NAMI Massachusetts NEXTGEN Youth Advisory Council

NAMI Massachusetts has launched our first NEXTGEN Youth Advisory Council, modeled after NAMI National. NEXTGEN aims to represent diverse voices of young adults (18-25) across the state, ensuring that their voices, needs, and ideas are integrated into the same policies, programs, and services that directly affect them.

Through NEXTGEN, NAMI Massachusetts seeks to empower youth by providing a platform for leadership, offering training opportunities, supporting creative projects, and fostering a strong community of like-minded advocates.

For more information, or any questions, please reach out to Courtney Campbell at ccampbell@namimass.org

Jade (she/her) recently graduated from Lesley University with her Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree with a specialization in Drama Therapy. She is deeply passionate about youth mental health and was drawn to NEXTGEN because of its focus on uplifting young adult voices and concerns. With experience working on a crisis line during and after her undergraduate studies, Jade developed a strong commitment to mental health accessibility—particularly in school and community settings. Jade is a strong advocate for integrating the creative arts into therapeutic practice and plans to bring this passion into her work with NEXTGEN. In her free time, she enjoys reading, singing, cooking, biking, hiking and spending time with her fiancé and their cats.

Chloe (she/her) has been a mental health advocate since high school, advocating for herself, but more importantly, for others who cannot. She was drawn to NEXTGEN because she saw it as an opportunity to make a change, take her advocacy to the next level, and amplify voices in her community. Outside of NEXTGEN, Chloe is a clinical psychology doctoral student (PsyD) at William James College in Newton, MA. Her clinical interests include children and families, health psychology, and maternal mental health. In her free time, Chloe works part-time as a food tour guide in Boston, reads many books, listens to Taylor Swift, and does pilates. She is extremely excited to work with her fellow passionate team members and see all that can be created together. 

Zainab (she/her) is a sophomore at UMass Boston studying Biology with a minor in Psychology, interested in exploring the relationship between biomedical and psychological sciences. She is deeply passionate about advocating for youth mental health, aligning with NAMI Mass NEXTGEN’s mission to platform the voices of young adults who are leaders in mental health advocacy; Zainab was particularly drawn to the opportunity to inform mental health policies and initiatives that directly impact youth. With NEXTGEN, Zainab is excited to work alongside a diverse group of like-minded peers, honor lived experiences, and empower youth throughout their mental health journeys. Outside of NEXTGEN, Zainab is involved with various initiatives and organizations on campus and is an intern at McLean Hospital under the Geriatric Psychiatry Research Program. She likes to spend time with family and friends, go on outdoor walks, and read in her free time. After her undergraduate studies, Zainab plans to attend medical school to pursue child and adolescent psychiatry.

Eve (she/her) is a Youth & Mental Health Advocate currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology at Suffolk University’s Honors College. Her academic and research interests include youth mental health, suicide prevention, and translating psychological research into real-world impact, a commitment that drives her involvement with NAMI Mass NEXTGEN. Grounded in a passion for research, Eve has worked as a Research Assistant in the CHOICES Youth Psychopathology & Treatment Lab at Suffolk University, serves as an intern on the research team at Born This Way Foundation, and is an incoming intern at the Center for Suicide Research & Prevention at Mass General Brigham and Harvard University. On campus, she also serves as a Peer Health Educator, supporting fellow students’ mental health and well-being. Alongside her research work, Eve is the Creative Director at the nonprofit M.O.R.E. Possibilities, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their own mental health journeys. Eve is originally from Melbourne, Australia, and later moved to Houston, Texas, an experience that informs her interest in working across diverse communities and contexts.

Michael Dodd (He/Him/His) is a recent graduate from Northeastern University with a degree in Biology. Currently he is pursuing a career in behavioral health, his interest in NAMI Mass NEXTGEN comes from a passion due to experience with mental health, and experience in habitual treatment in mental health care. He loves sports, reading, video games, and spending free time coaching volleyball.

Tasque (she/her) was drawn to join the NAMI Mass NEXTGEN council after being informed about the opportunity at her local access center in Gloucester, Younity. Growing up with her own experience with mental health and witnessing the experiences of others, she has grown to be passionate about advocating for people that may not have the same voice she learned to use. She has been especially active in the LGBTQ+ community, tabling at multiple pride events for Younity and surrounding herself with people with diverse identities, backgrounds and needs. When Tasque is not working towards her degree in Elementary Education, she can be found attending karaoke nights, playing games with her friends and taking in the ocean breeze. She is looking forward to working with the rest of the NEXTGEN council and growing her skillset as an advocate over the coming year.

Rebecca (she/her) is a second-year student at Wellesley College pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology on the pre-med track. Outside of NAMI Mass NEXTGEN, she is involved with Wellesley’s chapter of Active Minds, where she recently helped organize the first annual campus-wide Out of the Darkness Walk in support of suicide prevention. Her previous experience volunteering with Teen Line, a Los Angeles-based crisis hotline supporting youth and young adults, inspired her to join NEXTGEN as a way to expand her mental health advocacy. In her free time, you will most likely find her café-hopping, spending time with friends, and putting together last-minute plans for trips.

Dave (he/him) is currently a senior at Boston College pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Film Studies. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, he is a 2026 Truman Scholar with experience in public health, mental health research, and emergency medical services. His interests lie at the intersection of medicine, public policy, and mental health, particularly in understanding how research and policy can improve mental health outcomes in underserved communities. He was drawn to NAMI Mass NEXTGEN because of its mission to ensure that young voices are represented in the policy and programming decisions that shape mental health care. Outside of school, Dave is an avid runner, photographer, and film enthusiast.

Gabriel Reyes (he/him) is a Health Psychology student at MCPHS University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology. His personal experiences with mental health, along with his work as a peer mentor with The NAN Project and as a Youth Mental Health Ambassador with the Cambridge Health Alliance, have sparked his passion for youth mental health advocacy and suicide prevention. Gabriel was drawn to NAMI Mass NEXTGEN because of its focus on bringing young adult perspectives into mental health advocacy and creating opportunities for young people to make an impact in their communities. Outside of NEXTGEN, he currently works as a Behavioral Technician and has completed training as both a CNA and EMT. In his free time, Gabriel enjoys running, hiking, underground concert photography, and caring for his growing collection of plants. He hopes to climb all of New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers and eventually visit every U.S. national park. Long-term, Gabriel hopes to combine his interests in medicine, research, mental health, and the outdoors into a career focused on helping others.

Neel (he/him) is a fourth year student at Tufts University double majoring in psychology and biology where he serves as Co-President of the Active Minds club and works to make mental health conversations more accessible, and inclusive for students on his campus. His commitment to youth mental health has been shaped by his experiences as a 988 Lifeline volunteer, a Behavioral Health Technician at Boston Children’s Hospital, and a intern in the Faja Lab studying autism and neurodevelopment. Neel was drawn to NAMI Mass NEXTGEN because of its focus on elevating youth voices in mental health advocacy, especially for communities that are often underserved or underrepresented in systems of care. Outside of school and advocacy, Neel enjoys long runs around Somerville, reading fantasy novels, baking with varying levels of success, and spending time with his two Yorkies. He is incredibly excited to join a passionate group of like-minded young advocates and contribute to a community committed to making mental health support more inclusive, accessible, and youth-centered.

August (he/him) is a senior at Tufts University majoring in Clinical Psychology. He was drawn to NAMI Mass NEXTGEN when seeking opportunities to engage in mental health advocacy and connect with peers who share a commitment to creating positive change. His passion for mental health advocacy derives from lived experience with mental health conditions and navigating long-term treatment and recovery. He hopes to combine mental health advocacy with social justice to raise awareness regarding the impact of discrimination and identity-based trauma on the mental health of marginalized communities. In addition to being a student, he is currently an intern at Fellside (Gould Farm) and volunteers at the St. Francis House expressive art therapy studio. In his free time he enjoys drawing, going to the gym, playing soccer, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

Adi Uppal (he/him/his) is a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music. He is an aspiring recording and touring artist with a deep passion for singing and songwriting. In addition to the performance side of things, Adi also focuses greatly on event planning/management to book concerts for himself. In Spring 2026, he organized over 10 concerts to raise funds for NAMI Massachusetts. With his love for live music and raising awareness about depression, Adi aims to work with NAMI Mass NEXTGEN to create a safer community around Massachusetts by proving the arts to be a crucial part of life and expression.