Beth Herman is an Educational Consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Instruction and is a member of the Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team. She is currently supporting state-wide implementation of Youth Mental Health First Aid, the School-based Mental Health Services Grant and Social and Emotional Learning at the department. Beth served as the state Coordinator of the Safe Schools Healthy Students grant from 2013-2017. As a school psychologist for over 20 years, she provided training and implementation support for teachers in classroom management, bullying prevention, and social and emotional learning.
Christina Irene is a diversity and empowerment author and speaker who teaches invisible disabilities awareness for corporations, colleges, and community groups. Previously, she was a high school English and theatre teacher, with a background in show business. Her travels have taken her to all 50 states and 20 countries, contributing to her passion to empower everyone to not only be ourselves, but to be the best versions of ourselves – independent, inspired, and making remarkable contributions to our communities and the world.
Jake King is the Program and Outreach Coordinator for NAMI Dane County. He is responsible for coordinating the educational and support programming for the affiliate that are provided for individuals impacted by mental health issues."
Anna Moffit is the Executive Director of NAMI Dane County, the founding chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Prior to her work at NAMI Dane County, Anna served on the Madison Metropolitan School District's Board of Education and always worked as a Parent Peer Specialist at Wisconsin Family Ties.
Monica Murphy is an attorney with over thirty years of experience representing people in civil rights, employment, and discrimination matters. As an attorney with Disability Rights Wisconsin she represents people with disabilities in a variety of civil rights matters including special education, employment, housing, and transportation. She advocates for the rights and needs of people with disabilities both individually and with systems and public policy makers. She has spoken frequently on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition, she has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, teaching special education law and theory.
Jessica Nichols CESA 5
Sarah Reed, PhD, is a Community Psychologist by training and the current Program and Evaluation Manager for Rogers InHealth, the education and advocacy department of Rogers Behavioral Health .Through InHealth, she works through partnerships to reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges, trauma, and substance use. She is also the staff to the Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination (WISE), a state-wide coalition focused on building inclusion, support and hope for individuals and families living with mental health challenges.
Al Schultz, Self-Advocate - I live in Waukesha. I am 21 years old. I love to bike around, play card games, and practice archery. I have a high-anxiety disorder, but do my best not to let that stop me from doing anything in life. I never really liked school, but it helped me get where I am. I am an employee at The Waukesha Food Pantry and Buffalo Wild Wings. I like my work, have made many friends, and feel wanted. And I get to make other people happy at work by showing them that someone cares about them, no matter what.
Eva Shaw is an Education Consultant on the Special Education Team at the WI Department of Public Instruction. She has been working in the field of special education for over 25 years, in various roles and several states. Eva has served as a special education teacher, diagnostician and program support teacher, PBIS External Coach, NVCI instructor, and Special Education Supervisor. She has a strong passion for supporting students with social emotional needs and behavioral challenges, and with creating positive and proactive behavior interventions, the use of evidence-based practices, and functional behavioral assessments.
Dr. Amy C. Stevens is Professor of Special Education and Department Chair at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Before teaching at university, she educated students with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, and emotional and behavioral disorders and was an educational diagnostician. She teaches courses on learning disabilities and reading interventions and is trained as an Orton-Gillingham Reading Interventionist. She is the recipient of the 2019 COEPS Outstanding Service Award, 2018 SSEPC Nasim Dil Service Award, 2014 Inaugural John Rufus Williams Educational Trust Distinguished Lecturer, 2012 Audrey Z. McClellan Endowed Teacher of Distinction, and 2011 COEPS Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisor. Dr. Stevens has more than 20 publications to her name and many more refereed presentations on topics related to reading interventions, educational reform, and special education.
Jeremiah Swisher is a very motivated young man with high-functioning Autism. He has a passion for learning and earned Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, General Management and Political Science at UW-Whitewater, followed by a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a certificate in Health Care Management from UW-Oshkosh. He is equally passionate about advocating for himself and others. He is a frequent presenter at conferences and has been asked to share his story with many diverse audiences of youth, families and professionals. He successfully completed two internships with national disability organizations which focus on improving independent living and employment outcomes, respectively, for people with disabilities. Jeremiah has worked for the last five years at the US Department of Veterans Affairs- Veterans Benefits Administration offices in Milwaukee. He has held several positions there and currently serves as a Financial Administrative Specialist.
Britt Van Asbach graduated in May 2020 with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee. As an individual with a learning and physical disability, Britt is a passionate advocate for youths with special needs and has turned that passion into activism in her local community. She serves as a member on the Wauwatosa Committee for Citizens with Disabilities and the WI Youth Leadership Forum Board of Directors Committee. She is an experienced presenter at self-advocacy workshops. Britt currently works part time at Total Spectrum Care, assisting low-income individuals, homeless families, and clients with various mental health issues and drug addiction issues. Her past and present professional experiences continue to aid her in conceptualizing and understanding the complex nature of trauma, addictions, and other co-occurring mental health disorders that often result in children and adults. Britt’s graduate coursework and training has fueled her interest specifically in grief, trauma, and bereavement as well as play therapy. She volunteered and worked in the past as a small group facilitator, family service coordinator, and a grief respite camp volunteer for grief and trauma-stricken children, teens, and families.
Nicki Vander Meulen is a Juvenile attorney with a passion for special education law. When Nicki was elected to the Madison Metropolitan School District Board (MMSD) in 2017, she became the first autistic school board member in the United States. On the board she has fought to make MMSD more inclusive, reduce seclusion and restraint, and improve outcomes for all marginalized students. She is also the first school board member to visit every school in the district during her first term in office. Nicki experienced a lot of exclusion in school and learned from a very young age she would need to work harder than most to achieve her goals. With the help of her supportive parents she became and remains a dogged self-advocate. She has made it her mission in life to fight tirelessly for those who cannot fight for themselves. She is currently running for State Assembly in District 76.