Meet the Arkansas Chapter Board of Directors

Arkansas Chapter Board of Directors

Karen Pantello, Board of Directors Chair, Nominations Committee Chair - Ten years ago, she found AFSP to be a source of information, connections, and comfort after the death by suicide of her husband, Dean. The Survivors of Suicide conference in Dallas was the first step in healing for her and her family and she is so thankful for the information and support they received. She enjoys volunteering at ASP events, has led mental health and suicide prevention training, advocates for mental health, and has chaired the Survivors of Suicide Conference in Dallas and Hot Springs. She has also participated in many Out of the Darkness Walks.

She is a Business Development Manager for Deloitte, a large financial services firm. She advises teams on effective marketing strategies and leads sales and leadership training. Karen lives in Hot Springs and enjoys hiking, mountain biking, remodeling old homes, and driving the back roads in her vintage Jeep Wagoneer. 

Katy Allison, PhD, MPH, Board of Directors Treasurer, Research Connections Co-Chair - Katy is a public health researcher, health educator, and advocate for suicide prevention. As a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Public Health, her community-engaged research focuses on studying the implementation of suicide prevention and behavioral health interventions in emergency departments and justice settings. As a native Arkansan, her goal is to build capacity for and promote evidence-based suicide prevention research, interventions, and education in Arkansas. She is also passionate about LGBTQ+ health and suicide prevention. Katy and her husband, Matt, live in Little Rock with their son, Thomas. 

Amanda Strange, Loss and Healing Chair, Advocacy Chair -  Amanda is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and has been practicing since early 2011.  She has counseling experience in virtually all settings and has worked with children from K-12th grade in a school-based setting as well as outpatient setting. She has also worked with adults in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Amanda is also a suicide loss survivor, losing her first husband Phillip of 12 years. She has both a professional and personal dedication to suicide prevention and postvention. She resides in Northeast Arkansas with her two children and current husband. She is the Healing Conversations Program Coordinator for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Arkansas Chapter and also leads the local support group for survivors in her area and coordinates our Survivor Day event in Jonesboro.

Aresh Assadi, Research Connections Chair - Assadi received both his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2006) and his Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2009) from Henderson State University. He is currently working on his doctorate at UALR in Higher Education with a concentration on Student Affairs.  Assadi is passionate about helping others with their personal development and growth. He believes in the therapeutic process and he is committed to assisting people with their mental health and professional success needs. Whether you are having issues at home, work, in your relationships, or internally, he believes that you can overcome almost anything with the proper mindset and knowledge. Your history, circumstances, and flaws do not have to define you. We all have shortcomings, however, we have special gifts to share with the world as well. Assadi firmly believes that we all have value, purpose and that we all matter. Therefore we are all important, and as a result, we should take care of ourselves and one another.  That is why Assadi is an advocate of mental health and why he actively works toward reducing the stigma associated with getting help.

Sheila Rowden, Programs and Education Chair -  Sheila and her husband lost their daughter to suicide three years ago after a long battle to save her life. Her search for answers and hope led her to AFSP. Sheila is a retired teacher who has found a role with AFSP teaching suicide prevention programming. Sheila has been a board member for one year, and says that AFSP gives her purpose, community, and hope.

Debra Davis, Tabling Events Coordinator -  Debra is a wife and a mother of two children and two grandchildren. She has a Bachelor of Social Work degree, and two Master's degrees in Adult Education and in Rehabilitation Psychology. She is also a children's book author and she has written two books regarding children who are dealing with some form of abandonment issues. She chose to serve as a member of the AFSP team because she felt the need to do something to help those persons in the community who are affected directly or indirectly by the issue. The beginning of her journey began when she became an active volunteer back in 2019. She was alarmed by how the rates of suicide had increased in the United States. It was at that point that she decided to create different ideas to bring our community together to make a difference. That year she also held an event titled "You are Not Alone". She invited various mental health professionals to come and present discussions to help people understand the causes as well as the warning signs to help people who would be at risk of suicide. That same year she also participated in the Virtual Out of the Darkness Walk as well as attended training sessions in order to become a trainer in different capacities of the organization. She doesn't want people to have to suffer in silence and to know that suicide can be learned by everyone, not just mental health professionals to help educate others of all the resources available for those suffering in silence. She believes we have to decide to help hold those persons who are directly or indirectly affected by this ongoing issue. 

Josh Sisco, Advocacy Co-Chair - Josh Sisco is a dedicated advocate and mental health professional committed to making a difference in the field of suicide prevention. As the Advocacy Co-Chair, he brings a personal connection to his work, having become a suicide loss survivor after the tragic loss of his best friend, Mandy Faye Fogg, in October of 2017. 

In response to this experience, Josh began volunteering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Arkansas Chapter Junior Board in the same year. He quickly became an integral part of the organization, serving on various committees, including Fundraising, Education, Advocacy, and Nominations. His passion for the cause led him to chair the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), where he and Mandy had attended college. 

Josh's commitment to suicide prevention extends beyond advocacy roles. He previously worked as a Arkansas Parole and Probation Law Enforcement Officer, collaborating closely with Crisis Stablilization Units (CSU) and became a certified Crisis Intervention Officer. In this capacity, he provided essential support to both clients incarcerated and fellow first responders grappling with mental health disorders. Later, Josh transitioned to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Crisis Stabilization Unit, further expanding his impact. 

He is currently pursuing a master's degree in counseling in Clinical Mental Health from the University of Phoenix. Josh is also a Qualified Behavioral Health Provider (QBHP) and a Graduate Intern in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. His work spans various programs, including Intensive Adult Services, Forensic Outpatient Restoration Program, Juvenile Drug Court, and the Certified Community Mental Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Arkansas. His research interests encompass Addications Forensics and Suicide Prevention and education. 

In addition to his academic pursuits, Josh is actively involved in educating communities about suicide prevention. He has presented informative programs such as Talk Saves Lives, It's Real: College Students and Mental Health, and More Than Sad. Through his efforts, Josh strives to create a positive impact on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and the well-being of individuals and communities. 

Matthew Klein, Board Member - Matthew is a native of the Russellville community. He graduated from Russellville High School and is currently the Community Education Manager for TURNING POINT Adult Behavioral Health. Matthew has been in this role for two years and has a passion for suicide prevention and awareness. He handles and organizes all things related to marketing, community education activities, and events for Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center and its Behavioral Health Unit. Matthew first got involved with the Arkansas Tech University Out of the Darkness Campus Walk in 2021 and has been helping with the organization of this walk ever since. He says his role at TURNING POINT has given him the passion to promote suicide prevention and awareness and AFSP is helping him do that. Prior to this, Matthew has 10+ years of experience in the health and medical industry; primarily in the sales and marketing fields, where he has spent time building relationships with those in our local and surrounding communities. Matthew has a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He has a wife, Trisha, and two children, Lauren, and Lucas. Matthew and Trisha reside in Russellville with their little dog Shadow. In his free time, Matthew enjoys cooking, a good fire, spending time with family and friends, and of course, Arkansas Razorback sporting events. 

Meredith Meadows, Board Member - A native of Rome, GA, but calling Arkansas home since 1999, Meredith graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a Bachelor's Degree in journalism, emphasis on advertising. She also minored in Spanish and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. Her professional career started right out of college in pharmaceutical sales. In 2011, Meredith joined Springwoods Behavioral Health and spent 10 years as a Community Relations Liaison for the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas. In February of 2022, Meredith joined Alleviant Health Center as the Community Outreach Regional Manager for Northwest Arkansas. Meredith now promotes services for Alleviant's three clinics in Bentonville, Rogers, and Fayetteville. Meredith has always had a passion for mental health and the opportunity to help others learn of the importance of quality mental health. Meredith is currently Development Chair for P.E.A.R.L and is very excited to join the AFSP Board and further the mission of eliminating suicide. Her involvement with AFSP began with the Northwest Arkansas Out of the Darkness Community Walk. Since that first walk, Meredith has continued to volunteer with the NWA Walk and the NWA Ride to Fight Suicide Poker Run. In her spare time, Meredith likes to spend time at the lake with her family and loves playing with her two dogs, Poppy and Cooper. She also enjoys reading, running, playing with her niece, and spending time with her significant other, Neil. 

Jordon Babcock, Board Member - Jordon is the Chief Executive Officer of Springwoods Behavioral Health in Fayetteville. He has a broad business and clinical background, including creating an IT consulting company, holding a real estate license, and working as direct care staff and executive leadership in the behavioral healthcare setting. Babcock joined Springwoods in October 2018 and served in various executive positions at Universal Health Services before that. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in human development from Rockford University in Illinois, and an Executive Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University. Jordon has been interested in working more closely with AFSP for many years. The Out of the Darkness events was one of the first places where he felt understood almost 10 years ago when he faced the personal loss of his parents to suicide. He has since attended the walks every year and believes in the work that AFSP does on a personal level. 

Madelyn Massanelli, Volunteer Coordinator - Madelyn became a suicide loss survivor at 18 after losing her significant other, Joseph Lane. She first found AFSP in 2013 when she attended her first Out of the Darkness Walk where she found comfort and belonging. She went on to get her Bachelor's in Communications and shortly after college was Co-Chair for the first Theta ChiWalk at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She lives in Bentonville with her significant other, Alex, and their dog, Ducky. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, and have game nights with friends. Madelyn says that AFSP gives her hope that one day there will not be a stigma that surrounds suicide. 

Jessica Miller, Board Member - Jessica has been involved with AFSP since her step-brother's father died by suicide in early 2013. Her entire family was led to find answers to help with their coping process and they found the Out of the Darkness Community Walk later that same year. She has served on the Junior Board since 2017 in the hope of aiding AFSP with the Bold Goal. She was involved in the Miss American organization; as she has competed for the job of Miss Arkansas for four years. Her social impact initiative was called SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, where she utilized the programs More Than Sad and Seize the Awkward in schools of all ages. Jessica graduated with her master's in social work from the University of Arkansas Little Rock in 2023 and is now a Licensed Master Social Worker. She continues to work in the mental health field as a Program Therapist at Rivendell Behavioral Health Systems in Benton, Arkansas. By sharing her family's personal story and continuing advocacy, she is on a mission to save lives through awareness by making a change in how society views suicide prevention and education to effectively intervene in mental health conversations.