Executive Overview
Mental health advocacy in the United States has reached a critical juncture. As higher education institutions grapple with unprecedented mental health crises, escalating rates of anxiety and depression among Gen Z, and persistent systemic barriers to care, the voice of the student has never been more vital. Enter Active Minds, the nation’s premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. At the heart of this national movement is the Student Advisory Committee (SAC), a dynamic cohort of undergraduate leaders chosen to steer the organization’s student-driven initiatives, national conferences, and chapter management.
The announcement of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee highlights an inspiring roster of young changemakers. Hailing from diverse academic backgrounds—ranging from molecular biology and public health to computer science and global health—these student leaders are not merely advocates; they are researchers, community organizers, EMTs, and policy pioneers. Operating at the intersection of grassroots action and institutional reform, the 2026–2027 cohort is positioned to amplify youth voices across national media platforms, advise Active Minds national leadership, and fundamentally reshape how mental health support is conceptualized and delivered across American campuses.
Detailed Chronology and Selection Context
The formation of the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee is the culmination of a rigorous, highly competitive national selection process designed to identify the most dedicated and visionary student leaders within the organization’s vast network of campus chapters.
- Early Recruitment & Nomination Phase: Throughout the preceding academic terms, Active Minds chapters nationwide identify and nominate student leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to reducing mental health stigma, fostering campus community care, and executing impactful peer-led advocacy campaigns.
- Application & Review: Nominees undergo a comprehensive evaluation by national staff and advisory panels, assessing their leadership track record, academic focus, community impact, and strategic vision for national youth advocacy.
- Cohort Announcement: The official unveiling of the incoming cohort marks the transition of responsibilities, empowering the new members to immediately begin collaborating with national staff on program planning, regional chapter engagement, and the upcoming National Conference.
- Annual Advocacy Integration: Following their appointment, SAC members are immediately integrated into high-level initiatives, including congressional briefings, regional leadership summits, and national policy advocacy campaigns, setting a fast-paced tone for their tenure.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The State of Gen Z Mental Health
To fully appreciate the gravity of the work undertaken by the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee, one must examine the broader socio-educational landscape in which these young leaders operate.
The Collegiate Mental Health Landscape
According to ongoing national health assessments, more than 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety. Despite rising awareness, systemic challenges continue to plague higher education:
- Fragmented Care Systems: Many university counseling centers face severe resource constraints, leading to long wait times and inadequate continuity of care between semesters or upon graduation.
- Stigma and Cultural Barriers: Marginalized student populations—including first-generation college students, students of color, and LGBTQ+ youth—frequently encounter compounded cultural stigmas and institutional hurdles that discourage help-seeking behavior.
- The Intersection of Public Health and Clinical Practice: Modern advocacy requires holistic approaches that bridge individual wellness with systemic policy reform, addressing social determinants of health such as housing, economic stability, and educational access.
The 2026–2027 SAC cohort directly addresses these systemic gaps through multifaceted expertise, merging clinical research, legislative advocacy, peer-support frameworks, and grassroots organizing.
Meet the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee Cohort
The individual profiles of the newly appointed SAC members reveal a group of extraordinary individuals whose academic pursuits directly inform their mental health advocacy.
Kailani Goggans (Salem College)
- Academic Focus: Psychological Science & Public Health
- Leadership Roles: President, Active Minds Salem College; Students for Reproductive Freedom; Siblings Demand Justice.
- Vision & Objectives: Kailani is deeply committed to community care and wellness. By bridging medical practice with public health policy, she aims to dismantle barriers to healthcare access. Her long-term professional aspirations include earning an MD and a Master’s in Public Health, ensuring that future medical interventions are deeply attuned to community needs and health equity.
Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora (Colorado State University Pueblo)
- Academic Focus: Public Health (Minors in Spanish and Leadership Studies)
- Leadership Roles: Member, Young Invincibles Youth Advisory Board (Colorado); Advocate, The Hub for Youth Centered Engagement.
- Vision & Objectives: As a first-generation Chicano-CHamoru student, Dio brings a crucial equity-centered perspective to the committee. He focuses on creating a more just education system for students of color, advocating for policies that support young adult mental health, workforce readiness, and healthcare access. His future academic pursuits involve researching access to STEM education and its direct correlation to public health outcomes.
Rhea Makkuni (Johns Hopkins University)
- Academic Focus: Molecular and Cellular Biology and Computer Science
- Leadership Roles: President, Johns Hopkins Active Minds Chapter; Researcher, PALS Lab (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine).
- Vision & Objectives: Rhea is at the forefront of technological innovation in mental health, applying artificial intelligence in research settings to study mood disorders. Her on-campus leadership sheds light on global mental health challenges, including fragmented systems, continuity of care, and resource navigation. Rhea’s multidisciplinary approach exemplifies how technical innovation can intersect with compassionate, community-based mental health advocacy.
Amy Senkerik (Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University)
- Academic Focus: Biological Science and Global Health (Certificate in Evolutionary Medicine)
- Leadership Roles: Outreach Team, ASU Counseling Services; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Refugee Education and Clinic Team.
- Vision & Objectives: Amy’s advocacy portfolio is vast and impressive. A veteran of the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute and a speaker at the Active Minds Congressional Briefing, Amy also works as an EMT and conducts cancer-neuroscience research at the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai. Having completed research fellowships at Harvard Medical School and as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Toronto, Amy is dedicated to integrating clinical research, psychiatry, and health policy to transform systemic mental healthcare delivery.
Arjun Nair (Virginia Commonwealth University)
- Academic Focus: Biology (Guaranteed Medical Admissions Program)
- Leadership Roles: President, Active Minds at VCU; Student Advisory Board Member, American Academy of HIV Medicine.
- Vision & Objectives: Arjun focuses heavily on destigmatizing mental health while pioneering initiatives centered on substance use disorder support and HIV prevention within treatment settings. Through his involvement with the Active Minds National Student Board, Arjun aims to strengthen inter-chapter communication and empower youth to become confident mental health champions within their respective communities.
Ivanna Sintes-Klein (The University of Texas at Austin)
- Academic Focus: 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 Health Advisory Committee Representative.
- Vision & Objectives: A proven serial founder of student mental health organizations—having previously founded Bobcat C.A.R.E. at Texas State University—Ivanna is an expert in peer support, mental health first aid, and community building. Certified in peer support frameworks, she is dedicated to fostering environments where students feel safe, empowered, and equipped to ask for help without fear of judgment.
Official Statements and Strategic Vision
Leadership at Active Minds has emphasized the critical importance of the Student Advisory Committee in steering national dialogues. While the student leaders act as independent catalysts on their respective campuses, their collective voice serves as an essential compass for the organization’s national staff.
"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," noted national program coordinators.
By serving as a bridge between campus chapters and national strategy, the SAC ensures that Active Minds programming remains responsive to the evolving needs of contemporary students. National staff work closely with the committee to refine chapter toolkits, design impactful national conferences, and advocate for policy changes that prioritize student psychological well-being at both state and federal levels.
Future Outlook: The Road Ahead for 2026–2027
As the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee steps into its tenure, the agenda is both ambitious and urgent. Key strategic priorities for the upcoming term include:
- Expanding Peer-Led Support Networks: Enhancing mental health first aid training and peer support models across high schools and universities to ensure early intervention.
- Advancing Health Equity: Amplifying marginalized student voices—particularly first-generation students, LGBTQ+ individuals, and students of color—to ensure that mental health resources are culturally competent and universally accessible.
- Driving Policy and Legislative Action: Leveraging platforms such as congressional briefings and youth advisory boards to lobby for increased funding for campus mental health services, reduced bureaucratic barriers to care, and comprehensive suicide prevention strategies.
- Strengthening National Chapter Connectivity: Fostering deeper collaboration among hundreds of Active Minds chapters nationwide to share best practices, pool resources, and sustain momentum in the movement to end mental health stigma.
Get Involved
Active Minds encourages educational institutions, community leaders, and students interested in collaborating with their local representatives to take direct action. For inquiries regarding partnership opportunities, chapter management, or community mental health initiatives, stakeholders are encouraged to contact [email protected].
The work of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee proves that the future of mental health advocacy is in exceptionally capable hands—driven by resilience, science, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to systemic change.
