06/15/2026
✨ Professional Development Day with the 2026 WREDI Summer Externship Cohort ✨
Last Friday , our externs participated in an engaging Professional Development Day focused on learning, connection, and career exploration within the behavioral health field.
The day began with Behavioral Health Professional Speed Networking, where students connected with professionals representing a variety of disciplines and organizations across the behavioral health community. Thank you to:
• Dr. Scott Hickey, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD
• Amber Lotsi, LCSW-S, Santa Maria Hostel
• Ashley McFarland, LCSW, The Pineheart Center
• Jeana Nam, LPC, The Women’s Home
• Dr. Nicole Willis, Ph.D., LMSW, Texas Southern University
• Janelle Robinette-Long, MS, LPC-S, The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD
• Isabella Bacy, LMSW, CHW, Safe Mind Counseling Group
Students also participated in Brave Talk, a presentation from Gustavo Molinar, MA, with The JED Foundation, which focused on mental health awareness, help-seeking, and supporting peers.
One of the most meaningful moments of the day came after the program when a student shared how they used an extra meal provided during the event:
💚 “I gave the food to a homeless man. He was so grateful and actually told me that he had no idea how he was going to eat that day. He said God sent my sister and I for him. It was really sweet.”
Moments like these remind us that behavioral health is about more than careers it is about compassion, service, connection, and making a difference in our communities.
Thank you to all of our speakers, partners, and students for making this Professional Development Day such a success!