Meet the NAMI Charleston Team!

Interim Executive Director

Laura began her professional career in the education sector as a classroom teacher in 1993. She found her passion for the non-profit world in the early 2000’s working with the inner-city youth of Cleveland, Ohio and creating her own 501c3 organization for homeless pregnant women in 2009. Over the past 30 years she has been involved in public speaking, the juvenile court system, workshop, program and content development, grant writing and fundraising.

Laura’s time with NAMI SC began two years ago with her current role as the Director of Youth Centered Awareness and Education.

In 2022, she and her family moved to the Charleston area to be closer to their 3 grandchildren. Her self-care menu includes spending time with her family, 2 mastiffs, 2 pugs, 3 cats, walking the beautiful Lowcountry beaches, cooking and catching up on all the TV shows she missed while raising her family.

President

A little about me, my first experience with mental health was as a patient. I have dealt with depression most of my life and when I was 16 it got to the point of needing to be hospitalized in an inpatient mental health facility in Charleston. That and the therapist I saw after was one of the most positive experiences of my life. I had an interest in studying psychology prior to that but that experience confirmed for me that a career in mental health was my calling. In 2013 I started working at the Lighthouse in Conway as a tech before moving to Maine for a few years and working as a tech at a facility there as well. I was also working on my bachelors degree in psychology off and on during this time and completed that degree in 2019. I am currently a Lead Counselor at Coastal Recovery Center.

Treasurer

I have been married to my best girl, Linda, for 44 years. We hung up our scoopers as Baskin-Robbins Franchisees in 2022. My NAMI goal is to use my training, experience and resources to reach the people that need the education, peace and relief available through NAMI programs. My personal goal is to honor God in that endeavor.

I work at Odyssey International Inc. I have been a NAMI member since 2013 at which time I attended the Family-to-Family class. This class was helpful beyond words and so inspiring that I became a Family-to-Family instructor and Family Support Group Facilitator so that I could help others in despair. I’m an advocate for improving healthcare for those with mental illness and stopping the stigma!

Board Member

I am retired. I joined NAMI Charleston Area in May 2011. I served as a Family Support Group Facilitator in 2015 and Family to Family facilitator in 2016. I am now a Support Group co-Facilitator.

I also served as President from 2016 to 2019. Additionally, I have also volunteered at CIT Trainings, NAMI info booths at local Farmer Markets, the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference and several local Sorority events. I am also a member of the MUSC IOP Patient Family Advisory Council.

Board Member

Our family is thankful for the resources which were available to us and look for ways to serve others in the community. I am a former corporate executive, retired to spend more time with family. I am the founder of Trust Your Gut Feelings, a business based in providing mental wellness thru a holistic platform, as well as the Host of the Mental Wellness Meet UP group online/in person. I am actively involved in suicide prevention and child sexual abuse prevention, and truly believe that ‘Mental Health is for All’.

Board Member

I am a Senior Manager in the Assurance practice at Ernst & Young, LLP, serving our clients and community in Charleston, SC.

I serve as a Board Member of NAMI Charleston to support my family impacted by mental illness and my community that rely on the support of local leaders to bring awareness and support to mental health initiatives.

Board Member

Tia Lewis is the Clinical Outreach Program Coordinator at Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center. In this role, she coordinates events to spread the anti-stigma message, improve understanding of mental health to the community, serves as a patient advocate and volunteer coordinator, and assist in marketing events throughout the year. Tia continues to provide therapy to adult patients with chronic mental health diagnoses and specialize in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Trauma focused interventions. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention- South Carolina chapter for 6 years to help to advocate for more mental health and suicide prevention education and resources for the state. Tia is a native of Philadelphia- PA/Delran- New Jersey, has a bachelor’s from Howard University, and two master’s degrees from New York University and College of Charleston. Tia is a wife and mother of two, loves music, and has a passion in advocating for mental health awareness.

Board Member

Reginald E. (Reggie) Sharpe is a career law enforcement officer with 28 years of service. He holds the record in the United States for hunting fugitives and serving warrants. He is an author, poet and small business owner.

It is his goal “to help further mental health education so that all may benefit - to include the public in general, those experiencing mental health crises and the officers who are called to respond.

Board Member

Rob DuPont, MS, serves as the Mental Health ICCE System Administrative Officer for MUSC Health.  Rob brings 20 years of hospital-based behavioral health experience to this role, having worked with pediatric and adult populations in acute, residential, and forensic settings.  Through various leadership roles, he has maintained a focus on program development and improving access to behavioral health services.

Rob entered the healthcare field in New Hampshire working as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with children and adolescents. He then assumed a supervisor role over the clinical programming for two acute care adult units and one long term care unit. Rob later went to Florida as a Program Manager for child and adolescent residential programs in Orlando and in Ocala. In 2014, he began his role as the Program Director at Trident Medical Center, with the opening of their new adult inpatient behavioral health program.

Board Member

Eileen retired in 2017 after 43 years in the finance world and then moved to Myrtle Beach with her husband and son. NAMI first appeared on Eileen’s radar in 2019, when her son was diagnosed with mental illness. The immense support systems and resource infrastructure provided within NAMI bolstered the goal of finding help for her son. After working with NAMI, Eileen has become passionate about sharing its mission with others and spreading the word that NAMI is available to help those with mental illness and their loved ones. She is trained as a family support facilitator and is involved with family-to-family classes. Eileen is supporting the effort to create a NAMI chapter in Horry and Georgetown counties. As part of her contribution to the alliance, she aims to help NAMI become a household name, as well as to aid the alliance in addressing the deficiencies in the U.S. mental health care system. In her free time, Eileen enjoys taking day trips with her husband to the small towns surrounding her home in Myrtle Beach.

Board Member

I have been the Director of Clinical Services at Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health since 2016. Prior to joining the team at Palmetto, I was the Director of Social Work at the South Carolina State Hospital. I have been working in the field mental health for over 20 years.

I have chosen to serve on the Board for NAMI because I truly believe in NAMI's mission and values. Too often, I see those who struggle with mental illness and those in their immediate orbit suffer needlessly because they simply aren't aware of the resources in the community. I have personally been able to see how NAMI supports our community, and I'm absolutely honored to be a part of such an amazing and much needed organization.

Board Member

Emily Kirkland obtained her associate’s degree in criminal justice at Trident Technical College. Afterwards, she attended The Citadel where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree in December 2023.

Emily has also completed training at the Medical University of South Carolina where she became a Peer Supporter with MUSC CARES. She has also completed training with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She currently leads multiple support groups for people with diverse backgrounds.

Emily is currently working on her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Winthrop University where she will graduate in 2026. She then plans to earn her Doctorate in Psychology. Emily is also a Certified Peer Support Specialist through the state of South Carolina. It has always been her passion to help others. Emily's goal is to continue working with NAMI and to become a Doctor of Psychology so she can continue to further her passion of helping others. She lives with her husband, Kevin, in Cross, South Carolina.