The Institute Team

Executive Director, Danya Institute & Project Director

Duties:

Oscar Morgan has the overall responsibility for the management, growth, and development of the Institute, guiding all administrative, fiscal, training, and programmatic activities, and have primary responsibilities for supervision of the Institute's personnel. He also serves as the Project Director/Principal Investigator for the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Prevention Technology Transfer Center and is responsible for the programmatic and administrative coordination of all training and technical assistance (T/TA). He is the spokesperson and liaison to federal, regional, state and local entities, academic institutions, and mental health agencies, etc. Oscar also recommends and develops other training/workforce initiatives. As the Project Director, he coordinates technical assistance activities with all SAMHSA and HHS-funded centers, local and station organizations to develop the knowledge and skills in substance misuse; and assist regional, state and local agencies with systems integration and practice change. The Project Director/Principal Investigator also serves as a Subject Matter Expert on topics related to Systems Transformation and Sustainability.

Co-Project Director, Central East ATTC

Duties:

Andrew is the Co-Project Director for the Central East Addictions Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and is responsible for the programmatic and administrative coordination of all training and technical assistance for the Central East ATTC Region. He is the spokesperson and liaison to federal, regional, state, and local entities, academic institutions, and behavioral health agencies, etc. Andrew also supports the development of other training and workforce initiatives.

Project Director, Central East PTTC

Duties:

Deborah Nixon-Hughes, LCSW-C, is the Project Director for the Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC). She leads efforts to implement evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies using proven technology transfer practices. As the primary spokesperson and liaison, Deborah collaborates with federal, regional, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, and organizations in prevention, treatment, and recovery. She works closely with primary care providers, individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges and their families, and other community stakeholders to identify prevention needs. Based on these insights, she recommends and coordinates workforce training and technical assistance initiatives to address identified gaps, ultimately reducing the impact of substance use disorders on individuals, families, and communities.

Director of Operations

Duties:

Tamara provides day-to-day oversight of current grants/contracts and assists the Executive Director in ensuring all project deliverables and reports are completed on time. She is responsible for human resource management and works with the accountant to process accounts payable for the Institute. The Director of Operations works closely with the Executive Director, Project Coordinator, and other key staff on activities related to cooperative agreements contracts and subcontracts. Responsibilities include: a) assisting key staff to ensure all project deliverables and reports are completed on time; b) working with subject matter experts in developing course content, and utilizing multimedia tools to enhance the learning process. c) monitoring all budget activities to ensure expenditures are allowable and within budget; d) implementing continuous quality assurance processes to ensure of the provision of training and technical assistance and contract deliverables; e) oversee the coordination of evaluation; and f) working with key staff on closing out on all administrative, operational and fiscal aspects of technology transfer activities.

ORN Regional Coordinator for SAMHSA Region 3

Duties:

Debbie is the Regional Coordinator for the Opioid Response Network (ORN), where she provides supervision and management for the ORN team in SAMHSA Region 3. She and her team respond to and identifies the training, education, consultation, and technical assistance needs of requests received in a multi-state area (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). She develops technical assistance plans and coordinates local consultants who provide the delivery of technical assistance in the areas of prevention, treatment, and recovery of opioid use disorders and stimulant use. Technical assistance may include disseminating evidence-based resources and materials; coordinating education and training events; and/or coordinating evidence-based consultation.

Technology Transfer Specialist, ORN

Duties:

Adrian is a Technology Transfer Specialist (TTS) for the Opioid Response Network (ORN) in SAMHSA Region 3, where the provides coordination on ORN technical assistance requests to develop strategies and programming to address the opioid crisis. In his role as a TTS, he responds to and identifies the training, education, consultation, and technical assistance needs of requests received in a multi-state area (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). Adrian develops technical assistance plans and coordinates local consultants who provide the delivery of technical assistance in the areas of harm reduction, recovery, prevention, and treatment of opioid use disorders and stimulant use. Technical assistance may include disseminating evidence-based resources and materials, coordinating education and training events, and/or coordinating evidence-based consultation.

Technology Transfer Specialist

Duties:

Teece Berry is a Technology Transfer Specialist (TTS) for the Opioid Response Network (ORN) in SAMHSA Region 3, where he provides coordination on ORN technical assistance requests to develop strategies and programming to address the opioid crisis. In Teece's role as a TTS, he responds to and identifies the technical assistance needs of requests received in a multi-state area (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). He develops technical assistance plans and coordinates local consultants who provide the delivery of technical assistance in the areas of recovery, prevention, and treatment of opioid use disorders and stimulant use. Technical assistance may include disseminating evidence-based resources and materials, coordinating education and training events, and/or coordinating evidence-based consultation.

Prevention Fellow

Duties:

As a public health graduate with a focus on research and community health, she joins the 2024/2025 Building Our Prevention Fellowship (BOPF) program appointed by the SAMSHA-funded Region 3 Prevention Technology Transfer Center (Central East PTTC). The BOPF program is designed to increase the number of prevention scientists working in public health. She will conduct research on best practices related to substance use disorder prevention; work with mentors from the prevention and public health field; and represent the Central East PTTC at prevention seminars, meetings, and conference.

Central East ATTC Project Coordinator

Duties:

De'Asia Harris is currently the Technical Assistance Coordinator (TAC) for the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC). The TAC will work closely with the Project Directors to ensure all project deliverables and reports are completed on time. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: implementing quality assurance processes to ensure the provision of training and technical assistance and contract deliverables; and assisting with wide-ranging project activities including, research and webinar hosting. Additionally, the TAC coordinates the flow of information from multiple sources, prioritizes activities, coordinates responses and ensures appropriate follow-up of assigned tasks. De'Asia earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Master of Public Health, Public Health Practice and Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Charmaine Smith,Project Assistant

Duties:

Charmaine Smith as the Project Assistant serves as the point of contact for all training and technical assistance information and provides support to the daily workflow process of The Danya Institute’s cooperative agreements. The Project Assistant’s responsibilities include: a) managing all logistics for staff and speakers for all in-person events; b) ensuring that Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) forms are sent before and after each meeting, training, and technical assistance events; c) Developing registration and marketing materials; d) Ensuring all program supplies are ordered; e) coordinating the flow of information from multiple sources; and f) coordinating responses and ensuring appropriate follow-up of assigned tasks.

Sr Technical Assistance Coordinator

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Duties:

Under the direction of the Project Director of the Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) and Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), the Michael Thompson serves as the Technical Assistance Coordinator (TAC). As the TAC, he serves as the point of contact for all training/technical assistance (T/TA) activities for the PTTC. The TAC will work closely with Directors to leads large scale and specialized consultation, training, and coaching efforts on substance abuse prevention interventions and other topics relevant to substance use disorders (SUDs). Responsibilities include but are not limited to: a) implementing quality assurance processes to ensure the provision of training and technical assistance; b) operationalize the communication plan and disseminate relevant research findings in the areas of prevention and treatment services across the lifespan; c) identify key trainings to implement, design the most complex curricula, and d) develop tools to better assess training and other workforce development activities; e) ensure the accessibility of information and communication to individuals with disabilities, from webinars to products, as required by 508 compliance; and (f) assisting with wide-ranging project activities including, research, manage data collection, and virtual hosting; and coordinates the flow of information from multiple sources, prioritizes activities, coordinates responses and ensures appropriate follow-up of assigned tasks.

Duties:

Selam Woldemariam is a Technology Transfer Specialist (TTS) for the Opioid Response Network (ORN) in SAMHSA Region 3, where he provides coordination on ORN technical assistance requests to develop strategies and programming to address the opioid crisis. In Selam's role as a TTS, she responds to and identifies the technical assistance needs of requests received in a multi-state area (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). He develops technical assistance plans and coordinates local consultants who provide the delivery of technical assistance in the areas of recovery, prevention, and treatment of opioid use disorders and stimulant use. Technical assistance may include disseminating evidence-based resources and materials, coordinating education and training events, and/or coordinating evidence-based consultation.

Ashley DeHennis

Duties:

Ashley DeHennis is a Public Health senior at the University of Maryland, with minors in Science, Technology, Ethics & Policy, and Demography. Her duties include implementing a communication strategy, assisting with newsletter production and content development. In addition, assisting with ad-hoc marketing campaigns, attending kick-off meetings, and provide regular insights and recommendation to the team to promote awareness of the centers training and technical assistance offerings.

Duties:

Kethya Kalaki supports the PTTC Project Director and Prevention team with developing and strengthening the capacity of substance use prevention field to provide services that are based on prevention science and use evidence-based and promising practices.