Nadja Lopez Reilly, Ph.D., and Sharon Shapiro

Dr. Nadja Lopez Reilly is the Executive Director of the William James College Center for Behavioral Health, Equity, and Leadership in Schools. Throughout her career, Dr. Lopez Reilly has focused on translating research and clinical practice into accessible school and community-based approaches aimed at promoting youth mental health. She has worked directly with thousands of educators, parents, and community leaders; directed philanthropy-based initiatives focusing on prevention of adolescent depression and suicide; served as Co-Director of a Graduate Certificate in School Climate and Social Emotional Learning for educators; and served as the Training Director for an internship program at William James College. Her primary clinical and research interests focus on the treatment of anxiety and depression in youth, school climate and social emotional learning, culturally responsive treatment and teaching, and systems change. Dr. Lopez Reilly has presented at numerous national and international conferences on the topics of depression prevention in adolescents, social emotional learning, and community practices for prevention of mental illness and promotion of emotional health. She has written multiple publications to support student mental health, including her book Anxiety and Depression in the Classroom: A Guide to Promoting Self-Regulation in Young Students.

Sharon Shapiro is Trustee and Community Liaison at the Ruderman Family Foundation, an internationally recognized organization that works to end the stigma associated with mental health. The Foundation does this by identifying gaps in mental health resources and programs within the high school and higher education communities as well as by organizing other local and national programming and initiatives that raise greater awareness around the stigma. Shapiro has made major contributions to inclusive Jewish education through many years of service on the Board of Directors of Gateways: Access to Jewish Education. She also served on the Board of Directors of Combined Jewish Philanthropy (CJP), as well as the organization’s Committee on Services for People with Disabilities and the Special Education Committee. She is also the past chair of the Miriam Fund at CJP. The Fund aims to inspire and strengthen women and girls through grants within and beyond the Jewish community. Shapiro also serves on the Disability Task Force of Greater Boston and is on the advisory committee of the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston (JTFGB), the board of Yachad, the board of Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael and runs their development committee.