We are scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators committed to changing students’ lives

Core Team

Carol Diener, PH.D., J.D., Curriculum Author, Mentor and Advisor

is a child and adolescent clinical psychologist, forensic psychologist, and attorney. Carol Diener received her Ph.D. (1979) in clinical psychology, as well as a J.D. in law (1997), from the University of Illinois, where she served as a faculty member in clinical psychology for 26 years. She has worked in areas of forensic psychology such as delinquency and child custody. She also headed a mental health worker training program at the University of Illinois, in which undergraduate students provided diverse mental health services. Dr. Diener’s clinical experience is broad, and includes work with veterans, children, and juvenile delinquents. Her masters and dissertation are highly-cited studies on a mastery orientation versus learned helplessness in children. Dr. Diener’s research experience also includes attributional style and learned helplessness, abuse and neglect, teen court, and at-risk adolescents. She lends considerable expertise to the team in terms of positive and clinical psychological interventions.

In Loving Memory - Ed Diener, PH.D., Curriculum Author, Mentor and Advisor

is one of the most highly cited psychological research scientists in the world. He was widely known as the foremost expert on well-being and happiness. He was also the world’s leading authority on measuring well-being, as well as an expert on research methods and statistics. Ed has been a professor at the universities of Utah, Virginia, and Illinois, earning major national and international awards in the psychological and behavioral sciences. He was a professor at the University of Illinois for 40 years and was a distinguished emeritus professor there. He was a professor at the University of Utah. Ed was founding president of the International Positive Psychology Association and has been president of several other scientific organizations. Dr. Diener was a Senior Scientist with the Gallup organization. His research focused on the link between well-being and income, and how employee well-being enhances organizational performance.

Sadly, Ed Diener passed away on April 27th, 2021. His impact on this world was truly extraordinary. Dr. Diener’s discoveries on well-being and happiness shifted paradigms for individuals, organizations, and governments and have made the world a better and happier place. He was an amazing mentor to the entire Webewell team, especially our students. His kindness, humility, encouragement, and wisdom have touched the lives of our team forever.

We miss you Ed, and we will carry on this piece of your remarkable legacy with fervor, honor, and a profound sense of gratitude for the impact you have had on us all!

To read more about Ed’s legacy, you can read this article in the New York Times.

Alexander Becraft, Founder, CEO, Facilitation Lead, Principal Investigator, MBC.

Alexander graduated summa cum laude from the University of Utah where he designed his own degree in the Bachelor of University Studies program. His degree included studies in psychology, mental health, and social entrepreneurship. Alexander did his thesis work in well-being promotion and research under the guidance of his mentors Dr. Ed Diener and Dr. Marissa Diener. Alexander is currently conducting research as a principal investigator at the University of Utah. He was the recipient of the 2020 Clark and Christine Ivory Prize for Excellence in Student Leadership, one of the most prestigious leadership awards at the University of Utah. He was also awarded a Student Innovation of the Year, for 2020, in the healthcare category by the Lassonde Entrepreneurship Institute. Alexander was a Presidential Intern in the Higher Education Leadership program at the University of Utah and a Fellow in the Office of the President working on the economic mobility competition, the American Dream Ideas Challenge. Alexander has expertise in the facilitation of psycho-education well-being groups with university students. At Wasatch Crest Recovery, a drug and alcohol treatment center, Alexander designs and facilitates groups for clients relative to positive psychological interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, and meditation practices with their clinical team.

Ayana Amaechi, Research and Group Facilitation

Ayana Amaechi (she/her) is a University of Utah graduate with a Bachelors of Science degree in Honors Biology. Ayana was encouraged from an early point in her collegiate experience to find something that impassioned her. She discovered an interest in victims of abuse, along with abuse prevention by means of education with a mental well-being focus. She took up this interest in the far reaches of her education including volunteer work, research, academic study, and civic engagement. Most recently, Ayana served as VP of University Relations for the student at the U, and helped foster a better relationship between students, faculty, and administration alike. Ayana is just beginning medical school at the University of Washington and hopes to care for people in a medical capacity now.

Ryan Jackson, Co-founder, Fractional CFO EMBA

Ryan Jackson, EMBA is a Co-founder of Webewell. He has previously held positions as CFO/COO in two companies in the health services field. Webewell is his passion project stemming from the dire need for innovative mental health services in the the US. Ryan has an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and has published papers with the High-Risk Cancer clinics at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in the field of familial melanoma and colon cancers. Ryan currently manages investment analytics and operations for two investment trusts. His current activities also include facilitating groups for adults suffering from addiction by delivering psychological interventions and life skills coaching.

Merry Joseph, Research and Group Facilitation

Merry is a first-year medical student at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She is passionate about improving quality health care access for underrepresented communities and empowering individuals to lead healthier lives.

Recently, she received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and in Psychology from the University of Utah, as well as a Human Factors Certification. Merry’s experience as an immigrant, first-generation student in the United States, and the pressing mental health needs of college students nationwide motivated her to be one of the founding members of this initiative and bring this valuable resource to more people.

Advisors

Paul F. Brown, J.D.

holds the James Lee Sorenson Presidential Chair at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, where he is professor of Entrepreneurship and Co-Director of the school’s Masters in Business Creation graduate program. Paul is also a member of the investment committee for UVF2, a student-run impact venture fund run through the Sorenson Impact Center at the school. Prior to teaching, Paul was a managing director at Sandbox Industries in Chicago, where he cofounded and ran a $300M health care-oriented venture capital fund. Prior to that, Paul was a vice president with the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield organization and, previously, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Paul is a director of CleanSlate Centers, QualDerm Partners, SwellCX, JQ Medical, and Cinch. He is also an advisory partner with Granite Growth Health Partners. Paul received his J.D. from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Utah.

Courtney H. McBeth, Ed.D.

As senior vice president of Strada Impact Operations, Courtney McBeth is responsible for overseeing the operations and strategy for Strada’s research and insights, philanthropy, and policy teams. Dr. McBeth also coordinates strategy and relationship-building with institutions and employers, positioning Strada Education Network as an instrumental thought leader in transforming the postsecondary education-to-workforce system. Prior to joining Strada, Dr. McBeth served as the special assistant to the president at the University of Utah. In that role, she led university-wide strategic planning, presidential initiatives, and innovation efforts between four major research universities working to ensure the economic mobility of America’s middle class. Her background also includes managing Utah’s Eccles School of Business Sorenson social impact and data science center and developing large-scale domestic and global internship programs at the U's Hinckley Institute of Politics. McBeth, a former Academic All-American soccer player, earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Utah in political science and education, respectively. She holds a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.

John Barraclaugh, MBA

John Barraclough, communications advisor and board member, has a wealth of experience in corporate communications, marketing, strategic planning, brand management and employee development—in industries as diverse as entertainment, software technology, financial services and academia. He has held senior leadership positions at Novell, United Healthcare and Warner Bros. As a consultant, his clients have included HBO and Goldman Sachs. A published author, he has written instruction manuals, monographs, financial reports, and several long-form articles. as well as managing editor of two monthly periodicals. His most recent research focuses on the diffusion of innovations; microagressions and inequity in the workplace; and instructional design. His volunteer and philanthropic contributions include multiple humanitarian-aid missions throughout Central and South America and Mexico. He has served on the boards of an addiction recovery center and the homeless shelter. He also filed 117 news stories as an Olympic News Reporter for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University, and holds a Master’s of Communications Management and Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

Clinical & Research

Nick Galli, Ph.D.

Nick is broadly interested in psychosocial health and well-being in high-level athletes. Within this realm, his research has two foci: (1) resilience and adversarial growth to sport stressors for high-level athletes, and (2) body image and disordered body change behaviors in high-level athletes. He has employed both quantitative and qualitative methods to answer questions in each area. Nick is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at the U, and in this role teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on health behavior change, sport psychology, body image, community-based prevention, and stress management. His research interests focus on the psychosocial health and well-being of competitive athletes, with particular interests in the areas of body image, disordered eating, resilience, and personal growth from adversity. Since 2008 he has published more than 15 scholarly journal articles and delivered over 20 presentations in these areas.

Rich Macdonald, CMHC

is a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. His career has focused in the area of chemical dependency treatment and co-occurring mental health disorders. In his various roles as Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director, and Executive Clinical Director of Wasatch Crest Treatment Services he has been responsible for all aspects of daily operations and the financial success of the business. He has developed, trained, and led a team of professionals in creating a chemical dependency treatment program that offers a full continuum of care to adults struggling with addiction and other mental health disorders. He supervised all aspects of clinical programming development for residential, day treatment, intensive outpatient, and aftercare programs. Under his direction, the program received Joint Commission accreditation and implemented outcome measurement tools to strengthen the efficacy of the treatment provided.

Student Facilitation Team

Edward Tang

Edward is a first-generation student at the University of Utah and is planning to go to graduate school for Educational Psychology. Edward was born and raised in Utah and is the son of two Chinese immigrants. Edward has a large passion for Science and empowering students through education. Edward is an extrovert and loves talking to and meeting new people. His favorite hobbies are video games, basketball, and watching TV/movies. His dream is to travel the world because he is a huge foodie. In the future, he wants to work towards uplifting students and his community!

Anthony Mejia

Anthony is a first-generation student at the University of Utah that is studying Criminology and Psychology. Anthony was born in Los Angeles, California to two immigrant parents. Anthony has a passion for Prison Reform and helping those around them who have a hard time asking for help. Anthony is an extrovert and enjoys talking to his peers about things they have in common. His favorite hobbies include soccer, video games, indoor plants and spending time with his dog Chancho, and cat Meatloaf. His dream is to explore the world to see what else awaits. Anthony has his own start-up named whop (We Heart Our Pets) where he offers eco-conscious products for pets that started from the love of his own pets.

Erin Case

Erin is a sophomore at the University of Utah where she is studying Psychology and Business, with a minor in nutrition. She is driven by helping people thrive and become the best and happiest version of themselves. Her passions include exercise, food, and music, all of which contribute to her own wellbeing. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family or being outdoors. As a past participant in Wellbeing-Elevated, she gained many benefits and now enjoys helping other students have the same experience.

Pamela Rojas-Cartolin

Hello, my name is Pamela Rojas-Cartolin. I am a first-generation student majoring in Honors Health & Kinesiology. I am passionate about helping others and my underserved community. I have volunteered at Health Access Project and have worked as a certified nurse assistant in a COVID unit. I am planning to get my Masters of Public Health and become a Physician Assistant. Outside of school, I enjoy going to the gym, making soap, and exploring new coffee shops. Being a part of the Webewell team has been truly rewarding and a unique opportunity through helping students understand the importance of mental health.

Alexander Lott

Alexander Lott is a student studying Music Composition at the University of Utah. Aside from music, Alexander has a passion for many other subjects, including mental health, psychology, relationships, and mindfulness. This passion led him to attend a session of Webewell in the Fall of 2020. Having loved the course content and people involved, Alexander joined the initiative the next semester and now works as a co-facilitator for weekly sessions. When he’s not engrossed in his studies, Alexander enjoys running, exploring beautiful landscapes, and feeding his dark chocolate addiction.

Tori Manning

Tori is a junior at the David Eccles School of Business, aiming to graduate with an Honors B.S. in Marketing and a French minor. At school, she’s part of the Business Scholars program. She serves on the Women in Business board and is the President of the DECA competitive club.

Her current marketing specialties include managing social media, website creation, and making animated videos.

Passions include promoting social equity and well-being. She deems herself an amateur travel enthusiast, hoping to study abroad next Summer. She’s played the cello for nine years. In her spare time, she enjoys baking and painting.

Kathleen Bradley

Kathleen Bradley is a sophomore at the University of Utah. She is double majoring in International Studies and Political Science and minoring in History. At the U, she is the co-editor of the Hinckley Journal of Politics, which is one of the oldest undergraduate run research journals in the country. Kathleen also acts as a Peer Mentor within the Honors College, leading an introductory course for first-years. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in law and politics. Outside of school, Kathleen loves to read, ski, and travel.

Emily Arntz, LCSWA

Emily is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Currently, she is working in collaboration with Telamon Corporation and HouseWake! providing rental and utility assistance to renters who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.

She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Albion College and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Utah College of Social Work. During her time at the U, her focus was in health. Additionally, she was a Scholar of the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) program. Emily also participated in Webewell during her final semester at the U and found it to be a great help during a stressful time.

Zoe Buroojy, MSW-I

Zoe Buroojy is a 2nd Year Master of Social Work Student at the University of Utah. In 2017, she received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Colorado State University. Since moving to Utah, Zoe has been dedicated to her students at Glendale Middle School, where she has formed lasting connections and been inspired by the resilience and passion of the colorfully and culturally diverse community of Glendale. Zoe is also currently serving an internship at University Neighborhood Partner’s Hartland Partnership Center which connects community resources with the West Side where over 75% of the residents are non-native English speakers representing ethnic backgrounds from around the world.

Kristin Thompson

Kristin Thompson is pursuing an Honors Bachelors of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Disability Studies. She plans to become a doctor of audiology in the future.

In addition to Webewell, Kristin works at the University of Utah Writing Center and is an Honors Peer Mentor. She also volunteers at the University of Utah Reading Clinic and is a council member of Her Campus Utah. Kristin is passionate about research and is conducting her thesis on auditory perception and physiology. In her spare time, she loves writing, watching anime, doing makeup, and working with kids.

Alyssa Curiel

Alyssa Curiel is a first-generation college student at the University of Utah, majoring in nursing and minoring in psychology. Alyssa hopes to pursue a career as a pediatric or neonatal nurse practitioner for her love of children and babies. She strives upon positivity and mental health in her everyday life and, in essence, loves teaching it to others. Her passion for educating those on health and wellness has led her to be a part of our Webewell Community. Alyssa is an outgoing, friendly, and bubbly person to speak with. In her free time, she enjoys meeting new people, spending time in nature, working out, running, iced coffee, boba, and reading!

Elaine Prom

Elaine Prom is a Senior at the University of Utah. Studying in the Department of Humanities, Elaine is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Communication with an emphasis on strategic communication and minoring in Entrepreneurship. Elaine plans to continue her education and pursue a Master's through the Master's Business Creation program with the aspiration of having her own business one day. Raised in an oriental Cambodian grocery store, Elaine has a strong passion for food and the community. She loves working with others and coming up with impactful, creative ideas to benefit those around her or her community. Her parents have been immense role models in her life and show her how a strong work ethic can bring a dream to a reality. Elaine likes to spend her free time going on walks in nature, hiking in the mountains, or spending time with her friends, family, and animals.

Libna Noor

Libna is very passionate about mental wellness, so her field of study is focused on Psychology. She appreciates having the opportunity to be a part of this team because it helped her gain valuable insight and practices within mental well-being and has helped her learn healthy ways to manage her stress. 

Libna understands that mental well-being is a complex and multifaceted topic, but it plays an important role and affects almost all aspects of our lives. Libna aspires to grow in this field to positively impact her community and contribute to the ways mental well-being can be accessible to individuals from marginalized communities. 

She hopes to contribute to the overall well-being of individuals within her community one day by helping individuals overcome the stigma barrier and take steps to improve their mental health.

Tanner Brain

Tanner Brain is graduating from the University of Utah in May 2022 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Pediatric Clinical Research. Tanner plans to attend medical school after completing his undergrad and wishes to stay in the field of mental health. Through personal experience, he has learned how beneficial mental health professionals can be and hopes to become a pediatric psychiatrist one day. In Tanner’s free time he enjoys hiking, traveling, finding new house plants, and playing pickleball with his wife, family, and friends. He also loves to learn, specifically about anything related to nature or the human body. Tanner is excited to be a part of Wellbeing Elevated!

Monique Alires

Monique Alires is a first-generation Latina transfer student from Salt Lake Community College. She received her AS degree in Social Work, and now is working towards a bachelor’s in social work at the University of Utah. She is very passionate and driven to improve the overall wellbeing of youth and young adults within her community. Thus, she has served as a peer mentor, teen specialist, and legislative intern to advocate, and promote a healthy mind, body, and spirit within society. Aside from learning, she enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and creating art.