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 |
|---|---|---|
| Susan Stearns | Executive Director | NAMI New Hampshire |
| Taylor Locke | 2026 Next Gen Advisor | NAMI New York State |
| Jason Musgrove | Public Policy Coordinator | NAMI Oklahoma |
| Rodney Coles Sr | President | NAMI Pitt County |
| Kimberly Comer | PLC Board Chair | NAMI PLC Board Chair |
| Karen Schuh | Treasurer | NAMI Spokane |
| Rebeca Henríquez | School Administrator & Peer Leadership Council 1st Vice-Chair | NAMI Texas |
| Anthony Estreet | Chief Executive Officer | National Association of Social Workers |
| Leah Pope | Research Scientist/Associate Professor | New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University Department of Psychiatry |
| Elizabeth Flanagan | Research Scientist | NORC at the University of Chicago |
| Jackie Sheridan-Johnson | Research Scientist | NORC at the University of Chicago |
| Janise Kaufman-Young, MA, LPCC (OH), LPC (WV), NCC | Therapist | Ohio Valley Counseling, LLC |
| Carolyn Rekerdres MD | Associate Med Director | Pecan Valley Center |
| Ash Pryor | Instructor | Peloton |
| Lisa Dixon | Professor | Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center |
| Sierra Grandy | Neurodiversity Educator | Mental Health Keynote Speaker | Disability Rights Advocate | Attorney | Founder, Questify Your Life LLC – a Multimedia Storytelling Studio & Creative Guild | Questify Your Life LLC |
| Robert K. Heinssen | Psychologist | Retired NIMH |
| Barbara Ricci | Treasurer | Ricci Advisors LLC |
| Shaneena Woods-Eddington | Director of Operation | Sea Waves Inc |
| Laklieshia Izzard | Licensed Professional Counselor | Shekinah Counseling/NAMI National 2nd VP |