Advisory Board

Mo Canady is widely recognized for his advocacy of carefully selected, specifically trained, and properly equipped school resource officers and is a respected voice in the school safety arena. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Jacksonville State University. He is a former lieutenant with the City of Hoover Police Department in Hoover, Alabama. The last twelve years of his law enforcement career were spent as the supervisor of the School Services Division. After 25 years of service, he retired from the Hoover Police Department in 2011. Mo has served as the executive director for NASRO since 2011. Under his leadership, the organization has become the premiere training agency for school resource officers (SROs) across the country and around the world, establishing national standards for school-based policing.

Kevin Fischer is the Executive Director of NAMI Michigan. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Steven Hinkley has worked for the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office for over 30 years and is now the elected Sheriff. During his career Sheriff Hinkley has served in numerous areas that have included critical leadership roles, including patrol, corrections, court-transport security, detective bureau, supervision, policy development, training, major crime scene investigations, vehicular homicide investigations, grant writing, crime scene supervision, and development of operational procedures.

Now retired, Peter Houk practiced law for more than 50 years. An adjunct professor of Criminal Law and trial practice at Cooley Law school for 24 years and the President of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association and chief Judge of the seven-judge circuit.

Jason Hutchens is the Area Sales Manager, for Motorola’s Smart Public Safety Solutions Team. As an attorney with experience as associate professor, private sector, and a seasoned public safety practitioner in municipal and state government, Jason provides a unique perspective to help agencies and departments tackle their specific public safety challenges.

Dr. Langman is a psychologist whose research on school shooters has received international recognition. His book, Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters, was named an Outstanding Academic Title and was translated into German, Dutch, Finnish, and Russian. His work has been cited in congressional testimony on Capitol Hill and he has been interviewed by the New York Times, The Today Show, 20/20, Nightline, Fox, CNN, the BBC, and over 500 other news outlets in the USA, Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Dr. Ochberg is a psychiatrist, a pioneer in trauma science, an educator and the editor of the first text on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He is one of the founding fathers of modern psychotraumatology and served on the committee that defined PTSD. He is a graduate of Harvard and of Johns Hopkins Medical School.

Dr. Penner is a developmental pediatrician and senior clinician scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto and an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto. Her clinical and research interests are in autism.

Dr. Melissa Reeves, Ph.D., NCSP, LPC is a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed special education teacher, licensed professional counselor, and former district coordinator of social/emotional/behavioral services.  She is past president of the National Association of School Psychologists (2016-17), most recently was an Associate Professor at Winthrop University, and previously worked for the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado. Dr. Reeves has over 20 years’ experience working in public schools and a private school, in addition to providing mental health services in day and residential treatment settings. 

Steve Slayton is a dedicated mental health advocate with over 20 years of experience in mental health care. With over 8 years of involvement with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), he works tirelessly to reduce stigma and foster understanding within the community.  As a proud father of two boys, he is committed to promoting awareness and support for students who are struggling with mental health and ensuring students feel safe while they are at school. School is a special place that shapes the lives of our kids and it's essential to our country's future that we make school somewhere that lets kids develop to their fullest potential. 

Dr. Amanda Unger is a highly accomplished educator with a robust career spanning 19 years. She obtained her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University in 2017. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience in various roles, including working as an elementary resource program teacher and a center-based school principal. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Director of Special Education for the West Shore Educational Service District (WSESD) in Ludington, Michigan.

Dr. Westphal is an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine with a primary appointment in Yale’s Division of Law and Psychiatry and a secondary appointment at Yale Child Study Center. He serves as a consulting forensic psychiatrist on risk for Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Angela Matthews is a mental health professional and an educator with over 18 years of experience in law enforcement.