exposed to trauma and loss, particularly those from Spanish-speaking families. In her role at the TAG Center, Angeles helps to facilitate trauma- and grief-focused trainings and consultation with community- and school-based clinicians, with a particular focus on supporting immigrant youth and their unique needs.
Angeles received her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston Clearlake and is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Counsel.
Job Titles:
- Project Implementation Specialist, the Hackett Center for Mental Health
Arely serves as an Project Implementation Specialist within the Trauma and Grief Center at The Hackett Center for Mental Health, based in Houston. She works under Julie Kaplow, Executive Director, The Trauma and Grief Center at The Hackett Center.
Prior to joining the Institute, Arely worked at the Trauma and Grief Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital as a Business Operations Coordinator providing administrative support for the entire team. Before that, Arely worked as the Secretary for the Psychology Clinic supporting the Training Directors managing their daily agendas, meetings, and undertaking any other duties assigned.
Arely also worked at The Methodist Hospital for five years as the Clinical Assistant for liver and kidney transplant patients. Her primary focus was to provide post-operative care for her patients, including vital signs and complications such as infection or organ rejection, the ordering of medications, and delivery of excellent patient care.
Arely is bilingual and is continuing her education at Houston Community College with a focus on Business Administration in Management. Her goal is to obtain a master's degree in Business Management.
Arely serves as an Project Implementation Specialist within the Trauma and Grief Center at The Hackett Center for Mental Health, based in Houston. She works under Julie Kaplow, Executive Director, The Trauma and Grief Center at The Hackett Center.
Prior to joining the Institute, Arely worked at the Trauma and Grief Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital as a Business Operations Coordinator providing administrative support for the entire team. Before that, Arely worked as the Secretary for the Psychology Clinic supporting the Training Directors managing their daily agendas, meetings, and undertaking any other duties assigned.
Arely also worked at The Methodist Hospital for five years as the Clinical Assistant for liver and kidney transplant patients. Her primary focus was to provide post-operative care for her patients, including vital signs and complications such as infection or organ rejection, the ordering of medications, and delivery of excellent patient care.
Arely is bilingual and is continuing her education at Houston Community College with a focus on Business Administration in Management. Her goal is to obtain a master's degree in Business Management.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Health and Public Safety
B.J. Wagner, MS, joined the Meadows Institute in the fall of 2015. In her current role, B.J. works to expand the Institute's efforts in health and public safety, managing multifaceted law enforcement and first responder projects focused on mental health emergency response, first responder health and wellness, and more. B.J. possesses a unique blend of first-hand law enforcement experience and deep knowledge of police policy and operating procedures, program evaluation, and technical advising. She has developed curriculum for disciplines across the criminal justice system on mental health awareness, symptom recognition, and verbal de-escalation techniques. Her work has lead to the creation of national and international award winning programs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Data Analytics, Trauma & Grief Center
Ben is a developmental psychologist and applied statistician who specializes in understanding how normative (e.g., belongingness) and non-normative experiences (e.g., maltreatment, trauma, and loss) intersect with childhood adjustment, civic engagement, and positive wellbeing. He provides theoretical, methodological, and analytic research support for projects focused on childhood trauma and grief and uses cutting-edge statistical techniques to examine how these experiences influence adjustment over time.
Ben has published widely on the topics of positive youth development, childhood trauma, and grief, with over 70 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He has conducted research funded by the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, SAMSHA, the New York Life Foundation, UNICEF, the Spencer Foundation, and the John Templeton Foundation. In his role at the TAG Center, Ben is responsible for overseeing data capture systems and technology, data analysis, and program evaluation across the TAG Center's various projects, including large scale data collection on a national level. He also works closely with Lauren Alvis, Director of Research, on grant-writing and publishing TAG Center findings.
Ben received his BA in Psychology from Michigan State University and his PhD in Developmental Psychology from West Virginia University. He completed his postdoctoral training in childhood trauma and grief at The University of Texas Health Science Center under Dr. Kaplow and served as an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Montana State University.
Ben is a developmental psychologist and applied statistician who specializes in understanding how normative (e.g., belongingness) and non-normative experiences (e.g., maltreatment, trauma, and loss) intersect with childhood adjustment, civic engagement, and positive wellbeing. He provides theoretical, methodological, and analytic research support for projects focused on childhood trauma and grief and uses cutting-edge statistical techniques to examine how these experiences influence adjustment over time.
Ben has published widely on the topics of positive youth development, childhood trauma, and grief, with over 70 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He has conducted research funded by the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, SAMSHA, the New York Life Foundation, UNICEF, the Spencer Foundation, and the John Templeton Foundation. In his role at the TAG Center, Ben is responsible for overseeing data capture systems and technology, data analysis, and program evaluation across the TAG Center's various projects, including large scale data collection on a national level. He also works closely with Lauren Alvis, Director of Research, on grant-writing and publishing TAG Center findings.
Ben received his BA in Psychology from Michigan State University and his PhD in Developmental Psychology from West Virginia University. He completed his postdoctoral training in childhood trauma and grief at The University of Texas Health Science Center under Dr. Kaplow and served as an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Montana State University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Health System Integration
Berta comes to the Institute with over 25 years of experience in strategic marketing and communications, public policy, qualitative research, and community engagement. Her focus has been engagement and outreach in Latino markets at the city, state, national, and international levels through effective and relevant messaging using cross-cultural consumer research and data analysis.
Most recently, she served as the City of San Antonio's External Affairs Manager and Census Administrator. Her responsibilities included establishing a baseline approach for equitable community engagement, developing systems and standard operating procedures to lower the barriers for public participation and measure engagement levels within marginalized communities across the city.
Prior to her work at the City, Berta served as the inaugural Director of Research, Planning, and Policy at Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. She was instrumental in developing and implementing the organization's research and policy efforts to improve the physical, mental, and behavioral healthcare access and delivery in the organization's 74 -county South Texas service area.
She served as a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. As a political appointee she was the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary and General Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing and a legislative aide in the Senate Veterans Affairs / Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
Berta earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing at University of Texas at San Antonio and Master of Science in Urban Studies at Trinity University.
Berta comes to the Institute with over 25 years of experience in strategic marketing and communications, public policy, qualitative research, and community engagement. Her focus has been engagement and outreach in Latino markets at the city, state, national, and international levels through effective and relevant messaging using cross-cultural consumer research and data analysis.
Most recently, she served as the City of San Antonio's External Affairs Manager and Census Administrator. Her responsibilities included establishing a baseline approach for equitable community engagement, developing systems and standard operating procedures to lower the barriers for public participation and measure engagement levels within marginalized communities across the city.
Prior to her work at the City, Berta served as the inaugural Director of Research, Planning, and Policy at Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. She was instrumental in developing and implementing the organization's research and policy efforts to improve the physical, mental, and behavioral healthcare access and delivery in the organization's 74 -county South Texas service area.
She served as a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. As a political appointee she was the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary and General Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing and a legislative aide in the Senate Veterans Affairs / Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
Berta earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing at University of Texas at San Antonio and Master of Science in Urban Studies at Trinity University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance
Bill has extensive experience in managing the financial operations of nonprofit institutions. In his previous role, he served for twenty years as Chief Financial Officer of The Dallas Foundation, where he directed the financial reporting, investing, compliance, and information technology activities of the organization.
Bill enjoys contributing his financial talents and experience to help improve mental health services for all Texans. He is an Eagle Scout and loves spending time with his wife and four kids, especially in the great outdoors.
Bill has extensive experience in managing the financial operations of nonprofit institutions. In his previous role, he served for twenty years as Chief Financial Officer of The Dallas Foundation, where he directed the financial reporting, investing, compliance, and information technology activities of the organization.
Bill enjoys contributing his financial talents and experience to help improve mental health services for all Texans. He is an Eagle Scout and loves spending time with his wife and four kids, especially in the great outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President for Communications
Brian has nearly thirty years of experience in journalism, communications, and governmental relations.
He previously served as a principal at Genuine Article, a Dallas-based public affairs firm where he focused on strategic communications, public policy, issues management, and thought leadership for one of the country's most prominent non-profits. He has also served as the communications director for state agencies, developed the communication strategies for public policy initiatives at the Texas Legislature, and helped increase the visibility of numerous Texas-based companies.
A proud alum of TEXAS MONTHLY, he started his journalism career there as an intern, in 1996, and ultimately served as Editor-in-Chief until he resigned, in 2016. He led the magazine's political coverage for multiple legislative sessions, and in his final year, he was named to the Folio 100 as an "Up and Coming Trailblazer" for leading "one of the highest quality regional magazines in the US, where editorial excellence is the norm." That same year, TEXAS MONTHLY won the award for General Excellence, the highest honor given by the City and Regional Magazine Association.
He is an active advisory board member of the Texas Book Festival, the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas, and the Green Amendment for the Generations. He lives in Austin with his wife, Noelle, who is a professor at Texas A&M; their two children Madeline and Colin; and a golden-doodle named Blue. In his free time you can find him on the tennis court trying not to double-fault.
Brian has nearly thirty years of experience in journalism, communications, and governmental relations.
He previously served as a principal at Genuine Article, a Dallas-based public affairs firm where he focused on strategic communications, public policy, issues management, and thought leadership for one of the country's most prominent non-profits. He has also served as the communications director for state agencies, developed the communication strategies for public policy initiatives at the Texas Legislature, and helped increase the visibility of numerous Texas-based companies.
A proud alum of TEXAS MONTHLY, he started his journalism career there as an intern, in 1996, and ultimately served as Editor-in-Chief until he resigned, in 2016. He led the magazine's political coverage for multiple legislative sessions, and in his final year, he was named to the Folio 100 as an "Up and Coming Trailblazer" for leading "one of the highest quality regional magazines in the US, where editorial excellence is the norm." That same year, TEXAS MONTHLY won the award for General Excellence, the highest honor given by the City and Regional Magazine Association.
He is an active advisory board member of the Texas Book Festival, the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas, and the Green Amendment for the Generations. He lives in Austin with his wife, Noelle, who is a professor at Texas A&M; their two children Madeline and Colin; and a golden-doodle named Blue. In his free time you can find him on the tennis court trying not to double-fault.
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator - Special Projects, Center for Child and Family Wellness
Cassie brings over four years of nonprofit experience to the Meadows Institute. Prior to joining the Institute, Cassie worked at a small non-profit, where she served as receptionist, Database Administrator, and Advancement Assistant. She worked with grants and grant management for three years during her time there as well.
In her role at the Meadows Institute, Cassie supports the Child and Family Wellness team with coordination of grants and contracts for its various projects.
Cassie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University and graduated with a Meat Science Certificate. She has also received a Certificate of Grant Writing and has her Raiser's Edge Professional certification. Cassie lives on a family farm in Hallettsville, TX with her cat and three dogs, and loves to read and bake.
Cassie brings over four years of nonprofit experience to the Meadows Institute. Prior to joining the Institute, Cassie worked at a small non-profit, where she served as receptionist, Database Administrator, and Advancement Assistant. She worked with grants and grant management for three years during her time there as well.
In her role at the Meadows Institute, Cassie supports the Child and Family Wellness team with coordination of grants and contracts for its various projects.
Cassie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University and graduated with a Meat Science Certificate. She has also received a Certificate of Grant Writing and has her Raiser's Edge Professional certification. Cassie lives on a family farm in Hallettsville, TX with her cat and three dogs, and loves to read and bake.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer
Catie Hilbelink, MPP, provides strategic programmatic and organizational support to the Meadows Institute's Center for Health System Transformation, supporting the planning for and accomplishment of key team projects. Most recently, she has been playing a lead role in the implementation of the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) and Texas Health Child Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) with seven of the state's medical schools, including Dell Medical School in Austin and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Catie joined the Meadows Institute from Health Management Associates, a national healthcare consulting firm, where she most recently managed opportunity assessment for the business development team. While there, she also provided research for a variety of projects and frequently assisted project managers in the full scope of project development, management, and resolution including: developing and editing written proposal responses to client requests for proposals, working with clients and colleagues to manage tasks within the required scope of work, presenting completed deliverables to clients, and responding to project follow-up. Additionally, she has been actively engaged in the Texas 1115 Healthcare Transformation Waiver work since the start of Texas' waiver in 2011.
Catie earned her master's degree in public policy from Michigan State University and her bachelor's degree from Calvin University.
Catie Hilbelink, MPP, provides strategic programmatic and organizational support to the Meadows Institute's Center for Health System Transformation, supporting the planning for and accomplishment of key team projects. Most recently, she has been playing a lead role in the implementation of the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) and Texas Health Child Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) with seven of the state's medical schools, including Dell Medical School in Austin and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Catie joined the Meadows Institute from Health Management Associates, a national healthcare consulting firm, where she most recently managed opportunity assessment for the business development team. While there, she also provided research for a variety of projects and frequently assisted project managers in the full scope of project development, management, and resolution including: developing and editing written proposal responses to client requests for proposals, working with clients and colleagues to manage tasks within the required scope of work, presenting completed deliverables to clients, and responding to project follow-up. Additionally, she has been actively engaged in the Texas 1115 Healthcare Transformation Waiver work since the start of Texas' waiver in 2011.
Catie earned her master's degree in public policy from Michigan State University and her bachelor's degree from Calvin University.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Practice at the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston
Chase Untermeyer has held positions at all four levels of government - local, state, national, and international - over a period of more than 40 years, with work in journalism, academia, and business as well.
He was born in New Jersey but came to Houston at the age of two. He is a 1968 graduate of Harvard College with honors in government. During the Vietnam War, he served as an officer in the US Navy aboard a Pacific Fleet destroyer and as aide to the commander of US naval forces in the Philippines.
Returning to Houston, Mr. Untermeyer was a political reporter for the Houston Chronicle and executive assistant to the county judge (chief executive) of Harris County, Texas. In 1976, he was elected as a Republican to the first of two terms as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from a district on the west side of Houston.
Mr. Untermeyer resigned his seat to go to Washington in 1981 as executive assistant to then-Vice President Bush. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. During the first Bush Administration, he was assistant to the President for presidential personnel and director of the Voice of America.
From 2004 to 2007, he served as United States ambassador to the State of Qatar, on appointment of President George W. Bush. He is currently professor of practice at the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston.
He is the author of three volumes of diary-based memoirs of the Reagan-Bush era, When Things Went Right, Inside Reagan's Navy, and Zenith: In the White House with George HW Bush. He has also published How Important People Act: Behaving Yourself in Public.
He is married to the former Diana Cumming Kendrick of Sheridan, Wyoming, whom he met in the White House. Their daughter Ellyson, a 2016 graduate of Stanford University, works with Facebook.
Chase Untermeyer has held positions at all four levels of government - local, state, national, and international - over a period of more than 40 years, with work in journalism, academia, and business as well.
He was born in New Jersey but came to Houston at the age of two. He is a 1968 graduate of Harvard College with honors in government. During the Vietnam War, he served as an officer in the US Navy aboard a Pacific Fleet destroyer and as aide to the commander of US naval forces in the Philippines.
Returning to Houston, Mr. Untermeyer was a political reporter for the Houston Chronicle and executive assistant to the county judge (chief executive) of Harris County, Texas. In 1976, he was elected as a Republican to the first of two terms as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from a district on the west side of Houston.
Mr. Untermeyer resigned his seat to go to Washington in 1981 as executive assistant to then-Vice President Bush. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. During the first Bush Administration, he was assistant to the President for presidential personnel and director of the Voice of America.
From 2004 to 2007, he served as United States ambassador to the State of Qatar, on appointment of President George W. Bush. He is currently professor of practice at the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston.
He is the author of three volumes of diary-based memoirs of the Reagan-Bush era, When Things Went Right, Inside Reagan's Navy, and Zenith: In the White House with George HW Bush. He has also published How Important People Act: Behaving Yourself in Public.
He is married to the former Diana Cumming Kendrick of Sheridan, Wyoming, whom he met in the White House. Their daughter Ellyson, a 2016 graduate of Stanford University, works with Facebook.
As Executive Chief of Staff, Cheyanne works directly with the President and Chief Executive Officer as well as the Executive Team to fulfill their commitments to the Meadows Institute's staff, partners, funders, and Board of Directors, and support the planning and implementation of key projects and convenings, and act as the primary liaison to the Institute's Board of Directors.
Cheyanne has over 15 years of experience leading teams and serving as a strategic thought partner across the education, behavioral research and program evaluation, customer and employee experience, and technology sectors. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Government and Women and Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently resides in Dallas with her fiancée and two pups.
As Executive Chief of Staff, Cheyanne works directly with the President and Chief Executive Officer as well as the Executive Team to fulfill their commitments to the Meadows Institute's staff, partners, funders, and Board of Directors, and support the planning and implementation of key projects and convenings, and act as the primary liaison to the Institute's Board of Directors.
Cheyanne has over 15 years of experience leading teams and serving as a strategic thought partner across the education, behavioral research and program evaluation, customer and employee experience, and technology sectors. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Government and Women and Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently resides in Dallas with her fiancée and two pups.
Chris has more than a decade of experience as a graphic designer and art director working for both in-house creative groups and advertising agencies. Her prior achievements include designing the 2015 Growing Healthy Kids fundraising campaign for Whole Kids Foundation, which raised $3 million to help more than 500,000 children by funding school gardens and healthy food education. Chris also worked for six years at T3 Advertising Agency as Senior Art Director for the Dell Small and Medium Business Segment producing and art directing direct mail and monthly catalogs each with a circulation of over 3 million. She received her bachelor's degree from Texas State University in Fine Art.
Chris has more than a decade of experience as a graphic designer and art director working for both in-house creative groups and advertising agencies. Her prior achievements include designing the 2015 Growing Healthy Kids fundraising campaign for Whole Kids Foundation, which raised $3 million to help more than 500,000 children by funding school gardens and healthy food education. Chris also worked for six years at T3 Advertising Agency as Senior Art Director for the Dell Small and Medium Business Segment producing and art directing direct mail and monthly catalogs each with a circulation of over 3 million. She received her bachelor's degree from Texas State University in Fine Art.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Health and Public Safety
After 18 years in the United States Army, Christopher Araujo's lived experience drives his passion to aid veterans and their families. At the Meadows Institute, his work centers on meeting the mental health needs of both veterans and law enforcement individuals.
Christopher joined the Meadows Institute in 2019 as the Project Coordinator of Veterans Initiatives and was quickly promoted to Project Manager. He plays a critical role in the Meadows Institute's efforts to implement improvements in first responder systems that improve crisis response for people with mental illness. Christopher also provides grant administration support to North Texas Metrocare's Texas Veterans + Family Alliance (TV+FA) grant program, which was created to expand the availability and enhance delivery of mental health services and treatments for veterans and their families. Additionally, he has facilitated a series of virtual veteran peer support and veteran mental health services conversations with veteran service organizations throughout Texas.
While in the United States Army, Christopher was an Indirect Fire Infantryman and served through numerous overseas deployments in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2013, after being medically discharged, Christopher worked for the Military Veteran Peer Network as the Austin / Travis County coordinator, managing a team of volunteers responsible for connecting veterans to resources. He also assisted the State Veteran Mental Health Office on a variety of projects that were integral in improving the mental health of Texas veterans. During his time there, Christopher was frequently an expert witness for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma-affected veterans in criminal trials for the State of Texas. Beginning in 2017, Christopher was Easterseals Central Texas' Director of Community and Veteran Services, where he helped develop and implement a multi-agency collaboration to improve access to a variety of resources for veterans and their family members.
After 18 years in the United States Army, Christopher Araujo's lived experience drives his passion to aid veterans and their families. At the Meadows Institute, his work centers on meeting the mental health needs of both veterans and law enforcement individuals.
Christopher joined the Meadows Institute in 2019 as the Project Coordinator of Veterans Initiatives and was quickly promoted to Project Manager. He plays a critical role in the Meadows Institute's efforts to implement improvements in first responder systems that improve crisis response for people with mental illness. Christopher also provides grant administration support to North Texas Metrocare's Texas Veterans + Family Alliance (TV+FA) grant program, which was created to expand the availability and enhance delivery of mental health services and treatments for veterans and their families. Additionally, he has facilitated a series of virtual veteran peer support and veteran mental health services conversations with veteran service organizations throughout Texas.
While in the United States Army, Christopher was an Indirect Fire Infantryman and served through numerous overseas deployments in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2013, after being medically discharged, Christopher worked for the Military Veteran Peer Network as the Austin / Travis County coordinator, managing a team of volunteers responsible for connecting veterans to resources. He also assisted the State Veteran Mental Health Office on a variety of projects that were integral in improving the mental health of Texas veterans. During his time there, Christopher was frequently an expert witness for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma-affected veterans in criminal trials for the State of Texas. Beginning in 2017, Christopher was Easterseals Central Texas' Director of Community and Veteran Services, where he helped develop and implement a multi-agency collaboration to improve access to a variety of resources for veterans and their family members.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant, the Hackett Center for Mental Health
Christy Cory has over twenty years of administrative experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors.
Prior to joining the Meadows Institute, Christy was Executive Assistant to the Founder of CenterOak Partners, a private equity firm located in Dallas, TX. In previous roles, Christy worked with a leading research institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center, the Hewlett Foundation in Menlo Park, CA, and the O'Donnell Foundation in Dallas, TX.
In her role at The Hackett Center, Christy provides direct support to both Dr. Quianta Moore, Executive Director, and Marcy Melvin, Deputy Director, and assists the team with various special projects.
Christy has a B.S. from Texas A&M University. She lives in Dallas with her partner and son, who is a freshman at Texas A&M University.
Christy Cory has over twenty years of administrative experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors.
Prior to joining the Meadows Institute, Christy was Executive Assistant to the Founder of CenterOak Partners, a private equity firm located in Dallas, TX. In previous roles, Christy worked with a leading research institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center, the Hewlett Foundation in Menlo Park, CA, and the O'Donnell Foundation in Dallas, TX.
In her role at The Hackett Center, Christy provides direct support to both Dr. Quianta Moore, Executive Director, and Marcy Melvin, Deputy Director, and assists the team with various special projects.
Christy has a B.S. from Texas A&M University. She lives in Dallas with her partner and son, who is a freshman at Texas A&M University.
Job Titles:
- Physician Assistant
- Assistant Clinical Professor of Physician Assistant
- Vice President of Primary Care Innovation
Clare, a Physician Assistant, began her healthcare journey in 2009 in Emergency Medicine. It was in the emergency department she discovered her passion for working with individuals struggling with physical as well as mental illness. She transitioned from the emergency department to inpatient behavioral health in 2012, where she took on daily patient care as well as training and managing the Inpatient Behavioral Health Advanced Practice Provider team. Clare made the pivot to population health in 2017 with Mindoula Health outside of Washington, DC. There she designed, built, and scaled a Collaborative Care program from a single outpatient provider to a 16-state program serving over 10,000 patients. Subsequently, in her role as Vice President of Partnerships and Collaborative Care, she assisted with payer and provider contracting, account management, and played a key role in building and growing the Readmissions Prevention Program.
Clare transitioned to Cityblock Health in May 2021, originally as the Director of Behavioral Health Clinical Operations and most recently as Director of the Care Innovation and Program Design team. In this role she led an interdisciplinary panel focused on building and implementing a best-in-class Collaborative Care pilot, in addition to a High Risk Behavioral Health program. She led the team through design sprints to develop turn-key solutions relative to ideal program design, staffing model, measurement plan, and product build. Her passions include designing, operationalizing, and successfully implementing integrated behavioral healthcare solutions.
In her role at the Institute, Clare supports various behavioral health integration initiatives across the Health Systems Integration unit's project array. Specifically, her expertise and experience is leveraged to provide high level technical assistance for the ARPA pediatric CoCM program, the Lonestar Depression Challenge, and additional related proposals for the Policy Implementation Team.
Outside of work, Clare serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Physician Assistant Studies at George Washington University and lives in the DC Metro area with her husband and two young daughters. She enjoys running, podcasts, and volunteering with a local charity called "Food for All."
Clare, a Physician Assistant, began her healthcare journey in 2009 in Emergency Medicine. It was in the emergency department she discovered her passion for working with individuals struggling with physical as well as mental illness. She transitioned from the emergency department to inpatient behavioral health in 2012, where she took on daily patient care as well as training and managing the Inpatient Behavioral Health Advanced Practice Provider team. Clare made the pivot to population health in 2017 with Mindoula Health outside of Washington, DC. There she designed, built, and scaled a Collaborative Care program from a single outpatient provider to a 16-state program serving over 10,000 patients. Subsequently, in her role as Vice President of Partnerships and Collaborative Care, she assisted with payer and provider contracting, account management, and played a key role in building and growing the Readmissions Prevention Program.
Clare transitioned to Cityblock Health in May 2021, originally as the Director of Behavioral Health Clinical Operations and most recently as Director of the Care Innovation and Program Design team. In this role she led an interdisciplinary panel focused on building and implementing a best-in-class Collaborative Care pilot, in addition to a High Risk Behavioral Health program. She led the team through design sprints to develop turn-key solutions relative to ideal program design, staffing model, measurement plan, and product build. Her passions include designing, operationalizing, and successfully implementing integrated behavioral healthcare solutions.
In her role at the Institute, Clare supports various behavioral health integration initiatives across the Health Systems Integration unit's project array. Specifically, her expertise and experience is leveraged to provide high level technical assistance for the ARPA pediatric CoCM program, the Lonestar Depression Challenge, and additional related proposals for the Policy Implementation Team.
Outside of work, Clare serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Physician Assistant Studies at George Washington University and lives in the DC Metro area with her husband and two young daughters. She enjoys running, podcasts, and volunteering with a local charity called "Food for All."
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Brain Builders Program, the Hackett Center for Mental Health
Claudia has 25 years of experience in educational leadership and instruction. During her tenure with KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program), she founded and led two elementary schools, developed teachers, and led workshops for educators and parents. She received a proclamation from the City of Houston's Mayor's office when she founded and led KIPP's second elementary school. As an education consultant, she has worked with Rice University's School Literacy and Culture program, The University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston (Children's Learning Institute), and Children's Literacy Initiative-Philadelphia. She has mentored, trained, and supported teachers and parents of young children with the implementation of early literacy and language strategies throughout the state of Texas and California.
Claudia is also known as La Super Comadre Claudia on Radio Crystal USA, an online radio show and podcast, where she connects her bilingual listening audience to guests who have a passion, gift, story, or resource to uplift and inspire. She is the creator of "Lady Veggie and The Veggie Pals", a live children's performance series focused on developing healthy habits and is also the author of the children's book, I Love You Even When You Cry. Claudia is an active volunteer in her community and is passionate about mentoring and inspiring children and youth.
In her role at the Meadows Institute, Claudia leads instruction and innovation for the Brain Builders program at The Hackett Center for Mental Health. Brain Builders is an evidence-informed two-generation parenting curriculum that builds parents' knowledge and skill to optimize their child's development prenatally and in the first three years of life. This upstream intervention is designed to decrease parental stress, increase responsive interaction, bonding, and attachment between parent and child, and to ultimately impact children's lifelong mental and physical outcomes.
A native Houstonian, Claudia holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston and an M.S. in Education from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.
Claudia has 25 years of experience in educational leadership and instruction. During her tenure with KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program), she founded and led two elementary schools, developed teachers, and led workshops for educators and parents. She received a proclamation from the City of Houston's Mayor's office when she founded and led KIPP's second elementary school. As an education consultant, she has worked with Rice University's School Literacy and Culture program, The University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston (Children's Learning Institute), and Children's Literacy Initiative-Philadelphia. She has mentored, trained, and supported teachers and parents of young children with the implementation of early literacy and language strategies throughout the state of Texas and California.
Claudia is also known as La Super Comadre Claudia on Radio Crystal USA, an online radio show and podcast, where she connects her bilingual listening audience to guests who have a passion, gift, story, or resource to uplift and inspire. She is the creator of "Lady Veggie and The Veggie Pals", a live children's performance series focused on developing healthy habits and is also the author of the children's book, I Love You Even When You Cry. Claudia is an active volunteer in her community and is passionate about mentoring and inspiring children and youth.
In her role at the Meadows Institute, Claudia leads instruction and innovation for the Brain Builders program at The Hackett Center for Mental Health. Brain Builders is an evidence-informed two-generation parenting curriculum that builds parents' knowledge and skill to optimize their child's development prenatally and in the first three years of life. This upstream intervention is designed to decrease parental stress, increase responsive interaction, bonding, and attachment between parent and child, and to ultimately impact children's lifelong mental and physical outcomes.
A native Houstonian, Claudia holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston and an M.S. in Education from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.
Cooper Carpenter works as the "jack of all trades" on the data team, focusing on data visualizations, mapping, and data analysis. Previous to MMHPI, Cooper worked in the field of engineering, designing, and manufacturing metals and semiconductors. His areas of interest in relation to population health included social determinants of health, social and economic inequality, and criminal justice.
Cooper graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 with a Bachelor of Engineering in material science.
Cooper Carpenter works as the "jack of all trades" on the data team, focusing on data visualizations, mapping, and data analysis. Previous to MMHPI, Cooper worked in the field of engineering, designing, and manufacturing metals and semiconductors. His areas of interest in relation to population health included social determinants of health, social and economic inequality, and criminal justice.
Cooper graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 with a Bachelor of Engineering in material science.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Health Equity
David has nearly 20 years of public health experience designing and evaluating programs that advance health equity and reduce health disparities in marginalized and vulnerable populations. With significant leadership experience in nonprofit organizations, state and local governments and academic institutions, he uses a systems-based, data-driven approach to support communities' goals of achieving their optimal health. David spent nine years at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) where he served in multiple leadership roles including Director of Community Health Services overseeing the operations of women's health and primary health care programs. He also provided program expertise to inform policy development during Texas legislative sessions, and he served as Director of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Services; working closely with advisory councils to develop prevention strategies to improve the health of Texans across their lifespans.
In his role at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, David led a multidisciplinary team that created a new health equity competency domain for medical students. He also designed and implemented a health professions pathway program for elementary students to support the development of STEM and health professions identities for students who are underrepresented in medicine.
David received his Bachelor of Arts degree in African American and African Studies from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University. In his new role, David will be responsible for the development, implementation, and refinement of the Meadows Institute's health equity strategy and its incorporation into the work of both The Hackett Center and the broader Institute.
David has nearly 20 years of public health experience designing and evaluating programs that advance health equity and reduce health disparities in marginalized and vulnerable populations. With significant leadership experience in nonprofit organizations, state and local governments and academic institutions, he uses a systems-based, data-driven approach to support communities' goals of achieving their optimal health. David spent nine years at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) where he served in multiple leadership roles including Director of Community Health Services overseeing the operations of women's health and primary health care programs. He also provided program expertise to inform policy development during Texas legislative sessions, and he served as Director of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Services; working closely with advisory councils to develop prevention strategies to improve the health of Texans across their lifespans.
In his role at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, David led a multidisciplinary team that created a new health equity competency domain for medical students. He also designed and implemented a health professions pathway program for elementary students to support the development of STEM and health professions identities for students who are underrepresented in medicine.
David received his Bachelor of Arts degree in African American and African Studies from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University. In his new role, David will be responsible for the development, implementation, and refinement of the Meadows Institute's health equity strategy and its incorporation into the work of both The Hackett Center and the broader Institute.
Doreen has 15 years of experience in banking, administrative work, real estate, and community involvement. Most recently, Doreen has been a licensed Texas Realtor.
In her role at the Meadows Institute, Doreen supports the work of the Senior Vice President of Accounting and Controller. She is responsible for completing end-to-end accounts payable processes and supporting other accounting department needs.
Doreen sits on the Weatherford Chamber's Business Development Committee as well as the City of Weatherford Parks and Recreation's Board. She is originally from Wyoming and moved to Texas in 1996. Doreen currently resides in Weatherford with her husband and two children. For fun, she enjoys coaching youth sports teams, attending her children's dairy goat shows, and spending as much time as possible with her family.
Doreen has 15 years of experience in banking, administrative work, real estate, and community involvement. Most recently, Doreen has been a licensed Texas Realtor.
In her role at the Meadows Institute, Doreen supports the work of the Senior Vice President of Accounting and Controller. She is responsible for completing end-to-end accounts payable processes and supporting other accounting department needs.
Doreen sits on the Weatherford Chamber's Business Development Committee as well as the City of Weatherford Parks and Recreation's Board. She is originally from Wyoming and moved to Texas in 1996. Doreen currently resides in Weatherford with her husband and two children. For fun, she enjoys coaching youth sports teams, attending her children's dairy goat shows, and spending as much time as possible with her family.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director for School Mental Health
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Edna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 10 years of experience working with diverse populations in nonprofit and education settings. Her focus throughout her work has been the well-being of students and their families.
Edna started her career working with a Chicago based nonprofit social enterprise assisting participants in reaching self-sufficiency through employment training and support. In 2015 she joined Teach for America and taught 7 th grade English in West Dallas while also leading as grade level chair and girls JV soccer coach. She spent her summers working as a Summer School Coordinator and Manager. Upon observing the high needs of her students, Edna transitioned into the role of Social/Behavioral Counselor at the elementary school level, supporting students with their social emotional well-being through responsive services, guidance lessons, and systems support. Most recently, Edna was a Manager of Counseling Services, supporting Social/Behavioral Counselors on their campuses. Edna also has experience working at an in-patient psych unit and family private practice. In her role at the Meadows Institute, Edna serves as Assistant Director for School Mental Health. Working closely with the Center for Child and Family Wellness Team, Edna supports the development and implementation of the Center's wide array of K-12 and higher education projects.
Originally from Illinois, Edna is an alum of Loyola University of Chicago and obtained a Master's in Social Work with a specialization in school social work. She currently resides in Dallas with her husband and pup.
Edna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 10 years of experience working with diverse populations in nonprofit and education settings. Her focus throughout her work has been the well-being of students and their families.
Edna started her career working with a Chicago based nonprofit social enterprise assisting participants in reaching self-sufficiency through employment training and support. In 2015 she joined Teach for America and taught 7 th grade English in West Dallas while also leading as grade level chair and girls JV soccer coach. She spent her summers working as a Summer School Coordinator and Manager. Upon observing the high needs of her students, Edna transitioned into the role of Social/Behavioral Counselor at the elementary school level, supporting students with their social emotional well-being through responsive services, guidance lessons, and systems support. Most recently, Edna was a Manager of Counseling Services, supporting Social/Behavioral Counselors on their campuses. Edna also has experience working at an in-patient psych unit and family private practice. In her role at the Meadows Institute, Edna serves as Assistant Director for School Mental Health. Working closely with the Center for Child and Family Wellness Team, Edna supports the development and implementation of the Center's wide array of K-12 and higher education projects.
Originally from Illinois, Edna is an alum of Loyola University of Chicago and obtained a Master's in Social Work with a specialization in school social work. She currently resides in Dallas with her husband and pup.
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