Meet the Team
Kristy Brann
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Psychology
School mental health, MTSS, screening, school mental health literacy, early intervention, teaming
Dr. Kristy Brann, is an Assistant Professor of school psychology at Miami University and is a nationally certified school psychologist (NCSP). Her research and consultation interests focus on building tiered school mental health systems. Specifically, she studies administration and usability of social-emotional screening and teacher mental health literacy. She is currently co-leading the Ohio School Wellness Initiative (OSWI). Dr. Brann earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in school psychology and M.A. degree in counseling.
Kyle Bush
PhD
Research/Evaluation Associate,CSBMHP
Educational Psychology, program evaluation, statistical analysis
(513) 529-3564
Dr. Kyle Bush is the Research/Evaluation Associate for the Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs at Miami University. He has several years of program evaluation, statistical research and collegiate teaching experience. He has conducted large-scale evaluations in the non-profit and university sectors and has taught courses on educational psychology, statistics and research design. His PhD is in Educational Psychology from Auburn University.
Sharon Custer
Ph.D., LISW-S
Social Work Field Education Director, Institute for Community Justice and Wellbeing Partnership Specialist
School-based mental health, trauma, Wraparound, family engagement, community partnerships
513-529-3425
Dr. Sharon Custer is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with supervisory designation and has been practicing for over 20 years. In her role at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, she teaches courses in both the graduate and undergraduate Family Science and Social Work programs. Her research interests include practices to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint, trauma-responsive schools, family engagement, and community partnerships. As the Field Director, she oversees internships for students and develops relationships throughout the community related to trauma, behavioral-health interventions, and supporting families across the lifespan. Prior to coming to Miami, Dr. Custer’s practice experience included mental health service coordination, educational advocacy, early childhood education, prevention, and adoption. She is one of the co-PI’s on the Ohio School Wellness Initiative supporting both the staff and student wellness components.
Cricket Meehan
Ph.D., Director, CSBMHP
Director, CSBMHP
513-529-4247
Dr. Cricket Meehan is the Director of Miami University’s Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Her clinical and research interests revolve around working within local communities to conduct needs assessments, develop/identify programs based on recognized needs, conduct program evaluations, secure resources and funding for mental health organizations, train in-the-field mental health practitioners in the latest empirically supported treatment protocols, provide advocacy for mental health interests within the public policy and legislation sectors, and bridge the gap between the pragmatic treatment world and academic research world in psychology.
Amity Noltemeyer
Professor and Chair, Department of Educational Psychology
PBIS. teaming, systems change, implementation science, school climate, school discipline
Dr. Amity Noltemeyer is Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at Miami University. Dr. Noltemeyer has experience as a practicing school psychologist; past President of the Ohio School Psychologists Association; Associate Director of the Doris Bergen Center for Human Development, Learning, and Technology; and Editor-in-Chief of School Psychology International journal. She has led or co-led many externally funded projects, including Ohio’s first School Climate Transformation Grant (SCTG) and the Ohio School Wellness Initiative (OSWI). Dr. Noltemeyer has authored an edited book, 15 book chapters, and 44 peer-reviewed articles. Her research interests include Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), resilience, school discipline disparities, systems change in schools, and school-based wellness initiatives. Dr. Noltemeyer earned Ph.D., Ed.S., and M.S. degrees in school psychology and a B.S. degree in psychology.
Deb Robison
MA, LSW, Project Administrator, CSBMHP
School-based services, tiered intervention, program development, service implementation, family and community engagement, prevention
513-520-2613
Deb Robison is the Project Administrator at the Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs with Miami University. Formerly, Deb was the Supervisor for Family and Student Services with the Norwood City Schools. She led multiple community collaborations including the Norwood Community Coalition, Norwood Drug and Alcohol Coalition, and Norwood Ready Kids. She has launched and managed school-based mental health and social emotional learning programs for pre-school through 12 grades. She has worked with the Hamilton County Family and Children First Council as the Program Coordinator for the Norwood Schools Children First Plan, a school based social service program aimed at reducing barriers to learning. Her prior experience includes work with children in foster care, residential treatment and with families in family preservation initiatives. Deb is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio. She received her BA in psychology and sociology from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and her MA in Pastoral Family Studies from The College of Mt. St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Evaluation Team
Alison Slaughter
Alison Slaughter, M.S. is in her 4th yr as a Researcher & Statistician for the Discovery Center. Ms. Slaughter assists with external research and evaluation services, including quantitative data collection and analysis; instrument development, modifying, and testing; and evaluation and technical report development for a variety of local-, state-, and federally-funded projects across the nation, with several Ohio ESC's, for the ODE, NIH, DHHS, & for multiple NSF programs.
Kristen Morio
Kristen Morio, M.A.T. is in her 12th yr as a Senior Research Associate & Project Team Leader for the Discovery Center. Ms. Morio coordinates and leads external research & evaluation services, including research design; proposal development; project & program monitoring; qualitative data collection & analyses; and technical & evaluation report development for a variety of local-, state-, & federally-funded projects across the nation, with several Ohio ESC's, for the ODE, NIH, DHHS, & for multiple NSF programs.