Hello, we are the Peer Responders team.
Our team culture revolves around solving serious problems with a positive and malleable spirit. Mental health is a complicated topic, but our flexibility, compassion, and can-do spirit keeps us as leaders in the field. We are resourceful when overcoming unique challenges because we have been trained to problem-solve and heal.
MEET THE EXECUTIVE BOARD...

Priya Patel
Founder and Director of Peer Responders
Priya Patel is a 18-year-old freshman at the University of Pennsylvania from New Jersey, a health care advocate, science researcher, and storyteller who believes in the power of narrative medicine. She is the founder and director of the Psychology Today-reviewed and Diana Awarded program, Peer Responders, which is the first mental health organization to look at friendship as the solution to psychological crises in teenagers. Her purpose is to help teenagers who are struggling with mental health, anxiety, depression, and discomfort in their own skin by training the people closest to them about what to do, how to notice, how to help, and what to give. Aspiring to become a specialist in neuroscience and child psychiatry, Priya has accompanied a team of medical professionals to Jamaica, India, and Guyana on Medical Missions and has been a researcher and intern for Dr. BJ Fogg's Behavior Design Lab, Stanford University. She is the founder of the neurology-based app MyPainManager through which the clinician-patient relationship is strengthened by support of graphical pain data visualization. As Founder and Chief Editor of YourStoryForLife.com, Priya works to empower her generation as empathic communicators who leave a kind and healthy footprint.

Annika Santhanam
Director of Audio-Visuals
Annika Santhanam is a 15-year-old sophomore in New Jersey. Since elementary school, she has advocated on a local and national level for families with life threatening food allergies. She founded the #GotYourBack food allergy support initiative to continue her advocacy efforts to educate the non-allergic community on the cause. She developed the #GotYourBack iOS app, an all-in-one food allergy management app. Recently, Annika’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill with other advocates helped to pass the allergy-oriented FASTER Act (H.R. 2117). As she continues her efforts, she hopes to inspire more kids to focus on their physical and mental well-being and build a strong support system to lead a healthy and happy life.

Rolane Blanc
Co-Director of Graphic Design, Liaison to Kentucky
Rolane Blanc is a 15-year old sophomore in Louisville. Since middle school she has seen others struggling to be able to talk about what’s on their minds in a safe environment. From not having someone to trust or just not knowing how to find the right person and ask to talk. She would like to be a psychologist of sorts so she can be there to listen and give advice should it be asked. She is glad to be apart of such an innovative program.
D'Asia White
Assistant of Marketing, Liaison to South Carolina
D'Asia White is a 16-year-old sophomore at York Comprehensive High School in South Carolina. Her goal is to become a neurosurgeon at Duke University. She has participated in the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Congress, which has given her insight on many different medical perspectives. D'Asia values mental health awareness and she is very passionate about helping in any way she can. She hopes to one day be able to say that she has saved someone's life.

SunYeong Still
Creative Director, Co-Liaison to New Jersey
SunYeong Still is a senior in high school from New Jersey. She is an Advocate for the Prevention of Child Abuse with aspirations in expanding the Education System from K-12th grade. During her high school year, completed the Medical Science Academy at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. In the future, she intends to collaborate as a specialist in the healthcare industry particularly to work with multidisciplinary teams in hospitals. She has accepted her invitation to become a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. In essence, what the world needs is to give today’s youth an assortment of education (especially abuse prevention) so the world will receive their abilities, resources, or ingenuity.

Raiven McGill
Co-Director of Graphic Design, Liaison to Arkansas

Ally Endacott
Co-Liaison to Illinois
Ally Endacott is a 17 year old junior from Illinois. Throughout high school she has seen the effects of mental illness on her community and those she cares about and wants to see a change in how it is regarded. Ally has also experienced anxiety and depression of her own and wants to give others the support she needed during hard times. She aspires to major in business and start her own business one day.

Bella Coimin
Liaison to New York
Bella Coimin is a 17-year-old rising senior from New York. Ever since the age of 13, Bella has developed a strong passion for medicine and research. In the past few years, Bella has participated in the Aim-High Medical Program and attended the Congress of Future Medical Leaders as a delegate from New York. Attendance of both affirmed that Bella wanted to dedicate her life as a healer and advocate for those who don’t have a voice of their own. In route to becoming a pediatric surgeon, Bella also hopes to use her platform to raise awareness for mental health.

Disha Patel
Co-Liaison to Illinois
Disha Patel is a senior at Reavis High School in Burbank, Illinois. She is passionate about pursuing a career in medicine and aspires to become an Osteopathic Doctor in Pediatrics or Family medicine. She is working towards her goal by volunteering weekly in the Surgical Family Waiting Room at Advocate Christ Hospital. Disha is a Treasurer for the National Honor Society chapter at her school and is also a delegate of the Congress of Future Medical Leaders and Physicians. Additionally, she was inducted into the Society of Torch and Laurel. She continues to face challenges that come toward her with an open attitude and is always eager to take on anything that comes her way with a positive attitude.

Isabel Hernández
Liaison to Florida

Kayla Gamboa-Alvarado
Liaison to Delaware

Olivia Krysa
Co-Liaison to New Jersey

Riya Dabbikar
Co-Liaison to Texas, Director of Medical Resources

Rouida Siddiqui
Liaison to Missouri

Ryleigh Roberts
Liaison to Michigan
Megan Curto
Liaison to Colorado

Jessica Edem
Liaison to Maryland

LaVie Saad
Liaison to California

Giselle Silva
Liaison to California

Corynne Foster
Liaison to Georgia

Raaga Katta
Liaison to Maryland

Roger E. Malaver Mariñas
Liaison to Puerto Rico

Abrina Stevens-Solomon
Liaison to New York

Alina George
Liaison to New Jersey

Kassie Atchison
Liaison to Florida

Jessica Dharanendiran
Liaison to North Carolina

Sudeep Vattikuti
Liaison to Arizona

Rebecca Disney
Liaison to Pennsylvania

Anbini Ganesh
Liaison to Washington

Gregory Brown II
Liaison to South Carolina

Jennifer Zong
Liaison to Georgia

Isabella Meute
Liaison to Illinois

Morgan Panebianco
Liaison to New Jersey
Mira Varadachari
Liaison to New Jersey

Mark Sebastian
Liaison to New Jersey

Lucia Cortes
Liaison to Florida

Emma Ballinger
Liaison to Kentucky

Allayna Bidwell
Liaison to New York

Neela Bandla
Liaison to New Jersey

Rebecca Vela
Liaison to Florida

Nina Truitt
Liaison to Washington

Alexander George
Liaison to Ohio
Alexander George is a 15 year old sophomore student from Ohio. As a delegate to the 2023 Congress of Future Medical Leaders and Physicians, a member of the Society of Torch and Laurel, a member of his community's Junior Fair Board and an FFA historian officer for one of the top rated schools in the nation, he is always looking for the opportunity to take action and help wherever possible to his fullest extent; this passion to assist others is what let him down the path to becoming a medical professional. As soon as he heard that Peer Responders were looking for new board member, he jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the team in an area nobody else has taken up yet and spread the word of the organization to as many people as he and his team possibly can.

Ava Sacarin
Liaison to New York
Ava is a 15 year old upcoming sophomore at Deer Park Highschool in Long Island New York and she is an aspiring pediatric physician. She is an alumni of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists as well as a member of the The Society of Torch & Laurel. She also has her Laureate Certificate in advanced Science Research Writing, and attended SARAS (science and research awareness series) at Stony Brook University. In her spare time she teaches Jujistu classes to younger kids in her community. She hopes to make an impact in people's lives in her role as a Peer Responder!
At Peer Responders, we also practice what we preach — being there for each other, no matter what. We are a family that depends on one another for support, and everyone on the team freely gives that support as much as they receive it.
MEET THE MENTORS AND SPEAKERS...

Joe Polish
CEO of Genius Network, Author, Podcaster
Joe Polish is one of the most sought after marketers alive today. Known for his ability to connect with almost anyone on the planet, he leverages his networking prowess to bring together the top industry transformers and leaders in the world. His mission is to change the global conversation around addiction and recovery from one of judgment to one of compassion.

Chris Voss
CEO and Founder of The Black Swan Group Ltd, Author
Prior to 2008, Chris was the lead international kidnapping negotiator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the FBI’s hostage negotiation representative for the National Security Council’s Hostage Working Group. During Chris’s 24 year tenure in the Bureau, he was trained in the art of negotiation by not only the FBI but Scotland Yard and Harvard Law School. He is also a recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement and the FBI Agents Association Award for Distinguished and Exemplary Service. He has used his many years of experience in international crisis and high-stakes negotiations to develop a unique program and team that applies these globally proven techniques to the business world.

BJ Fogg
Stanford Researcher, Author of Tiny Habits
BJ Fogg is a behavior scientist who has directed a research lab at Stanford University for over 20 years and teaches his models and methods in special Stanford courses each year. He also trains innovators to use his work to create solutions that influence behavior for good, including health, sustainability, financial wellbeing, learning, productivity, and more. Fortune Magazine named him a "New Guru You Should Know" for his insight about mobile and social networks. In January of 2020 he shared 300 pages of new and practical uses for Behavior Design in my New York Times Bestselling book Tiny Habits.

Erin Matlock
CEO of Brain Summit
Erin Matlock is an artist, author, and advocate who has spent 13 years in leadership in the brain health and mental health markets. She is a life member of Mensa and a globally recognized mindset coach who has advised CEOs, health personalities, NY Times bestselling authors, critically acclaimed artists, elite athletes and highly successful entrepreneurs through deeply intense transition and rapid growth in their professional and personal lives. An international and TEDx speaker, she boldly challenges the stigma of suicide and depression through deeply personal accounts of survival and recovery.

Beck Gee-Cohen
Director of LBGTQI+ Programming at Visions Teen
Beck is a master’s level clinician with an undergraduate degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Gender & Sexuality and a master’s degree in Addiction Counseling. Beck has worked in the mental health and substance use field for over 10 years in various capacities. The main focus of his work has been invested in the LGBTQI+ community, adolescents, and families. Over this decade, Beck has trained numerous facilities on LGBTQI+ best practices, has been a keynote and presenter at many conferences and has facilitated workshops about LGBTQI+, trauma, adolescents, gender and sexuality.

Andre Norman
International Speaker, Author
Known to many as “The Ambassador Of Hope,” Andre’s experience and expertise is what empowers him to help people turn their situation around. From illiteracy to gang activity, Andre’s childhood prepared him for nothing less than a life of crime and violence and led him to a prison sentencing of over 100 years. He taught himself how to read, then to understand the law and without hesitation, participated in anger management groups. After winning his appeal and having been armed with a GED and a dream, Andre walked out of prison in 1999, after serving fourteen years. Andre travels around the world to serve as a mentor and listening ear for so many in need.

Tim Ringgold
Owner of Sonic Divinity Music Therapy Services, Author
Tim’s mission is to empower people to reach for music when they are facing stress in work or life, rather than harmful substances or digital distractions. He spent the past 11 years in hospitals and treatment centers helping people to reduce pain and relieve stress. Tim has given over 80 talks nationally and internationally on the subject, including the very first TEDx talk on music therapy, and has shared the stage with top thought leaders and researchers on how music affects the brain.

Kristin Wilson
Vice President of Clinical Outreach at Newport Academy
Kristin Wilson, MA, LPC, CCTP is passionate about the integration of holistic care in the treatment milieu to address the myriad of stressors that today’s teens face. She believes that higher levels of emotional resilience allow teens to more easily adapt to stressful situations or crises, with fewer negative effects. She holds a Master’s degree in psychology and Creative Arts Therapies, and presents workshops on using the creative arts to foster authentic connections with teens. Kristin’s belief in holistic care is further demonstrated by her certifications as a yoga teacher and a clinical trauma professional. She is pursuing her PhD in Psychology and is working on her dissertation.

Brynn Wilson
Miss New Jersey High
Brynn is a 16-year-old High School Junior who has taken her struggles with learning differences and used them to help others. Brynn has written a free advocacy workbook, “Grow Your Own Way”, which helps teens advocate for themselves in their learning environments. Brynn is proud to share her platforms as both, the 2020 National American Miss NJ Jr Teen and 2021 National United States NJ High, to spread awareness of, inclusion of and advocacy for teens who struggle with learning disabilities.
Enthusiasm also permeates the Peer Responders culture: we are excited to do this work every day, because we are bettering the world, one person at a time.
MEET THE PARTNERS...

Our Call to Action
