Executive Overview
Mental health advocacy in the United States has reached a critical juncture. As higher education institutions grapple with unprecedented mental health challenges among Gen Z, student-led initiatives are increasingly proving to be the vanguard of systemic change. At the forefront of this movement is Active Minds, the nation’s premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults.
Active Minds has officially announced its 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee (SAC), a handpicked cohort of exceptional young leaders representing campuses nationwide. These changemakers serve as the national voice for student mental health, advising the organization’s national staff on strategic initiatives, chapter management, program planning, and community-building frameworks. More than just an advisory board, the SAC acts as a bridge between campus-level realities and national advocacy platforms—including the planning of the annual Active Minds National Conference.
The newly inducted cohort comprises six diverse, high-achieving student leaders from institutions across the United States. From researching mood disorders using artificial intelligence to pioneering campus mental health organizations and advocating for health equity in underserved communities, these individuals embody the intersection of lived experience, academic rigor, and relentless community care. This report provides an in-depth look at the mission of the SAC, profiles each member of the 2026–2027 cohort, examines the broader context of youth-led mental health advocacy, and outlines the future outlook for student-driven mental health policy.
Detailed Chronology and Organizational Background
To understand the profound impact of the Student Advisory Committee, it is essential to trace the evolution of Active Minds and its youth engagement strategies. Founded in 2003 by Alison Malmon following the tragic loss of her brother to suicide, Active Minds has grown from a single campus chapter into a nationwide network operating on hundreds of high school, college, and university campuses.
As the organization expanded, national leadership recognized a vital necessity: policies and programs designed for students must be co-created with students. This realization led to the formal establishment of the Student Advisory Committee.
Over the years, the timeline of the SAC has evolved to reflect contemporary crises and opportunities:
- The Early Decades: Initially focused on breaking the stigma surrounding mental health conversations on college campuses, the organization relied on grassroots peer education.
- The Digital and Policy Shift (2020–2025): Driven by the compounding mental health effects of global isolation, academic disruptions, and socio-political stressors, the SAC pivoted toward legislative advocacy, digital organizing, and addressing systemic barriers in healthcare access.
- The 2026–2027 Cohort Induction: Marking a new era of cross-disciplinary advocacy, the current cohort brings together students specializing in public health, computer science, molecular biology, and health communication. Their collective term focuses heavily on bridging the gap between clinical research, institutional policy, and grassroots community care.
Throughout their tenure, SAC members participate in national media campaigns, collaborate with corporate and nonprofit partners, and act as liaisons to hundreds of Active Minds chapters, ensuring that the frontline experiences of students directly shape national mental health agendas.
Supporting Context, Metrics, and the Gen Z Mental Health Landscape
The launch of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee occurs against a backdrop of alarming mental health statistics among young adults in the United States. According to recent data from the American College Health Association and national mental health research groups:
- Over 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem, including depression and anxiety.
- While help-seeking behaviors have increased—largely due to destigmatization efforts led by organizations like Active Minds—systemic barriers remain. Fragmentation of care, long wait times for campus counseling services, and cultural stigmas continue to impede access.
- Gen Z activists are increasingly demanding upstream solutions—approaches that address the social determinants of health, such as financial precarity, systemic racism, academic pressure, and climate anxiety, rather than merely treating symptoms post-crisis.
The members of the 2026–2027 SAC are uniquely positioned to tackle these complex metrics. By combining scientific research (such as AI applications in mood disorders and cancer-neuroscience) with community outreach and legislative advocacy, this cohort represents a sophisticated, multi-layered approach to modern mental health leadership.
Meet the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee
The 2026–2027 cohort brings an extraordinary breadth of expertise, lived experience, and visionary leadership to the table. Below are the detailed profiles of the six student leaders guiding Active Minds for the upcoming term.
1. Kailani Goggans (she/her)
- Institution: Salem College
- Areas of Study: Psychological Science & Public Health
- Leadership Roles: President, Active Minds Salem College; President, Students for Reproductive Freedom; President, Siblings Demand Justice
Kailani Goggans is a fierce advocate for community care, wellness, and holistic advocacy. On her campus, she wears multiple leadership hats, driving initiatives that empower her peers to find their voices and engage civically. Kailani’s academic trajectory is rooted in a desire to systemically transform healthcare: she plans to attend medical school to obtain both an MD and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH). Her ultimate goal is to seamlessly bridge clinical medical practice with community-level health policy and action. Outside of her rigorous academic and advocacy schedules, Kailani enjoys indoor cycling, caring for her animals, and unwinding with video games.
2. Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora (he/they)
- Institution: Colorado State University Pueblo
- Areas of Study: Public Health (Majoring); Spanish & Leadership Studies (Minors)
- Leadership Roles: Member, Young Invincibles’ Youth Advisory Board (Colorado); Contributor, The Hub for Youth Centered Engagement
As a first-generation Chicano-CHamoru student, Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora brings a vital intersectional perspective to the Student Advisory Committee. Dio utilizes his background with prominent national advocacy organizations to fight for a more just, equitable education system for students of color. In his role on the Young Invincibles Youth Advisory Board, he actively champions policies that expand young adults’ access to affordable healthcare, mental health resources, and workforce development. Looking ahead, Dio aims to conduct graduate-level research exploring the correlation between STEM education access and public health outcomes to drive health equity forward. In his personal time, Dio is an avid hiker, a culinary experimenter trying out new recipes, and an active language learner.
3. Rhea Makkuni (she/her)
- Institution: Johns Hopkins University
- Areas of Study: Molecular and Cellular Biology & Computer Science
- Leadership Roles: President, Active Minds Johns Hopkins Chapter; Researcher, PALS Lab (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)
Rhea Makkuni sits at the cutting-edge intersection of technology, biology, and mental health. At the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s PALS Lab, Rhea applies artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies to study and better understand mood disorders. On campus, she leads the local Active Minds chapter, where she connects grassroots mental health efforts to broader global challenges—such as fragmented healthcare systems, chronic continuity-of-care issues, and systemic resource barriers. Rhea proves that scientific innovation and compassionate human-centric advocacy can go hand in hand. In her downtime, Rhea enjoys biking, singing, dancing, and engaging in endless conversations with her friends.
4. Amy Senkerik (she/her)
- Institution: Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University (ASU)
- Areas of Study: Biological Science & Global Health; Certificate in Evolutionary Medicine
- Leadership Roles: Outreach Team, ASU Counseling Services; Leader, Refugee Education and Clinic Team; Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute Alumna
Amy Senkerik is a powerhouse of academic research and systemic advocacy. Her impressive resume includes cancer-neuroscience research at the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai, summer research fellowships at Harvard Medical School, and serving as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Toronto. Last year, Amy participated in the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute and notably spoke at the Active Minds Congressional Briefing in May. Beyond her research in evolutionary medicine and global health, Amy is a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and works extensively with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A marathon runner (having completed the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon) and global traveler who has studied abroad in Australia, Amy aspires to practice as a physician operating at the intersection of clinical care, scientific research, and mental health public policy.
5. Arjun Nair (he/him)
- Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
- Areas of Study: Biology (Guaranteed Medical Admissions Program)
- Leadership Roles: President, Active Minds at VCU; Student Advisory Board Member, American Academy of HIV Medicine
Arjun Nair is dedicated to destigmatizing mental health while addressing complex public health crises, particularly substance use disorders and HIV prevention. As President of VCU’s Active Minds chapter, Arjun focuses on introducing his peers to sustainable self-care practices, dismantling mental health stigmas, and scaling up student engagement. Professionally, he is deeply invested in compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals struggling with substance use, conducting behavioral health research in HIV prevention treatment settings. Through his position on the National Student Board, Arjun aims to fortify inter-chapter connections and equip young adults across the country to act as resilient mental health champions within their respective communities.
6. Ivanna Sintes-Klein (she/her)
- Institution: The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)
- Areas of Study: Health Promotion and Behavioral Science; Minor in Health Communication
- Leadership Roles: Chapter Founder and President, Teddy Bear Hospital USA at UT; Longhorn SHARE Support Specialist; Student Government Representative, Student Health Advisory Committee
Ivanna Sintes-Klein is a seasoned student leader and community builder. Before transferring to UT Austin, she attended Texas State University, where she founded Bobcat C.A.R.E. (Creating Awareness, Resiliency, and Empowerment)—the institution’s first-ever mental health advocacy organization, which earned Organization of the Year honors under her leadership. At UT Austin, Ivanna continues her extensive advocacy work: she founded the local chapter of Teddy Bear Hospital USA (a nonprofit utilizing play to ease children’s medical anxiety), serves as a peer support specialist trained in mental health first aid, and advises university leadership on student health policies. Passionate about poetry and playing pool in her free time, Ivanna is dedicated to cultivating spaces where students feel unconditionally supported, heard, and empowered to seek help.
Official Statements and Institutional Vision
The leadership of Active Minds emphasizes that the appointment of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee is not merely symbolic, but foundational to the organization’s strategic vision.
National staff and organizational leaders have repeatedly noted that the insights provided by student advisors directly influence national program rollouts, resource allocation, and campaign messaging. By elevating voices like those of Kailani, Dio, Rhea, Amy, Arjun, and Ivanna, Active Minds ensures that its national footprint remains deeply anchored in the lived realities of today’s youth.
“Powered by youth and young adults, the SAC is an integral part of the mental health work being done by thousands of Gen Z activists across the country,” shared national representatives in announcing the cohort. The organization highlights that student leaders act as vital early-warning systems and innovators on the ground, identifying emerging stressors—ranging from technological isolation and economic uncertainty to academic burnout—long before they register on macro-level institutional radars.
Future Outlook: The Road Ahead for Student Mental Health Advocacy
As the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee embarks on its tenure, the roadmap for youth mental health advocacy points toward deeper institutional integration, legislative reform, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Key priorities for the upcoming term include:
- Expanding Peer-Led Infrastructure: Scaling peer support training programs across high school and university campuses to bridge the gap caused by overloaded professional counseling centers.
- Advocating for Upstream Policy Changes: Pushing for systemic reforms at local, state, and federal levels that recognize mental health care as an essential component of overall educational equity and public health.
- Destigmatizing Complex Conditions: Continuing to break down taboos surrounding intersectional challenges, including substance use disorders, mood disorders, and socio-economic barriers to healthcare access.
The 2026–2027 cohort proves that the future of mental health advocacy is in extraordinarily capable hands. By blending rigorous scientific inquiry, grassroots organizing, compassionate peer support, and fearless policy advocacy, these six student leaders—and the thousands of Active Minds members they represent—are actively redefining what it means to care for communities in the 21st century.
For more information on how to collaborate with your campus representative or to get involved in local mental health action, community members and student advocates are encouraged to reach out to Active Minds at [email protected].
