AFSP Western PA Board of Directors

Alyx Enscoe, Chapter Chair

Alyx has been passionate about mental health and suicide prevention since college when she was on the board for her school’s chapter of Active Minds. Active Minds is an organization that supports mental health awareness and education for young people. After losing her brother to suicide in 2017, Alyx found AFSP through Pittsburgh’s Out of the Darkness Walk and she has been a volunteer since attending her first walk. By day, Alyx is a Sr. Recruiter with UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, recruiting nurses and support staff to join her team. In her spare time, Alyx enjoys hiking and kayaking with her husband and golden retriever. She also co-runs a “bookstagram” account to foster her love of reading- @bookish.pgh!

Doug Bishop, Treasurer

Doug is a Certified Public Accountant who started his career as an employee of a medium-sized local CPA firm and worked his way up to become a shareholder with that same firm. He has applied his background to support our chapter by overseeing our finances. From fundraising efforts to managing our spending, he has helped us grow successfully since his efforts began in 2015. His involvement started soon after he lost his son to suicide in January 2014. He is very passionate about the cause, and committed to reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health. In addition to his volunteer work, he also is an avid hockey fan, amateur photographer and you may find him attending concerts throughout the year. 

Emily Shimko, Secretary

Emily serves as the Secretary for the Western Pennsylvania Chapter. She began volunteering in 2018 after the loss of her half- brother to suicide.  Emily presents and trains other volunteers to present our educational programs.  Emily is also involved in our community walks and recently brought the college walk to her institution.  Additionally, Emily has engaged in fundraising for AFSP by running the Disney World Marathon and Pittsburgh Half Marathon.  As an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences as La Roche University, Emily is passionate about health improvement.  Emily also serves as Co-Chair of La Roche's Jed Campus Team.  Emily has earned her Doctor of Education and Master of Science degrees from the University Pittsburgh.  Outside of teaching and volunteering, Emily enjoys instructing group fitness, yoga and maintaining her own health through physical activity.

Ryan Strength, Loss & Healing Chair

Ryan is a Digital Product Manager at a Fintech company in Pittsburgh where she is the captain of the community service employee resource group. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she grew up in western PA north of Pittsburgh. She attended Point Park University and studied advertising and public relations.   After losing a loved one to suicide in 2016, Ryan began attending a Survivors of Suicide Loss Grief Support Group. She started volunteering with the AFSP in 2017, became a trained support group facilitator in 2018, and a member of the Nominations & Leadership Committee in 2020.  In her spare time, you can find her hanging out with her husband and their dog Astro, working on her watercolor painting skills, and listening to true crime podcasts. 

Jamie Zelazny, Education Chair

Jamie is an Assistant Professor of Nursing and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Public Health in Psychiatric Epidemiology and a PhD in Nursing, all from the University of Pittsburgh.  When she was 12 years old, she lost a beloved family member to suicide.  That loss shaped the trajectory of her nursing career.  She has over 35 years of experience in pediatric psychiatric mental health nursing and youth suicide prevention research.  Along with her students at Pitt, she organized the first Out of the Darkness Campus Walk at the University of Pittsburgh, which will be an annual event.  She is passionate about mental health awareness and is dedicated to providing suicide prevention education to the community.  Jamie is very excited about her role as education chair where she will continue to present and will train volunteers to present AFSP’s educational programming to the community.  In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, camping and spending time with her family. 

Carly Bellini, Public Policy Chair

Carly Bellini graduated from Temple University in December 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in May 2021 with a Juris Doctor degree.  She is admitted to the Bar of Pennsylvania and in good standing.  Carly currently serves full-time as an Attorney-Advisor with the Federal government.  She is from the South Hills of Pittsburgh and in her free time enjoys reading, podcasting, and visiting Carnegie museums where she is a member.

Karina Mueller, Volunteer Coordinator

Karina grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and earned her bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies, with focus on legal research/writing, and her master’s degree in Criminology, with a focus on correctional rehabilitation. Karina began her career working on the indigenous reservations in South Dakota and moved to Pittsburgh in 2012 to work for the Federal Public Defender’s Office. While with the FPD in Pittsburgh, Karina was lead investigator of two different post-conviction relief teams which were responsible for their client’s release after almost three decades [each] of unjust incarceration. In 2019, Karina began her career as a private investigator contracting with the courts on a case-by-case basis. Being an outspoken advocate for marginalized communities is the focus of Karina’s career and personal life.

Suicide first touched Karina’s life at the age of 9 when she lost a beloved older cousin. At the age of 11, she made the first attempt on her own life. Unfortunately, suicide became a normal part of life as multiple family members and friends lost their lives over the years. Karina began her own journey toward mental wellness in 2014. As a survivor of childhood trauma and sexual assault, Karina found contentment in Buddhism and serving her community. Coupled with therapy, a healthy diet and a life-changing spinal surgery in 2021, Karina now enjoys a full life on the northside with her two dogs, Bear and Cooper. Her son starts a computer science degree at Penn State in Fall of 2022; her teenage daughter is an avid volleyballer for Pitt Elite Volleyball Club.

In 2018, Karina found a home volunteering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She has years of experience in trauma-based care and loves engaging with our local communities. Her new mission is recruiting volunteers and inspiring them to be equally passionate about destigmatizing mental health and creating a world without suicide.

Jonathan Shimko, Nominations & Leadership Chair

Jonathan serves the Western Pennsylvania Chapter Board as the Nominations and Leadership Committee Chair. In this capacity, Jonathan works to ensure that board members are fulfilling AFSP’s mission and are meeting board expectations. He began volunteering in 2018 and supports the community walks and outreach events. Additionally, Jonathan has engaged in fundraising for AFSP by running in multiple Disney World 10Ks and Half Marathons with his wife Emily (she is the real runner). Bringing awareness and destigmatizing mental health have become passions for Jonathan after struggling with stress management and anxiety himself.

Outside of AFSP, Jonathan serves as Vice President and Practice Executive – Water at Michael Baker International’s Pittsburgh Office. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating strategic pursuits, client engagement and facilitating the successful completion of complex programs and projects covering the entire spectrum of the water cycle. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Slippery Rock University and a Master of Business Administration from Point Park University. He has also served as a Director and President for the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Jonathan enjoys hiking our beautiful parks and mountains, playing the guitar, watching his favorite sports teams, and is an avid traveler.

Nancilee Burzachechi, Fundraising Chair

Nancilee is a licensed attorney, Realtor® and entrepreneurial manager experienced in contract negotiations and advocacy, small business and non-profit development and management, succession planning, real estate, wills and estate planning.

She is a professional fund raiser and has held CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) status for over 20 years and served as a lobbyist at the federal, state and local levels for higher education.  She has spent most of her professional career working with local colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Community College of Allegheny County.

Wellnes and mindfulness figure prominently in all that Nancilee is involved in and she believes the connection between mind and body are key to overall health and wellness.  She has practiced yoga regularly for most of her life and is a certified yoga instructor registered with Yoga Alliance.  She holds E-RYT 200®, RYT 500®, RPYT® and is a certified YACEP®, (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider).  She is also co-founder and co-wonder of BREATHE Power Yoga Studio and Registered  Yoga School in Gibsonia.

A three-time graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Nancilee earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Business from the College of Arts & Sciences, a Juris Doctor from the School of Law and an M.B.A. from Katz Graduate School of Business.

When not working on her mat, Nanciless enjoys spending time with family and friends and she enjoys woodworking, music, cooking, traveling, and four-legged furry friends.

Bernice Boyden, Program & Outreach Chair

Bernice is a Leadership Consultant, Senior Human Resource Professional and Certified Professional and Executive Coach who works with clients who want to enhance their leadership pipeline and improve culture with conflict resolution.  

From high potentials to executive level management, these groups seek Bernice to assist in overcoming leadership, people, communication and DE&I challenges that have major impact on morale productivity, and retention.  For over two decades, Bernice has worked for Fortune 100  companies in various Human Resources leadership capacities and earned her Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management and Master's in Education from Duquesne University, along with being an author of three books.