Conference Contributors
Keynote Speakers
Keynote addresses will allow attendees of the Let’s Connect Summit to gain valuable
awareness related to suicide prevention and related services for military service
members, veterans, and their families.
The Let’s Connect Summit is grateful to all keynote speakers for sharing their expertise
on this important topic!
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MG Thomas Carden, Georgia National Guard
Biography: I am a soldier with nearly 37 years of service. I started as an Infantry Private.
Dr. Bianca Channer, DSW, LCSW, AMES Research Center, Kennesaw State University
Biography: Bianca Channer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work and Human
Services at Kennesaw State University teaching clinical social work practice classes.
Dr. Channer has more than 10 years of experience providing therapeutic services to
at-risk youth and young adults in a variety of settings. Dr. Channer’s research interests
include expanding educational opportunities, pedagogy, and teaching methods to support
veterans, LGBTQ+, Latinx, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Higher Education;
veteran and emergency medical service professionals; psychological resiliency; Examining
discrimination and knowledge gaps within clinical social practice settings working
with the above identified populations.
Lisa Dawson, Georgia Department of Public Health
Dr. Chris Hess, AMES Research Center, Kennesaw State University
Biography: Chris Hess is a social demographer and Assistant Professor of Sociology at Kennesaw
State University. His research focuses on residential segregation, housing inequalities
and applying demographic methods to heterogeneous data. Dr. Hess is currently working
on a mixed-methods study focused on housing insecurity and homelessness among Georgia
veterans.
Dr. Kristin Horan, AMES Research Center, Kennesaw State University
Biography: Dr. Kristin Horan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Science
at Kennesaw State University. She has a background in Industrial Organizational Psychology
and performs research on interventions to improve safety, health, and well-being,
particularly for first responders. She coordinates outreach and community engagement
efforts for the AMES Research Center.
Dr. Brian Moore, AMES Research Center, Kennesaw State University
Biography: Brian A. Moore, Ph.D. is a health psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology
at Kennesaw State University. Before joining Kennesaw State, he served more than 10
years in the United States Army as an Infantry officer and continues to serve as a
Major in the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Moore has a Ph.D. in military health psychology
and has completed pre- and post-doctoral fellowships in health and trauma psychology.
Katherine Moore, LCSW, AMES Research Center, Kennesaw State University
Biography: Katherine Moore is a licensed master social worker and the clinical case manager for
AMES. Katherine has over 10 years of experience working with child welfare agencies,
federal/state law enforcement agencies, and indigenous and military populations across
the U.S. Katherine’s recent focus has been centered around providing best practice
evidence-based therapeutic interventions such as psychoeducation, and psychological
resiliency to the military, first responder community, and their families.
Dr. David Rozek, University of Central Florida
Biography: Dr. David Rozek is a clinical psychologist and the Director of the National Center
of Excellence for First Responder Behavioral Health at UCF RESTORES. He received his
PhD from the University of Notre Dame and completed his residency at the Orlando Veterans
Affairs Medical Center. Prior to joining the University of Central Florida, Dr. Rozek
held positions at the University of Utah in the Department of Psychiatry with a secondary
appointment as the Director of Training at the National Center for Veterans Studies.
Dr. Rozek’s research and clinical expertise are in cognitive and behavioral therapies
for suicide, depression, and PTSD. He regularly provides training to clinicians and
medical professionals about managing suicidal patients and is an active researcher
focusing on how to best improve clinical care.
Rick Twist, LMSW, Higland Rivers Behavioral Health
Biography: I am a 42-year-old Army veteran who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom in the
82nd Airborne Division. I am a person in long-term recovery from alcohol, substances
& PTSD, with 11 1/2 years sober. I am married with three children, ranging from ages
26 to 7, and reside in Canton, Ga. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker/Therapist
with seven years in the mental health/substance abuse field. I currently hold the
title of Veterans Services Coordinator with Highland Rivers Behavioral Health, work
full-time as the service provider for the Cherokee County Veterans Treatment Court,
and own & operate a small private practice named Twist of Fate Counseling & Consulting
LLC., serving veterans in a group capacity within residential treatment settings.
I am working on a PhD in Social Psychology from Liberty University. I have been living
with suicidal ideation for 35 years.
Breakout Session Leaders
The Let’s Connect Summit allows attendees to tailor their experience by attending
breakout sessions covering more focused topics related to suicide prevention and related
services for service members, veterans, and their families.
The Let’s Connect Summit is grateful to all breakout session leaders for their role
in enhancing suicide prevention.
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Dr. Bianca Channer, DSW, LCSW, AMES Research Center, Kennesaw State University
Biography: Bianca Channer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work and Human
Services at Kennesaw State University teaching clinical social work practice classes.
Dr. Channer has more than 10 years of experience providing therapeutic services to
at-risk youth and young adults in a variety of settings. Dr. Channer’s research interests
include expanding educational opportunities, pedagogy, and teaching methods to support
veterans, LGBTQ+, Latinx, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Higher Education;
veteran and emergency medical service professionals; psychological resiliency; Examining
discrimination and knowledge gaps within clinical social practice settings working
with the above identified populations.
Dr. Stacey Dixon, Military and Veteran Services, Kennesaw State University
Biography: Dr. Stacey Dixon comes to us from National Louis University in Chicago where she was
the Director of Student Veteran Support Services for five years. She served as a Meteorologist
and Oceanographer in the U. S. Marine Corps for 21 years. After military retirement,
Dr. Dixon worked as a Financial Advisor/Stockbroker with an international brokerage
firm in Palm Springs, Ca. She later relocated to Chicago where she taught JROTC and
Leadership Development. Dr. Dixon received her BS in Mathematics/Science from Thomas
Edison College, her MBA from National University in San Diego, and her Doctorate from
Argosy University in Chicago. She has a daughter and son, and four grandchildren.
Calandra Fergerson, Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Biography: Calandra “Fergie” Fergerson serves as the Suicide Prevention and Outreach Coordinator
for the Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS), and the State Lead for the
Governor’s Challenge to prevent Suicide among SMVF. GDVS Suicide Prevention Teams
is one of the two recipients in the state who were awarded the SSG Gordon Parker Fox,
Suicide Prevention Grant. The SSG Fox grant allows Calandra and her team to provide
Suicide Prevention Training and Awareness, gather data to identify “Hot Spots” in
the state and connect SMVF with the resources they need, utilizing the Veterans Administration
and community resources. Additionally, Calandra is a Military Veteran with 24 years
of service During her military career, she deployed in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) (2003 – 2004). She also served in
various positions while in the military, to include a Senior Interrogator, Human Intelligence
Collector, Platoon SGT, Recruiter, and Senior Human Resources SGT. Lastly, Calandra
is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with an associate degree in health care
administration, with emphasis of medical Records (2013). She also holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Psychology (2017), as well as a Certification in Human Resources
(2019) She served for 11 years as the Manager for the Substance Abuse and Suicide
Prevention Team for the Georgia Army National Guard’s 11,000 Soldiers and holds a
Master Certification in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer (ASIST). Calandra
is dedicated to improving the lives of Service Members, Veterans, and their families,
and removing the stigma surrounding mental health.
Dr. Qwynn A. Galloway-Salazar, In Their Honor LLC
Biography: Meet Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar, an Army Veteran and End-of-Life Doula, Educator,
and Founder of In Their Honor, LLC. Throughout more than two decades of dedication
to enhancing the quality of life and well-being of our Nation's Military and Veterans,
Qwynn has acquired a deep understanding of how military experiences can have long-term
impacts on one's life and the lives of loved ones. Qwynn's passion for serving those
who have served their country is reflected in her work. She deeply understands the
unique needs and challenges that Veterans face as they approach the end of their lives.
Her recent work has touched the hearts of those compassionately caring for and supporting
Veterans and their loved ones. Qwynn works closely with communities, End-of-Life professionals,
and organizations to ensure Veterans receive the care and compassion they deserve.
Her warmth, dedication, and compassionate approach inspire and touch the hearts of
all those she serves. Since sparking critical conversations related to death and dying
amongst our Nation's Veterans and their loved ones, Qwynn has had the pleasure of
collaborating with various organizations throughout the country, including the PsychArmor
Institute, The International End of Life Doula Association, End of Life University,
the International Doulagivers Institute, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the National
Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's- We Honor Veterans Program, and the National
End of Life Doula Alliance, to educate those who serve Veterans. Her commitment to
this cause is unwavering and has far-reaching implications. In addition to her work
as an end-of-life doula and advocate, Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar serves as Vice Chair
on the Board of Directors for the Minority Veterans of America, sits on the Advisory
Board of the Veterans Studies Association, and is the Co-Principal Investigator for
the City University of New York's Brooklyn College: Veterans History Project. Additionally,
her research interest includes women veterans' visibility and story collecting. Her
contributions to the field of Veterans' care are significant, and she has an impressive
academic background, having earned a doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology
from Walden University. In 2022, Qwynn was recognized as the inaugural Georgia Woman
Veteran of the Year for her unwavering dedication to service.
Rachael Holloman, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Biography: Rachael currently works for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
Disabilities as the Suicide Prevention Director and previously worked for DBHDD as
the Transition Coordinator for Residential Services in the Region 4 Field Office in
Thomasville, Georgia, since 2016. She has a Master’s Degree in Clinical/Counseling
Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has been providing services
in the field of Behavioral Health for approximately two decades. Some of her past
experience includes supervising a Community Support Team in rural communities, providing
leadership as the Mental Health Director of a DJJ Regional Youth Detention Center
(RYDC), supervising an Intensive Family Intervention (IFI) team, as well as providing
services in a private capacity for individuals involved with DJJ and DFCS, and assisting
rural farmers in understanding, applying for, and receiving much needed grant funding
following natural disasters. Rachael has spent her entire life both living and working
in rural communities in Georgia, especially South Georgia. Rural mental health services
and suicide prevention services are passions of hers.
You can hear Rachael speak during a breakout session on Thursday, May 25 at 2 p.m.
Marcus Laird, U.S. Air Force
Check back soon for Marcus’ biography.
Chelle Lamb, LCSW, Atlanta VA, HCS
Biography: Chelle Lamb, MSW, LCSW earned her BA in Psychology and MSW in Social Work with honors
from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. She worked as a Social Service
Director in two nursing homes prior to entering graduate school and upon completion
of her studies, worked in Hospice settings as a Case Manager and Coordinator before
moving to GA to be close to family. Upon moving, she became employed at the Atlanta
VA Health care System. Ms. Lamb served in the homeless program for 6 years then transitioned
to Suicide Prevention where she has been since 2017. Ms. Lamb received several accolades
for her work in the Homeless Program, and was most recently named Atlanta VA’s Employee
of the Month in May 2022. Ms. Lamb enjoys working in her current role and with veterans
in general as she finds it rewarding to see the resilience of the human spirit, especially
in our nation’s heroes. Her favorite quote is Be the Change You want to see in the
world and strives each day to fulfil this to the best of her ability.
Dr. Brian Moore, AMES Research Center, Kennesaw State University
Biography: Brian A. Moore, Ph.D. is a health psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology
at Kennesaw State University. Before joining Kennesaw State, he served more than 10
years in the United States Army as an Infantry officer and continues to serve as a
Major in the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Moore has a Ph.D. in military health psychology
and has completed pre- and post-doctoral fellowships in health and trauma psychology.
You can hear Dr. Moore speak during a breakout session on Wednesday, May 24 at 2 p.m.
Gregory J. Rosso, Unite Georgia
Biography: Gregory has more than 20 years of experience in building community and corporate
partnerships, fundraising, public relations and volunteer management. He has a history
of building long-lasting relationships with community partners such as schools, faith-based
organizations, and nonprofit organizations. Gregory retired from the United States
Air Force, where he spent 21 years in the Human Resources arena. Social Services has
been Gregory’s second career, where he has a total of 10 years of experience working
directly with case managers to assist with finding creative ways to fill gaps within
the community. As a Community Engagement Manager with Unite Georgia, Gregory is passionate
about the communities he works in, understands their history, culture, and challenges,
and wants to make it healthier and more equitable for everyone. Gregory connects health
and social-care organizations to build local networks through the Unite Us Platform.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Effingham County Family Connection
Commission.
Sharonda Watson, Georgia Army National Guard
Biography: CH (MAJ) Sharonda Watson. I have served in the Georgia National Guard as a chaplain
for 12 years. I also work in a title 5 position as a prevention specialist with the
Ga National Guard, full time. I have been married for 22 years and have two children
ages 20 and 17. I have a Masters in Christian Education from the Interdenominational
Theological Center in Atlanta, Masters of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia
and a current Doctor of Ministry student at Wesley Seminary in DC.
Exhibit Hall Organizations
There are many organizations and professionals performing the important work of suicide
prevention and related services for service members, veterans, and their families.
In fact, it can be difficult to keep track of every organization and professional.
In order to promote awareness of the resources and services provided throughout the
state of Georgia, the Let’s Connect Summit is featuring an opportunity for attendees
to get to know a selection of relevant organizations in the Exhibit Hall.
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Exhibit Hall Organizations
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- AboutFace-USA
- Atlanta VA
- Carl Vinson VA Medical Center
- Cobb Collaborative Connecting Cobb Veterans
- Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
- GA Department of Public Safety -
- Office of Public Safety Support
- Georgia Department of Veterans Service
- Georgia Military Women
- Georgia National Guard Integrated Primary Prevention Program
- Georgia War Veterans Home
- Highland Rivers Behavioral Health
- Mental Health America of Georgia
- Mindcology Counseling Services
- Operation Homefront
- Riverwoods Behavioral
- Shepherd Center - SHARE Military Initiative
- Sierra Club
- SK battery America
- The Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services Research, Kennesaw
State University
- The Warrior Alliance
- Unite Georgia
- VA Vet Center (Marietta)
