Our Advisors

Abigail Masters is a proud Jamaican-American student at St. John’s University in Queens, New York, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Africana Studies. She serves as an appointee on the National Youth Works Committee for the NAACP, where she has served as chair for the Voting and Mental Health Taskforces. Abigail is passionate about building equity and access for Black youth, particularly at the intersection of civic engagement, mental health, and community organizing. Being a mental health ambassador is meaningful to her because she believes every young person deserves to be seen, supported, and strengthened in their full wellness: mind, body, and spirit.

I’m Aditi Bang, a Biomedical Engineering student at Georgia Tech with a minor in Social Justice, driven by a commitment to advancing both healthcare and equity. As a mental health ambassador for The Steve Fund, I aim to start conversations around mental wellness and be a safe space for our youth. My experiences as a peer mental health advocate and crisis counselor have shown me the power of empathy, representation, and culturally responsive care. I look forward to creating a supportive environment where every young person feels seen, valued, and heard.

Originally from New Jersey, Aliza is a junior at the University of Rochester majoring in Health, Behavior, & Society with a minor in Legal Studies. She intersects her work with education, DEI, and cultural competence, as she founded the organization The Reconceive Project (previously Medicine Encompassed), an interdisciplinary space that increases health literacy through experiential learning and raising youth voices. Aliza has previously worked with mental wellness organizations, such as Mental Health America and Hopelab, and has been nationally recognized for her work — including being honored on the 2024 Her Campus & e.l.f. Beauty 22 Under 22 list. As an ambassador and advocate for mental health, Aliza hopes to further combat the idea of a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to wellness and normalize these conversations to reach a greater level of empathy between young folks. She hopes to pursue a career in community & public health and social impact, such as by developing inclusive programs for marginalized communities. Outside of work, she enjoys writing, creating videos, listening to music, playing her instruments, and taking walks outside.

Christoph Cunningham is currently pursuing a degree in Health Sciences on the Pre-Medicine track at Howard University in Washington, D.C. His rigorous academic path is preparing him for a future in medicine, with a strong foundation in the complexities of mental and physical healthcare. Being a mental health ambassador holds deep personal significance for Christoph, as it allows him to actively advocate for individualized education on the importance of mental healthcare. He is also passionate about encouraging collective education for mental health awareness, particularly within minority communities, aiming to destigmatize mental health discussions and promote well-being.

Chrystal Hodges is a third-year Psychology major at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Her passion for mental health advocacy stems from her own journey, inspiring her to help others feel seen and supported. As a student leader and mentor, she is dedicated to creating safe and inclusive environments, particularly for young people of color.

Clementina Jose is a doctoral student at Trevecca Nazarene University, studying Educational Leadership and Policy. Being a mental health ambassador is especially meaningful to her as it reflects her commitment to breaking stigma, promoting emotional wellness in underserved communities, and fostering environments where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Isabel Ohakamma (she/her) is an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia (UVA), double majoring in Psychology and Youth & Social Innovation, with a minor in Data Science. Her mental health advocacy journey is rooted in supporting young people, especially those from underrepresented groups, to access culturally relevant care and wellness. In high school, she founded a mental health club focused on supporting youth of color, an initiative that earned her recognition as one of twelve 2021 Bezos Scholars in the nation. Since then, Isabel has expanded her impact nationally, through collaborations with organizations such as the Center for the Developing Adolescent, Hopelab, the Aspen Institute, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and most recently through her role as a youth advisor for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Through these partnerships, she continues to advocate for centering young people’s voices in research, policy, and mental health initiatives.

I’m a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at the University of Nevada, Reno, where I focus on child and family mental health. My research and clinical work center around culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions for underserved communities. I am passionate about providing care to parents and young children experiencing behavioral and emotional challenges. Being a mental health ambassador is meaningful to me because it allows me to advocate for accessible, stigma-free support while uplifting the voices of communities often left out of traditional mental health spaces.

Kimberly Hestermann is a senior at Indiana University Indianapolis where she studies philanthropic leadership at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and finance at the Kelley School of Business. She has dedicated her academic and volunteer work to expanding access to mental health resources and advocating for suicide prevention. Driven to destigmatize mental health, she has raised thousands of dollars for a suicide prevention nonprofit by training for and completing three marathons, using each race to spark conversations about mental well-being. Serving as a Steve Fund Youth Ambassador allows her to amplify student voices and turn data driven insights into practical support for young people of color. Kimberly believes that open conversations and culturally responsive care are essential to saving lives, building healthier communities, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

Lipika Devara is a psychology major and music minor at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is the founder of A.W.E (Addressing Wellness and Equity), a youth-led nonprofit focused on making mental health resources accessible in culturally stigmatized communities and global equity. Lipika also serves as the International Programs Regional Lead for North Texas American Red Cross and North Texas Division Representative for SEWA International. Being a mental health ambassador & advocate is deeply meaningful to her, as she believes that mental health should be treated as a necessity—not a privilege—for all communities. As a mental health ambassador, she hopes to foster open conversations and create genuine, lasting change through community-driven initiatives.

Maddie, a Los Angeles native, is a rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Political Science. On campus, she has served as the president of both the debate team and In-Between, a pan-Asian mental health organization. Beyond school, Maddie has explored her passion for public service through internships with the office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Missouri and Congresswoman Judy Chu. Maddie wants to be a mental health ambassador to advocate for equitable access to care and amplify the voices of AAPI youth in the mental health space. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, reading, spending time with friends, and discovering new cafes.

Sahana Nayak is an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz studying psychology. For more than five years, she has been a passionate advocate for eating disorder education, prevention, and research funding, both within her community and on a national scale. She hopes to bring awareness to eating disorders and body image concerns as public health priorities, especially amongst young people of color. In her free time, Sahana enjoys watching movies that make her think and trying unusual-flavored coffee drinks.

Tesia is a first year Counseling Psychology PhD student at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Prior to this, she has worked on various peer support and suicide prevention initiatives. She is excited to join the Steve Fund YAB and work on initiatives that make resources accessible and relevant to students of color. In her free time, she enjoys going on long walks and munching on bagels.