WASHINGTON, D.C. — Active Minds, the nation’s premier nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention for young adults, has officially announced the appointment of its 2025-2026 Student Advisory Committee (SAC). This select group of student leaders, chosen from a competitive pool of applicants across the United States, is tasked with a monumental responsibility: serving as the national voice for millions of students and shaping the strategic direction of mental health advocacy in higher education.
As the mental health crisis continues to impact campuses globally, the SAC stands as a critical bridge between grassroots student activism and national policy. The 2025-2026 cohort arrives at a pivotal moment, bringing a diverse array of lived experiences, academic disciplines, and regional perspectives to the forefront of the mental health conversation.
The Mandate: Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Peer Support
The Student Advisory Committee is not merely a symbolic body; it is a functional pillar of the Active Minds infrastructure. Members are responsible for advising the national staff on program development, assisting in the planning of national conferences, and providing direct support to the network of over 600 Active Minds chapters.
“These young adults are leaders in the mental health movement,” Active Minds stated in their official announcement. “Through their role in the SAC, they represent thousands of students to ensure their voices are represented on a national scale. The SAC plays a key role in shaping Active Minds’ programs and initiatives, from national conferences to local chapter engagement.”
By empowering students to lead the conversation, Active Minds acknowledges a fundamental truth in public health: peer-to-peer influence is often the most effective tool in breaking down the stigma associated with mental illness. The 2025-2026 committee members are uniquely positioned to translate academic research into actionable, student-friendly resources.
Meet the Leaders: The 2025-2026 SAC Cohort
The new committee is composed of six standout advocates, each representing a different facet of the student experience—from first-generation scholars to student-athletes and policy researchers.
Nadira Akilo: Navigating Cultural Stigma and Psychiatric Innovation
Representing the University of Texas at Austin, Nadira Akilo is a Biology major on the pre-medical track. Akilo’s advocacy is rooted in her upbringing in rural East Texas, an environment where mental health discussions were often sidelined. As an individual of both African American and Asian heritage, Akilo brings a sophisticated understanding of how cultural stigmas intersect and compound.
Having entered the fold through the Mental Health Advocacy and Leadership Academy, Akilo aims to use her tenure on the SAC to make mental health discussions more accessible through the lens of pop culture. Her future aspirations involve a career in psychiatry or surgery, bridging the gap between clinical excellence and empathetic advocacy.
Varsha Penumalee: The Intersection of Public Health and National Governance
A student at Virginia Commonwealth University, Varsha Penumalee balances a rigorous academic schedule in Biology, Chemistry, and Spanish with extensive leadership roles. As Co-President of Active Minds at VCU and a member of the Youth MOVE National Board of Directors, Penumalee is already a veteran of the advocacy circuit.
Penumalee’s work focuses on health inequities and the empowerment of underserved populations. Her role on the SAC will likely focus on systemic changes within the healthcare system, ensuring that mental health care is not a luxury but a fundamental right for all students.
Marissa Smith: Specialized Focus on Suicide Awareness
At Rider University, junior Psychology major Marissa Smith is focusing her efforts on one of the most pressing issues in higher education: suicide awareness. Beyond her academic pursuits, Smith serves as an ambassador for the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE).
Smith’s approach is multi-dimensional, combining her hobbies—such as photography and film—with her mentorship roles in the Gail Biernbaum Leadership Council. Her goal is to foster a culture of vulnerability and proactive support on campus, particularly for students who feel isolated by their struggles.
Angel Velazquez: Engineering a Support System for Basic Needs
Angel Velazquez, a Mathematics and Physics student at Lake Tahoe Community College, represents a growing movement that links mental health to "basic needs" security. As a Student Senator and Food Pantry Lead, Velazquez recognizes that mental well-being is impossible without food and housing security.
A first-generation Latino student and aspiring Aerospace Engineer, Velazquez is working to make resources more visible to marginalized communities. His unique background—ranging from robotics to training for a private pilot license—allows him to approach mental health advocacy with a problem-solving mindset typical of the engineering field.
Vashti Trujillo: From Local Government to the White House
Vashti Trujillo of Colorado State University Pueblo is a seasoned policy advocate. Serving as the Vice President of the Associated Students’ Government, Trujillo has already taken her message to the highest levels of government, including the White House Youth Policy Summit.
Trujillo’s work with organizations like Common Cause and New Era Colorado highlights her commitment to systemic equity. On the SAC, she will be a key voice in elevating the stories of young women and first-generation students in national policymaking circles.
Faria Tavacoli: Intersectional Care and Lived Experience
Faria Tavacoli, a Public Health and Neuroscience major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, brings the vital perspective of a survivor and health worker to the committee. Tavacoli’s advocacy is deeply personal, centered on building youth-led systems of care that prioritize dignity and justice.
As a chapter Director at UNLV, Tavacoli has experience creating safe spaces for students. On the national SAC, they intend to champion intersectional approaches, ensuring that mental health resources are inclusive of all identities and backgrounds.
Supporting Data: The Growing Need for Student-Led Advocacy
The appointment of the 2025-2026 SAC comes at a time when data suggests student mental health is a primary concern for university administrators. According to the most recent Healthy Minds Study, which surveys thousands of college students annually:
- Prevalence: Nearly 44% of college students reported symptoms of depression, and 37% reported anxiety.
- Barriers to Care: Financial constraints and the perceived stigma of seeking help remain the top reasons students avoid treatment.
- Peer Influence: Approximately 67% of students say they are more likely to seek help if a friend or peer suggests it first.
These statistics underscore the importance of the SAC. By training leaders who look and speak like their peers, Active Minds is directly addressing the barriers of stigma and accessibility.
Chronology of the 2025-2026 Term
The journey for the new SAC members follows a structured timeline designed to maximize their impact over the coming academic year:
- Selection and Onboarding (Fall 2024 – Winter 2025): Following a rigorous application process, members were selected based on their leadership history and commitment to mental health equity.
- Strategic Planning (Spring 2025): The committee will meet with Active Minds national leadership to set the agenda for the 2025-2026 academic year, identifying key themes such as "Mental Health in STEM" or "Rural Advocacy."
- National Conference Leadership (Summer/Fall 2025): Members will take center stage at national events, leading workshops and presenting to donors and policymakers.
- Chapter Engagement (Ongoing): Throughout the term, SAC members act as consultants for local chapters, helping them navigate administrative hurdles and organize high-impact campus events.
Official Response: A Vision for the Future
The leadership at Active Minds views the SAC as an essential component of their "for students, by students" philosophy. In a statement regarding the new cohort, the organization emphasized the transformative potential of this specific group.
"This year’s SAC cohort is a diverse group of passionate young adults, each bringing a unique background and perspective to their advocacy work," the organization noted. "We can’t wait to see the projects they’ll lead and the change they’ll create."
The inclusion of students from diverse geographic locations—from the mountains of Lake Tahoe to the urban centers of Las Vegas and Austin—ensures that the national strategy accounts for the vastly different challenges faced by students in different environments.
Implications: Changing the Culture of Higher Education
The work of the SAC has far-reaching implications for the future of higher education. By integrating mental health advocacy into the student leadership structure, universities are beginning to see mental health not as a peripheral service, but as a core component of student success.
1. Policy Shifts: Leaders like Vashti Trujillo and Varsha Penumalee are positioned to influence state and federal legislation regarding campus mental health funding.
2. Reducing Stigma in STEM: The presence of Biology, Physics, and Neuroscience majors like Nadira Akilo and Faria Tavacoli on the committee helps dismantle the "perfectionist" culture often found in high-pressure STEM fields.
3. Equity and Inclusion: By prioritizing the voices of minority and first-generation students, the SAC ensures that the mental health movement is not "one size fits all," but rather tailored to the cultural nuances of a diverse student body.
As the 2025-2026 Student Advisory Committee begins its tenure, the message is clear: the future of mental health advocacy lies in the hands of those most affected by it. Through their leadership, Active Minds continues to prove that while the challenges facing students are great, the potential for student-led change is even greater.
