Executive Overview
Mental health advocacy among youth and young adults has entered a critical new era. As universities and communities across the globe navigate compounding stressors—ranging from academic pressures and systemic socioeconomic inequities to the ongoing digital transformation of daily life—the demand for student-led, peer-informed mental health intervention has never been higher. 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.
Announcing its official roster for the 2026–2027 academic term, Active Minds has introduced its latest cohort of the Student Advisory Committee (SAC). Comprising six exceptionally driven Gen Z student leaders representing diverse geographical backgrounds, academic disciplines, and lived experiences, the SAC acts as the authoritative national voice for student mental health. These young leaders do more than advocate; they actively collaborate with Active Minds national staff to shape program planning, optimize chapter management, design national conferences, and guide community-building initiatives that reach thousands of students nationwide.
This report provides an in-depth profile of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee, examining their individual credentials, academic pursuits, and visionary approaches to dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health. Through their leadership, Active Minds continues to bridge the gap between grassroots student activism and systemic health policy.
Detailed Chronology: The Evolution of Student-Led Mental Health Advocacy
The establishment of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee represents the latest milestone in a decades-long evolution of youth-driven public health advocacy. Understanding the trajectory of this committee requires examining how student advocacy has transformed from localized peer support groups into a nationally recognized force influencing institutional policy.
Phase One: Grassroots Mobilization (Early Foundation)
Historically, campus mental health initiatives were strictly top-down structures managed by university counseling centers or administrative boards. However, the recognition that students respond best to peer-to-peer communication catalyzed the formation of independent student groups. Over the past two decades, organizations like Active Minds transformed these isolated efforts into an interconnected national network of campus chapters.
Phase Two: Institutional Integration and Policy Influence
As the mental health crisis among young adults intensified—exacerbated by modern academic pressures and societal shifts—student leaders demanded a seat at the table. Active Minds established the Student Advisory Committee to formalize this pipeline. Rather than merely participating in campus events, SAC members began advising national executives, speaking at congressional briefings, and contributing directly to youth mental health policy frameworks.
Phase Three: The 2026–2027 Cohort and Holistic Intersecting Advocacy
The newly minted 2026–2027 SAC cohort marks a distinct departure from single-issue advocacy. Today’s student leaders recognize that mental health cannot be decoupled from public health, systemic equity, technological innovation (such as artificial intelligence in healthcare), and socioeconomic justice. The modern advisory committee is uniquely equipped with cross-disciplinary expertise, blending molecular biology, computer science, public health, and policy-making to tackle the structural roots of psychological distress.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The State of Gen Z Mental Health
To fully grasp the significance of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee, one must understand the epidemiological and sociological landscape defining today’s student population.
Key Contextual Metrics in Youth Mental Health:
- The Prevalence of Psychological Distress: According to national health assessments, over 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem, including generalized anxiety, major depressive disorder, or acute stress.
- The Access Gap: Despite rising awareness, structural barriers—such as fragmented healthcare systems, long waiting lists at campus counseling centers, and persistent social stigmas—prevent significant portions of the student body from receiving continuous, high-quality care.
- The Power of Peer Communities: Research consistently demonstrates that peer-led interventions significantly lower the barrier to help-seeking behaviors. Students are demonstrably more likely to seek support when encouraged by trained peers who share their lived experiences and cultural backgrounds.
The Active Minds SAC functions as a direct response to these metrics. By channeling the collective insights of Gen Z activists, the committee helps design scalable, culturally competent programs that dismantle these systemic barriers from the ground up.
Meet the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee Cohort
The 2026–2027 cohort brings an extraordinary array of talents, research backgrounds, and leadership experiences to the national stage. 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
- Field of Study: Psychological Science & Public Health
- Campus Leadership: President, Active Minds Salem College; Students for Reproductive Freedom; Siblings Demand Justice
Kailani Goggans approaches mental health through the lens of holistic community care and intersectional advocacy. On her campus, she serves as a driving force for multiple progressive organizations, actively educating and empowering her peers to engage with civic and wellness issues. Professionally, Kailani plans to attend medical school to pursue a dual MD and Master’s in Public Health degree. Her ultimate career objective is to bridge clinical medical practice with community-level health policy and actionable social reform. Outside of her rigorous academic and leadership commitments, Kailani finds balance through indoor cycling, spending time with her animals, and gaming.
2. Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora (he/they)
- Institution: Colorado State University Pueblo
- Field of Study: Public Health (Minors in Spanish and Leadership Studies)
- Regional & National Advocacy: Youth Advisory Board for Colorado (Young Invincibles), The Hub for Youth Centered Engagement
As a first-generation Chicano-CHamoru student, Dionisio "Dio" Taitano-Samora brings an essential equity-centered perspective to the Active Minds SAC. Dio is deeply committed to dismantling systemic disparities within higher education and healthcare. Through his work with organizations like Young Invincibles, he actively advocates for state and national policies supporting young adult mental health, expanded healthcare access, and equitable workforce opportunities. Looking forward, Dio aims to conduct pioneering research on access to STEM education and its direct correlation to public health outcomes. In his personal time, Dio enjoys hiking, exploring new culinary recipes, and language learning.
3. Rhea Makkuni (she/her)
- Institution: Johns Hopkins University
- Field of Study: Molecular and Cellular Biology & Computer Science
- Research & Leadership: Researcher in the PALS Lab (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine); President, Active Minds Johns Hopkins Chapter
Rhea Makkuni represents the cutting edge where biomedical science, artificial intelligence, and mental health advocacy intersect. At Johns Hopkins, Rhea conducts sophisticated research in the PALS Lab, applying artificial intelligence methodologies to the study and diagnosis of mood disorders. As the president of her campus Active Minds chapter, she leads initiatives that connect local, community-based mental health efforts with broader global health challenges—such as fragmented care systems, resource navigation barriers, and persistent social stigma. When she is not immersed in computational biology or clinical research, Rhea enjoys biking, vocal performance, dancing, and engaging in lively conversations with friends.
4. Amy Senkerik (she/her)
- Institution: Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University
- Field of Study: Biological Science & Global Health (Certificate in Evolutionary Medicine)
- National & Clinical Engagement: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute; Mayo Clinic & Cedars-Sinai Cancer-Neuroscience Researcher
Amy Senkerik possesses a remarkably extensive background in clinical research, emergency medical services, and systemic advocacy. A former speaker at the Active Minds Congressional Briefing and an alumna of the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute, Amy’s advocacy spans individual, community, and systemic levels. Her impressive resume includes cancer-neuroscience research at the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai, fellowship work at Harvard Medical School, and research as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Toronto. Furthermore, she serves as an Emergency Medical Technician and leads the Refugee Education and Clinic Team. Amy envisions a career as a physician operating at the critical intersection of clinical practice, mental health research, and health policy. An avid endurance athlete, Amy completed the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and has studied global health abroad in Australia.
5. Arjun Nair (he/him)
- Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
- Field of Study: Biology (Guaranteed Medical Admissions Program)
- Leadership & Professional Advocacy: President, Active Minds at VCU; Student Advisory Board of the American Academy of HIV Medicine
Arjun Nair is dedicated to transforming clinical approaches to behavioral health, substance use, and marginalized community care. As President of Active Minds at VCU, Arjun works tirelessly to normalize mental health conversations, promote evidence-based self-care practices, and deepen student engagement in advocacy. Professionally, Arjun’s research focuses on behavioral health, substance use disorders, and expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment within substance use care settings. By serving on the Student Advisory Board of the American Academy of HIV Medicine and joining the Active Minds National Student Board, Arjun aims to strengthen inter-chapter communication and empower young adults to become confident mental health champions within their respective communities.
6. Ivanna Sintes-Klein (she/her)
- Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
- Field of Study: Health Promotion and Behavioral Science (Minor in Health Communication)
- Campus Initiatives: Founder and President, Teddy Bear Hospital USA at UT; Longhorn SHARE Support Specialist; Student Health Advisory Committee
Ivanna Sintes-Klein is a seasoned student leader with a profound track record of founding and scaling mental health and health education organizations. Prior to transferring to UT Austin, Ivanna attended Texas State University, where she founded Bobcat C.A.R.E. (Creating Awareness, Resiliency, and Empowerment)—the institution’s inaugural mental health advocacy organization—which earned "Organization of the Year" honors under her leadership. At UT Austin, she serves as a Longhorn SHARE Support Specialist, providing certified peer support, mental health first aid, and resource navigation. Additionally, she founded the UT chapter of Teddy Bear Hospital USA, utilizing imaginative play to alleviate medical anxiety in children while promoting public health education. Appointed as a student representative to the Student Health Advisory Committee, Ivanna remains committed to making mental health support universally accessible. In her leisure time, she enjoys playing pool and writing poetry.
Official Statements & Institutional Vision
The unveiling of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee underscores Active Minds’ enduring philosophy: that sustainable solutions to the mental health crisis must be co-created with the very populations they aim to serve.
National leadership at Active Minds emphasizes that the SAC is not merely an advisory body, but an engine of cultural transformation. By pairing institutional resources with the untiring energy, intellectual rigor, and diverse lived experiences of Gen Z leaders like Goggans, Taitano-Samora, Makkuni, Senkerik, Nair, and Sintes-Klein, the organization continues to set the benchmark for youth-led advocacy.
Future Outlook: The Road Ahead for Gen Z Mental Health Advocacy
As the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee steps into their roles, their collective agenda points toward several transformative goals for the upcoming academic year and beyond:
- Expanding Intersectional Mental Health Frameworks: Moving beyond broad awareness campaigns to address how race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, and immigration background uniquely impact psychological well-being.
- Integrating Technology and Clinical Science: Leveraging modern tools—such as AI-driven psychiatric research and digital peer-support networks—to streamline resource navigation and reduce systemic friction in healthcare delivery.
- Institutional Policy Reform: Amplifying student voices directly to policymakers at university, state, and federal levels to secure permanent funding, expanded counseling infrastructure, and comprehensive mental health parity laws.
How to Get Involved
Communities, educational institutions, and student activists interested in collaborating with their local Student Advisory Committee representative or partnering on upcoming mental health initiatives are encouraged to reach out directly via email at [email protected].
Through the vision, dedication, and tireless labor of leaders like the 2026–2027 SAC cohort, Active Minds continues to prove that youth-led movements are not just preparing for the future—they are actively healing the present.
