Barbara is the Director of Community Engagement for the University of Louisville’s Trager Institute, where also serves as part-time faculty for the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work. She spent more than a decade of her career as program administrator and branch manager for the Kentucky Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services and the Office of Aging Services, respectively. Barbara has also served as Director for the Division of Social Services at Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) for over 17 years. Barbara earned a Master of Arts in Community Agency Counseling from Western Kentucky University.

Jiten has spent more than 410,000 hours (45+ years) of his service career leading the Green River Area Development District (GRADD). Jiten had a front-row seat for some of the region’s biggest projects, including the Natcher Bridge development and Owensboro Riverport. He began as a regional engineer for GRADD, and then held a variety of positions before assuming the Executive Director position in 1987. Jiten’s career was dedicated to improving key community issues such as transportation barriers, economic and workforce development issues, and how to better assist aging populations – establishing a world-class senior meals and health nutrition program for the entire seven-county GRADD region. Jiten earned his Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology and Environmental Technology from West Virginia University.

Nikki Coursey is a healthcare professional and advocate focused on mental health, public health, and improving outcomes for Kentucky’s most vulnerable children and families. She has served on numerous local, state, and federal initiatives related to public health and systems change.

Dr. Schuster has been a clinical psychologist for nearly 50 years, and a renowned champion for mental health and healthcare state and federal advocacy in Kentucky for nearly 40 years. She helped establish the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition in 1982, was the first Executive Director for the Kentucky Psychological Association, and currently leads the Advocacy Action Network, overseeing an umbrella of organizations fighting for healthcare, mental health, social justice and disability issues. Among many leadership roles, she has recently served as Chair of the Board for the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, and is also a founding board member for Kentucky Voices for Health. Dr. Schuster earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Louisville.

David is the Director of Advocacy for the Center for Accessible Living (CAL) and a lifelong advocate for Kentuckians with disabilities. He has spent his career at CAL the last decade working to empower individuals with disabilities to become self advocates so that they can remain in the community or a setting of their choice. David earned a Master of Arts in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Kentucky.

Marye Margaret (Mimi) Boggs, MD, MPH is a Family Medicine-Obstetrics physician in Harlan, Kentucky, which is her hometown. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Sewanee: The University of The South and a Master of Public Health and Doctor of Medicine from St. George’s University School of Medicine and Public Health. She completed residency in Family Medicine and fellowship in surgical obstetrics at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She is passionate about women’s health, preventative care, and rural medicine.

Chelsea Miceli, MSSW, is a Program Coordinator with the University of Louisville Trager Institute. She received her MSSW at the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work and is a Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW). Her experience includes working with a wide array of populations and organizations including Department of Community Based Services, school-aged children, long-term care facilities, and has extensive knowledge of geriatric care. She serves as a field supervisor for social work learners across the state. She is a co-coordinator of the Virtual Friendly Visitor Program, which focuses on reducing social isolation in older adults through virtual platforms. With her education and experience, she is responsible for the development and instruction of Community Health Worker curriculum for Apprenticeship interns within the Trager Institute’ Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training paraprofessional grant. She serves alongside other Program Coordinators to address grant goals in both the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program for professional learners and the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program.

Olivia Raley is a Police Social Worker for the Bardstown Police Department with her therapy dog Maverick. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in forensic psychology from Northcentral University, and her master’s degree in social work with certifications in substance misuse, military behavioral health, and clinical behavioral health from the University of Kentucky. Olivia has been in the field of social work for 9 years ranging from working in CPS within Jefferson county, residential youth programs, and management with unhoused veterans and transitional housing for domestic violence survivors. Her passion and “why” in this world is helping build a stronger community for those most vulnerable and who are often “othered” in society.

Rich is the former Director of the Kentucky Equal Justice Center (KEJC), and worked at KEJC for more than 40 years. Rich is a well known poverty law advocate among state policymakers, and is recognized with the Distinguished Nonprofit Leadership Award by the Kentucky Nonprofit Network. Rich is a founding board member for Kentucky Voices for Health, as well as the first Chair of the Board for the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s Community Advisory Committee. Rich earned a Master of Social Work degree from West Virginia University.

Theda Simpson-Mosby is a certified family peer support specialist and dedicated advocate for families across the state of Kentucky and in child welfare. She found her voice in 2023 through Kentucky’s statewide parent council–KY SEAT–and since has championed her way through bridging relationships between systems partners and leaders at the local, regional, statewide, and national level for those directly impacted and served in communities. Theda serves on multiple councils and committees throughout Kentucky representing families of those systems impacted. She has been instrumental in reshaping the way Kentucky conducts child welfare involvement with families. Theda is currently employed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as the Program Coordinator for the Division for Prevention and Community Wellbeing.

Susan is a retired healthcare professional, serving as President and CEO of Mercy Health’s Marcum & Wallace Hospital for over 20 years, working diligently to transform the quality and delivery of healthcare in rural Kentucky. Among many accolades and state and federal appointments throughout her career, Susan is former Chair to the Kentucky Hospital Association and Kentucky Rural Health Association boards, respectively. Susan was instrumental in the development of a statewide trauma system in Kentucky, and strongly believes that rural Americans deserve local access to quality healthcare. Susan earned a Master of Nursing in Rural Health Administration from Eastern Kentucky University.

Sherry Wade, a retired Special Education Administrator with expertise in Exceptional Child Education, has recently been appointed Director of the Wellness Committee at Walter-Clements A.M.E. Zion Church. Through that appointment, Sherry has actively sought opportunities to serve effectively. Driven by her passion for community service, Sherry has leveraged the community activism skills she acquired during her Leadership Kentucky experience as well as her advanced studies in Organizational Leadership, and School Administration through Western Kentucky University. Sherry’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. Mu Delta Omega of Ft.Knox Kentucky, participates continuously in health based initiatives to promote the well-being of all citizens. Her interests primarily focus on disenfranchised youth and young adults, re-entry initiatives, economic development, and career advancement. Sherry actively collaborates with various local non-profits in areas such as curriculum development, data analysis, and data monitoring. Moreover, she aims to serve as a liaison between local and state churches, facilitating the dissemination of information and updates on health initiatives.