Executive Director, Our Minds Matter

Email: [email protected]

Lauren Anderson is a graduate of Langley HS in 2005 and UVA in 2009, earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Commerce. She then went on to work as a financial analyst at Brookwood Associates, a middle-market investment banking firm in Atlanta, GA. After two years, she returned home in July 2011 to put her energy into The Josh Anderson Foundation, evolving a Memorial Fund into an active Foundation that provides adolescents with the mental health education, resources and support so that they never turn to suicide.

In June 2020, The Josh Anderson Foundation formally changed its name to Our Minds Matter, the Foundation’s signature program title, to better align its mission and brand in a clear manner. Josh will always be in our hearts as we work diligently to develop and expand the Our Minds Matter organization.

Lauren is a student and teacher of yoga and lives in Washington, D.C. with her two rescue pit bulls, Rori and Spud.

Vice President, CAPTRUST

Email: [email protected]

As a vice president and financial advisor at CAPTRUST, Sue is responsible for providing investment and fiduciary advisory services to retirement plan sponsors. She works with defined contribution, defined benefit, and nonqualified retirement plans, as well as endowments and foundations. She graduated magna cum laude from Boston University with a BA degree in Biology and a minor in Psychology. She is a registered representative with the National Association of Securities Dealers (FINRA), holding her Series 7 & 63 licenses as well as Life and Health Licenses in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. In 2008, she earned her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

Hobbies include working out (she is a group fitness instructor), reading, journaling, and following Boston sports teams. She feels especially blessed to have a strong, close family.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Kristin J. Carothers is a Clinical Psychologist, primarily based in both Atlanta and New York. She is licensed in and provides telehealth services across multiple states.

Formally trained as a Clinical Child Psychologist, Dr. Carothers has expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Behavioral intervention. She earned her B.S. from Howard University and her MA/Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from DePaul University.

Dr. Carothers completed a Pre-doctoral internship at the Columbia University Medical Center and a Post-doctoral fellowship in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at St. John’s University’s Child H.E.L.P partnership. Subsequently, she served as a psychologist in the School-based Mental Health Program at New York Presbyterian Columbia University Medical Center. That set of experiences lead her to the Child Mind Institute where she served as Senior Psychologist in the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center.

Currently, Dr. Carothers is in private practice at Peachtree Integrated Psychology and is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Morehouse School of Medicine. As a clinician, she provides CBT to children, adolescents and adults. She also provides Co-Parenting therapy for families experiencing high conflict.

Dr. Carothers serves as a media consultant and expert contributor for Understood.org as a host of the YouTube Web Series, From Our Family to Yours. She was recently appointed to the Board of the non profit mental health organization, Our Minds Matter.

Associate VP of Education and Outreach, BoardSource

Andy leads the team that is responsible for developing all of BoardSource’s educational resources, including member education content and programming, training programs, publications, and educational programming at the BoardSource Leadership Forum. Andy also oversees BoardSource’s external marketing and outreach efforts. He is a regular speaker and presenter on a wide range of board leadership topics and issues and played a lead role in the development of BoardSource’s Measuring Fundraising Effectiveness Framework.

Andy holds a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management and B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. In his spare time, Andy enjoys traveling, playing golf, and watching UNC basketball and football.

Consultant, Bain and Company

Jonny is a consultant at Bain and Company based in Washington DC, whose work focuses on growth strategy and customer experience. Prior to joining Bain, Jonny was an officer in the US Army, where he developed a passion for mentoring others. As a product of Fairfax County Public Schools, Jonny is eager to give back to students across the DMV. Jonny graduated from Thomas Jefferson HS (’08), William & Mary (’12), and the UVA Darden School of Business (’17). On OMM’s board, Jonny focuses on growth opportunities, corporate funding, and program management.

Principal, The Agency Fund

Aras Jizan is a Principal at the Agency Fund, where he works to ensure all people have the resources they need to envision, navigate toward, and realize a better future. His passion for youth mental health began in 2011, when he lost a good friend to suicide. Since then, he has volunteered with local organizations providing at risk youth with mentorship and support while helping Our Minds Matter think through growth strategy, program design, and measurement/evaluation.

Managing Director, Alex. Brown

Introducing large 500 companies and Ultra High Net Worth individual to Raymond James capabilities across all spectrums from all forms of lending to Private Wealth Management. Originally from New York, Todd earned his BBA from George Washington University. He and his wife, Michelle, now split time between Great Falls and East Hampton. They have three children, Samantha, Rebecca and Jack.

Clinical Psychologist

Jen (or Dr. Leyton-Armakan) is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Falls Church, VA. She provides individual and family psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults, in both English and Spanish. She is also a part-time clinician at API Associates, a Washington D.C.-based mental health agency, servicing youth at risk for foster care placement or juvenile justice involvement. Jen believes strongly in mental health education and outreach, and has worked closely with community-based prevention initiatives; including programs focused on youth mentoring (Young Women Leaders Program) and cross-cultural dialogue (Sustained Dialogue Campus Network). She is a certified LifeForce Yoga Practitioner and pursues ongoing training in mind-body approaches. Jen also serves as the Mental Health Practitioner Liaison and a board member of the Safe Community Coalition in McLean, Virginia.

Jen is tied to the organization, through personal connection and professional objectives. She grew up with the Anderson family: attended elementary and middle school with Tyler; worked closely with Gillian on a mentoring project for at-risk youth in Charlottesville, VA; and has been dear friends with Lauren since high school. Jen attended Northwestern University, majoring in Human Development & Psychological Services. She earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia; where her clinical training and research focused on promoting mental health of adolescents and families. Josh’s life and the work of OMM have continued to influence Jen’s perspective as a psychologist.

Business Development Officer, Truist Bank

Trey Olcott is a Business Development Officer within the Foundations and Endowments Specialty Practice at Truist Bank. Truist’s Foundations and Endowments Specialty Practice delivers comprehensive investment advisory, administration, planned giving, custody, trust and fiduciary services to nonprofit organizations. The firm administers assets for foundations, hospitals, educational institutions, cultural organizations, human service agencies, associations, municipalities and other nonprofits.

As a Business Development Officer, Trey provides nonprofit organizations in-depth consulting regarding their investment and administrative needs. He leads the initial engagement and works with the team to develop tailored solutions designed to support nonprofits meet their fiduciary duty as well as preserve and grow their assets. He also serves as a regional leader in developing and maintaining a strong business presence in the Greater Washington Region.

Trey offers clients more than 10 years of investment experience. He graduated from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Finance.   He obtained the title Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA^®) from the Investments & Wealth Institute™ accreditation program at the Wharton School of Business.

Former School Psychologist, FCPS

Diane brings 25 years of public education experience to Our Minds Matter. She started her career in a private day-treatment center as a teacher/counselor for students with social-emotional challenges. She then transitioned to the public education setting, where she taught students with a variety of unique learning, emotional, and behavioral needs. After 10 years in the classroom she became a School Psychologist, serving a variety of communities in Ohio and Colorado before moving to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Since arriving to Northern Virginia in 2012, she has been committed to a variety of mental health initiatives, including Our Minds Matter. She is a certified trainer for teen and Youth Mental Health First Aid, and lead instructor for tMHFA in FCPS. She is was Crisis Team Leader and co-sponsor for Chantilly High School’s Our Minds Matter Club. She has also taught psychology courses at the collegiate level.
Diane is passionate about wellness and supporting youth as they navigate the many challenges of adolescents. Moreover, she is committed to empowering young people by giving them the tools they need so they never turn to suicide. Diane practices wellness by being an outdoor enthusiast and writer. She believes humor has healing power and does Improv and Stand Up Comedy when time allows. She currently lives in Manassas, VA with her wife and two dogs, Camp and Kona.

Managing Director, BlackRock

Nicole leads legal coverage of the U.S. institutional businesses and she advises the firm with respect to fiduciary issues in connection with BlackRock’s asset management business. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2013, Nicole worked at the law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy. Nicole received a B.S. from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia in 204, and a J.D. and LLM from New York University School of Law in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Both personally and professionally, Nicole has experienced and witnessed the profound impact of mental health on all aspects of life.  As a Fairfax County Public Schools former student and now parent (x3), she believes that mental health initiatives in schools can help prepare our kids to healthfully navigate the complexities they face.

Global Real Estate Advisor, TTR Sotheby's International Realty

Dudley Ward, originally hailing from the United Kingdom, brings a global cultural perspective and a wealth of experience to the world of residential real estate. Having relocated to the United States at the age of sixteen, Dudley seamlessly transitioned into American life and embarked on a remarkable journey that has shaped his career as a trusted real estate advisor.

Before launching his real estate career, Dudley served his country as a U.S. Marine, embodying the values of discipline, integrity, and unwavering dedication. His time in the military instilled in him a strong work ethic and a commitment to going above and beyond to serve his clients.

Following his honorable service as a Marine, Dudley further honed his skills and commitment to public service as a U.S. Secret Service Agent. His experience in protecting national leaders and upholding security standards has equipped him with exceptional attention to detail and an ability to handle high-pressure situations with grace and professionalism.
Dudley’s journey into the world of real estate, in Washington DC, was a natural progression, driven by his genuine passion for helping others and his desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Leveraging his diverse background and unique skill set, Dudley approaches the
real estate industry with a blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and a client-centric focus.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dudley is a proud advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Having faced personal challenges himself, he is passionate about removing the stigma surrounding mental health and ensuring that individuals receive the support they need.

Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer, Share Our Strength

Serena Williams serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Share Our Strength, overseeing all of the talent management functions for the organization including leading the Human Resources and Operations teams, staff engagement and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work.

Prior to joining Share Our Strength in 2011, Serena served as Associate Director, Human Resources for the Human Rights Campaign where she led the creation of the organization’s first full-cycle recruitment and onboarding process and managed several talent functions during her six years with the organization.

Serena has 17 years of Human Resources generalist experience in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She is a member of multiple organizations, including: The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM); World at Work; and the Human Resources Association of the National Capitol Area (HRA-NCA). She also holds senior certification designations from SHRM (SHRM-SCP) and the Human Resources Certification Institute (SPHR). Serena also serves as Adjunct Professor at Prince George’s Community College’s School for Workforce Development & Continuing Education.

Serena earned a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Catholic University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Women’s Studies from Georgetown University.

Serena is a native of the Bronx, New York and her community engagements include work with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated. She resides in Washington, DC with her husband and two sons.