Well Being Trust’s National Advisory Council Welcomes Five New Members

The Well Being Trust National Advisory Council recently welcomed five new members to its ranks. Their areas of expertise, ranging from public health to community-based philanthropy, add to the Advisory Council’s unique mix of perspectives and lived experience that help guide and support Well Being Trust’s mission.

Since forming in January 2017, Well Being Trust has been investing in the capacity of the national movement working toward better mental health and well-being for everyone in the country. To bolster this, Well Being Trust formed the National Advisory Council, made up of local, state and national experts who work in service to the organization’s mission of advancing the mental, social and spiritual health of the nation. Members’ areas of expertise cover a wide range of topics, including policy and advocacy, clinical care, community, spirituality, technology, impact investment, as well as youth, media, athletics, politics, culture and art.
The new Council members include:

Andrew Barr is a founding partner at GreyMatter, a venture capital firm and think tank focused on innovation for mental health.  Prior to GreyMatter, he worked as an advisor at the intersection of technology and mental health, supporting a range of nonprofits and startups bringing together a cross-disciplinary network of leaders in the field, and partnering with early-stage entrepreneurs to help develop new ideas. Barr brings a strong technology-driven and entrepreneurial perspective to the Advisory Council on ways to bring together a cross-disciplinary network of leaders in the mental health field to help develop new ideas and partnerships.

Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., MBA, is the 18^th United States Surgeon General and founder of the BayouClinic located in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. She is also the NOLA.com/Times Picayune Endowed Chair of Public Health Sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana. From her early days as founder of the BayouClinic, to her leadership role in the worldwide advancement of preventive health, Dr. Benjamin has forged a career that has been recognized by a broad spectrum of organizations and publications. She has special interest in rural health care, health disparities among socio-economic groups, suicide, violence, and mental health. Dr. Benjamin is a leading national voice on public health and prevention, and she brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the Advisory Council in the areas of prevention policies and health promotion among individuals and large populations.

Timothy W. Goodly, MBA, Ph.D., is the Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer at The Blank Family of Businesses. Timothy has more than three decades of experience in human resources, overseeing strategy and policy across businesses. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served five years as a U.S. Army Officer in the Corps of Engineers. Timothy brings an important business perspective to the Advisory Council on the critical role of mental health in the workplace and how employers can support vital conditions for well-being.

Tawnya Rupe Mraz is senior program director for AMB West Philanthropies at The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. In this role, she oversees the management of the AMB West Community Fund, whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for residents of Montana. Tawnya brings a community-based philanthropy perspective to the Advisory Council, resonating with Well Being Trust’s efforts to improve health through community partnerships. She is currently on the board of the Montana Community Foundation and a member of Funders for Montana’s Children.

Jaiden Singh is a freshman at the University of Arizona where he is studying biochemistry. In addition to being a full-time student, Jaiden is also a Student Ambassador with Active Minds, Inc. where he works with mental health leaders across the country to change the conversation and help end the stigma of mental illness. Jaiden has received specialized training in suicide prevention through the QPR Institute, an organization dedicated to saving lives and reducing suicidal behaviors by providing proven suicide prevention training. He brings the perspective of youth and young adults to the Advisory Council supporting WBT’s mental health advocacy outreach efforts for young adults.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new National Advisory Council members,” said Tyler Norris, Chief Executive, Well Being Trust. “Their expertise and diverse areas of experience helps to inform our direction and our goal of saving 100,000 lives from deaths of despair over the next 10 years.”

The Council is currently chaired by Maureen Bisognano, president emerita, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, who has held the position since its inception.

About Well Being Trust
Well Being Trust is a national foundation dedicated to advancing the mental, social, and spiritual health of the nation. Created to include participation from organizations across sectors and perspectives, Well Being Trust is committed to innovating and addressing the most critical mental health challenges facing America, and to transforming individual and community well-being.  For more information, visit wellbeingtrust.org.