NAMI Utah Staff

ADMINISTRATION

Rebecca Glathar - Executive Director

Prior to being appointed Executive Director, Rebecca served for several years as Assistant Director of NAMI Utah, during which time she was responsible for NAMI contracts and reporting, hiring and training employees, and coordinating the Whole Health Initiative project. She worked on NAMI National committees dealing with Diversity and Inclusion and with Strategic Planning, and advocated as a strong proponent of mental health integration into primary care. Rebecca received a Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in Development and a Master's degree from the University of Birmingham, UK. Rebecca knows from personal experiences and those of extended family and friends that the impacts of mental illness are felt by all of us and that education, support and advocacy are essential in erasing stigma and fostering hope in recovery.

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Pam Saley - Operations Director

Pam handles all of the accounting and membership duties for NAMI Utah. Before coming to NAMI, Pam worked for the Salt Lake School District in Testing and Assessment with ESL students. She loved working with kids and has many wonderful stories from her teaching days. Pam loves her work at NAMI Utah not only because of her co-workers, but also because of all the beautiful people that come through NAMI's doors.

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Megan Woofinden- Executive Assistant

Through her work with Volunteers of America, Lutheran Social Services, Habitat for Humanity and other local and international non-profit and human service organizations, Megan brings valuable knowledge and insight of the underserved and at-risk populations of our community to NAMI. Megan has witnessed first-hand the frustration and tragedy caused by a lack of quality mental health programs, treatment, and support for community members who are unable to afford care or who suffer from various social issues such as homelessness and addiction. Megan is passionate about the help, hope and healing that NAMI Utah provides to all members of the community and is excited to be a part of this dynamic organization. Megan received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Gender Studies from the University of Utah.

Amber Watkins - Prevention and Promotion Specialist

Amber brings many facets to NAMI. She has deep roots in working with those with mental and physical disabilities and has been involved with a variety of non-profit, community, and art organizations and events. She brings her varied experience and connections to her position as Prevention and Promotion Specialist as she reaches out to public and private agencies to strengthen NAMI’s visibility and presence in the community. Having close relationships with individuals suffering from addiction and mental illness, she understands the importance and need for support, help, hope, and healing that NAMI gives. Amber received a BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah and continues to enjoy teaching, performing, and choreographing dance.

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Mary Burchett- Development Specialist

Mary is the Development Specialist for NAMI Utah. She previously worked for the American Red Cross of Utah and is happy to be working with volunteers again. She loves learning, growing and sharing with the dedicated volunteers and staff here at NAMI. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Portland.

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Susan Cates - Office Manager

Susan has been with NAMI Utah since April 2005. She started out as a volunteer, but soon became the Receptionist for the NAMI Utah state office. She now acts as the Office Manager. She has become a very familiar voice to some as they call in often to talk to various members of the staff. Her sweet voice and classic sense of humor bring a pleasant air to the office.

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PROGRAMS

Wendy Fayles-Programs Administrator

Wendy has two children who were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a young age. Through the PTA, Wendy became involved with NAMI’s Hope for Tomorrow program and helped edit one of the early versions of the HFT manual. Eventually, Wendy realized her “dream job” of coming to work for NAMI. Wendy is responsible for overseeing NAMI programs throughout the state. Wendy has a Bachelor’s degree in English, which she uses to correct everyone’s e-mails.

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Jacqueline Gomez-Arias-Programs and Diversity Outreach Coordinator

Jacqueline is from Colombia and has been living in the valley for 30 years. She graduated from the University of Utah and has dedicated her career to social service and to bettering the lives of other people, especially those of underprivileged circumstances and minorities. She has grassroots experience in mental health, alcohol and substance abuse and GBTL issues.

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Sarah Gilbertson- Programs Specialist

Sarah is NAMI Utah's Programs Specialist. In addition to assisting the Programs Department, she will also be responsible for handling NAMI's Provider Education component. Sarah recently graduated from BYU with a B.S. in Family Life (with an emphasis in Human Development). She has three children and tons of energy! (As soon as we figure that one out, we will bottle and sell it.)

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Liz Felt - Consumer Affairs Specialist

Liz first became involved with NAMI when she was asked by a friend to speak to her Family-to-Family class about her experience with mental illness. Liz fell in love with the support and empathy the class members provided for each other and their family members. She took BRIDGES, loved it, and began volunteering by teaching BRIDGES in the Salt Lake County Jail. Liz was soon hired as a Consumer Mentor. She now facilitates the Artists' Project, co-facilitates the Utah Mental Heath Recovery Network (our consumer council), continues to teach in the Salt Lake County Jail, and is a mentor on VMH's Jail Diversion Outreach Team. Liz has a Bachelor's degree in Writing and Literature.

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Kerri Ernstsen - Mentor

 Kerri began working at NAMI Utah in 2003. Kerri remembers struggling with illness as a child, going from one extreme to another. She was told she would be in and out of hospitals for the rest of her life. However, with the help of medication and her support system, she has been hospital free and gainfully employed for many years.

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Wendy Mair - Children’s and Youth Mental Health Resource Coordinator

Wendy attended her first NAMI class in 2007 when she was “at her wit's end” with her son who has a mental health disorder and a brain injury. Finding NAMI was a major turning point in her life, both personally and professionally. Wendy became trained and started teaching NAMI classes. She was soon hired by the Utah Family Coalition to be a Family Resource Facilitator (FRF) for Wasatch/Summit. She now works for NAMI Utah as a Coalition Partner mentoring and training other FRFs throughout the State. Wendy is a passionate advocate for youth with mental health disorders and their families.

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Aprill Roberts - Patient Advocate

Aprill works at Intermountain Healthcare assisting patients who are being discharged from the Psychiatric Unit or the Emergency Department.  Aprill graduated from Brigham Young University in International Politics but quickly discovered she’d rather work in the non-profit sector, helping people face-to-face. She has worked with the Deaf and hard-of-hearing, people with developmental disabilities, and the chronically homeless. She is grateful to be able to use her varied professional and personal experience to help the patients at the hospital.

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Jackie Rendo- Mentor, Criminal Justice Specialist

Julie Schwartz- Prevention Specialist

Julie Schwartz is thrilled to be working at NAMI as their new Prevention Specialist, where her goal is to bring NAMI’s Hope for Tomorrow program and other school-based programs such as Parents and Teachers as Allies, Recognizing Early on-set mental illness in Children and Adolescents to as many schools in the state of Utah as possible.  Her hope is to spread NAMI’s message of understanding of mental health issues and provide the students, parents and teachers in these schools with the resources of where to turn and what to do if they or someone they know needs help.  Julie has recently been involved with the PTA of Utah as a Middle School PTSA President and is long-time volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Utah, where she is a troop leader of a senior girl scout troop and a Service Unit Director, leading 20+ troop leaders in the Salt Lake area.  She also serves on many committees at the Girl Scouts of Utah including being a Adult Press Core member, co-chair of the 100^th Anniversary Committee and chair of the Healthy Media Initiatives committee. 

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