Staff
Lauren joined Erika’s Lighthouse in January 2024. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Masters Degree in Accounting from The George Washington University. She brings fifteen years of accounting experience, most of which was spent working in International Development. Lauren wants to see a world without mental health stigma and she’s thrilled to bring her love of non-profit accounting to Erika’s Lighthouse.
A southside Chicago native, Marlene Ceja grew up in Chicago’s vibrant Little Village neighborhood. That is where her love of service began at a very young age, coming from a family that believes in the power of community and giving back. As a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a degree in business, she continued to pursue her passion for enhancing community initiatives and driving impactful change through philanthropy. Her professional career spans over 15 years in fund development lending her voice to advocacy work in various areas. In her spare time, Marlene can be found in her garden, visiting local coffee shops, and spending time with her beloved family. Marlene is enthusiastic about joining Erika’s Lighthouse and breaking the stigma and cultural barriers that often create challenges for youth surrounding mental health and ensuring that all youth know that everyone deserves good mental health.
Jennifer joined Erika’s Lighthouse in October 2024. Although born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned a bachelor’s degree in educational policy with certificates in Gender and Women Studies and Chicane/Latine Studies. Post-graduation, she worked for two years in the non-profit world as a health educator. Jennifer is excited to help make an impact on young people, their caregivers, and educators to change the stigma about mental health conversations!
Brandon joined Erika’s Lighthouse in June 2019. He brings with him over 20 years of nonprofit experience ranging from Executive Director, Board Member to volunteer for many passions and causes. He earned his Master’s in Nonprofit Administration in December 2009 from North Park University and his BA in Political Science from Indiana University in May 2004. Brandon wants to ensure that every child feels empowered, validated and important.
Kristina came to Erika’s Lighthouse in 2016 as a graduate intern and joined the team full time in 2017 as Director of Outreach & Development. After spending many years in the business and financial services sectors, Kristina is excited to be working with an organization that promotes the importance of good mental health through education. She obtained her Master of Social Work (MSW), along with a certificate in Non-Profit Management and Philanthropy, from Loyola University Chicago. Kristina graduated from Miami University (Ohio) with a BA in sociology.
Ilana joined Erika’s Lighthouse in September 2019 as Director of Education. She has a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Ilana brings with her over 15 years of non-profit health education programming experience ranging from Outreach Coordinator to Director of Education. Ilana is excited to be part of Erika’s Lighthouse to help further the mission and empower preteens, teens, their caregivers and educators to learn and talk openly about adolescent depression.
Katie joined Erika’s Lighthouse in August 2021. She has a Masters degree in Human Services and Counseling from DePaul University. Katie has over 15 years experience working in behavioral health and nonprofit administration. Katie is passionate about mental health awareness in schools and is excited to be a part of the Erika’s Lighthouse team.
Shantal joined Erika’s Lighthouse in August 2022. She brings over 10 years of experience in family and community relationships, non-profit, and education. Shantal has a Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is passionate about giving youth, their families, and their support systems the tools and education they need to take charge of their mental health. Her goal is to spread awareness and make mental health a safe and common topic for conversation.
Meade joined Erika’s Lighthouse in October 2019. She brings over eight years of nonprofit experience as both a professional and a volunteer. She is committed to helping nonprofits and is excited to be a part of an organization that is tirelessly working to improve mental health in young adults. Meade has a BA in Political Science from Kenyon College and a Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University.
Derick joined Erika’s Lighthouse in 2023. He hails from the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois, and has been shaped by its diverse and unique culture. His academic pursuits led him away from home to the University of Missouri-Columbia, better known as Mizzou. There, he earned dual degrees: a BA in History and another in Latin. Post-graduation, he ventured to China, immersing himself in a new environment and culture, while teaching English to non-native speakers. Eventually, he returned to the United States, spending several impactful years in Texas as an educator before finding his way back to Chicago, where the prospect of joining Erika’s Lighthouse fills him with excitement and purpose.
Laura joined Erika’s Lighthouse in January 2022, bringing a decade of nonprofit fundraising experience as a professional and a volunteer. She is committed to working to further the Erika’s Lighthouse mission within our community and across the country. Her three children drive her dedication to promoting good mental health for all. Laura has a BS in Human Development from Colby College and a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA.
Kristin joined Erika’s Lighthouse in July of 2023. She brings over 10 years of experience in Marketing and Recruiting with a degree in Communications from Indiana University. Kristin is excited to be pivoting her career into the non-profit space and looks forward to helping spread the Erika’s Lighthouse mission further through our Community Ambassador Program. She is passionate about removing the stigma of depression and believes good mental health practices are key to the success of all young people
Board of Directors
Eric joined the board of Erika’s Lighthouse in 2023. He is a Vice President, Financial Advisor at RW Baird in Chicago, focusing on high-net-worth individuals, small business owners, and multi-generational families. Prior to Baird, Eric spent 10 years at UBS Financial Services. Before that, he spent 10 years with Bernstein Global Wealth Management. He also spent 2 years with the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. upon graduating Phi Beta Kappa with honors from the University of Maryland. He and his wife, Stephanie, a cancer fundraiser for the University of Chicago Medical Center, live in Wilmette, IL, along with their three children: Evan, Bennett and Audrey.
Eric formerly served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago. Additionally, for over a decade he and his wife have co-led a team raising funds for rare cancer research and treatment, in honor of Stephanie’s late sister, Megan, through Cycle For Survival.
Barry Greenhouse is the Senior Vice President, Merchandising and Supplier Management of W.W. Grainger, Inc. He oversees the company’s merchandising capabilities, supplier relationships and cost management. Since joining Grainger in 2004, Barry has held several roles of progressive responsibility in the supply chain organization. Prior to joining Grainger, Barry held roles in operations, sales, marketing, and project management at McMaster-Carr and Webvan. Barry holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and an MBA, both from the University of California, Los Angeles.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
As a Board member since the inception of ELH I have seen the positive and profound results of our efforts to educate, de-stigmatize and bring hope to adolescents and their families who struggle with depression. We wanted to raise awareness about depression and also encourage good mental health in our community and beyond. It is incredibly meaningful to be a part ELH and know that our educational programs are reaching hundreds of schools and empowering students in a positive way and giving them both help and hope in understanding themselves and others.
Kevin is a Managing Director at Protiviti, a Global Risk Management Consulting firm, and has spent his career working with clients to strengthen risk management and solve business problems.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you? In today’s challenging and uncertain world, young people are struggling with mental health at levels previously unseen. The work that Erika’s Lighthouse is doing to destigmatize conversations around mental health and provide tools to navigate depression has already positively touched so many lives, and yet there is still so much more work to do to help promote strong mental health and provide a bright future for all young people.
Michelle Mirzoian is a strategic, organized, and process-oriented, sales leader who can bridge between the education sector and the corporate/tech world. She specializes in organizational growth and large development goals. She has a strong commitment to equitable and inclusive work environments that thrive to create social impact in the world.
Linda Monico MS, RN, is a retired advance practice nurse who most recently worked at Northwestern Hospital and Rush University Medical Center. She has been involved in many volunteer activities over the years, but is most passionate about Erika’s Lighthouse because of the need and mission. She firmly believes in Erika’s Lighthouse work to provide key information for students to proactively identify depression and to receive help.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
The mission of Erika’s Lighthouse is very personal and important to me. Since I have become a Board Member, I’ve seen firsthand how the depression education program has positively impacted thousands of students in the Chicago area and around the country.
Professional Advisory Board
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
I believe that each person deserves to feel healthy and well, in all areas of their life. I value taking the time to teach young people about the importance of mental and emotional health and to do so in ways that help them to achieve overall well-being.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
Ensuring that schools are places where every student can learn and thrive is very important to me.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
I have seen the impact of Erika’s Lighthouse on the lives of teens and its messages of hope are vital in creating a healthy community.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
The opportunity to really help kids who are struggling – especially given we know our nation’s children are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
Erika’s Lighthouse impresses me with its commitment to providing life-changing teen depression awareness resources to schools at no cost.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
Erika’s Lighthouse mission is my mission. I’ve devoted my career to children, adolescents, and families–to understanding, treating, and preventing depression and suicide among youth.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
Equity and accessibility. I love how ELH is always willing to partner and provide services and resources to all stakeholders: parents, teachers, students, etc.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
I am committed to the potential for schools to be places of wellness and thriving for all young people and know that support for mental health and identity development and relationships with peers and adults are critical to that mission.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
I have seen first hand, too many times the devastating effect of teenage depression on the teens, their parents, and their friends. Raising awareness about teenage depression and suicide prevention and offering alternatives to help these youth and families find hope and meaning is life saving.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
Erika’s Lighthouse allows schools to create a community of empathy and education that opens the door to important discussions around good mental health and depression. Lessons honor and reflect adolescent development, which serves to capture students’ attention, normalize feelings, and engage them in dialogue about their emotional worlds. Students are empowered to seek help when needed and to develop strategies and habits to contribute to their emotional health.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
I have dedicated my career to better understanding and better treating depression.
Lighthouse Council
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
I love the fact that all of our information, handbooks, programs, etc are free online. That is wonderful. Also, we have knowledgeable professionals on staff who will help schools who want information and will train them to use the curriculum and/ or to start a Teen Club if students raise the question of starting one. The videos are great. Also, the fact that other professional mental health organizations recognize the work that we are doing and approve of our videos, materials and approach.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
I want to do everything I can to help any teen that suffers from depression. The connection to ELH’s mission is what drives me. Getting depression out of the dark. In my work I am always thinking of ways to get our message out.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
The recognition that involvement of students and schools can support inclusive cultures.
Professional Community Ambassadors
Michelle has over 25 years of experience in education as a former classroom teacher, counselor, mental health trainer, and project director leading work in whole-child health working in the areas of social-emotional health, trauma-informed approaches, and multitiered systems of support. For 15 years, Michelle worked for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the CDC’s Healthy Schools Program where she provided strategic oversight of professional development, content development, assessment and evaluation and recognition programs. She has created courses and developed tools and resources to evaluate needs and implement new practices on equitable health and wellness, multitiered systems of support, family engagement, and supportive discipline.
Tahvyea Rains has been a dance teacher for 10 years and has worked with cheerleading programs nationwide for over 13 years. As a former teen athlete and dancer who’s battled with depression, Tahvyea is dedicated to supporting young people battling depression and spreading awareness to those around them. Tahvyea’s motto is, “You are capable of achieving if given the motivation and desire.” She believes that by bringing awareness to athletic and arts programs, teens, families and administrators can find the tools and resources to help our youth succeed.
DeHaven (they/them) is a youth program developer who lives in Hampton Roads, Virginia. They have spent the majority of their career serving LGBTQ+ youth and creating equitable school environments by weaving together stories, best practices, and research. DeHaven is about to begin a doctoral program in counseling and school counseling to continue this work. Outside of work, DeHaven is a water fanatic who loves finding random adventures with their bouncing pit bull.
Toya joined Erika’s Lighthouse as a PCA in 2024. She brings with her years of experience in behavioral health work and special education. Toya graduated from City University with a B.A. in Sociology and her M. ED in Special Education Teaching. She believes that everyone is teachable when they have a positive attitude.
Katherine Castillo is a psychologist with experience in clinical care for children and adolescents, as well as in the implementation of community projects focused on psychosocial and emotional strengthening, and mental health.
Pannill Titus is a school counselor for PreK-3-year-olds through grade 8 at an independent school in Norfolk, VA. She holds a master’s degree in school counseling and national board counselor certification. Pannill is recognized as a dynamic and innovative human services professional with 18+ years of experience guiding interpersonal success through meaningful and lasting relationships.
Although I am not originally from Texas I have lived here for almost 30 years and call this home. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my large family going out, travel and good music. I am so fortunate to spread the good news and resources available to promote mental health to all.
Melanie has been a Health and Physical Education teacher for 22 years. During this time, she has served numerous roles for MOSHAPE (MIssouri Society of Health and Physical Education) including a presidential term in 2011, received numerous grants for her school, mentors new teachers, writes curriculum at the district and state level, and been awarded several service and professional awards, including MOSHAPE Physical Education Teacher of the Year for Missouri and the Central District TOY (SHAPE) Award in 2019. Melanie also gives presentations locally, regionally, and nationally on professional development for educators. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, watching their kids play sports, coaching basketball, and pitching horseshoes at the national level.
Jamie Dillon is currently going into her fourth year of teaching high school in the great state of Maine. She is the 2024 & 2025 Maine Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance president along with organizing awards for Outstanding Future Professionals throughout the state. When she is not working she is planning road trips with her friends, paddle boarding, or reading in her hammock.
Kate Allen is a school social worker in Raleigh, North Carolina. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master of Social Work degrees at Appalachian State University. Her experience is with elementary-aged children. Kate’s passion is to provide support and resources to students and families at her school to meet their unique needs.
My name is Megan Adams and I am a Health & Phys Ed Teacher for 7th and 10th grades for Utica Academy of Science in upstate New York. I am a SUNY Brockport & Emporia State alumni in Health, Phys Ed and Recreation. My first 4 years, I taught in Killeen, TX and am currently in year 9 of my teaching career in Utica, NY. Outside of school, I am a girls basketball coach and enjoy spending time with my kids and family, golfing, attending SU Football & Basketball games, crafting and crocheting.
Cassie Brooks was the 2018 SHAPE America Midwest District Health Teacher of the Year and is President of Indiana Society of Health and Physical Educators. She has taught Health and Physical Education at Brownsburg West Middle School in Indiana for 22 years and has a passion for supporting other skills-based educators in their work to prepare young people for a lifetime of health choices.
Amanda Browning is currently in her 19th year of teaching secondary Health and Physical Education in Greensboro, North Carolina. In addition to presenting at the 2019 SHAPE America Convention in Tampa, FL, she has also been recognized as the 2020 NC SHAPE High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year and has been a two-time finalist for Guilford County Schools Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Maritza Cha graduated from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles and became the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. Dr. Cha was a school counselor and completed her PhD at Claremont Graduate University in Education, Urban Leadership. Dr. Cha has presented about school counseling topics at the national, state and local level. Dr. Cha co-authored a book chapter named “Servant Leadership: School Counseling During the Pandemic.” Dr. Maritza Cha currently is a National School Counselor Fellow and part of the Professional School Counseling Emerging Scholars Fellow Program.
Talmage Clubbs is a licensed professional counselor and the Director of Counseling Services at the Neosho School District. He has been in education for 8 years, after leaving a 20-year career in law enforcement working. While in law enforcement, Tal specialized in working with at-risk youth, including those experiencing mental health crises. With a wife and two daughters, Tal describes himself as a family man. He practices self-care by exploring the outdoors, hiking and fishing.
What makes the mission and work of Erika’s Lighthouse meaningful to you?
Erika’s Lighthouse strives to provide the most current resources so teachers can effectively deliver information while using proven best practices. Being able to talk about mental health with students and provide them with healthy coping strategies is extremely meaningful.
Megan Eischeid received her master’s Degree in Professional School Counseling from Loras College in 2022. She has been a licensed Professional School Counselor working in Des Moines Public Schools for the last two years. Before her employment at DMPS, Megan spent two years and hundreds of hours volunteering in the field of mental health crisis counseling and suicide prevention. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, yoga, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Esther is a school district administrator overseeing Health curriculum, Social Emotional Learning, and Wellness initiatives. She has over 15 years of experience, previously serving as a principal, assistant principal, and National Board Certified teacher. She holds an Ed.D. from USC and an M.Ed. from UCLA. She is passionate about developing the capacity of others to build safe and supportive learning environments where students thrive.
Jillian is a counselor, working with youth mental health for more than 15 years. She has spent the last 5 years as a public school counselor. Jillian has worked in hospital and outpatient settings using art therapy to help children and teens explore their feelings and experiences. As a strong believer in the importance of destigmatizing mental health, Jillian uses Erika’s Lighthouse lessons with her students.
I am a health and physical education teacher with over twenty years of experience working with middle and high school students. I have been a Certified Health Education Specialist since 2002, enjoy working with teenagers and helping them develop the life skills they will need as they grow into young adults. On a personal level, I am married with five children ranging in age from teens to early thirties, and I love exercising, hiking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Recently we adopted twin Russian Blue kittens, and I look forward to the new dynamic they will bring to our family life.
Nicole is a Master of Social Work graduate from the University of Washington-Seattle with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Social Work from the University of Kansas, as well as Building Principal Certification from Pittsburg State University. Currently, she is working as an Assistant Principal at Winfield Scott Elementary (K-2) in Fort Scott, but was previously a School Social Worker at an alternative day school program for 6 years. She additionally has teaching experience as a part-time Adjunct Instructor through the University of Kansas School of Social Work for both MSW and BSW students. She is the Colorguard Instructor for the Pittsburg High School Marching Dragons.
Her leadership experience includes being a Board Member for the Kansas School Social Workers Association for 4 years. She has prior experience as a Board Member for the Partnership for All Cherokee County Children (PACCC) for 1 year; a Cherokee County Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT) member through KUMC for 2 years, where she helped develop a transportation program for their most needy residents in partnership with CHCSEK and SEKCAP; as well as a Speciality Team Member for KUMC’s School-Based Mental Health 2023-24 ECHO for 1 year, where she led presentations on addressing challenging behavior and co-regulation strategies. Nicole additionally has experience with the Horatio Alger Association on their Alumni Advisory Committee for 2 years and as a Field Director for scholarship marketing for the State of Kansas for 4 years.
My passion for ending the stigma around mental health began about 8 years ago. I have since been able to create a safe space for adolescents and adults in my job as a school counselor and in my private practice.
Amy Gladman is a Community Educator for The Counseling Center in Lisbon, Ohio. She delivers lessons to students all over her county that are in grades 6th-12th, on behalf of House Bill 123. This bill focuses on Social Isolation, Suicide and Depression Education, and Violence and Safety Prevention. She has a Master’s in Education and enjoys working with students to help continue to improve their self-confidence and provide experiences for growth. Walt Disney World is her favorite place on earth! She loves all things hot pink, leopard, and flavored coffee. She and her husband reside in the same county where she works with their two sons that are 9 and 6. She is excited to become a PCA for Ohio and is eager to continue to learn and grow in the Mental Health field!
Dr. Britnee Harvey has served in the field of public health, health promotion and education for over ten years. She began her career in Pennsylvania where she was recognized as the 2020 Paving the Way to Educational Success Advocate Award for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Educational Stability for Youth in Foster Care. Currently, Dr. Harvey was recently awarded one of the final award recipients for the 2023 Dukes from the Last Decade Award for her professional excellence, commitment to service, and dedication to Duquesne University as an alumni student. She is passionate about creating healthier school and community environments for underserved populations, ensuring that young people are afforded the opportunity to reach their full potential. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, traveling and spending quality time with family.
Johanna Jacobson received her Master’s Degree in School Counseling from St. Xavier University in 2008. She has been a licensed professional school counselor working in Chicago Public Schools for the past 14 years. Currently, Johanna is a school counselor at Skinner North Classical School, where she has spent the last 11 years of her career. She is also serving as a Model Counselor for the Chicago Public Schools for the 2023-24 school year and led the school counseling team at Skinner North in achieving RAMP status in October 2023. Prior to working at Skinner North, Johanna was an elementary school counselor in the Chicago Little Village neighborhood. Johanna is very passionate about mental health education and advocacy.
Allegra Jarvis is a middle school English Language Arts teacher in California. Her personal mental health journey inspired her to help her students become mental health leaders, and Erika’s Lighthouse gave her the tools to succeed in that mission. When she isn’t teaching, she loves reading, yoga, and finding ways to support her community.
Mateus was born and raised in Salvador, the capital of the State of Bahia in the northeast of Brazil. Mateus is the youngest son of four siblings and a proud uncle of a 6-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a graduate certificate in Psychopedagogy, and a master’s degree in Education. Mateus has 5 years of experience working as a school counselor. He has worked with students of all school ages. Now he works in South Korea as an Upper Elementary School Counselor supporting 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students.
Maggie King is a social worker with 9 years of experience working with high school students in a school setting. She has spent her career at Hoffman Estates High School meeting the social emotional and academic needs of students.
Scott Langston is an international educator, psychologist and counsellor with 30 years’ experience in 8 different countries. He works principally with teenagers and their families.
Jaymie is a School Psychologist who has been counseling youth in need for over 10 years. She originally started out as a therapeutic manager in group homes and now works for Knightsen School District in Northern California as a school psychologist. Her passion for helping youth derived after a counselor helped her through a dark time in her teens. Jaymie is a school psychologist and mother, her number one goal is to make a positive impact on youth while working to create a safe space for all students.
My name is Stacie Nessa. I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker. I have over 29 years experience working with children, families, individuals and systems. Through my position in Des Moines Public Schools I serve 68 schools and 5,500 staff and provide consultation to the Department of Human Services, Juvenile Court Services and Adult Probation. On the side, I own a LLC, Stacie Nessa & Friends, which was created to bring Youth Mental Health First Aid and Sidewalk Talks to my community. When I’m not working, I’m hanging with my family; my husband, two kids (8 and 10), and our big (125 pound) dog, Doug.
I have been a teacher for over 20 years working in and out of the public school system with students in 5th through 12th grades. Teaching students that they can and deserve to have good mental health is a passion of mine. I reside in Woodstock, Connecticut with my family. I love traveling, especially to visit my family in England. I love hiking and coaching swimming.