Alumni

Keshawn is currently a school social worker at KIPP Columbus. Keshawn was a former CAYCI intern at Early College Academy. Before returning to OSU for his MSW, Keshawn served as a police officer in Atlanta, GA. His passion for social justice and intervening before youth engaged with the criminal justice system brought him back to OSU for his MSW. He became a beloved member of the ECA team and upon graduation accepted a job as at KIPP Columbus. Keshawn is a role model in this school and in our community as he continues to volunteer with the LiFEsports Youth Leadership Academy in his free time and recently became a community lecturer in the OSU CSW.

Tasha is a doctoral candidate in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina. Tasha's research interests are in addressing inequities in education through school social work targeting school mental health and teacher bias. Tasha works on research projects which include intervention development, facilitating group interventions and evaluating interdisciplinary education. Tasha is supervised in her Graduate Assistant role by CAYCI alumni and Associate Professor, Dr. Iachini, an expert in the school social work and positive youth development areas. Tasha studied with CAYCI for over three years focusing on school improvement through teaching and learning and school climate interventions.

Annahita is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at University at Buffalo. Her primary areas of research are family engagement in schools, school mental health, and educational policy. Dr. Ball has published research in journals such as Research in Social Work Practice, Journal of Interprofessional Care, and Children & Schools. She teaches award-winning courses on human behavior theory, diversity and oppression, and social work services in the public schools. Dr. Ball also is a member of the Mental Health Education Integration Consortium (MHEDIC), a national consortium of interdisciplinary leaders in the field of school mental health.

Lauren is a leading data and evaluation analyst for the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information. Lauren was a doctoral student in the College of Social Work and worked towards a Master’s in Public Health. Lauren was part of CAYCI/LiFEsports for three years, during which time she has led several projects including work with After-School All-Stars, Healthy Weight 0-5, and Canyons School District. Within LiFEsports, Lauren played a key role in data management and analysis, and in the past, she has led projects advancing the health-related goals of the Initiative. Her primary research interests include youth development, program evaluation, and access to health-related services among marginalized populations. Prior to coming to OSU, Lauren served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at a county Youth Bureau in Western NY, where she helped build capacity for volunteer management, program evaluation, and grant writing/management.

Allison is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky. While earning her PhD, she worked with CAYCI as a research assistant for LiFEsports from 2011 to 2014. Today, she teaches in both the BSW and MSW programs. She is also the membership coordinator for the Gerontological Society of America’s Special Interest Groups for Disasters and Older Adults and serves with the American Red Cross, Upper Palmetto Chapter.

Jill is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Portland State University. Jill served as the graduate student chair for the Mental Health Education Integration Consortium. In this role she assisted with the planning and implementation of bi-annual MHEDIC meetings. Through MHEDIC Jill also is involved with a project related to state standards for teachers’ mental health competencies. In the past, Jill was involved in a community project with the Center for Systems Change that examined autism related funding and the autism service delivery system. Jill’s research interests include the promotion of social-emotional development in early childhood by childcare professionals, particularly those serving low-income children. Prior to joining OSU, Jill worked with childcare and early intervention professionals in Philadelphia, PA.

Aidyn is now the Interim Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and an Associate Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina. Aidyn collaborates with both South Carolina state agencies and several local schools to help improve behavioral health science delivery. Prior to beginning her time at USC, which began in the Fall of 2011, she worked with CACYI from 2004 to 2008 and 2009 to 2011. In addition to being an Associate Professor and working to receive grants for various projects and programs, she also has worked with Girls on the Run of Columbia to support their evaluation efforts.

Hilary is currently an Associate Professor of Social Work in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work at Auburn University. Joyce earned the Merriss Cornell Distinguished Researcher Award from OSU for her dissertation titled, A Multilevel Analysis of the Association between School Climate Dimensions and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms. During her time at OSU, Joyce worked with CACYI from 2008 to 2012 as a Graduate Research Assistant. She assisted with several CACYI projects including the Ohio Department of Mental Health Training Grant, as well as performed fiscal mapping analyses on after school programs, P-16 support services, and autism.

John is currently a community lecturer for the College of Social Work at OSU. John worked with Baltimore County Child Protective Services Alternative Response Unit using creative and evidence-based practices to assist families in the child welfare system in Baltimore, MD. He also worked with CAYCI as a student intern from 2014-2015. He assisted with several CAYCI projects such as the Youth Leadership Academy and After School All Stars, as well as the LiFEsports summer camp and clinics.

Laura is a licensed clinical social worker working for Choices in southwest Ohio. Laura was student in the Advanced Standing Alternative Plan (ASAP) earning her MSW with a focus in Community and Social Justice here at OSU. With CACYI, she worked in program development and program implementation and outreach. She is now a licensed clinical social worker, and her interests include treatment of addiction, physical activity, and nutritional benefits specifically for at risk youth. She continues to use her passion for CrossFit to help address health disparities and health and well-being for women and girls.

Amy is currently an Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas. She worked with CAYCI from 2004 to 2006 as a graduate research assistant. Her research focuses on child adolescent well-being and mental health, specifically service utilization, mental health literacy, and the impact of trauma and mental illness on families.

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