Daniel is a Professor of Health Policy of Management in Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles. Previously he was a faculty member at University of Michigan from 2004-2020. His training is in economics (BA and PhD, Stanford University) and mental health services research (NIMH postdoc, UC Berkeley). His broad research goal is to improve understanding of how to invest effectively in mental health of young people. He is a Principal Investigator for the Healthy Minds Network (HMN) for Research on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health. This research network administers the Healthy Minds Study, a national survey study of student mental health and related factors, and facilitates the development, testing, and dissemination of innovative programs and interventions for student mental health. He is currently writing a book about investments in children’s mental health, in collaboration with Ramesh Raghavan.
Justin Heinze, PhD
Principal Investigator, Healthy Minds Network
Director, National Center for School Safety
Justin is an educational psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He is the director for the National Center for School Safety. His research investigates how schools influence disparities in violence and other risk outcomes from an ecological perspective that includes individual, interpersonal, and contextual influences on development. He is particularly interested in structural features of school context and policy that perpetuate inequity in violence and firearm outcomes, but also who these institutions can serve as a setting for intervention.
Sarah Ketchen Lipson, PhD, EdM
Principal Investigator, Healthy Minds Network
Sarah is a Principal Investigator of the Healthy Minds Network for Research on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Law Policy and Management at the Boston University-School of Public Health, where she teaches a range of graduate-level courses. Sarah completed a dual-PhD at University of Michigan in Health Services Organization and policy at the School of Public Health and Higher Education at the School of Education. She received her bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, her master’s from Harvard University, and was a Fulbright scholar.
Sasha Zhou, PhD, MHSA
Principal Investigator, Healthy Minds Study
Sasha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health at Wayne State University. She received her Ph.D. in Health Services Organization and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where she was a Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health (CRECH) Scholar. Her research uses mixed methods to understand and address the mental health needs of emerging adults and college student populations with particular focus on students of color, international students, and sexual and gender minorities.
Mac Murphy, BSSW
Student Associate Study Coordinator
Mac Murphy has her BS in Social Work and is currently pursuing her MPH/MSW at the University of Michigan. Her interests are in Sexual Assault and IPV prevention, as well as substance use rehabilitation and prevention. Being from Tennessee she has a vested interest in the health and well-being of the Appalachian region, and hopes to work with survivors of IPV creating trauma-informed programs to help them battle substance use. She loves being outside, reading, and playing with her dog, Shelly.
Juliana Fucinari, MPH
Study Coordinator
Juliana is a two-time graduate of the University of Michigan, where she majored in Women’s Studies as an undergraduate, and received her Master’s in Public Health in Epidemiology. She spent her college years working in research, as well as volunteering for the University’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC). She has been passionate about student mental health since her own time as an undergraduate and graduate student, and is particularly interested in the mental health of LGBTQ+ students. In her free time, Juliana enjoys crocheting, rock climbing, and spending time with her wife and their three pets.
Brenda Vyletel, MSE
Study Coordinator
Brenda has a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan. She started her career as a research scientist, first at Ford Motor Company and then at the University of Michigan. Later, she transitioned to project management. During the first two years of COVID, she became passionate about supporting the mental health of family members, especially college-aged students. Away from the job, she enjoys jogging, yoga, gardening, reading, DIY projects, spending time with her kids and church community, and investing time in multiple organizations focused on mental health.
Haley Henry, BA
Study Coordinator
Haley is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she majored in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with minors in Environment and Law, Justice, and Social Change. She has been passionate about public health since high school, but became even more interested after studying public health abroad in South Africa during her freshman year. Haley eventually hopes to pursue her Master’s in Public Health with an emphasis on health policy. She is also interested in disparitiese in access to mental health. In her free time, she enjoyings trying new restaurants in Ann Arbor, traveling, and knitting.
Maryam Haltam
Research Assistant
Maryam is an undergraduate student in the LSA Honors Program at the University of Michigan pursuing a degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Her passion for mental health research stems from her experience as a middle and high school student in Finland, which faces a severe mental health crisis despite its reputation as one of the happiest countries in the world. She is excited to work with HMN to study and promote wellness among vulnerable communities in the United States and beyond. In her free time she enjoys writing penpal letters, reading, and hiking.
Julia Bell, MPH
Study Coordinator
Julia Bell received both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in public health from Wayne State University. She previously worked as a research assistant at the University of Michigan, studying student mental health. Her primary interest is the intersection between public health and the criminal legal system, specifically like decriminalization of public health issues and the impact of criminal legal system contact on the mental health of marginalized individuals and communities. She is originally from Michigan, but currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her fiancée and puppy, Ivy. In her free time she enjoys hiking, going to the farmers market, trying new coffee shops, and playing board games.
Sara Abelson, PhD, MPH
Co-Investigator Lead for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Projects
Sara has worked in higher education for more than a decade to improve mental health outcomes at colleges and universities across the US. Sara was formerly the Vice President for Student Health & Wellness at the national nonprofit, Active Minds. She completed her BA at Cornell University and her MPH and PhD at University of Michigan. She currently works at The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. Sara’s research addresses student mental health broadly, with a particular focus on marginalized student populations. Through her research, work with Healthy Minds, and diverse collaborations nationally, Sara is helping colleges identify how they may intervene to improve mental health and mental health equity through changing policies, structures, and practices.
Jasmine Morigney, MS
Alum, External Collaborator
Jasmine graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. She is a Doctoral Fellow in Clinical Psychology at Eastern Michigan University. Currently, she is studying how stereotypes influence group interactions among racial minorities, women, and athletes. She hopes to one day produce research that inspires systemic change within athletic organizations to improve mental health outcomes among athlete populations.
Akilah Patterson, MPH, MCHES
Alum External Collaborator
Akilah is a graduate of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. Prior to pursuing her graduate studies, Akilah worked extensively in various student affairs roles guided by her passion for improving the health and well-being of college students. Her previous experiences working in studetn affairs led to her passion for contributing to public health research to better understand and address the health concerns that impact college students across the United States. Akilah also received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Bachelor of Science in Health Education from the University of Cincinnati.