Our Team

Our team is made up of people that are FOR Students and want to see them thrive. Whether on our board or in our schools, we are all determined to do whatever is necessary to help better prepare teens for their transition to what is next.

Founders

WHITNEY D’ALLAIRD

Executive Director

Hi, I am Whitney D’Allaird and in December of 2017, I lost my oldest son Tyler to suicide – 15 weeks into his freshmen year of college. I do not want other parents to experience the pain I currently feel.

Unfortunately, I never had many of the conversations with Tyler that I now know – we MUST be having with our children. THIS – is why I founded FOR Students.

We are here to teach and talk with students about what matters most to them, what they are experiencing in their lives and give them tools to help themselves and their peers.

ED WIlliams

Programming Director

Ed has spent his adult life working with young people and their families. A degree in education, a teacher for 12 years, a student pastor for 8 years, a trained life coach, and a dad of 2 teenage girls. Ed has spent the last 21 years of his life helping teens and parents thrive. It’s simply in his DNA.

In the fall of 2021 Ed was planning to return to teaching, but was invited by Whitney to come and help create the teams and programs that now make up FOR Students. He is more excited than ever about the impact these programs are having and their potential to help so many students in the future.

staff

kellie shope

EVENT DIRECTOR

Kellie found her passion for working with students over a decade ago and has been leading and mentoring groups of students all along the way. Because of her love for young people, she realized that in some way, shape or form, she would be spending the rest of her life helping the next generation navigate the growing pains, the transitions, the decisions, and the many ups and downs of life. She believes we have a great responsibility to walk alongside young adults and equip them for life and all that comes with entering adulthood.

Kellie spends her time at For Students creating fun environments and meaningful content for students to talk about, learn from, and feel prepared for what is NEXT. She spends her free time traveling and creating special moments with her two boys and husband of 13 years.

CHRIS LEE

MEDIA DIRECTOR

Chris has always had a passion for working with students and believes in the power of storytelling to help them develop essential life skills and grow into resilient adults. He believes in the importance of creating engaging and relatable content that can capture the imagination of young minds and inspire them to reach their full potential. Weaving together meaningful stories that resonate with students through dedication, creativity, and empathy is what he creates at For Students and those stories have the power to impact the lives of the next generation.

Outside of For Students you will find Chris playing the electric guitar, constantly quoting movies and song lyrics or adventuring with his son and daughter.

JANE TUNE

DIRECTOR OF CONNECTIONS

Jane has a talented way of bringing people together and finding meaningful ways for us to connect with one another. She is passionate about sharing what we are doing at For Students with individuals and organizations in the community. Her hope is for students all over the city to have the opportunity to engage in authentic conversations, better understand themselves and learn tools to manage their mental health. Jane has three daughters and realizes the importance of helping teens develop the skills to foster healthy relationships and lead fulfilling lives. Jane holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Health Administration & Policy.

LARA ROUSE

LOGISTICS DIRECTOR

Lara has been involved in non profit organizations for the past 15 years and holds a supportive role on the For Students team. She has a passion for not only seeing students thrive but also the other staff she works alongside. Lara is sending her own child to Butler University this fall and is able to empathize with the challenges that high school seniors face as they prepare for college. She is a Charlotte native, who is married to her highschool sweetheart, and a mom to three lovely humans.

Kelsey Brossman

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Kelsey has been a mentor and high school coach throughout the last decade, dedicated to helping students discover their talents and learn more about themselves. Kelsey brings and upbeat energy and loves helping to create an environment where students can bond and grow. She enjoys capturing these events and moments to show others of the importance of mental health with students and the work we get to do each week in the community.

Originally from the Chicago area, she is also a proud mom of three amazing kids. When she’s not momming or working, you can find her staying active in the gym, or singing and playing her guitar.

ADVISORY BOARD

Patrick Balsley

SANA COUNSELING

Patrick is a North Carolina Addiction Specialist Professional Practice Board Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He has been working with families affected by substance use for a decade. Patrick is a member of the clinical team at Herren Project, a national non-profit organization founded by former NBA basketball player Chris Herren and serves as a Wellness Coach and Structured Family Recovery®️ Counselor at T.R.U.S.T, a comprehensive case management company in New York, NY. In the Charlotte community, Patrick currently serves on the Behavioral Health Committee at Atrium Health Foundation and the Board of Directors at Emerald School of Excellence, the Carolina’s first Recovery High School. Patrick is also co-host of Champagne Problems, a podcast that takes a hard look at the normalization of alcohol in our culture.

AMY WORK LCMHC, RPT

RENEWED COUNSELING AND PLAY THERAPY

Amy R. Work is the founder and owner of Renewed Counseling & Play Therapy in Charlotte, NC, where she treats children, adolescents, and adults facing a variety of issues including mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, behavioral issues, and parenting concerns. She holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Qualified Supervisor (QS), and Registered Play Therapist (RPT). Amy is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision at UNC Charlotte. As a former public high school teacher, Amy chose to become a counselor after witnessing many of her students struggle with mental health. She continues to support high schoolers as an Advisory Board member of FOR Students. Outside of the counseling world, you can find Amy reading with a cup of coffee or tea, trying new recipes in her kitchen, on a run with a friend, or spending time with her husband and son.

JENNIFER FIGHTS LCMHC, NCC

BASE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL

Jennifer Fights is an EMDR psychotherapist working with adolescents, adults and families in private practice in Charlotte, NC. She is an EMDRIA Certified therapist and is a Consultant-In-Training. Jennifer received her master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from New York University in 2002, and has been a practicing clinician for over 20 years.

Jennifer’s early career focused on working with complex developmental trauma with youth and their families within the juvenile justice system, residential treatment centers and community mental health centers. Since transitioning to private practice in 2015, Jennifer’s areas of focus continue to include complex attachment trauma as well as treating complicated grief and bereavement and specializes in the trauma of suicide loss by families, loved ones and communities. She also treats individuals that struggle with suicidal thoughts and behaviors which gives her a unique perspective in working with the survivors of suicide loss.

As a lifelong learner, Jennifer regularly attends advanced EMDR trainings and has completed trainings in the R-TEP-G-TEP, and the IATP-C protocols for recent traumatic events. Jennifer is also a fully trained Level III DBT therapist.

Amanda McGough, PhD

BASE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL

Dr. McGough is a licensed psychologist with BASE Cognitive Behavioral in Charlotte, NC. She specializes in working with teens and young adults around concerns including grief, depression, anxiety and life transitions. Dr. McGough also serves as the President of the NC Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She consults and speaks on suicide prevention and suicide brereavement on both a local and national level.

AMANDA CUMBO, LCMHC

ROGERS CHRISTIAN COUNSELING

Amanda is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) who earned her Master’s Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and undergraduate degree at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Her main passion in life is teaching people how to understand and regulate their own emotional and mental health. She is an experienced counselor in practice at Rodgers Christian Counseling and enjoys helping people find hope no matter the depth of their struggle. She believes that therapy is a sacred place where people can feel fully seen and heard, sometimes for the very first time in life. Amanda is committed to creating a safe space for people to heal. She works with people of all ages process their emotions, develop empathy, and hopes to create a place where they are listened to and really heard. She also loves to help people reconnect to their authentic self as they find exactly who they are meant to be. Amanda has training in Soul Healing Love Couples Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Neuroscience-Based Treatments, and Brainspotting.