Board
Board of Directors
Katherine Chon, President
Katherine Chon serves as the Interim CEO of Inspire USA Foundation. She is past President and co-founder of Polaris Project, a global non-profit organization combating modern-day slavery where she worked directly with survivors of human trafficking, established comprehensive victim service programs, and steered a partnership with federal and local law enforcement to create a community-wide victim response system. She currently is a Senior Advisor at the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She advises on anti-trafficking strategies, policies, training, and evaluation across multiple programs at the Department and coordinates anti-trafficking initiatives with other Federal partners. Katherine received her Sc.B. in Psychology from Brown University, M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School, and completed the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Lance Descourouez, Treasurer
Lance J. Descourouez is an internationally recognized business consultant and executive coach as well as the founder of Lance Consulting (CEO coaching) and LCI Global Communications (a cross-cultural training firm). He has lived and worked in 34 countries across 3 continents. Prior to starting his own practice, Lance Descourouez served as a company president; director of international business development and senior consultant in the areas of global organizational development and executive leadership. In addition, Mr. Descourouez is a published author, adjunct professor, and celebrated speaker. His education includes an MS in Organization Development and an MA in Cross-Cultural Psychology.
Jack Heath, Secretary
Jack Heath is the Founder of the Inspire USA Foundation. From 1997 to 2009 Jack was the Executive Director and Founder of the Sydney-based Inspire (Australia) Foundation which was established following on from the suicide of Jack’s 21-year-old cousin on the family farm. Jack continues to serve as a director of the Inspire (Australia) Foundation and is a Director of the Inspire Ireland Foundation and CEO of Inspire.org (which coordinates Inspire’s international activities), both of which were established in 2008. Jack is a Law and Honors Arts graduate from the University of Melbourne and has undertaken Nonprofit Executive courses at both Harvard (2001) and Stanford (2006) Universities. Prior to founding Inspire, Jack worked in Government service including as a diplomat in Thailand where he was the catalyst for the Australian Government’s decision to build the Friendship Bridge linking Thailand and Laos by land for the first time. He was a member of the first Western delegation to meet with Cambodian President Hun Sen in 1989 while working closely with the Personal Advisers to Thai Prime Minister Chatichai. Jack served as the speechwriter to the Australian Trade and Foreign Affairs Ministers in 1993 and was a Senior Advisor and Speechwriter to Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1994. He was a Torchbearer for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and a national organizer for the Dalai Lama’s 2002 Australian tour. In 2003, Jack was awarded a Centenary Medal for services to the community and he received the Equity Trustees National Non Profit CEO Award for Innovation in 2004. In 2005 he was a NSW Finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards and in 2007 was the Ernst & Young Australian Social Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2009 he was a TED Global Ambassador for the Charter for Compassion.
Annalisa Jenkins, M.D., Director
Annalisa Jenkins, a cardiologist, has had a distinguished medical career in the British Royal Navy, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Over the last 10 years, she rapidly advanced to a senior executive position in a leading global pharmaceutical company, where she specializes in global drug development and global organizational leadership. More recently, Dr. Jenkins has applied her extensive experience in the corporate setting to building opportunities for young people and women through her leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. Dr. Jenkins is on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Suicidology, the Corporate Circle of the National Council for Research on Women, and was recently elected to the New York Women’s Forum.
Kirsten Oates, Chair
Kirsten Oates grew up in Australia and graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor in Economics and a Bachelor of Laws with Honors. Kirsten spent six years working for Bain and Company in Australia and one year working for Bain’s non-profit organization The Bridgespan Group in San Francisco where she developed a passion for bringing structure to the non-profit sector and helping organizations effectively achieve their mission. Since leaving Bain, Kirsten has worked with Inspire USA Foundation and City Church San Francisco in the areas of strategic planning and financial management.
Advisory Board Members
Lanny Berman, Ph.D.
Lanny Berman has served as Executive Director of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) since 1995 and is currently the President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention. Prior to that, he was Director of the National Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide at the Washington School of Psychiatry (1991-1995) and was a tenured full-professor of Psychology at American University (1969-1991). Lanny has published 7 books, the latest being the 2nd edition of Adolescent Suicide: Assessment and Intervention, and more than 100 peer-reviewed articles published in Suicidology and Suicide Prevention. He is the recipient of both AAS’s Shneidman and Dublin Awards for outstanding research contributions to Suicidology and to suicide prevention and a past-president (1984-1985) of AAS. Board certified as an ABPP diplomate in clinical psychology, he is an elected Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the International Academy of Suicide Research.
John Foong
John Foong joined Google in 2006 and has worked in AdWords marketing and intelligence, Search Quality Management and Operations and, since 2009, as the Small and Medium Business Sales Manager for Google Apps for Europe. Here he has grown a multi-channel, multi-segment sales team to market and sell Google’s flagship enterprise product – a fast-growing start up within Google. John’s expertise lies in understanding business models and disruptive technologies, and forming high-performing teams to meet opportunities as fast as possible. He has a love for doing this in multiple arenas, being also a founding board member in the Inspire Ireland Foundation (www.reachout.ie <http://www.reachout.ie/> ) and a leader in the Rathmines Community Project (part of the Church of Ireland Harold’s Cross Parish).
Previously, John worked for the United States Agency for International Development in Mozambique as a Poultry Project Manager and as a Consultant at McKinsey and Company in Sydney. Originally from Australia, John began his career in Information Technology, Project Management and Accountancy. John holds a First Class Honours degree in Information Systems and Management from the University of New South Wales (Australia) and a Masters of Arts (Education Reform) and an MBA from Stanford University (USA), where he was Student President of the MBA Class of 2007.
Madelyn Gould, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Madelyn Gould, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a Professor in Psychiatry and Epidemiology at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons; a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute; and Deputy Director of Research Training Program in Child Psychiatry, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Dr. Gould’s longstanding research interests include the epidemiology of youth suicide, as well as the evaluation of youth suicide prevention interventions. Dr. Gould has received numerous federally funded grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIMH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for studies examining risk factors for teenage suicide; various aspects of cluster suicides; the impact of the media on suicide; the effect of a peer’s suicide on fellow students; suicide crisis intervention programs in schools; the effect of youth suicide screening programs, and the utility of telephone crisis services. In addition, she received a W.T. Grant Faculty Scholar’s Award to examine psychosocial risk factors for teenage suicide; and a Distinguished Investigator Award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to investigate the role of the media in the initiation of suicide clusters.
Her participation in numerous state and national government commissions includes the 1978 President’s Commission on Mental Health and the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ Task Force on Youth Suicide in 1989. In addition, she authored the chapter on youth suicide prevention for the Surgeon General’s 1999 National Suicide Prevention Strategy, and served as a leadership consultant for the Surgeon General’s Leadership Working Group for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Dr. Gould was a founding member of the New York State Suicide Prevention Council and has been actively engaged in the development of the suicide prevention plan for New York State. She contributed to the Center for Disease Control’s community response plan for suicide clusters (1988) and recommendations to optimize media reporting of suicide (1994), and was a member of an international workgroup, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Annenberg Public Policy Center, which updated these media recommendations in 2001.
The recipient of the Shneidman Award for Research from the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) in 1991, the New York State Office of Mental Health Research (NYSOMH) Award in 2002, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Research Award in 2006, Dr. Gould has a strong commitment to applying her research to program and policy development.
Jordan Levin
Jordan Levin, the former CEO of The WB Network, has been instrumental in launching many high-impact entertainment franchises throughout two decades as a network and studio executive, producer, director and new media entrepreneur. Levin put his deep understanding of the millennial audience to work in 2005 when he partnered with other leading media executives from television, film, digital, advertising, production and talent management to launch Generate. The full-service, integrated multi-platform studio and management firm they created marries the best of old Hollywood with the new digital age, with three primary divisions creating customized branded content across traditional and digital platforms; fiction and factual entertainment through a variety of outlets; and a prolific and growing in-house talent management firm.
Generate has enabled Levin to leverage his diverse wealth of knowledge, from his work in television and film to consulting for digital companies. He joined The WB as part of its founding executive team, and spent a decade launching, building and branding America’s most successful broadcast network targeting younger audiences. He rose through the ranks to become president of entertainment by age 33 and, later, became the youngest CEO in broadcast television history. Levin was key in establishing The WB’s youthful brand identity through hit shows including “Dawson’s Creek,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “7th Heaven,” “Charmed,” “Felicity,” “Smallville,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Angel,” “Popular,” “Reba,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “The Wayans Bros.,” “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch,” “Sister, Sister,” “Smart Guy,” “The Steve Harvey Show,” “Blue-Collar TV,” “Popstars,” “The Surreal Life,” “High School Reunion,” “Everwood” and “One Tree Hill.”
During Levin’s tenure, The WB partnered with every major Hollywood studio and propelled more shows into syndication than any other network. His media buying relationships generated groundbreaking deals with blue-chip advertisers and created innovative, brand-integrated programs and new programming alliances, including “Gilmore Girls,” the biggest success story from the ANA’s Family Friendly Forum’s script development fund.
Levin also created The WB’s original movie division, whose inaugural effort, “Samantha: An American Girl Holiday,” was based upon characters from Mattel’s popular “American Girl” historical doll collection. He also oversaw Kids’ WB!, the top-rated Saturday morning children’s network among 6- to 11-year-old boys and tweens, fueled by hits like “Pokémon,” “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” “Jackie Chan Adventures,” “What’s New Scooby-Doo?” and “The Batman.”
Prior to The WB, Levin was part of the creative team that revitalized the Disney brand in network television through family and young adult programming like “Home Improvement,” “Boy Meets World,” “Blossom” and “Ellen.” He also helped found the Walt Disney Writers Fellowship Program for under-represented writers. A member of the Directors Guild of America, Levin made his directorial debut on an episode of the award-winning dramatic series “Everwood” in 2004. In addition, he authored a chapter in “Media Industries: History, Theory, and Method” (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009).
Levin has been recognized throughout the industry for championing responsible and meaningful entertainment. He was named 2004 Television Executive of the Year by The Caucus For Television Producers, Writers and Directors and honored by the Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Girls Inc. The Hollywood Reporter featured him on the cover of its 2003 “Leadership in Hollywood” issue, and he has appeared regularly on the “power lists” of various publications.
Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D.
Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D., a founder of Cognitive Behavioral Modification, was voted one of the 10 most influential psychotherapists of the century by North American clinicians in a survey reported in the American Psychologist. Dr. Meichenbaum is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and maintains a private practice as a clinical psychologist. Dr. Meichenbaum has also received the 2008 Career Achievement Award by the American Psychological Association , with recognition for his seminal work in the training of clinical psychologists to deal with crises and emergencies.
Dr. Meichenbaum is the author and co-author of numerous books including: A Clinical Handbook/Practical Therapist Manual for Assessing and Treating Adults with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Stress Inoculation Training, Pain and Behavioral Medicine, and Facilitating Treatment Adherence . His book, Cognitive Behavior Modification: An Integrative Approach, is considered a classic in its field. He also serves as the editor of the Plenum Press Series on Stress and Coping. Dr. Meichenbaum is also Research Director and a Founder of the Melissa Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to the study and prevention of violence.
Elizabeth Ozer, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Ozer is Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and Co-Director of Fellows’ Research Training in Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Ozer is a psychologist whose research experience has focused primarily on the health of adolescents and families. She has served as either Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator of several U.S. federally funded grants to conduct large intervention studies on implementing and evaluating adolescent preventive services. She has also collaborated on research to integrate models of primary care screening in general practice in Australia, and held a visiting professorship at the University of Melbourne. She has augmented her clinical services research on teen risky behavior with a focus on adolescent mental health, publishing two recent papers on rates of screening for depression in primary care. Dr. Ozer earned her M.A. and Ph.D. at Stanford University, completed a Clinical Psychology Internship in the Dept. of Child Psychiatry at Stanford, and an NIMH post-doctoral fellowship in Health Psychology with a traineeship in Adolescent Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dan Reidenberg, Psy.D.
Dr. Dan Reidenberg is Executive Director of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education), a national nonprofit agency working to prevent suicide and help suicide survivors and people suffering from brain illnesses. SAVE operates a national multi-media campaign, provides professional and community education and training programs, and develops resources and support for survivors of suicide and others in crisis. Dr. Reidenberg also serves as Managing Director of the National Council for Suicide Prevention and on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s Steering Committee. He has a degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota (1988) and a Psy.D. from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology (1994).
Dr. Reidenberg has worked at Crisis Connection in Minneapolis, at the Bill Kelly House (a dual psychiatric/substance abuse program for adults), on in-patient psychiatry adult and adolescent units, and in private practice. He was Director of Family & Children’s Service in Minneapolis, where he oversaw 10 mental health and community-based programs. He has done extensive work with adolescents and adults who have SMI, chemical dependence, and diverse personality disorders. He is a consultant to psychologists, attorneys, and businesses on healthcare and legal matters and has testified in over 200 forensic cases.
Doug Solomon, Ph.D.
Doug Solomon leads technology strategy efforts at IDEO, working with clients to leverage technologies that create both business and social value. With more than 25 years of leadership experience in the information technology industry, Doug has a particular interest and experience in collaborative technologies that enable greater community engagement and participation. Prior to IDEO, Doug was Vice President of Investments at Omidyar Network, helping pioneer a new approach to socially impactful investing. He was also Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Chief Strategy Officer at both Apple and Palm, in addition to holding leadership roles at Interval Research and several technology startups. Doug began his career by applying marketing and other business concepts to public health programs in Asia, where he learned the importance of cultural awareness and community involvement in achieving meaningful social change. Doug is a volunteer chaplain at Stanford Hospital. Doug earned a masters degree from the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii and a Ph.D. in Communication Research from Stanford University.
John Vaughn, M.D.
John Vaughn is a family medicine physician with Student Health Services at Ohio State University. Dr. Vaughn also serves as the Sr. Editor for Health Care Multi-media Communications with Student Health Services where among other things he writes BuckMD, an online Q&A focused general health, nutrition, dental, optometry, or wellness related topics.
