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.

Co-Project Director, Central East PTTC

Jeanne Tuono brings extensive leadership experience from her previous role as Assistant Regional Director for the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (2017-2025), where she helped advance efforts to reduce the impact of mental illness and substance abuse across Region III, including the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and seven Federally Recognized Tribes. Her career foundation includes thirty years with Pathmark, where she developed management expertise through the Rutgers Leadership Development Program. Her passion for behavioral health emerged when she earned her peer recovery specialist certification while working with the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania on a SAMHSA-funded homelessness grant. She expanded her expertise through care coordinator and peer recovery specialist roles at Steps to Recovery Treatment Center and CORA Family Services. As a founding partner and volunteer for Angels in Motion outreach program in Philadelphia, Jeanne demonstrates her commitment to community-based prevention and recovery support. Jeanne's unique combination of seasoned management experience, lived experience as a person in recovery, and deep knowledge of behavioral health systems enables her to effectively mentor emerging prevention professionals and support stakeholder collaboration. A lifelong Philadelphian, she continues to reside there, enjoying time with her children, grandchildren and extended family.

Duties:

Jeanne Tuono 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, Jeanne 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, 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 identify 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 TA and training in the areas of prevention, treatment, and recovery of opioid use disorders and stimulant use disorder. She also plans and organizes regional summits on various topics, including emerging trends and areas of interest to communities with the goal of amplifying awareness of ORN resources and support while increasing ORN TA requests. Technical assistance may include disseminating evidence-based resources and materials; coordinating education and training events, and/or coordinating evidence-based consultation.

ORN 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 (TA) requests to develop strategies and programming to address the opioid crisis. In Teece's role as a TTS, he responds to and identifies the TA and training 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 TA and/or training in the areas of recovery, prevention, and treatment of opioid use disorders and stimulant use disorders. 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 the Technical Assistance Coordinator (TAC) for the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC). The TAC will work closely with the ATTC 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.

Technology Transfer Specialist

Duties:

Emily Kane is a Technology Transfer Specialist (TTS) for the Opioid Response Network (ORN) in SAMHSA Region 3, where she provides coordination on ORN requests to provide training and technical assistance (TA) requests to strengthen prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts related to opioid and stimulant use disorders. In this role, she collaborates with state and local partners, healthcare providers, community organizations, and behavioral health professionals to translate evidence-based research into practical, actionable strategies in a multi-state area (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). Emily responds to and identifies the TA and training needs of requests received and coordinates with local consultants to plan the delivery of TA and/or training, which may include disseminating evidence-based resources and materials, coordinating education and training events, and/or coordinating evidence-based consultation. She supports communities in implementing sustainable solutions by coordinating subject matter experts, facilitating educational initiatives, and promoting best practices that improve outcomes for individuals and communities.

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

.

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.

ORN Regional Outreach & Engagement Manager

Duties:

Adrian is the Regional Outreach and Engagement Manager (ROE) for the Opioid Response Network (ORN) in SAMHSA Region 3, where she oversees localized outreach and engagement efforts for the ORN and provides coordination on ORN technical assistance (TA) requests to develop strategies and programming to address the opioid crisis. In her role as ROE, she develops and implements outreach strategies to engage with a broad range of communities, healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals in local communities to promote ORN events and services. Adrian cultivates and maintains relationships with key regional stakeholders, partners, and collaborators to amplify ORN’s reach and impact while building sustainability. In conjunction with the ORN Regional Coordinator and the team of Technology Transfer Specialists (TTS), she plans and organizes regional summits with the goal of amplifying awareness of ORN resources and support while increasing ORN TA requests. Additionally, she responds to and facilitates ORN TA requests to ensure high quality, evidence based, and accurate TA delivery in a multi-state area (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia).

ORN Technology Transfer Specialist

Duties:

Selam Woldemariam is a Technology Transfer Specialist (TTS) for the Opioid Response Network (ORN) in SAMHSA Region 3, where she provides coordination on ORN requests to provide training and technical assistance (TA) requests to strengthen prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts related to opioid and stimulant use disorders. In this role, she collaborates with state and local partners, healthcare providers, community organizations, and behavioral health professionals to translate evidence-based research into practical, actionable strategies in a multi-state area (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). Selam responds to and identifies the TA and training needs of requests received and coordinates with local consultants to plan the delivery of TA and/or training, which may include disseminating evidence-based resources and materials, coordinating education and training events, and/or coordinating evidence-based consultation. She supports communities in implementing sustainable solutions by coordinating subject matter experts, facilitating educational initiatives, and promoting best practices that improve outcomes for individuals and communities.