Voices Taking the Stage
Get to know your NAMICon 2026 speakers. Each one has lived it, studied it or fought for it. Together, they're bringing their most powerful stories, breakthroughs and hard-won wisdom to one place — for you
Main Stage Keynotes
Conversations with Carnie: Mental Illness and Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
Carnie Wilson
Grammy nominated singer songwriter, mental health advocate
Carnie is a paid spokesperson for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. She does not have TD.

From Surviving to Thriving: Intentional Caring for Youth Mental Health
Dr. Alfiee
Founder of The AAKOMA Project and lead of the MATTIE Fund

We Are Enough: Blake Mycoskie in Conversation with Dan Gillison
Blake Mycoskie
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of TOMS

2026 NAMI Scientific Research Award Presentation
Deanna L. Kelly, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP
William and Carol Carpenter Professor in Psychiatry in Mental Illness Research, University Of Maryland

Impact Session Speakers
| Full Name | Job Title | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Jenna Possidento | Manager, Recovery Support Services | Connections Health Solutions- Crisis Response Center |
| Nikki Rashes | Director, NAMI Education Programs | NAMI National |
| Carolyn Rekerdres MD | Associate Med Director | Pecan Valley Center |
| Barbara Ricci | Treasurer | NAMI National |
| Sara Rice | Clinician | Koinonia Counseling Center |
| Stephanie Robertson | Director Mental Health Equity Innovation | NAMI |
| Nichole Marie Schembre | Founder | Yoga Your Way® LLC |
| Karen Schuh | Treasurer | NAMI Spokane |
| Shannon Scully | Director, Justice Policy and Initiatives | NAMI Natoinal |
| Jackie Sheridan-Johnson | Research Scientist | NORC at the University of Chicago |
| Morgan Sills | NAMI National Senior Manager, Field Resource Development | NAMI |
| Stephanie Slowly Little | Executive Director | NAMI Maryland |
| Katherine Smithson | Senior Manager | NAMI |
| Alicia Snead | Youth & Young Adult Coordinator | NAMI Alabama |
| Jennifer Snow | National Director of Government Relations & Policy | NAMI National |
| Barb Solish | National Director, Program Innovation | NAMI National |
| Mary Sorenson | Director, Field Resource Development | NAMI National |
| Eliza Stein | Nurse Consultant and ER Nurse | Inflect Health |
| Saurav Jung Thapa | Director of Coalitions and Partnership Engagement | The Trevor Project |
| Chelsea Thomson | Health and Justice Policy Associate | ForHealth Consulting |