In an era defined by an escalating youth mental health crisis, student-led initiatives are increasingly stepping up to fill critical gaps in institutional healthcare support. At the forefront of this national movement is Active Minds, a premier nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health advocacy and suicide prevention among young adults. Recently, the organization announced its esteemed 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee (SAC), bringing together a diverse, high-achieving cohort of Gen Z changemakers from universities across the United States.
The SAC serves as the national student voice for Active Minds, acting as a crucial bridge between young activists on the ground and the organization’s national leadership. Committee members are tasked with advising national staff on critical fronts, including student engagement, grassroots community building, program planning, chapter management, and the coordination of the flagship National Conference. More than just an advisory board, the SAC represents a mobilization of the nation’s brightest young minds—future physicians, public health researchers, policymakers, and community organizers—who are determined to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health.
This year’s cohort features six exceptional student leaders: Kailani Goggans, Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora, Rhea Makkuni, Amy Senkerik, Arjun Nair, and Ivanna Sintes-Klein. Hailing from diverse academic backgrounds and geographic regions, these young adults are already spearheading groundbreaking mental health initiatives on their respective campuses. This report provides an in-depth look at the structure of the SAC, profiles each member of the 2026–2027 cohort, examines the broader contextual metrics surrounding the youth mental health crisis, and outlines the future outlook for student-led advocacy.
Detailed Chronology and Evolution of the Student Advisory Committee
The establishment of the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee represents years of institutional evolution aimed at ensuring youth voices are not merely heard, but actively integrated into the governance and programming of national mental health initiatives.
- Foundational Years of Active Minds Chapters: Since its inception, Active Minds has recognized that peer-to-peer communication is one of the most effective tools for combating the stigma of mental illness. College campuses quickly became incubators for student-led chapters, empowering young adults to host destigmatization events, peer support circles, and educational workshops.
- The Need for National Representation: As the network expanded to hundreds of campuses nationwide, national leadership identified a structural need: a dedicated representative body to channel localized grassroots experiences into high-level strategic planning. The Student Advisory Committee was consequently established to serve as the official representative voice for these student bodies in national media and policy discussions.
- The 2026–2027 Cohort Selection: Following a rigorous national application and vetting process, the 2026–2027 SAC cohort was officially selected in the fall of 2026. This incoming group reflects an interdisciplinary blend of expertise, uniting students from molecular biology, public health, computer science, and health communication to tackle mental health through multifaceted lenses.
- Current Mandate and Initiatives: The newly minted committee is immediately stepping into high-impact roles. Throughout the 2026–2027 academic cycle, members will collaborate directly with Active Minds national staff to shape upcoming national campaigns, refine chapter management resources, and plan the organization’s annual conference—a premier gathering of student advocates, educators, and mental health professionals.
Meet the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee Cohort
The strength of the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee lies in the lived experiences, academic rigor, and visionary leadership of its individual members. Below are the comprehensive profiles of the six student leaders guiding the organization for the 2026–2027 term.
Kailani Goggans (Salem College)
- Major/Field of Study: Psychological Science & Public Health
- Campus Leadership: President of Active Minds Salem College, Students for Reproductive Freedom, and Siblings Demand Justice.
- Profile & Ambitions: Kailani Goggans is deeply passionate about community care, advocacy, and holistic wellness. Through her various leadership roles on campus, she actively supports, educates, and inspires her peers to engage with their communities and utilize their civic voices. Academically and professionally, Kailani plans to attend medical school to obtain both an MD and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH). Her ultimate goal is to bridge direct medical practice with community-level policy and action, ensuring that healthcare delivery is equitable and responsive to marginalized populations. Outside of her demanding academic and advocacy schedules, Kailani enjoys indoor cycling, caring for her animals, and unwinding with video games.
Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora (Colorado State University Pueblo)
- Major/Field of Study: Public Health (Minors in Spanish and Leadership Studies)
- Campus & National Leadership: Member of Young Invincibles’ Youth Advisory Board for Colorado; affiliate with The Hub for Youth Centered Engagement.
- Profile & Ambitions: As a first-generation Chicano-CHamoru student, Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora brings a vital intersectional perspective to the SAC. He strives to leverage his background with equity-focused advocacy organizations to construct a more just, inclusive educational system for students of color. In his role on the Young Invincibles Youth Advisory Board, Dio actively advocates for policies that fortify young adult mental health, expand healthcare access, and support workforce development. Looking forward, he aims to conduct rigorous research on access to STEM education and its direct correlation to public health outcomes, using empirical data to advocate for systemic health equity. In his personal time, Dio enjoys hiking, experimenting with new culinary recipes, and language learning.
Rhea Makkuni (Johns Hopkins University)
- Major/Field of Study: Molecular and Cellular Biology and Computer Science
- Campus & Research Leadership: President of the Johns Hopkins Active Minds Chapter; Researcher in the PALS Lab at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
- Profile & Ambitions: Rhea Makkuni sits at the cutting-edge intersection of hard science, technology, and mental health advocacy. In the PALS Lab, she applies artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies to the study and diagnosis of mood disorders, demonstrating how advanced tech can aid psychiatric research. On campus, as President of Active Minds, Rhea leads localized, community-based mental health initiatives. Her frontline work offers her profound insights into global mental health systemic failures, including fragmented systems of care, limited continuity of treatment, persistent social stigmas, and structural barriers to resource navigation. In her free time, Rhea maintains a vibrant personal life through biking, singing, dancing, and engaging in endless conversations with friends.
Amy Senkerik (Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University)
- Major/Field of Study: Biological Science and Global Health (Certificate in Evolutionary Medicine)
- Campus & National Leadership: Active participant in the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute; speaker at the May Active Minds Congressional Briefing; outreach team member for ASU Counseling Services; leader of the Refugee Education and Clinic Team.
- Profile & Ambitions: Amy Senkerik is a powerhouse of academic and advocacy achievement. With a deep commitment to suicide prevention and public health, Amy’s resume reflects a national footprint. Last year, she completed the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute and addressed lawmakers directly at the Active Minds Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. Beyond mental health, Amy serves as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), conducts cancer-neuroscience research at both the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai, and has completed prestigious research internships at Harvard Medical School and as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Toronto. Operating across individual, community, and systemic levels, Amy aspires to work as a physician at the intersection of clinical practice, mental health research, and health policy. When she is not in the lab or clinic, Amy runs marathons (having completed the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon), rock climbs, travels, and studies global health abroad, including time spent in Australia.
Arjun Nair (Virginia Commonwealth University)
- Major/Field of Study: Biology (Guaranteed Medical Admissions Program)
- Campus & National Leadership: President of Active Minds at VCU; Member of the Student Advisory Board of the American Academy of HIV Medicine.
- Profile & Ambitions: Arjun Nair is dedicated to cultivating campus environments that prioritize emotional well-being and proactive self-care. As President of VCU’s Active Minds chapter, he focuses intensely on reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and empowering students to embrace mental health advocacy as a civic duty. Professionally, Arjun’s interests lie in advancing compassionate, destigmatized care for individuals navigating substance use disorders, alongside pioneering HIV prevention strategies within substance use treatment settings. He actively contributes to research examining behavioral health, substance use trends, and equitable access to medical care. As a member of the Active Minds National Student Board, Arjun’s primary goal is to forge stronger collaborative networks among campus chapters, equipping the next generation of youth to act as mental health champions within their local communities.
Ivanna Sintes-Klein (The University of Texas at Austin)
- Major/Field of Study: Health Promotion and Behavioral Science (Minor in Health Communication)
- Campus Leadership: Chapter Founder and President of Teddy Bear Hospital USA at UT; Longhorn SHARE Support Specialist; Student Government representative on the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC); Founder of Bobcat C.A.R.E. at Texas State University.
- Profile & Ambitions: Ivanna Sintes-Klein is a seasoned student organizer with an extraordinary track record of institutional changemaking. Prior to transferring to UT Austin, she founded Bobcat C.A.R.E. (Creating Awareness, Resiliency, and Empowerment) at Texas State University—the institution’s first-ever mental health advocacy organization, which earned Organization of the Year honors under her leadership. At UT Austin, she founded the university’s chapter of Teddy Bear Hospital USA, a national nonprofit that utilizes play-based education to alleviate children’s medical anxiety while promoting health literacy. Additionally, Ivanna serves as a Longhorn SHARE Support Specialist—completing rigorous training in peer support, mental health First Aid, and resource navigation—and sits on the Student Health Advisory Committee to inject student perspectives into university health policy. Driven by a mission to make support universally accessible, Ivanna spends her rare moments of leisure playing pool and writing poetry.
Supporting Context and Metrics: The Urgency of Gen Z Mental Health Advocacy
The appointment of the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Committee occurs against a backdrop of unprecedented mental health challenges facing high school and college-aged populations. Understanding the empirical reality of the Gen Z mental health landscape contextualizes the vital nature of Active Minds’ mission.
- The Prevalence of Psychological Distress: According to data compiled by the American College Health Association (ACHA) and national public health agencies, over 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety.
- The Treatment Gap: Despite rising awareness, a significant portion of young adults experiencing clinical levels of distress do not receive professional care. Barriers include prohibitive financial costs, a severe shortage of campus counseling personnel, and persistent social stigmas that discourage individuals from speaking openly about their struggles.
- The Power of Peer-to-Peer Intervention: Research consistently demonstrates that peer-led advocacy organizations like Active Minds serve as an essential early-intervention safety net. Because young adults are often more likely to confide in peers than institutional authorities, student-led chapters act as vital conduits, successfully connecting distressed students with professional mental health resources before crises escalate.
Official Statements and Institutional Impact
The collective impact of the Student Advisory Committee reverberates across the national mental health landscape, influencing everything from campus policy to federal advocacy.
Active Minds national leadership has repeatedly emphasized that the organization’s success is fundamentally anchored in youth empowerment. By placing students at the decision-making table, Active Minds ensures that its programming remains nimble, culturally competent, and authentically attuned to the evolving needs of Gen Z.
Furthermore, alumni of the Student Advisory Committee routinely transition into influential roles across healthcare, public policy, and corporate leadership, carrying the core tenets of mental health advocacy into their professional careers. The 2026–2027 cohort—with its representation across artificial intelligence in medicine, public health policy, emergency medicine, and peer support systems—is uniquely positioned to carry this legacy forward.
Future Outlook
As the 2026–2027 Active Minds Student Advisory Committee officially commences its term, the roadmap ahead is characterized by ambitious goals and expanded national outreach. Key focus areas for the upcoming academic cycle include:
- Scaling Chapter Collaborations: Enhancing cross-campus communication networks to share successful destigmatization strategies, event programming templates, and fundraising models among hundreds of Active Minds chapters nationwide.
- Amplifying Marginalized Voices: Ensuring that mental health resources and advocacy initiatives are intersectional, addressing the unique systemic barriers faced by students of color, first-generation scholars, LGBTQ+ youth, and international students.
- Advancing Legislative Advocacy: Building upon the momentum of congressional briefings and youth advisory boards to lobby for increased federal and state funding for campus mental health infrastructure, barrier-free healthcare access, and comprehensive suicide prevention programs.
Educational institutions, community organizations, and student advocates interested in collaborating with their local Student Advisory Committee representative—or looking to take actionable steps toward mental health advocacy within their communities—are encouraged to reach out directly to Active Minds national staff at [email protected].
