Executive Overview
As youth mental health continues to navigate unprecedented challenges in an increasingly complex digital and socio-political landscape, the role of student-led advocacy has never been more critical. At the forefront of this national movement is Active Minds, the nation’s premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. Recently, the organization proudly unveiled its 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee (SAC), a dynamic cohort of exceptional Gen Z leaders poised to shape the future of mental health advocacy across the United States.
Comprising driven undergraduate scholars from diverse academic backgrounds and geographic regions, the SAC serves as the vital bridge between the millions of students navigating campus life and the national leadership of Active Minds. These young leaders do more than simply represent their peers; they actively guide national staff on critical fronts, including student engagement, grassroots community building, strategic program planning, chapter management, and the coordination of the renowned Active Minds National Conference.
Powered entirely by the energy, lived experiences, and unyielding dedication of youth and young adults, the SAC is an indispensable engine driving the broader mental health movement forward. From groundbreaking AI-driven neuroscience research to pioneering campus mental health initiatives, the newly announced 2026–2027 cohort exemplifies the profound capacity of Gen Z to transform systemic challenges into blueprints for wellness and equity.
Detailed Chronology and Institutional Context
The establishment and annual evolution of the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee reflect the organization’s enduring commitment to youth-led governance. Founded decades ago to combat the stigma surrounding mental health on college campuses, Active Minds recognized early on that sustainable, impactful mental health initiatives cannot be designed for students in a vacuum—they must be designed by students.
The Selection and Evolution of the SAC
Every year, Active Minds undertakes a rigorous, highly competitive national selection process to identify the most promising student advocates from its vast network of hundreds of campus chapters. Candidates are evaluated not only on their academic achievements and campus leadership but also on their vision for mental health equity, systemic reform, and community-level intervention.
The announcement of the 2026–2027 cohort marks the culmination of months of recruitment and review. As these student leaders step into their roles, they assume a legacy of advocacy that has successfully influenced national conversations, shaped congressional policy briefings, and redefined how universities approach psychological well-being. Over the upcoming term, the committee members will collaborate directly with national strategists, helping to deploy resources, amplify marginalized student voices, and scale innovative campus programs designed to meet the evolving emotional and psychological needs of today’s young adults.
Meet the 2026–2027 Cohort: Profiles in Leadership
The 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee brings together an extraordinary mosaic of talents, disciplines, and lived perspectives. Below is a detailed look at the student leaders driving this year’s national agenda:
Kailani Goggans (Salem College)
- Academic Focus: Psychological Science & Public Health (Aspiring MD/MPH)
- Campus & National Leadership: President, Active Minds Salem College; Students for Reproductive Freedom; Siblings Demand Justice.
- Profile & Vision: Kailani is deeply rooted in the principles of community care, intersectional advocacy, and holistic wellness. On her campus, she serves as a catalyst for student involvement, empowering her peers to utilize their voices in civic and health spaces. Her professional aspirations lie at the intersection of clinical practice and public health policy, aiming to bridge the gap between individual medical treatment and systemic community action. Outside of her rigorous academic and advocacy schedule, Kailani finds balance through indoor cycling, caring for her animals, and gaming.
Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora (Colorado State University Pueblo)
- Academic Focus: Public Health with minors in Spanish and Leadership Studies
- Campus & National Leadership: Member, Young Invincibles Youth Advisory Board (Colorado); Contributor, The Hub for Youth Centered Engagement.
- Profile & Vision: As a first-generation Chicano-CHamoru student, Dio brings a vital equity-centered perspective to the committee. He is fiercely dedicated to dismantling barriers within educational systems and advocating for students of color. Through his work with Young Invincibles, Dio actively campaigns for state-level policies that safeguard young adults’ mental health, expand healthcare access, and support workforce development. Looking forward, he plans to conduct specialized research into STEM education access and its direct correlation to public health outcomes. In his downtime, Dio enjoys exploring nature through hiking, experimenting with new culinary recipes, and language learning.
Rhea Makkuni (Johns Hopkins University)
- Academic Focus: Molecular and Cellular Biology and Computer Science
- Campus & National Leadership: President, Active Minds Johns Hopkins Chapter; Researcher, PALS Lab (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine).
- Profile & Vision: Rhea sits at the bleeding edge of technology and medicine. In the PALS Lab, she applies advanced artificial intelligence models to the study of mood disorders, seeking tech-driven solutions to complex psychiatric challenges. On campus, her leadership with Active Minds gives her a frontline view of global mental health hurdles, including fragmented care systems, resource navigation barriers, and persistent societal stigma. Rhea balances her intensive research and advocacy work with a vibrant personal life that includes cycling, vocal performance, dancing, and spending quality time with friends.
Amy Senkerik (Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University)
- Academic Focus: Biological Science and Global Health with a certificate in Evolutionary Medicine
- Campus & National Leadership: Member, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Outreach Team, ASU Counseling Services; Alumna, Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute; Congressional Briefing Speaker.
- Profile & Vision: Amy is a powerhouse of translational advocacy, bridging individual patient care, institutional outreach, and national public policy. Her impressive resume includes cancer-neuroscience research at the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai, competitive research internships at Harvard Medical School, and serving as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Toronto. An EMT and leader of the Refugee Education and Clinic Team, Amy has also tested her endurance by completing the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. She aims to practice as a physician operating at the critical juncture of mental health research, clinical application, and public health policy.
Arjun Nair (Virginia Commonwealth University)
- Academic Focus: Biology (Guaranteed Medical Admissions Program)
- Campus & National Leadership: President, Active Minds at VCU; Student Advisory Board Member, American Academy of HIV Medicine.
- Profile & Vision: Arjun is committed to destigmatizing mental health while pioneering support systems for highly vulnerable populations. Professionally, his work centers on compassionate care for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, alongside intersectional HIV prevention within treatment settings. Through his research on behavioral health and healthcare access, Arjun strives to equip young adults with the tools to become proactive mental health champions within their local communities. As an SAC member, he aims to strengthen inter-chapter communication and collaboration across the national Active Minds network.
Ivanna Sintes-Klein (The University of Texas at Austin)
- Academic Focus: Health Promotion and Behavioral Science with a minor in Health Communication
- Campus & National Leadership: Chapter Founder and President, Teddy Bear Hospital USA at UT; Longhorn SHARE Support Specialist; Student Health Advisory Committee Representative; Founder of Bobcat C.A.R.E. (Texas State University).
- Profile & Vision: Ivanna is a seasoned student organizer with a proven track record of institutional changemaking. After founding the first-ever mental health advocacy organization at Texas State University—which earned Organization of the Year honors—she continued her advocacy at UT Austin. Certified in peer support and mental health first aid, Ivanna works tirelessly on the ground as a SHARE Support Specialist, helping peers connect with vital mental health resources. Appointed to the Student Health Advisory Committee, she ensures that student perspectives directly shape campus health policies. When she isn’t advocating for systemic mental health reforms, Ivanna enjoys writing poetry and playing pool.
Supporting Context, Metrics, and the Gen Z Mental Health Landscape
The launch of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee arrives against a backdrop of heavily documented strain on youth mental health. According to national health metrics and surveys conducted by organizations like the American College Health Association (ACHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Rising Demand for Services: Over the past five years, campus counseling centers nationwide have reported sustained surges in demand for psychological and psychiatric services, frequently exceeding institutional capacity.
- The Intersectional Burden: Gen Z students increasingly face overlapping stressors, including economic uncertainty, academic pressure, social isolation, and sociopolitical instability. Marginalized student populations—including LGBTQ+ youth, first-generation scholars, and students of color—frequently encounter disproportionate barriers to culturally competent care.
- The Power of Peer-to-Peer Models: Research consistently demonstrates that peer-led interventions and destigmatization campaigns are among the most effective tools for encouraging young adults to seek professional help early. By training students to recognize signs of psychological distress and connect peers with clinical resources, organizations like Active Minds bridge the gap between isolation and community support.
The SAC directly addresses these metrics by channeling grassroots student ingenuity upward into national program design, ensuring that Active Minds’ initiatives remain responsive, inclusive, and empirically grounded.
Official Statements and Leadership Perspectives
While the individual bios of the 2026–2027 cohort highlight their remarkable personal achievements, national leadership emphasizes that the collective impact of the committee is what truly drives the movement forward.
"The Student Advisory Committee represents the beating heart of Active Minds," notes national program leadership. "These young leaders do not just talk about change; they engineer it on their campuses, in their research labs, and through policy advocacy. Their lived experiences and fearless vision ensure that our national programs remain authentic, urgent, and effective."
Alumni and current members alike view the committee as a vital training ground for the next generation of healthcare providers, researchers, and public policy architects. By uniting scholars from disciplines as diverse as computer science, molecular biology, public health, and health communication, the SAC fosters an interdisciplinary approach to mental health that treats wellness not as an isolated issue, but as a fundamental pillar of human rights and societal health.
Future Outlook: Looking Ahead to 2027 and Beyond
As the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee officially steps into its tenure, the roadmap ahead is ambitious. Key strategic priorities for the cohort include:
- Expanding Digital and Community-Based Outreach: Leveraging modern communication strategies and student-led forums to reach demographics that historically underutilize campus mental health resources.
- Advocating for Systemic Policy Reform: Collaborating with national organizations to champion legislation that protects student healthcare access, funds mental health research, and integrates psychological first aid into standard educational curricula.
- Strengthening Chapter Resilience: Providing mentorship, resources, and strategic guidance to hundreds of Active Minds chapters nationwide, empowering local leaders to sustain their advocacy efforts in the face of institutional and financial hurdles.
How to Get Involved
Active Minds encourages educational institutions, community leaders, and students interested in collaborating with their local representatives to take action. Community members looking to partner with their regional SAC representative or learn more about launching campus mental health initiatives can reach out directly via email at [email protected].
Through the visionary leadership of Kailani Goggans, Dio Taitano-Samora, Rhea Makkuni, Amy Senkerik, Arjun Nair, Ivanna Sintes-Klein, and their peers across the nation, Active Minds continues to prove that when youth are handed the microphone, they do not just speak—they build a healthier, more compassionate future for us all.
