Ohio University Southern Community Mental Health Awareness Conference

Corduroy Brown is a feel good, poppy, rock performer from Huntington, West Virginia. The Corduroy sound has been described as: "A sound that makes you feel like everything is going to be ok." Corduroy has cultivated his own flavor of Appalachian Indie music with a focus on self-worth and thought-provoking lyrics. His debut album "Let Me Know" won Appalachian Album of the Year, which featured artists such as Arlo McKinley, Massing, and many more rising Appalachian artists. Corduroy Brown danced with death in Morgantown West Virginia ICU due to a rare reaction to Covid called MIS-A. After being revived and placed on life support, he made a full recovery. You learn a lot when faced with mortality, and it reset his perspective. Now themes of mental wellness and a willingness to live life to the fullest are represented in the music for his second time on the Earth.

Stephanie is currently the Director of Behavioral Health Services for Valley View Health Centers, with therapists located at 6 different locations. Prior to becoming the director, she served as a full-time therapist and continues to see patients in her current role. Her patient panel includes children, adults, and families, treating all aspects of mental illness, (chronic, acute, situational), trauma, personality disorders, substance abuse and recovery. In addition, she works with law enforcement and Veteran organizations, as well as schools, for specific needs and referrals.
Stephanie served in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, enlisting in 1996, and is an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran. She currently still serves and is the 1st Vice Commander of Post 622 for the American Legion. She returned home to Ohio in 2002 and went on to pursue her undergrad degree at SSU, and then her Master of Social Work from the University of Kentucky, earning her LISW-S in 2007.Her experience spans from, medical social work, including oncology, hospice, and emergency room situations. In addition, she has worked in community mental health as well as for state area agency on aging programs. Overall, she is a tireless advocate for the underserved and overlooked in the community, and takes pride in collaborative work with other community agencies and individuals who share the same heart for advocacy.
Stephanie’s greatest pride and success is as a mother. Her son is currently a 2nd year teacher, as an Intervention Specialist, and when she isn’t supporting him from the sidelines as he coaches basketball, she is typically hiking a new trail and focusing on her own self-care.

Lora Greene has a Master of Arts degree in U. S. History from the University of South Florida. She is a longtime champion of mental health services and advocate for gun violence prevention. She currently resides in Lawrence County, Ohio.

Born and currently residing in Scioto County, Ohio, Dr. Austin Raines embodies the spirit of his Appalachian roots as a first-generation college graduate. His academic journey, from earning Social Science and Sociology degrees at Shawnee State University to completing a Master's and Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Kentucky, with concentrations in Social Work Education and Community and Social Development, reflects his devotion to educational and community initiatives.
Austin's commitment to empowering individuals through education is evident in his numerous certifications and accolades. As a Licensed Independent Social Worker, he holds certifications in various fields, including Master of Career Services, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Adult Education, and Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment. His accolades, such as Outstanding Graduate Awards (undergraduate and graduate), Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) Staff Excellence Award, and Ohio's Teacher of the Year, underscore his dedication to this cause.
His professional journey is a testament to his versatility and dedication. Over eight years, he has made numerous contributions to higher, adult, and high school education. His roles as Associate Director of Career Services and Adjunct Faculty at Shawnee State University, Part-Time Instructor at the University of Kentucky’s Graduate College of Social Work, and Career Navigator for Scioto County Aspire demonstrate his diverse skill set and unwavering commitment to guiding individuals toward their educational and career aspirations.
He has also been instrumental in curriculum development and grant proposals for Scioto County Aspire and Shawnee State University. He authored chapters in "Shawnee: A Guide to Your First Year and Beyond" and has conducted research on topics including men and masculinities, intersectionality, occupational choices, the gender wage gap, and the work-home balance concept. This research led to his publication "Removing the Masc: Dismantling Gendered Occupations Through Social Work Education."
While Austin’s professional life highlights his dedication to education, his personal life is equally rich and fulfilling. His partner, also an educator and Career Services provider, shares his passion for helping others. Together, they find joy in their work, family, friends, and pug, Prudence Praline. They also share a love for reading or listening to audiobooks, traveling, attending live performances and events, and watching various TV series and movies, which they enjoy whenever they find free time.
Austin firmly believes in the transformative power of education. His involvement in numerous committees and professional associations is driven by the mantra, 'Each one, reach one. Each one, teach one. Until all are taught.' He champions the idea that education is not confined to formal institutions but permeates every aspect of our professional and personal growth. His ultimate hope is for individuals to discover their purpose by passionately pursuing their aspirations and embracing careers that resonate with their core values. In doing so, he believes they will not only achieve fulfillment in their professional endeavors but also cultivate holistic self-realization within and beyond the confines of the workplace.

Megan Rookard (she/they) is the Coordinator and Advocate for Pathways Porchlight, a state-designated Rape Crisis Center serving ten counties in Eastern Kentucky, and has been serving in this role for 3.5 years. Megan has an Associate’s degree in Human Services Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from Ohio University Southern. Given the art degree thing, Megan did not expect to find a career working in the anti-violence field–and yet, now they can’t imagine doing anything else. They are deeply committed to creating spaces for productive dialogues around sexual violence, violence prevention, and anti-oppression. In their free time, Megan enjoys spending time with their partner, daughter, and menagerie of animals. Their hobbies include: collecting Dad jokes, finding sunny spots in which to nap, and using IMDB to identify everything an actor has ever been in, much to her partner’s annoyance.

Dr. Rita the Farmer’s Daughter Who Travels the World is a motivational speaker, educator, international traveler, mother, and mental health well-being researcher. She has a Doctorate in Education, specializing in mental health well-being and leadership, as well as a Masters in Communication. Dr. Rita is also a certified English teacher to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). 
For nearly two decades, she has worked as a TRIO professional with 10,000+ adults promoting post-secondary education and the power of possibility thinking. She has spoken at numerous venues including: the Council on Education, KAEOPP, K-12 schools, jails, drug rehabilitation centers, U.S. Job Corps, Reach Higher, multiple adult education programs, and career centers, including making appearances on TV programing for NBC, ABC, and cable television.
Dr. Rita has gained incredible insights from a variety of experiences such as: having the opportunity to be an NFL mom, camping in the wild of the Arctic Circle, teaching in South America, embracing a nomadic life in Europe, and earning her doctorate in her 50’s.
She has inspired thousands of individuals from around the world with engaging stories, hosted people from dozens of countries, been a guest in 40+ international homes.
Dr. Rita has been an educator for over 30 years, and her outstanding passion and ability to work with people of various ages and cultures has led to her being honored as Woman of Achievement by the Human Rights Commission.