Image_20260207_085948 – Phadia Jean-pierre
[ April 1, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Phadia Jean-Pierre

Speaker Information

Phadia Jean-Pierre is a Haitian-Creole-speaking Trauma Therapist and Ph.D candidate at Adelphi University. She is the founder of SWITCH, LLC, a speaker, certified practitioner of Reiki & Auricular Acupressure breathwork, and a wellness facilitator, inviting you to reconnect with your wholeness through mindful and cultural practices. She is Passionate about empowering you through self-love, personal growth, and reclaiming your voice through somatic and embodied practices. She facilitates training sessions globally and has spoken at notable events like the Caribbean Regional Conference of Psychology, NASW-DE, Project “U” conference, Uplifting Melanin Queens, and the Millennial Social Work conference. Formerly, she co-hosted the Millennial Babes Podcast, promoting self-love and healthy relationships.

22ashley-metoyer – Ashley Metoyer
[ April 1, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Ashley Metoyer, MPA, MSW, LCSW

Speaker Information

Ashley Metoyer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a second-year PhD student at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. She has more than a decade of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating crisis response services in higher education and clinical settings. Ashley was the founding manager of a campus-based tiered crisis response model at UC San Diego that integrated behavioral health, student affairs, and campus safety to reduce reliance on law enforcement during mental health crises.

Her research focuses on developing college-based crisis response models, with particular attention to structural constraints, cross-system collaboration, and the ethical tensions mental health professionals face when working within carceral institutional frameworks. Ashley’s work integrates qualitative inquiry, crisis theory, and structural analysis to examine how higher education systems can move toward decriminalized, equity-centered approaches to crisis intervention.

Dr. Subhash Kumar
[ April 1, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Dr. Subhash Kumar

Speaker Information

Dr. Subhash Kumar, BNYS, MSc, is a distinguished Yoga and Naturopathic Doctor from Bihar, India, deeply committed to advancing holistic health and natural healing. He completed both his Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) and Master of yogic Science (MSc) at the prestigious SVYASA University in Bangalore, India. Over the years, he has expanded his expertise through specialized fellowships and certifications, including a Fellowship in Basic and Advanced Acupuncture from the National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune, and a Fellowship in Clinical Research and Scientific Writing. He has also trained, mastering Tung Acupuncture under Master Lee a course of Malaysia, Traditional Chinese Acupuncture through AcuPro Academy a course of Taiwan, and Bisoma Acupuncture under Dr. David Lee in India. Further enhancing his clinical capabilities, Dr. Kumar holds a Fellowship in Advanced Spinal Techniques (F.A.S.T) and is a certified Dorn Healing Therapist. He is also a certified Laughter Yoga Leader, trained by Dr. Madan Kataria, bringing a joyful, therapeutic element to his wellness sessions.

Dr. Kumar leads transformative healing experiences and educates individuals on holistic living. Known for his integrative approach, Dr. Kumar combines ancient healing wisdom with modern therapeutic techniques, aiming to treat the root causes of illness rather than just symptoms. His compassionate nature, global expertise, and unwavering dedication make him a trusted wellness leader and a source of inspiration for those seeking a natural path to health, balance, and vitality.

I.Ojelade (79 of 332) – Ifetayo Ojelade
[ April 1, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Dr. Ifetayo Ojelade

Speaker Information

Dr. Ifetayo Ojelade is a Licensed Psychologist and the author of Yemọ̀já ’s Sacred Waters: Integrating Healing Ritual into Therapy and Let the Orisa Speak: Traditional Healing for Contemporary Times. She recently completed the chapter, When They Go Low, We Conjure: Rootwork, Magic, and Ancestral Reverence Among the Gullah-Geechee. As an expert on indigenous African healing practices and trauma recovery, Dr. Ojelade has a particular interest in Women leaders of African ancestry in high stress roles. She works as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator globally.

Dr. Ojelade earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. In addition, she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Florida A&M University. Dr. Ojelade was initiated to Osun and Ifa by Agbongbon ‘Kayode (Kah-yo-day) Faniyi (Fa-knee-yee) in Osun State, Nigeria. As an initiated ancestral priest of 20 years, she focuses on effective methods for integrating indigenous African healing practices into psychotherapy and has written scholars articles and a book on the subject.

Dr. Jones Pose – Chartum Finance Division
[ April 1, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Dr. Camille Adams Jones, LCSW-C

Speaker Information

A recognized clinician in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, this author and behavior scientist is a champion of mental health and wellness. With a focus on cultivating socio-emotional well-being in organizations, families, and individuals, Dr. Jones has spent the last two decades working across the globe advocating for wellness. Dr. Camille Jones is a standout corporate cultural transformation advisor who advocates for workplace wellness via Employee Assistance Programming and Organizational Health Services. After two decades in federal practice with the Department of Defense and the Department of Commerce, Dr. Jones returned to a consulting career where she is ” nursing ” teams, organizations, and the workforce back to health as the Managing Partner of Chartum Jones Therapeutic Consulting. Through her work, she has succeeded in her quest to increase organizational health through environmental climate and culture first aid interventions to enhance the workplace experience for all. Her work has created a strong increase in the crafting of work-life balance policy development, resulting in organizational retention and improved employee satisfaction results. Dr. Jones is also a standout trainer and facilitator who donates a portion of her time to training up the pipeline of organizational leaders to help alleviate toxic workplace experiences that can have long-term impacts on everyone involved. Her unique out-of-the-box approach stimulates all the senses in her audiences of adult learners, helping them propel in performance through self-awareness, accountability, and action-centered behavioral enhancement.

In 2020, she launched ClinicianFest — a collaborative platform for mental health and wellness practitioners and allies to come together to bring about transformative change in how we treat and embrace mental health care globally. In 2021, Dr. Jones also added the title of farmer to her credentials, purchasing over 88 acres of farmland to build a wellness retreat with the specific intent of exposing health, understanding, care, and restoration to all. Most recently, Dr. Jones has taken on the title of writer, director, and producer of an animated web series focused on the mental well-being of children of divorce and separation. This is a continuation of her international best-selling book, ‘The Divorced Land of Sam, Sam Has Two of Everything Now.’ Dr. Jones best describes herself as a builder, building bridges of communication, balance, and understanding through her out-of-the-box supportive approach, while also understanding the emotional and psychological backdrop within the field. Together, she uses her unique clinical lens to service clients spanning from the National Football Players Association, Sony Pictures, and Girl Scouts of America to federal agencies, Fortune 500 and 100 companies, and the family next door.

This native New Yorker, wife, and mother of three is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, the University of Maryland at Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Southern California, where she completed her doctoral studies. She holds a host of postgraduate studies and certificates from Harvard and Cornell University. She is an avid traveler and finds peace in collecting passport stamps while enjoying high international culinary adventurous experiences, as she believes the best way to build community is through food and fellowship.

Screenshot
[ April 1, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Stephanie Clarke, LCSW

Speaker Information

Stephanie Clarke, LCSW is a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) student at the University at Buffalo, where she is developing specialized expertise in implementation science to strengthen and scale effective social work practice. She serves as an Adjunct Professor of Social Work, teaching courses in Cultural Humility & Social Work Practice, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Clinical Groups. As a clinical consultant, Stephanie’s firm, Circuit Consulting, partners Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES (PNW BOCES) a regional school consortium that supports school districts across New York to design and implement professional development in MTSS, educational equity, trauma-informed practice, and evidence-based clinical programming.

Her clinical background includes supporting children, adolescents, families, and couples through DBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and strength-based approaches. Across her roles in clinical practice, consulting, research, and higher education, Stephanie brings a systems-level lens to improving organizational culture and advancing equitable, sustainable change.

Her doctoral training in implementation science guides her work in helping organizations adopt, apply, and sustain evidence-based strategies that promote wellness, belonging, and transformative outcomes across the social work field.

headshot blue jacket – Charise Breeden
[ March 31, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Dr. Charise Breeden-Balaam, Ed.D., MSW, LSW

Speaker Information

Dr. Charise Breeden-Balaam, Ed.D., LSW is a licensed social worker, scholar, and higher education leader whose career bridges social work practice, research, and academic administration. She currently serves as a Professor of Practice at Marywood University, where she prepares the next generation of social workers. In addition, she maintains a private practice supporting clients as they navigate life’s challenges, with a focus on trauma, mental wellness, and family support. She is also the Founder and CEO of Balaam and Associates, a consultancy dedicated to guiding doctoral students through dissertation completion with her signature PhinisheD/FinishEdD coaching model.

Her academic work is anchored by her dissertation, “Assessing Student Food Insecurity Levels at an Urban Community College,” which examined how hunger impacts academic performance, retention, and graduation rates. This research continues to inform her advocacy and service through organizations such as the National Association of Black Social Workers, the NASPA Center for Women Board Advisory Board, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, NAUW, and the New Jersey Food Democracy Collaborative’s Policy Workgroup.

A sought-after speaker, Dr. Breeden-Balaam has presented nationally at the Black Doctoral Network, Rutgers University, and the National Council on Black American Affairs on issues ranging from food insecurity and adjunct faculty advocacy to mental health and student success. Guided by her belief that education is a cornerstone of social change, she carries forward the legacy of Dorothy Height’s words: “I want to be remembered as one who tried.”

Ken headshot – Ken Peeples
[ March 31, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Ken Peeples

Speaker Information

Ken Peeples, MSW, MPH, is a scholar-practitioner, educator, and consultant whose work centers on anti-imperialism, health equity, and structural approaches to mental health. He is the founder of Sacred Realm Consulting LLC, co-founder of the Dynamic Justice Collective, and a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation, where his research examines the intersections of institutional power, trauma, and wellbeing among marginalized populations. Ken’s professional experience spans social work education, community-based practice, and policy advocacy, with a focus on political economy, class analysis, and decolonizing social work frameworks. His work challenges depoliticized helping models and advances justice-rooted approaches to global and domestic mental health.

8D10BA13-EB11-4AED-89D8-7619955C0165 – Ashley
[ March 31, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Ashley Buckner

Speaker Information

Ashley Buckner, LCSW, LCSW-QS, LISW-CP, LICSW, LISW-S, LSCSW, LCSW-C, LIMHP, MCAP, ICADC, CEOLD, CSW-G, is a multi-state licensed clinical social worker, clinical supervisor, and founder of Anchor & Rise Therapy. She is recognized for her expertise in trauma-informed care, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, clinical supervision across 30 states, and developing high-impact training, consultation, and integrated behavioral health solutions that elevate clinical practice and workforce well-being.

Jamila Hughley
[ March 25, 2026 by Mikaylie Jonch 0 Comments ]

Dr. Jamila Hughley

Speaker Information

Jamila K. Hughley is a mental health professional with over twenty years of experience in healthcare. Jamila a lifelong learner with a curious mind and a compassionate heart. Jamila earned an MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work and is a recent graduate of Drew University in Medical and Health Humanities. Jamila’s professional journey spans across disciplines from education and healthcare to human development and innovation. Jamila has a deep belief in the power of resilience, learning, and hope, which she connects ideas across domains to empower people. Jamila approaches every challenge through a strength-based lens that honors human dignity and potential with her work is rooted in humanism, fueled by curiosity, and guided by a commitment to inclusive growth. Jamila thrives in spaces where ideas meet impact, and where people are seen, heard, and uplifted.