Anna Bennett is a nursing student at the University of Oklahoma with a passion for mental health advocacy. She is committed to making a positive impact in Oklahoma by working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. By sharing her personal story and using her growing healthcare knowledge, she strives to drive meaningful changes in our community in collaboration with other members of the Next Gen Advisory Council and NAMI as a whole. She believes in education and compassionate care to bridge the gap between mental and physical health, creating a more supportive and understanding environment for all Oklahomans.

Emma Valgora is a senior at the University of Central Oklahoma, majoring in Musical Theater with minors in Theater and Political Science. Originally from Ponca City, Oklahoma, she grew up noticing a lack of mental health education and resources in schools. Emma began competing within the Miss America Organization over 5 years ago, and is currently serving as Miss Edmond 2024 and Miss Heartland 2025. She is passionate about using her platform to advocate for mental health education and awareness. For this reason, she developed her platform, “Pause. Provide. Prevent.,” which aims to raise awareness and provide resources for mental health education in K-12 schools. Emma published a children’s book to introduce mental health concepts to young children and established “Pause. Provide. Prevent.” as an official nonprofit organization in Oklahoma. She strives to continue her work and inspire others to engage in conversations that can help prevent loneliness in mental health challenges.

Ava is a Psychology major at the University of Oklahoma. She loves to travel, read, and learn new perspectives. She is always looking to expand her understanding of the world and its people. NAMI Oklahoma asked Ava to be a part of the Next Gen Council when they received a volunteer interest form from her where she shared her own mental health journey and her work with organizations that share the values of NAMI Oklahoma.

Kalyn is a junior at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) pursuing a bachelors degree in Forensic Science and Psychology, with plans to attend graduate school after her anticipated graduation in 2026.Outside of her academic work, Kalyn is an active member of UCO’s Student Congress (UCOSA) and serves as a volunteer for UCO’s PsyChi and Oklahoma Blood Institute. Kalyn is passionate about mental health advocacy, both from a personal and professional perspective. Having faced her own challenges with mental health, she is driven by the belief that open conversations is key to breaking down stigma and helping others feel supported. Her goal is to create spaces where people can talk about mental health and improve their well-being through those conversations.

Lai Johnson has lived in Oklahoma City for most of her life. She developed a passion for the performing arts at a very young age, beginning sing at two years old and dancing at three. She attended Putnam City North High School, and began pursuing a degree in Psychology at the University of North Texas. She has been an Oklahoma City Thunder Storm-Chaser since 2023, and in 2024 she became involved with Generation Why, which is how she found her way to our NextGen council.

Madison is the Director of Community Engagement at YWCA Oklahoma City, where she has been advocating for domestic violence survivors since joining the organization in 2022. Driven by a firm belief in the power of community and education, Madison joined the NAMI Next Gen Advisory Council to aid in mental health advocacy. She is passionate about creating positive change and hopes that through this collaborative effort, she can make a lasting impact on the lives of young people.

Maya is a senior at the University of Central Oklahoma pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Sociology. She is a two-time published author and seven-time international researcher. Maya is a student researcher through the UCO Women's Research and BGLTQ+ Student Center. During her time there, Maya has interned as a sexual health ambassador teaching positive and inclusive health. She now works as an archival intern at the Freedom Center of Oklahoma City, preserving important documents of Oklahoma's rich Civil Rights history. Maya has struggled with her mental health in many ways, and with support, she has been able to overcome much of that struggle. She is passionate about helping others fight through and receive the support necessary for them to win their battles.

Halee Harder graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. She started dancing when she was three years old under the direction of the late Shannon Calderon Primeau. Halee is trained in flamenco, hip hop, ballet, pointe, modern, tap, and jazz. Halee has worked with many well-respected choreographers in her career. In 2022 she was awarded the University of Central Oklahoma Research, Creative, Scholarly Activities Grant and was accepted to travel to Eau-Claire, Wisconsin with her cast to present at the 2023 National Conference for Undergraduate Research. In August of 2023, Halee founded Mysterious Minds Dance Company, where their mission is to provide awareness to Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. In the Fall of 2024 she will be attending the University of Central Oklahoma to pursue her Masters in Public and Nonprofit Administration.