Lindsey Whissel Fenton, M.Ed., (she/her) is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, international speaker, outreach strategist, learning designer, and grief educator. In her current role as a senior producer and director at PBS/NPR affiliate WPSU, Lindsey focuses on projects related to grief, trauma, and mental health. She is the creator of Speaking Grief and its sister-initiative, Learning Grief and serves on the board of directors for the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG). Lindsey is the founder of Empathic Media, a company that works with clients from non-profit organizations to provide thoughtful and compelling content creation services. A sought-after speaker on grief awareness and educational outreach strategy, Lindsey delivered a keynote at the 44th Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) Conference and has presented to a variety of organizations, including NACG, American Public Television (APT), Johnson & Johnson, the PBS Annual Meeting, and Comic-Con San Diego, among others. Lindsey earned her bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Digital Arts from Point Park University and her master’s degree in Learning, Design, and Technology from Penn State. She is a dog-mom, an avid reader, and rock climber.
David Hicks, PhD is an award-winning professor and Creative Writing Director at the nationally ranked Wilkes University MFA graduate program. He is also the author of two novels--WHITE PLAINS and THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO DANNY (forthcoming)—along with an autobiographical children's book, THE MAGIC TICKET (Fulcrum Books, 2024), all of which were crafted following the structure taught in this lesson.
Evelyn Wald, MS, MDiv., LPC. is part of the founding group for TIDES and has facilitated the young child group (ages 3-8) for more than 20 years. Currently, she is the Grief Support Specialist for Tides. She has more than 25 years experience as a licensed professional counselor specializing in grief and loss. She facilitates a number of grief support groups including a Suicide Survivor group. Evelyn is also an ordained Lutheran minister.
Download Evelyn's and Marisa's Presentation on Handling Crisis Support in our Schools
Marisa Vicere is a strong believer in the empowerment of young people, Marisa Vicere founded and became president of Jana Marie Foundation in 2012.
The experience of losing her sister Jana Vicere to suicide in 2011 cemented her commitment to helping young people navigate through the tough transitional teen years and educating parents and community members about mental and emotional health.
Marisa's background in marketing, promotions and program implementation has helped her lead the Jana Marie Foundation team in designing and implementing numerous programs including the Straight Talk for People Who Care About Kids seminar series, Candid Conversations video series, Embrace and Ignite Wellness Forums For Young People, Mokita Dialogues —community conversations about topics of vital social concern, and the Stompers Project--a major community project that is using art to bring people together and open up discussions around mental and emotional health.
Download Marisa's Evelyn's Presentation on Handling Crisis Support in our Schools
Shalen Steinbugl has bachelor’s degrees in health communication and psychology from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA, and she is in the process of attaining her master’s in healthcare administration. Since 2019, she has worked directly with grieving families and coordinating volunteers at the Healing Patch Children's Grief Program in Altoona, PA. Shalen has a special interest in supporting families after a suicide loss, as she is a member of the Blair County Suicide Prevention Task Force, helps to coordinate the Blair County Out of the Darkness Walk, and is the committee chair for this year's International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day event. Shalen currently resides in Altoona with her husband Ryan and two daughters, Sienna, age 3, and Scarlett, age 2.
Natalie Hernandez, Ph.D., is the Senior Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Penn State-University Park and a licensed psychologist and licensed professional counselor. She earned degrees from Tufts University, Boston College and Penn State. She leads a team of dedicated clinicians and staff members, sits on the Penn State Behavioral Threat Management Team and is also a trained death doula. She has spoken at State of the Story, a moth-style storytelling event, on her own grief experiences. She presents nationally on Microaggression Repair, Racial Trauma, Stress and Healing. Her current wish is for more scaffolding of difficult dialogue, deep active listening, an increase in microaffirmations, inclusive practices and grace with each other in our communities.
Holly Torbic is originally from the Pittsburgh area. She and her husband have lived in State College for 30 years and are the parents of five children. She attended Westminster College for undergraduate, and University of Pittsburgh for graduate school. She has served in various roles throughout her professional career and in multiple settings including: inpatient medical, inpatient behavioral health, outpatient medical, long-term care, home health and hospice, and the Program Director of Tides for many years. She is currently the Behavioral Health Case Manager at Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), a local free care medical clinic serving individuals in Centre County who are uninsured.
