Staff

Michael has worked with MHA for 27 years in various capacities. He currently directs the national office’s day-to-day business operations, including facilities management. He provides relevant employee information and office services to more than 40 local and remote staff across the nation, including providing technical support and scheduling IT maintenance. Michael stewards all aspects of Human Resources. Additionally, he provides executive assistance to the President & CEO.

Email Michael: mking@mhanational.org

Mika Sakamoto is a research associate for MHA’s Center for Research and Innovation (CRI) team, where she is responsible for working with data collected from MHA’s online screening program, including preparing regular data reports for MHA affiliates. She also writes content for the Screening website with the goals of both educating and empowering individuals struggling with their mental health. Before joining MHA, Mika worked for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health conducting patient-facing clinical research on a coordinated specialty care program for first-episode psychosis treatment. She also worked in a lab at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine studying a rodent model of PTSD, where she published two peer-reviewed articles. She holds a Bachelor of Science in experimental psychology with a minor in neuroscience from the University of South Carolina.

Niya McCray-Brown (she/her) is MHA’s Director of Community Engagement. Niya works to develop MHA’s outreach initiatives and partnership opportunities to strengthen the MHA network. By amplifying the perspectives of those with lived experience and intertwining equity-focused strategies, Niya grows MHA’s “ecosystem” and promotes MHA’s broad resources. Niya is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Virginia and previously worked as a director of a community mental health nonprofit to support other clinicians in serving those with mental health conditions. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Hampton University and a Master of Education in mental health counseling from The College of William and Mary. Niya’s passion for mental wellness initiatives, particularly for historically disenfranchised communities, is driven by her experiences in the mental health field and her understanding of the societal impact of our collective mental health globally.

Nora Curry (she/her) is the Accounts Officer at Mental Health America (MHA). She manages accounts payable and receivable, reconciles and maintains the general ledger, and keeps financial records, supporting the organization’s work across all functions.

Nora’s lived experiences with neurodivergence, mental illness, and addiction have deeply connected her to MHA’s mission. She has a keen interest in social safety nets, community care, and alternative treatment options. Nora is based in Northern Virginia and spends her free time hanging out with friends and pets, baking, and solving puzzles.

Sachin coordinates day-to-day financial operations and supports the implementation of various digital initiatives across MHA. He has been involved with MHA since 2015, after foregoing a career in medicine in favor of solving more systemic issues.

Sachin holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from Duke University, where his research focused on brain-machine interfaces and cortically-controlled neuroprosthetic devices. He lives in Arlington, VA, and is passionate about space exploration, archery, and smart home automation.

Sarah Heikkinen is the Digital and Social Media Director. She is responsible for managing Mental Health America’s social media platforms.

Sarah is an accomplished marketing and communications professional with a rich career history that reflects her dedication, creativity, and leadership.

Sarah also has a background in journalism, with an M.A. in journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Shannah Mulvihill is the Executive Director and CEO of Mental Health Minnesota, a position she has held since 2015. Shannah has worked in the non-profit and public sectors for 20 years in the areas of communications, development, public policy and organizational leadership. Shannah holds a Masters Degree in counseling psychology from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and has served as a volunteer counselor for the Walk-In Counseling Clinic and Crisis Connection. She is a former board chair of Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless and former disaster services volunteer and advisory committee member of the Twin Cities American Red Cross. She is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Shelley Polanco is the State Policy Director at Vibrant Emotional Health, bringing a wealth of experience in social services to her role. She earned her Master of Arts from the State University of New York at Albany. After graduation, Shelley began her career as a Domestic Violence advocate, working closely with the New York City Police Department. Her dedication to empowering and assisting vulnerable individuals led her to a supervisory position as a Senior Case Manager at a shelter serving over 200 adult males facing mental health and substance abuse challenges. In this role, she oversaw her team and provided essential services to the shelter’s residents, each with unique needs. Shelley joined Vibrant in 2022 as a State Policy Manager for the Public Policy and Government Affairs Department. She was promoted to Director of State Public Policy in July of 2024 and manages many of the department’s State projects and relationships with mental health partners. Shelley was born and raised in New York and now lives in Florida with her partner and their new puppy.

Stuart Allen is the Chief Marketing and Advancement Officer at Mental Health America. She is responsible for leading marketing and fundraising efforts to build awareness, public understanding, and support for the mission of Mental Health America. Stuart brings over 15 years in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and strategic marketing and communications.

Prior to joining MHA in 2021, Stuart was the Chief Development and Communications Officer at N Street Village, a nonprofit providing housing and support services for women and families in Washington, DC.  During her time there, she developed new and expanded revenue streams, securing over $50M to ensure mission stability, and led internal and external communications to position the organization as a national thought leader. Prior to her time at N Street Village, she worked as the Director of Project and Portfolio Management at Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC.

Susan Cairnes is the Associate Vice President of Meetings and Events at Mental Health America. A Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP), and a Certified Virtual Events Producer (CVEP), Susan possesses a diverse meetings management portfolio that spans over twenty years, and has been responsible for the development, implementation, and execution of citywide and annual conferences, virtual meeting production, SME and thought leader convenings, trainings and seminars, tradeshows, and special events for non-profit associations, association management groups, and the federal government.

Before joining Mental Health America, Susan was the Senior Meetings Manager at BTL Technologies, where she organized the logistics for the Rear Admiral at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Arlington, Virginia. Prior to ONR, Susan spent five years as the Senior Manager of Meetings for Affirma Solutions, Inc., where she was the client liaison, and provided logistical planning support of sensitive topic meetings for the Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Suzi Craig is the VP of Workplace Mental Health at Mental Health America. She is responsible for leading the strategic design and future direction of MHA’s workplace mental health programs. Suzi brings more than 20 years of experience leading strategic planning and entrepreneurial efforts, partnership and program development, and marketing and communications.

Prior to joining MHA in 2023, Suzi was Chief Strategy Officer at Mental Health Connecticut (MHC), an affiliate of MHA. At MHC, Suzi built the infrastructure that created a robust community of partner and donor support, oversaw the successful launch of public-facing prevention programs, including the MHC’s workplace mental health program, championed the CT Parity Coalition, and led the organization’s strategic planning for seven years.

Prior to joining MHC, Suzi worked for Connecticut Public Broadcasting and Connecticut’s startup ecosystem. She began her career in book publishing in NYC. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, a certified yoga instructor, and has a certification from Cornell in organizational design.

Sydney Daniello is the Public Policy Manager of Projects and Events at Mental Health America (MHA). In her role, she researches and writes policy projects and reports, with a particular interest in school-based mental health policy, helps to plan and coordinate MHA policy events, and serves on several coalitions relating to youth leadership and advocacy and school-based mental health.

Sydney graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Cognitive Neuroscience. Sydney’s own lived experience drives her passion for early intervention advocacy, school-based mental health initiatives, and mental health care for those living with chronic illnesses.