Ana Radovic, Project Director
Educational Background: I have a BA in Biology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and also went to medical school there for my MD. Then I did pediatrics residency and adolescent medicine fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. I also have a Masters in Clinical Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- Get rid of all tobacco and drugs forever
- Make healthcare universal and free for everyone
- Mandatory 3 day weekends for everyone
Kayla Odenthal, Research Assistant
Educational Background: I am a current part-time graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. I did my undergraduate work at Carlow University, where I received a BSW, with a concentration in crisis intervention, and another concentration in behavioral health.
If I had a magic wand I would…
- Appear wherever I needed to be on time so that I would never have to spend time commuting.
- Make all basic needs affordable to every person.
- Pay off everyone’s student loans to aid our economy.
- Make sleep unnecessary.
- Eliminate addiction.
- Eliminate abuse of all kinds
Ana T. Flores, M.S.W. Intern, Moderator
Educational Background: I have my BA in psychology from California State University and am currently an MSW/PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work.
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- Make everyone in the world kind, empathetic, and open minded.
- Make Apparition, the Floo Network, and Portkeys a reality
- Take special requests for gifts
Ji-Eun Choi, M.S.W. Intern, Moderator
Educational Background: I am currently pursuing an MSW degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Before graduate school, I received a BS in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry from Duke University.
If I had a magic wand I would…
- Eliminate all forms of hate speech and hate crime
- End poverty
- Allow everyone to find inner peace
Sana Karim, Project Assistant, Website Editor
Educational Background: I’m currently a full-time graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh studying Applied Developmental Psychology, with a concentration in Applied Research Methods for Child and Youth Serving Organizations. I got my B.A. in English with a minor in psychology and writing at Drexel University.
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- Make all types of education and the resources needed for it free
- Give everyone access to basic and livable housing and food
- Stop climate change
Alyssa Davidson, Web Developer
Educational Background: I’m an Information Science major at the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Human-Computer Interaction and minors in Computer Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- Eliminate extreme income inequality and make sure that everyone’s basic needs were met through free healthcare, housing, education, etc.!
- Stop/Reverse climate change #SaveTheEarth!
Maria Symonds, Student Research Assistant
Educational Background: I am currently an undergraduate psychology student at the University of Pittsburgh.
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- Ensure every child has access to an education
- Create a cure for Type 1 Diabetes
- Make a cup of coffee appear in my hand every time I’m tired so that I don’t have to spend time waiting in line for one
Halle Celebrezze, Student Research Assistant
Educational Background: I am currently a Junior at the University of Pittsburgh double-majoring in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. I also sing in two different acapella groups on campus!
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- Help everyone feel better
- Make time stop for a bit so I can catch up on sleep
Anthony Blair, Student Research Assistant
Educational Background: I’m majoring in psychology and minoring in philosophy. I plan on going to graduate school for psychology to pursue a career in clinical psychology.
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- End poverty by making sure that everyone’s basic needs like food, water, shelter were provided to them and give them financial secuiryt
- Make sure everyone has an opportunity to have an education, including college education
- End climate change
Sharanya Bandla, Website Support
Educational Background: I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Bioinformatics. I’m also proficient in the following languages: Java, Python, Swift, CSS, and HTML.
If I had a wand, I would…
- Take away all the stigma and prejudice associated with individuals who suffer from mental illnesses, especially on college campuses.
- Teleport from class to class so I’d never be late again!
Jing Hua, Website Support
Educational Background: My name is Jing Hua, currently a graduate student in the Department of Information Science at University of Pittsburgh. I got my bachelor’s degree in computer science several years ago in China. I am good at web development, interface design and analysis, database management and android application development. I am also interested in E-business.
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- Create a magic children’s museum, where children have different experience each time they go.
- Create an E-business application, where blind people and illiterate people can shop online smoothly and safely.
STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY BOARD:
Amy Philips-Haller, Parent Advocate
Educational & Professional Background: A long-time graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, I hold a Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts degree in Speech Communication with an emphasis in Mass Media.
I am a student and narrator of the human experience. Over the years, I have documented stories for television in Atlanta, as well as produced Everyday Science, a show that aired worldwide on public radio. Now a reporter, I generate headlines for local publications, including the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette.
Recently, I scripted It Pains Me to Discuss, a novel documenting the difficult journey of a child with a chronic health condition. I share the draft with physicians, in hopes of expanding patient care conversation to include the parent component. I also serve on two advisory panels for ongoing research projects at Children’s Hospital.
If I had a magic wand, I would… have purchased it at Ollivanders. Inside the carved mahogany would reside the feather of a phoenix. Why? Every day is an opportunity to rise from the ashes and begin again.
Rachel Whitman, Youth Advocate
Educational Background: I have my BA in psychology (minor in anthropology) from the University of Virginia, my M.S.Ed. with a focus on Community Mental Health and Special Education Support from Duquesne University, and I am currently working on my EdD in Educational Leadership with a focus on disability studies at Duquesne University.
If I had a magic wand, I would…
- Make our world accessible in every way! Our understanding of “disability” is really just a social construct. We give someone a disability label because this person interacts with our world differently. Our default “normal person” is an able-bodied, neurotypical person – but there is so much beautiful diversity out there! We have to reconstruct our physical world and re-conceptualize our definition of humankind to reflect all types of people and thus respect all experiences, provide everyone equitable access to opportunities, and cultivate truly inclusive communities.
- Provide all individuals with mental illnesses effective treatments that they can customize based on their needs. Some examples: psychiatric medications with no side effects, free health care, a medical system that really listens and truly honors stakeholder experience, and a cure for eating disorders (a category of mental illness that is so devastating and difficult to treat).
- Body positivity and feminism for everyone!!!
- Have a pet sloth who I would wear around the office so we could snuggle each other all day. Top three names: Humphrey, Agnes, or KaleChip