We are pleased to announce our 2025 Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Anthony Tongen
Vice President
Research, Economic Development, & Innovation (REDI)
James Madison University
organizing committee for the 2024 AFSP out of darkness walk
Anna Robinson (Chair)
Karla Kale (Counseling Center)
Lauren Roper (Athletics)
Anna is an undergraduate honor's student in the School of Communication Studies and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Marching Royal Dukes Drum line.
Lauren Roper (Athletics)
Karla Kale (Counseling Center)
Lauren Roper (Athletics)
Lauren , a graduate of JMU, is an athletic trainer for the JMU Volleyball team and has been a past chair of the walk. She also serves as a staff advisor for this walk.
Karla Kale (Counseling Center)
Karla Kale (Counseling Center)
Sophia Bates (Advocacy Graduate Student)
Karla is the Psychoeducation Outreach Specialist for JMU's Counseling Center. Karla helps to coordinate events, teaching workshops, and collaborating with organizations within and beyond JMU.
Sophia Bates (Advocacy Graduate Student)
Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman (Terror Management Lab)
Sophia Bates (Advocacy Graduate Student)
Sophia (right) is a first year advocacy graduate student in the School of Communication Studies, focusing in suicide prevention campaigns. Sophia's thesis focuses on suicide prevention in Japanese culture.
Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman (Terror Management Lab)
Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman (Terror Management Lab)
Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman (Terror Management Lab)
Dr. Harvell-Bowman is the Director of the Terror Management Lab at JMU. She also serves as one of the faculty advisors for this walk.
Emily Bacalis (AFSP)
Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman (Terror Management Lab)
Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman (Terror Management Lab)
Emily is a Special Events Manager for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Virginia Chapter.
2024 Out of Darkness Walk featured Speakers
Dr. Malika Carter-Hoyt
Dr. Malika Carter-Hoyt
Dr. Malika Carter-Hoyt
Dr. Carter-Hoyt is currently the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and as the Chief Diversity Officer at JMU.
Markita Madden
Dr. Malika Carter-Hoyt
Dr. Malika Carter-Hoyt
Markita is the Virginia Programs Manager for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Virginia Chapter.
Photos from the 2024 Out of Darkness Walk
Organizing Committee for the 2023 AFSP Out of Darkness Walk
Lauren Sander (Co-Lead Organizer)
Lauren is an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the James Madison University volleyball team and has successfully organized past AFSP Out of Darkness Walks.
Dr. Magali Laitem (Co-Lead Organizer)
Dr. Laitem is a licensed psychologist and outreach coordinator at the James Madison University Counseling Center. She also serves on the Student Affairs Assessment Council and has successfully organized past AFSP Campus Walks
Emma Coleman (Committee Chair)
Emma is currently working in Outside Sales for the Washington Commanders. During her time at James Madison University, she was the head of public relations for the Terror Management Lab and successfully led the PR efforts for Connecting Madison's Community.
Kara Ferrell
Kara served as our outreach coordinator and is currently working as a Youth Program Coordinator at New Directions Center where she specializes in offering support services to those impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence and sex trafficking. While at James Madison University, Kara interned for Dr. Laitem at the JMU Counseling Center and successfully handled the outreach coordination with the greater Harrisonburg Community for Connecting Madison's Community.
Anna Robinson
Anna is currently the head of PR for the Terror Management Lab and is majoring in Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations. Anna successfully coordinated PR efforts for Connecting Madison's Community.
Katie Angle
Katie is currently attending UMASS Dartmouth for a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. During her time at James Madison University, she completed an honors thesis and successfully helped coordinate Connecting Madison's Community.
Peter Montwill
Peter Montwill is currently a Presidential Fellow in the Office of the President at James Madison University. During his time at James Madison University, he successfully led the Terror Management Laboratory and coordinated the planning of Connecting Madison's Community.
Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman
Dr. Harvell-Bowman helped support our organizing team.
Emily Bacalis
Emily is the Virginia Special Events Manager for the Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She was instrumental in helping to plan and support our team.
Photos from the 2023 AFSP Out of Darkness Walk
Benefited The Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia
The Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia seeks to reduce risk for suicide across Virginia's 72 higher education institutions by providing training, consultation and prevention resources. Specifically, we help campuses build the infrastructure necessary to promote wellness and safety, identify and support those in distress, and effectively respond to individuals at risk for suicide. Services are available at no cost to all Virginia college and university campuses and are provided through a partnership of the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services at James Madison University.
