Our Team
Todd I. Herrenkohl
Principal Investigator and Director
Marion Elizabeth Blue Professor of Children and Families University of Michigan, School of Social Work
tih@umich.eduDr. Herrenkohl’s research focuses on child and family well-being, childhood adversities and the psychosocial and developmental underpinnings of health-risk behaviors in youth and adults; substance use, mental and physical health outcomes of early life challenges; and resilience. He works to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of trauma in children and families and to promote the use of public health models of primary prevention in schools and other child-serving systems.
Alison Miller
Co-Investigator
Professor, University of Michigan, School of Public Health
alimill@umich.eduDr. Miller is a developmental psychologist who studies risk and resilience in children and families. Her research focuses on child bio-behavioral regulation, family functioning, and social context. An overarching goal of her work is to apply findings from developmental science to foster positive child health and mental health outcomes.
James M. Ellis
Co-Investigator
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan School of Social Work and Marsal Family School of Education
jmelli@umich.eduDr. Ellis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and the Marsal School of Education. His research investigates the crucial role of microaffirmations and microaggressions in shaping the college transition experiences of first-generation and undergraduate students of color. His research seeks to construct knowledge that will inform how educational institutions can become spaces that holistically support students who are racially and socioeconomically marginalized in our society and are inclusive of their identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences
Daicia R. Price
Content Expert
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan, School of Social Work
daiciars@umich.eduDaicia Price is a clinical associate professor of social work with experience in juvenile justice, community mental health, housing, schools and foster care. She has worked with adjudicated youth at Washtenaw County Children's Services and Starr Commonwealth. She has served as a school board representative at a K-12 academy in Inkster Michigan, is currently a community advisory board member for a high school in Detroit, Michigan and is also a member of the trauma informed social emotional learning task force for the Wayne County Intermediate School District.
Beth A. Sherman
Content Expert
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan, School of Social Work
shermanb@umich.eduBeth Sherman is a clinical professor of social work who specializes in school social work. As an outpatient therapist, clinical supervisor, prevention program developer and school social worker, she has provided social work services within multiple mental health, educational and child welfare arenas. She has developed programs for children of parents with mental illness and children at risk for social, behavioral, and academic challenges.
Yatesha Robinson
PhD, LMSW
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Office of Field Education, University of Michigan, School of Social Work
yatesha@umich.eduDr. Robinson is an adjunct clinical assistant professor and academic program manager who has served women, youth and families through nonprofit organizations and public schools in Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor and Southwest Detroit. She has worked to promote healing and resilience with individuals who have faced childhood adversities and trauma. Her research focuses on physical and mental wellbeing among African Americans, particularly as it relates to psychological flourishing.
Ylisse J. Yepez
Educational Consultant and Content Expert
Master Teacher, Blissfield Community Schools
yyepez@blissfieldschools.usYlisse Joell Yepez is a Latinx educator who has spent 36 years reimagining education with her high school writers and readers. Her Masters is in Secondary Curriculum Design from Siena Heights University where she was also a member of the teacher education faculty for 13 years. Ylisse is active in the Michigan Council for Teachers of English; the Coalition for Civically Engaged Educators; and the National Writing Project. She is passionate about trauma informed practices in the classroom and a fierce advocate for youth mental health. She is a certified Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader and Conflict Resolution trainer. She is committed to helping vulnerable youth find a safe and equitable place to belong.
Karen Brummett Rayner
Educational Consultant and Content Expert
Consultant, Lenawee Intermediate School District
karen.rayner@lisd.usDr. Brummett Rayner is interested in educational leadership and her research focuses on the relationship between academic organizational systems and the well-being of educators. She works for Lenawee Intermediate School District partnering with educators in the use of data to support the school community, learning, and teaching. She has worked as an educator for over 25 years, serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator. She currently serves as a professional development leader and school consultant. Supporting equitable and accessible education for all is central to Karen's work. She values educators and the essential role they play in our global society.
Rawan Darouiche
Content Expert
Special Education School Social Worker, Northville Public Schools
rdarouic@umich.eduRawan is a licensed School Social Worker and she graduated from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her undergraduate degree is in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Rawan currently works as a Special Education Social Worker at Northville Public Schools. She has experience at the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) as a school-based clinical intern, where she worked with children and adolescents varying from ages 5-18 years old. Rawan uses her bilingual Arabic speaking skills to foster connections with youth and families from the SWANA community. Rawan has previously worked in the Office of TRIO programs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and has experience working with youth of varying ages, abilities, and backgrounds. She has been part of the TIPPS team since 2021 and is passionate about integrating trauma-informed practice into her role as a Special Education School Social Worker.
Hurley Riley
Project Coordinator
Research Area Specialist, University of Michigan, School of Public Health
rileyhur@umich.eduHurley is a research area specialist in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He specializes in project management, data management, and behavioral coding. His research interests include child health and development, especially among children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Mai Tran
Research Assistant
Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
maintran@umich.eduMai is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan pursuing a major in Biopsychology, Cognition & Neuroscience (BCN), along with minors in Writing and Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences. She joined the team in May 2024. Her passion for studying developmental psychopathology, specifically in relation to family dynamics and cross-cultural perspectives, stems from her upbringing in Hanoi, Vietnam. She plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology to further explore these research interests.
Lauren Dauber
Research Assistant
Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
ldauber@umich.eduLauren is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Community Action & Social Change. She is passionate about mental health and youth well-being, particularly in the areas of trauma-informed care and organizational psychology. Lauren's experience creating engaging, educational, and impactful mental wellness programming for youth and peers inspired her to join TIPPS in May 2024. In her role, she contributes to evaluation reports and graphic design projects and is currently developing a guide aimed at supporting professional well-being in schools. Lauren plans to pursue a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) after completing her undergraduate degree to continue her work in mental health and education. She is dedicated to using her skills and experiences to make a positive impact in the world and has greatly valued her experience with TIPPS so far.
Former Team Members
Rachel Jawad-Craley
MSW, University of Michigan
Elizabeth Davis
PhD, University of Michigan
Shreeja Vachhani
MSW Candidate, University of Michigan
Allyson Andrews
MSW, University of Michigan
Katie Krajewski
MSW, South Lyon Community Schools
Nicole LaDouceur-Janowicz
University of Michigan
Yujeong Chang
MSW, University of Michigan
Aaron Moore
MSW, University of Michigan
Matthew Hutchinson
MSW, University of Michigan
Shichang Yang
MSW, University of Michigan
Jasmine Love
MSW, University of Michigan
Keyshawn McMiller
MA.Ed, MSW, University of Michigan
Samar Ayyub
MEd, University of Washington
Andria Eisman
PhD, Wayne State University
Sara Stein
PhD, University of Michigan
Druanna Darling
MSW, University of Michigan
Erika Sturgis
MSW, University of Michigan
Alana Slavin
MD, MSc, University of Michigan
Julia Ammer
Northwestern University
Jima Braynon
MSW, University of Michigan
Sunghyun Hong
MSW, University of Michigan
Kira Raquet
MSW, University of Michigan
Advisors
Steve Sukta
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Scott Martin
Michigan Department of Education
Leisa Gallagher
Michigan Department of Education
Christina Harvey
Michigan School Health Coordinators Association
Lauren Kazee
Mental Health Consultant
Paul Liabenow
Michigan Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals
Heidi Olivares
Van Buren Intermediate School District
Tom Richardson
Van Buren Intermediate School District