Catherine Hessick is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Marketing at Muhlenberg College. Having experienced mental health issues her entire life, she is dedicated to mental health awareness and acceptance. By sharing her struggles and successes, Catherine hopes to bring light to those living in the darkness and end the stigma surrounding mental health. She holds a PhD from the University of South Alabama. Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn
Brittany Beck is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Appalachian State University. She holds a DBA from Louisiana Tech University. Dedicated to advocating for and empowering doctoral students, she has demonstrated her commitment through various leadership roles, including her most recent position as Chair of DocSIG, a special interest group for doctoral students. She aims to inspire compassion, resilience, and a profound respect for mental health through her personal narratives, both within and outside the realm of academia. Her mission is to foster a culture of understanding and support, driving positive change in the academic community and beyond. Connect with Brittany on LinkedIn
Ellen Campos Sousa serves as an Assistant Professor of Marketing at The University of Tampa and holds a Ph.D. from Florida International University. She is a Well-being Researcher, a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator and Chief Wellbeing Officer, and a board member of the World Happiness Foundation. Drawing from her personal experiences as an international doctoral student and a single mother of two, she discovered the profound impact of mindfulness on mental health. This inspired her to become a dedicated mindfulness advocate, committed to self-development and supporting others on their growth journeys. Ellen is passionate about integrating well-being practices into everyday life, promoting mental health, and fostering a community of holistic growth and happiness. Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn
Nicole Kirpalani serves as the chair of the Management & Marketing Department in the Greehey School of Business, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas. She holds a Ph.D. in Business with a concentration in Marketing from the City University of New York. She hopes to inspire a cultural shift towards greater empathy, support, and openness regarding mental health in academic settings so that she can better support the students, faculty, and staff she is working with on a daily basis. Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn
Sona Klucarova is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is a native of Slovakia and holds a PhD from the University of Central Florida. By serving on this panel and sharing her story, she hopes to raise mental health awareness in academia. Connect with Sona on LinkedIn
Sphurti Sewak is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Illinois State University, Normal, IL. She holds a PhD from Florida International University, Miami. She faced mental well-being issues while juggling being an international doctoral student and a single parent to two young kids. Through this panel, she hopes to provide support to anybody who needs it. Connect with Sphurti on LinkedIn
Jayati Sinha is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Florida International University. She serves as a mentee for junior faculties via the Faculty Mentor Program at FIU and AMA SERVSIG. She also served/serves as a member of several board/advisory boards of non-profit organizations serving vulnerable groups in South Florida. She hopes to share her experience working with junior faculties and other vulnerable groups on various mental health challenges and hopes to normalize mental health discussions in academia. Connect with Jayati on LinkedIn