Alejandra Posada has over 20 years of experience in education, social services, and behavioral health/public health. Most recently, she spent 13 years at Mental Health America of Greater Houston where she held a number of roles, including Chief Program Officer and Chief Operations Officer. After taking some time off for personal reasons, she is now looking for her next professional adventure! Alejandra has served as secretary of the board for St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Houston, treasurer of the board for the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, and currently as a board member at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church. Alejandra has a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history from Rice University and a Master of Education degree from Loyola University Maryland. Due to experiences in both her professional and personal life, Alejandra is passionate about increasing access to high quality behavioral healthcare.

Bryan Long brings over two decades of financial expertise to his role as Chief Financial Officer. His career spans a variety of industries, including publishing and home services. Long's educational background includes a degree in accounting and an MBA from Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University). Beyond his professional life, he is committed to community involvement and has served on numerous non-profit boards. His passion for HASPC stems from a deep desire to ensure that everyone understands the available resources and knows they are supported.

Jillian Marullo is an attorney specializing in environmental law and litigation with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. A proud Galveston County native, Jillian has called Houston home for 15 years. Her professional work focuses on complex environmental liability cases, but her commitment to service extends far beyond the courtroom.

Jillian is deeply involved in her community, serving on several committees and boards. In addition to being a board member of HASPC, she is co-chair of the Houston Young Lawyers Association’s Pro Bono & Service Committee, and serves on the board or committees of the Houston Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section, Energy Law Section, Gender Fairness Committee, and Campaign to End Homelessness & Hunger Committee. She is also a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, the Houston Bar Foundation, and the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation.

Karlton Harris, is the Executive Director of the Forgotten Third.  He is a community leader and speaker with more than 20  years of experience in designing and implementing programs for justice involved youth.   He is an ex-offender who changed his life while incarcerated.  He is an advocate for mental health, connection and support to help reduce firearm violence.

Karlton is also a member of our strategic planning action team. 

Dina Kuykendall is professional environmental expert and proven leader with strong collaboration skills. Her areas of expertise include performance improvement strategies, HSE Management Systems, Auditing, HSE Due Diligence, Remediation, Superfund matters and environmental compliance support. She is an effective in negotiating with external parties based upon extensive experience and a long history of building effective working relationships with regulators and other key stakeholders. I bring practical yet innovative approaches to resolving a wide variety of problems, based on my diverse HSE and sustainability background in addition to technical and operations experience.

Dina is a member of our newly formed postvention work group.

Dr. Dionne Hill completed her Bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant Michigan and her Master's degree in Community Counseling from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Dr. Hill received her Doctorate in Counselor Education from Texas Southern University in 2006. She taught in middle schools, Drug and Alcohol Prevention for The Council on Recovery and has been an employee at The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD since 2004.  During her 20 years with the largest mental health authority in Texas, she has managed mental health clinics where over 2000 adults with severe mental health diagnosis come for services.   Dr. Hill has been an Adjunct Professor for Mental Health Counseling programs over the years with colleges such as St. Edward's University, Lone Star College, Springfield College, Walden University and Argosy University.  She received recognition for:

• "Top 30 Influential Women of Houston" 2024
• "Excellence in Education Award" 2019 from Texas Southern University. 

She is on the Advisory Council for community organizations such as; The Landing Human Trafficking Drop-In Center and Texas Transgender Non-Discrimination Summit. She is a proud member of a Public Service Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Hill is married to Retired Army Colonel Cedric Hill. 

Dr. Trina Clayeux serves as the CEO of Give an Hour and brings a wealth of experience at the intersections of education, employment, and mental health.  Her prior roles include Chief Operations Officer for community-based education and affordable housing organizations, Director of a national emergency military base closure event, and executive officer for a national corporate network supporting military spouse employment.  

She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies and a Master of Public Administration, and she has received accolades for her forward-thinking approaches and leadership excellence.  A passionate advocate for the military and veteran communities, she draws on her personal experience as a military and veteran spouse to foster meaningful change.

Travis Magliolo, is an Edward Jones financial advisor. He focuses on making personal relationships and connections with those clients he advises.  In 2024, he was elected as the Mayor of the City of Dickinson.   Following his extensive military experience, he grew passion for work in suicide prevention especially in the military community

Janelle Robinette-Long, MS, LPC-S is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor serving in a Clinical Team Leader role in the Crisis Division at The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD. Janelle graduated with her Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University and went on to get her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from The University of Texas @ Tyler. She has worked in the field for over 10 years with an emphasis on trauma informed care and trauma systems therapy. Janelle is particularly passionate about working with Veterans and First Responders. Janelle is certified to train on a variety of topics, including Trauma Informed Care, Human Trafficking, AS+K about Suicide to Save a Life, Safety Planning Intervention, and Counseling on Access to Lethal Means.  

Janelle is a wife and doting mother of two beautiful little girls. Janelle enjoys seeing the world through the eyes of her kiddos and hopes to help others experience the simple joys that life has to offer.

My Why: I first became involved in suicide prevention through my work with service members, veterans, and families, and I fell in love with the people working in the suicide prevention space. The people are so passionate and so kind, so I jumped in with both feet and have been involved ever since. When the opportunity to join HASPC came about, I was all in on helping to make the world a better place for my two little ladies, as cliché as that sounds. I hope to help create a world where my girls don’t have to experience any preventable loss.

Jarvis Corbitt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and works with the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. He is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and attended the University of South Florida and University of Houston. Jarvis currently serves as a Community Engagement & Partnership Coordinator with the VA. In this role, Jarvis focuses on expanding the VA’s mission and efforts to implement Community Based Suicide Prevention strategies within the Greater Houston Metro Area. This includes working with and assisting coalitions that aim to support our Service Members, Veterans, and their Families and ultimately prevent veteran suicides.

My Why: I love true prevention work! I think often times we as a society take a reactive stance and are not proactive in our responses and approaches to the many of the critical problems we face in our society, like suicide. The change starts with us. It starts by listening and understanding what our communities and our people need and then taking strategic action to ensure that the resources are available and accessible to ALL. I’m dedicated to being a part of the ongoing efforts in our community to not only bridge the gaps, but to also provide HOPE to those that need it most.

Elizabeth Kleeman, LCSW is the Special Programs Coordinator for the Mental Health Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VAMC as well as a Surveyor with CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.  Elizabeth’s experience includes work in residential treatment, the outpatient setting, crisis intervention, and program evaluation and improvement.  These diverse environments influenced Elizabeth’s interest in and pursuit of innovative strategies that increase access to mental health treatment, recovery, and overall wellness. Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of the Houston Workgroup for the SAMHSA-VA Mayors’ Challenge to Prevent Suicide in Veterans, Family Members and Caregivers as a well as member of the Houston Area Suicide Prevention Coalition Steering Committee.

My Why: My ‘why’ for being involved in Suicide Prevention is an interest in contributing to a world in which everyone believes they are valued, supported, and have the resources needed to experience their life worth living.

WyKisha McKinney's mission began with the loss of her brother Johnny Madison, who died by suicide in 2004.  Overwhelmed with grief, she began experiencing the first of many battles with depression and anxiety. With the love and support of her family, WyKisha was able to cope with her loss and manage the depression.  As she journeyed through her healing process, she found solace in helping others and advocating for mental wellness and suicide prevention. Over the past seventeen years, WyKisha has contributed to the fight against suicide by serving on the Board of Directors for the nation's leading organizations in suicide prevention, training volunteers to answer calls on the crisis hotline, consulting with health systems to reduce the risk of losing patients to suicide, and raising more than $300,000 for the cause. She is a highly sought after speaker who has been featured in several documentaries, television interviews, books, and other publications. Currently, WyKisha is the proud owner of The TwenTea Company, a tea company that donates 20% of its profits to suicide prevention. 

My Why: Because there are people out there feeling isolated and alone in their pain  and I want them to know that there is help and hope.  

Laurie Robinson has been in the mental health/social service field for over 35 years. She began her career as a clinician, especially focusing on families and child abuse. She also worked in a hospital setting but has spent most of her career working in non-profits that assist children and families. She has been with Community Youth Services, a school-based social services program of Harris County Resources for Children and Adults for the past several years. In her free time, Laurie enjoys fashion design courses and activities with her dogs Ace and Ivy.

My Why: I am drawn to early intervention and suicide prevention to help young people learn coping strategies and solutions to better navigate life’s challenges.

Angie Cummings, DrPH is an assistant professor in the Division of Public Health Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. She has over 13 years of public health experience, conducting research and evaluation in community, government, and academic settings. Her work includes the development and testing of tools and programs to strengthen families, including the Family CARE Portfolio and a universal home visitation program; program evaluation for statewide and local initiatives; and healthcare utilization research on children in foster care and children who experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Overall, she aims to improve the wellbeing of children and families, with a focus on vulnerable populations and equity.

My Why: I believe that every person is important and every life worth living. I want to live in a world where everyone feels this way about themself and their own life. Having the opportunity to apply my professional skills to a topic as important as suicide prevention to promote connection at the individual and community levels motivates me. I’ve always wanted my work to matter and have purpose. I believe working with the Houston Area Suicide Prevention Coalition allows me to bring together my professional skills and personal values to work along the continuum of suicide response and prevention. Strategic partnerships allow us to strengthen our response to fully support an individual in crisis and to foster connected communities and systems to prevent these crises from happening in the future.

Hector Pina is a senior consultant with extensive expertise in healthcare transformation and innovation. He has a proven track record of leading and delivering complex, innovative healthcare projects that address the needs of underserved populations. His work spans collaborations with public and private organizations, policymakers, stakeholders, and medical and behavioral health providers.

Over the past four years, Hector has spearheaded groundbreaking behavioral health initiatives at the Baylor College of Medicine. His efforts have included integrating programs with numerous esteemed organizations, such as Texas Children’s Hospitals, the Direction of Education and Youth Engagement of the City of Houston, Harris County Health System, Texas Public Health Department, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families (UK), The Menninger Clinic, The Harris Center for Mental Health & IPP, Mental Health America of Greater Houston, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Greater Houston. Currently he is directing a four-year SAMHSA grant focusing on the prevention and treatment of youth residing in the Greater Houston Area, ages 11 to 17, who are facing suicidal thoughts and behavior and/or non-suicidal self-harm. In addition to his consulting work, Hector serves as the Co-Chair of the Strategic Action Team of the Houston Area Suicide Prevention Coalition, further contributing to the advancement of mental health initiatives and policies within the community.

Hector is a licensed psychologist (Venezuela) with a MS degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling and another in Organizational Development.

Jennifer Battle is the Vice President of Community Access and Engagement at The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in Houston, Texas. Jennifer is proud to help support Harris County and the surrounding region’s mental health by overseeing operations of the National 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for 51 Texas counties, 24 hour Crisis Lines for 7 Texas Local Mental Health Authorities as well as the full Behavioral Health and IDD Access Hub for The Harris Center. Jennifer led the development of the first of its kind in the nation 911/Behavioral Health co-located response system in partnership with Houston Police and Fire Departments and the Houston Emergency Communications Center. Jennifer’s team offers a robust mental health and suicide prevention training portfolio to individuals, universities, businesses, faith communities and non-profits as well as coordinates and delivers information and awareness about behavioral health in culturally appropriate and community centered ways across the county. In addition to these projects, Jennifer serves in several national roles including the immediate past Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the National 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. She also serves on the Clinical Advisory Council for Crisis Text Line, the Board of the National Association of Crisis Center Directors and the Board of the Texas Alliance of Information and Referral Systems.

My Why: I’ve been working in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention for almost 25 years. As I work primarily in administrative and organizational settings I make it a point to spend time each week reading call logs from our local crisis line and 988 line to ensure that I always remember to center those experiencing suicidality directly and/or their friends and family.  This is critical so that we don’t get stuck in data and numbers and remember that every number represents a precious life.   Suicide prevention matters because every person matters.  When someone feels alone, othered, oppressed, isolated, lonely, spurned, they can feel like their life doesn’t matter, that they are expendable.  The work we do is critical because we can set up safety touchpoints through community training and awareness and through crisis lines and walk in services to promote connection and a reminder that this difficult experience does not define them, and they are not alone.

Omar A. Sesay is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor. He completed his undergraduate at the University of Central Arkansas and his Masters at Prairie View A & M University. Currently a PhD Health Psychology Candidate at Walden University. Mr. Sesay is the owner and lead clinician at Top Level Counseling and Consulting, PLLC. Mr. Sesay is one of the most prominent providers in the Houston community with over 20 years of experience in mental health, with the belief in the potential to change and grow. He believes in partnering with clients to meet goals and has spent many years working with adults, adolescents, and children. As a practitioner, Mr. Sesay believes in using effective and established treatment methods. Cognitive-Behavioral (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment (ACT) forms of therapy are utilized in his practice. In addition to being a prominent trauma focused therapist, Mr. Sesay also works as the Program Director for the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH),  Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and provides Administrative Oversight for the Substance Use Disorder Outreach Team (SUDOP) with the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD. 

My Why: Within the last two years, three friends of mine have completed suicide. I do not want to lose anyone else and have taken an active role in learning more about suicide and exploring suicide prevention strategies to reduce the prevalence.

Dr. Jamie Freeny is a visionary leader and accomplished public health practitioner dedicated to transforming the mental and physical health landscape for women and children. With a deep-rooted passion for advocacy and a proven ability to influence policy, she has become a recognized expert in child and adolescent mental health.

As the Director of the Center for School Behavioral Health at MHA of Greater Houston, Dr. Freeny drives strategic initiatives to improve the well-being of school-aged youth. Her expertise lies in bridging the gap between research and practice, translating complex data into actionable solutions that empower communities. By fostering collaboration among healthcare, education, and non-profit sectors, she has built a strong foundation for sustainable change.

A skilled communicator and influential advocate, Dr. Freeny has testified before the Texas House and Senate, shaping legislation to enhance mental health support for children. Recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a leading expert, she serves on the School Mental Health Advisory Committee, driving national policy discussions. Dr. Freeny’s research contributions are substantial, with publications in prestigious journals such as the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma. Her dissertation on adverse childhood experiences and resilience in adolescents underscores their deep expertise in trauma-informed care. This work led to the development of the FACES Assessment tool, an expanded ACEs survey that includes common adversities youth face i.e. experiencing the death of a close friend or loved one and experiencing displacement or hardship after a natural disaster. The FACES Assessment tool allows us to better understand the prevalence and frequency of exposure to adversity among young people in clinical and educational settings, subsequently leading to informed strategic and financial decisions regarding programs, services, and partnerships.

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Dr. Freeny has earned the 2021 Texas Child Advocate of the Year award, a testament to her impactful contributions. She also serves on the Board of the Texas Health Institute. Her ability to inspire, collaborate, and achieve tangible results positions her as a driving force in creating a healthier future for generations to come.

My Why: Suicide work is deeply important to me because it's a critical step in addressing the alarming rise in suicidal ideation, aggression, and self-harm among young people. Locally, we've witnessed a staggering 800% increase in youth seeking emergency services for these issues. This is a clear call to action. Too many young lives are being lost to a permanent solution for temporary problems. They deserve the opportunity to discover their purpose and experience the joys of life.

Suicide is preventable, but it requires a concerted effort from individuals, families, communities, and policymakers. We must address the systemic issues and societal norms that contribute to mental health struggles. By prioritizing mental wellness and eliminating the stigma associated with seeking help, we can create a healthier and more supportive environment for young people.

Connor Gilbertson attained his Bachelors of Science in Public Relations in December 2020. He entered the public health field in 2021. He spent his first year and a half with the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council in Lufkin, TX. He served 15 rural counties as the public relations coordinator where he educated community stakeholders on the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse. He is now the Public Relations Coordinator for the Council on Recovery and the Region 6 PRC. He looks to continue his work in substance use disorders and mental health. 

My Why: My why for being involved in suicide prevention is to help combat the statistics of suicide in Houston and America as a whole. I hope through this work, HASPC will be able to provide messages from survivors and offer resources to those from all walks of like to let everyone know their life is a life worth living.