SPEAKERS.
2021 Virtual Conference Speakers
Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Speaker, Wednesday, June 9th
"The COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Isolation: What have we learned?"
" Developing Activities That Have Meaning for People Living with Dementia and adaptations for men"
"Enhancing Mobility and Reducing Fall Risks"
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Teepa Snow is one of the world’s leading advocates and educators for anyone living with dementia. Her philosophy is reflective of her education, work experience, medical research, and first-hand caregiving experiences. Teepa’s advocacy efforts led her to the development of the GEMS® dementia classification model and the Positive Approach® to Care training strategies. She is an occupational therapist with 40 years of rich and varied clinical and academic experience and presents with extraordinary expertise and humor to audiences throughout the world.
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Sasha Joseph Neulinger
Speaker, Wednesday, June 9th
"Rediscovering the Beauty Within"
"REWIND"
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Sasha Joseph Neulinger is the Founder and President of Voice For The Kids, and Co-Founder and Head of Production at Step 1 Films. Sasha travels nationally as a public speaker, advocating for reforms in child advocacy and child abuse prevention. In 2015, Sasha presented at TEDxBozeman with his first public speech, "Trauma Is Irreversible. How It Shapes Us Is Our Choice.” Since his TED Talk, Sasha has presented over 100 keynote speeches around the world, helping raise over $7 Million for the fight against
child abuse. Sasha made his directional debut at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival with his autobiographical, feature length documentary, REWIND, where the film received a special Jury Mention. REWIND had its US Television Premiere on May 11, 2020 as a part of PBS’ Independent Lens lineup, where the film reached 280 Million households nationwide. REWIND was nominated for a 2020 Critics Choice Award for Best First Feature Documentary, and is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
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Dr Laura G Leahy, DrNP, APRN, PMH-CNS, PMH-NP, CARN-AP, FAANP, FAAN
Speaker, Thursday June 10th
"The Addicted Brain"
"Drug-Drug Interactions, Opioid Use Disorder and Medication Assisted Treatment"
"Treating Co-Morbidities & Opioid/Substance Use Disorders"
Dr Laura Leahy is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing & the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. An honors Graduate of Duke University, the University of Pennsylvania & Drexel University), Dr Leahy practices as a Board Certified as a Child/Adolescent & Adult Psychiatric & Addictions Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN), specializing in individual, couples and family therapy as well as pharmacogenetics and psychopharmacology, including medication assisted management of substance use disorders. Dr Leahy maintains specialization as a Master Clinician in Psychopharmacology through the Neuroscience Educational Institute.
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As an advocate and leader in Addictions nursing, Dr Leahy co-chairs the American Psychiatric Nurses Association’s (APNA) Addictions Council & Steering Committee. She has also represented APNA at the Nursing Community Coalition Congressional Briefing on the role APRNs play in combatting the Opioid Epidemic. As faculty, Dr Leahy developed and produced APNA’s “Effective Treatments for Opioid Use Disorders”, free webinars to educate ALL nurses & APRNs on the ways they can provide care to individuals with Opioid Use Disorder. She also developed Seton Hall
University’s interprofessional 24-hour Medication Assisted Training Program for physicians, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants as a consultant on a grant from SAMHSA.
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Dr. Matthew Fairholm
Speaker, Thursday June 10th
"Recognizing Individual and Organizational Ethical Concerns"
"Ethics"
Dr. Fairholm is Professor of Public Administration with a joint appointment in the Department of Political Science and the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership at USD. His academic and professional interests focus on public administration, leadership theory and practice, and Constitutional governance. Dr. Fairholm's teaching and training experience spans the public, private, non-profit, and university settings. Prior to coming to USD, Dr. Fairholm was the Director of Leadership Studies and Development at the Center for Excellence in Municipal Management (currently the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership) and Instructor of Public Administration at The George Washington University, where he continues to serve as a Senior Fellow. Dr. Fairholm worked in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), entering the federal service as a Presidential Management Intern. After his appointment, he continued to work at DOE in the areas of congressional, intergovernmental, international and public affairs and also in the Department's science research and development division. Previous to DOE, he worked in a software development firm focusing on grassroots political activity. His published articles appear in leadership and public administration journals. He is the author, with his father, of the book Understanding Leadership Perspectives: Theoretical and Practical Applications (Springer). His latest book is entitled Putting Your Values to Work: Becoming the Leader Others Want to Follow (Praeger).
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Amy Reyes M.S. ED in School Counseling RYT-200
Speaker, Wednesday June 9th
"Cultivating Compassion and Gratitude Through Yoga and Meditation"
Amy Reyes is a School Counselor at Yankton High School and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). Amy first tried yoga in 2004 at an inpatient eating disorder treatment facility. She was instantly intrigued by yoga’s healing nature. “It reintroduced me to my body and helped me redefine the relationship I had with myself,” Amy says. “Yoga helped me let go of what no longer served me, challenge the dominant discourse, and step into my authentic self.” Amy also began studying mindfulness and meditation with interest in how all these practices come together to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. She focuses on whole-person wellness, striving to meet others where they are at in their journey and guiding them to their own intuitive wisdom. Amy is also a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and a Certified Reiki Level II Practitioner.
Mallory Kloucek
Speaker, Thursday June 10th
"NAMI SD Ending the Silence"
Mallory Kloucek is the NAMI South Dakota Ending the Silence (ETS) coordinator and ETS PROJECT AWARE coordinator for the state. Previous to NAMI SD and Ending the Silence she spent 5 years as a development manager. While completing her Master’s degree from USD she transitioned to the nonprofit sector where she worked briefly for the Ronald McDonald House of Charities South Dakota. The last six years she worked at Tallgrass Recovery and Sober Living Homes in Sioux Falls.
Mallory gives back to the community by volunteering as a member of NAMI South Dakota, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America South Dakota Chapter, along with other numerous committees.
Mallory enjoys her free time with numerous outdoor activities including running, riding bike, walking her dog Lola, spending time with friends, family and her husband Andy.
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