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
We Are Enough: Blake Mycoskie in Conversation with Dan Gillison
Thursday | 9 a.m. – 10:15 am
Blake Mycoskie
From Surviving to Thriving: Intentional Caring for Youth Mental Health
Thursday | 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Dr. Alfiee
Founder of The AAKOMA Project and lead of the MATTIE Fund
Conversations with Carnie: Mental Illness and Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
Friday | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Carnie Wilson
Grammy nominated singer songwriter, mental health advocate
Carnie is a paid spokesperson for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. She does not have TD.
Fireside Chat with Joshua Bassett
Friday | 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Joshua Bassett
American actor, singer-songwriter, and musician
William and Carol Carpenter Professor in Psychiatry in Mental Illness Research, University Of Maryland
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nikki Rashes | Director, NAMI Education Programs | NAMI National |
| Carolyn Rekerdres MD | Associate Med Director | Pecan Valley Center |
| Barbara Ricci | Treasurer | Ricci Advisors LLC |
| 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 |
| Mary Sorenson | Director, Field Resource Development | NAMI National |
| Susan Stearns | Executive Director | NAMI New Hampshire |
| Eliza Stein | Nurse Consultant and ER Nurse | Inflect Health |
| Saurav Jung Thapa | Director of Coalitions and Partnership Engagement | The Trevor Project |
| Shatavia Thomas, DMFT | Marriage and Family Therapist and National Certified Counselor | Dr. Shay Speaks, LLC |