The Leadership of UH

Voice Up Publishing Inc.

• Contracted by a global AI brand as expert consultant in healthcare, mental health, education, and career development.
• Editor in Chief of the 2026 autobiography for the Cordyn Award winner (Indiana's highest public service honor).
• Designed a 100% remote internship and mentor model for college students to earn academic credit at accredited institutions.
• Secured three multi-year academic credit-bearing partnerships with accredited graduate schools of Public Health and Social Work.
• Secured a credit-bearing research partnership with an MPH program at an R1 School of Medicine.
• Implemented Voice Up with students across 250 institutions, including 148 higher education institutions.
• Expanded adoption across 25 R1 (Very High Research) universities, 8 R2 universities, and multiple master's and professional institutions.
• Engaged a balanced mix of public (25) and private nonprofit (31) universities, plus international institutions.
• Achieved implementation within 20 Minority-Serving Institutions, including HBCUs, HSIs, AANAPISIs, and land-grant universities.
• Established a formal international alliance with Lokaa Foundation, working with indigenous communities in India.
• Negotiated a three-year international MOU (2025–2028) with BaSE Bangladesh, a 27-year Fair Trade organization supporting 5,000+ women artisans across 12 producer groups exporting to 22 countries.

University of Indianapolis

• Dissertation: Perceptions with Impact — A Qualitative Study of College Students' Perceptions of Behavioral Health Career Pathways (IRB Approved Study #02135).
• Supported by the University of Indianapolis in applying for the $20K American Psychological Foundation Visionary Grant (April 2026).
• Designed and conducted an IRB-approved qualitative study spanning 10 states and 5 U.S. regions.
• Identified a structural mechanism (the 'Naming Gap') showing how unclear definitions suppress awareness, motivation, and workforce entry.
• Developed the 'Definitional Clarity Cascade' — a low-cost micro-intervention showing immediate and durable expansion of career understanding.
• Extended Social Cognitive Career Theory by proposing definitional clarity as a prerequisite for outcome expectations and self-efficacy formation.
• Producing eight publication-ready manuscript streams spanning career theory, workforce diversification, higher education practice, intervention design, and qualitative methodology.

Hamilton Center, Inc. — Terre Haute, IN

• Selected to launch the first-of-its-kind mental and behavioral health university in 2027.
• Appointed Chief Executive for the University of Hamilton Center, Inc.
• Member of 7-person Executive Leadership team supporting the President & CEO, serving 13,000 patients across 11 counties.
• Selected to serve on the regional grant writing team for the Rural Health Transformation Program (~$15 million annually).
• Member of the C-Suite team with oversight of 500+ staff and $53M+ operating budget.
• Led the organization to achieve statewide demonstration status as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic — only 8 sites selected statewide.
• Oversees 6 multi-year contractual and grant agreements totaling over $7M as Principal Investigator & Project Director.
• Increased annual patient service by 2,000 unduplicated clients.
• Improved 180-day reassessment follow-up rate from 46% to 53% across 7,000 patients.
• Reduced consumer discharge rate from 13% to 10%.
• Led committee creating the new Hamilton Center mission statement, announced at the 2025 Hamilton Awards.
• Top national percentile of certified trainers for the Crisis Prevention Institute.
• Serve as National Panelist for the National Council on Mental Wellbeing.

J Ellington Publishing LLC — Indianapolis, IN

• Founded a national digital media company focused on social justice, creative arts, and public policy.
• Built a comprehensive digital platform for content distribution and engagement.
• Editor in Chief for Titan of Life, the autobiography of a statewide community and mental health service leader.

Hamilton Center, Inc.

• Managed HR department serving 625 FTEs across 11 counties with 8 direct reports.
• Led CCBHC implementation as Project Director for a $3.99M federal SAMHSA grant.
• Secured a $4.1M Crisis Stabilization Grant from Indiana DMHA.
• Wrote and secured a $25K Workforce Innovation Grant from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
• Led the planning committee for the annual diversity walk.

Hamilton Center, Inc.

• Principal Investigator of a $3.97M federal SAMHSA grant for CCBHC startup.
• Led successful launch of mobile crisis teams performing over 135 runs.
• Selected as national mentor for 3 CCBHCs in Michigan, Illinois, and Oregon.
• Managed 14 direct reports and a 24/7/365 crisis access center.
• Administrative support for the Foundation Board investment committee's $7M portfolio.

Knowledge Academies Inc. — Antioch, TN

• Founded and led 3 public charter schools serving 940 students.
• Grew the organization from 0 to 115 FTEs.
• Secured a $26.8M bond investment for a 140,000 sq. ft. facility renovation on 9.3 acres, including a 10-year partnership with a medical school.
• Obtained $2M+ in grants from the US Department of Education, Gates Foundation, and others.
• Led the organization to achieve National AdvancedEd Accreditation.
• Secured a 5-Year Workforce Development Grant ($1.04M).
• Recognized as having the most culturally diverse staff across 113 Metro Nashville Public Schools.
• Selected by the TN Department of Education as a School Reform Provider.
• Achieved TN Reward School Status for Top 5% Academic Learning Gains.
• Established partnerships with Meharry Medical College and other institutions.
• Cultivated a culture of innovation that produced nationally recognized educators, including a teacher whose work earned a 2017 MacArthur Foundation/National Writing Project LRNG Educator Innovator Award.

The Open Source Teaching Project

• Created a digital service learning project connecting higher education institutions.
• Developed a web platform generating 75,000–100,000 monthly hits.
• Secured participation of over 100 leading national scholars, including Nobel Laureates.
• Featured in multiple national trade publications including THE Journal and Converge.
• Established partnerships across major metropolitan areas including New York, Boston, DC, and San Francisco.

State of Tennessee Board of Education

• Served as legislative liaison for a governor-appointed board.
• Led executive committees on a $3.79B education funding formula.
• Managed the annual budget submission to the Tennessee General Assembly.
• Developed statewide policy for teacher effectiveness and compensation.
• Led first-generation college access outreach programs.
• Published multiple articles on education policy and reform.
• Oversaw outreach efforts for the Tennessee Hope Lottery Scholarship program for underserved communities.