Our Board of Directors
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Allison Waage, President
Allison is a native Texan and a dedicated advocate for maternal and child health, serving as our organization's President. With a background in clinical nursing and public health, she is committed to improving access to perinatal mental health resources in Texas. Her leadership is enriched by her own lived experience with a perinatal mental health disorder, providing her with personal insight into the challenges faced by many families. Before joining us, Allison led initiatives at the state level to reduce maternal mortality and improve health outcomes. With a Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Maternal Health, she brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, personal experience, and strategic vision to our team.
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Tori Cameron-Tanner, Program Director (Strategic Growth), Director of Communication and Education
Tori holds a BS in Public Health and a Master of Public Health, Healthcare Administration from the University of Arizona. With extensive experience in health education for mothers and children, including work with the City of Austin WIC program, she is eager to ensure all mothers and families receive the support they need. She lives in the Austin metropolitan area with her wonderful husband and two fabulous kids and enjoys exercising, traveling, and reading.
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Beth Thomas, Director of Programs
Beth earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and initially focused on HIV and kidney transplants before discovering her passion for supporting mothers after experiencing postpartum anxiety. With 11 years of volunteering with Nurtured TX, she now specializes in perinatal and chronic illness therapy in private practice, while enjoying DIY projects, gardening, hiking, traveling, and embarrassing her teen.
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Melissa Bentley, Clinical Director & Past President
Melissa, who holds a BA in Psychology from UT Austin and an MA in Counseling from St. Edward's University, is a Licensed Professional Counselor certified in Perinatal Mental Health. With over a decade of experience in this field, she works with Nurtured TX and manages the Postpartum Support International Coordinator Program, while enjoying time with her family and their dog.
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Erin Richardson, Medical Director
Erin Richardson is a psychiatric nurse practitioner specializing in perinatal psychiatry. She received her BSN and MSN degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and started her career with the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders before joining the UT Austin Women's Reproductive Mental Health Program in 2020. She loves perinatal psychiatry for the ability to provide holistic care that has the potential to have generational impact. She's passionate about Nurtured TX's mission to connect every perinatal woman in Texas to high quality, evidence-based mental health care.
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Sarina Jones, Director of Community Outreach
Sarina, a Licensed Master Social Worker with a degree from the University of Texas at Austin, has completed advanced maternal mental health training and is a member of Postpartum Support International. As Director of Community Outreach for Nurtured TX and Family Services Specialist at a local nonprofit, she develops programs to support families from prenatal through early childhood, while enjoying camping, gardening, and reading psychological thrillers in her free time.
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Alicia Cisneros, Secretary
Alicia holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio, an MA in Occupational Therapy from UT Health San Antonio, and is pursuing a PhD in Child Development at Texas Woman's University. As a pediatric occupational therapist and certified lactation counselor working towards PMH-C certification, she aims to advocate for mothers and children through Nurtured TX by sharing research on maternal mood disorders and child development.
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Katy Edelman, Director at Large
Katy, who holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Concordia University, realized the lack of postpartum support after her own struggles with anxiety. As an Assistant Director of Regional Operations at Texas Children’s Pediatrics, she aims to use her connections with pediatric clinics to improve postpartum care and resources through her partnership with Nurtured TX.
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Kiran Nagar, Director at Large
Kiran, with a B.S. in Healthcare Sciences and Clinical Research Management, joined Nurtured TX to address the gaps she experienced in perinatal mental health care after enduring two high-risk pregnancies. Her personal journey highlighted the need for comprehensive support, and by volunteering with Nurtured TX, she aims to advocate for better care, raise awareness, and support families facing similar challenges.
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Jermaine Reed, Director at Large
Jermaine earned a Master of Business Administration and a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University. He is dedicated to using his education to benefit those in need of mental health resources, particularly within the postpartum care community. Jermaine’s goal is to continue making a positive impact in this field.
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Lisa Boyars, Director at Large
Lisa completed her medical training in Psychiatry and Perinatal Reproductive Psychiatry and is now a Psychiatric Faculty Member at The University of Texas Dell Medical School. She joined Nurtured TX to advocate for better maternal mental health resources and support, aiming to strengthen community care through education and outreach.
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Savannah Taylor, Director at Large
Savannah, with a Bachelor of Arts and certification as a Lactation Counselor, studied feminist political theory at Southwestern University and now focuses on perinatal trauma and loss. She joined Nurtured TX to enhance her advocacy and impact in Texas, while also being a homeschooling mother, yogi, gardener, and host of Chrysalis Collective: The Podcast.
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Mescha Grammer Ploss, Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
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Donnetta Hagist, Treasurer
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Shayna Moffett, Director at Large