Event Speakers

Judge Glenda A. Hatchett is not only a world-renown judge, but she is a prominent attorney with more than 40 years of experience which encompasses a multitude of legal responsibilities.

Currently, Hatchett is Of Counsel with the law firm of Stewart Miller Simmons based in Atlanta, Georgia, handling cases throughout the nation, specializing in wrongful deaths, catastrophic injuries, maternal deaths, tractor-trailer accidents, premises liability, products liability, sexual assault, and catastrophic police misconduct cases.

A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Emory University School of Law, where she was an Earl Warren Scholar, Hatchett completed a prestigious federal clerkship in the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, where she was the first Black clerk in that federal court. Hatchett then spent nearly 10 years at Delta Air Lines, where she was the airline's highest-ranking woman of color worldwide. Ebony magazine recognized her as one of the nation's most outstanding women in corporate America.

Hatchett was appointed to a judgeship in 1990, becoming Georgia's first Black Chief Judge of a State Court in the state's history. There, she presided over Fulton County's Juvenile Court, one of the largest juvenile court systems in the nation. Hatchett gained national recognition for her groundbreaking initiatives for juvenile reform and received several awards, including the United States Justice Department's Roscoe Pound Award, which is the Department's highest award for Criminal Justice Reform, as well as The NAACP's Justice Thurgood Marshall Award.

Hatchett has served on the Boards of three Fortune 500 companies – HCA, The Gap Inc., and ServiceMaster Company.

While on the Board of Directors of HCA, she was Chair of the Ethics, Compliance, and Quality of Care Committee. She was also a member of the HCA board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Dr. Ashley Gregory, DHSc, MPH, CHES, BCPA is a public health leader and certified Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor with extensive experience advancing mental health equity through community-based education and outreach. She serves as Director of Program Outreach & Impact at Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, where she leads initiatives focused on mental health literacy, stigma reduction, and culturally responsive engagement. Dr. Gregory’s work emphasizes early identification, compassionate support, and community empowerment to promote mental wellness and connection to care.

Dr. Melissa M. Gomes Ph.D., APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN is a psychiatric mental health clinician, educator, and academic leader currently serving as the Associate Dean for Strategic Wellness at the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Her life’s work focuses on empowering individuals and communities to support mental well-being while promoting resilience. Dr. Gomes sits at the intersection of mental health treatment and prevention, including the development of strategic empowerment models for youth and community-based wellness initiatives. As a practicing clinician, she provides mental health care across the lifespan, and as an academic, she is committed to preventing burnout, advancing sustainable professional pathways, and expanding diversity within the mental health and nursing workforce. Through her leadership, Dr. Gomes emphasizes the synergy between clinical care, prevention, and organizational wellness to help people and systems truly thrive.

Jennifer Campbell-Raab is a registered nurse and the Behavioral Health Education Coordinator for Riverside Health’s Mental Health and Recovery Service Line. She serves as President of the Board of Directors for Mental Health Virginia and serves on the Leadership Team for the Historic Triangle Drug Prevention Coalition.

Through community outreach and active engagement with area partners, Jennifer hopes to empower individuals to bolster their mental and emotional wellbeing by increasing their awareness of and utilization of prevention and recovery resources. Jennifer is also a passionate advocate for the destigmatization of mental illness. Through her work, she aims to promote an increased understanding about mental health and substance use challenges and the perspectives of those impacted by them.

Jennifer is a Mental Health First Aid instructor, as well as a Nonviolent Crisis Intervention instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Old Dominion University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Psychology and Philosophy from Clemson University.

Healthcare leader with over 40 years of nursing experience working in a variety of health care settings.  Started with a BSN, then worked in multiple clinical settings in the NY metropolitan region.  Obtained a Masters in HC Administration with subsequent multiple certifications in nursing, leadership, and quality . Has been a Riverside team member for 8 years in nursing leadership roles from the ED to CNO at RMHRC. Now serves as Riverside’s Behavioral Health service line leader.

Currently working on boards spanning from CNU, nursing, state human rights, and EMS. 

Loves the ability to give back to others, create hope, and deliver kindness to those around her.

Stacey Johnson, LCSW, MBA is currently the Hospital President/VP of Riverside Mental Health and Recovery Center in Hampton, Virginia. RMHRC is part of the Riverside Health System that offers a comprehensive range of medical services. Ms. Johnson is originally from Connecticut before moving south; She has over 15 years of experience in the Behavioral Health field with prominent authority on the development and operation of Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Programs. She started her career as a Social Worker, which provides a unique perspective now that she works primarily in administration. Ms. Johnson’s passion is to be able to meet the Mental and Behavioral Health needs of all individuals as well as reducing Stigma associated with Mental Illness. She hopes to break down the barrier to treatment and open the door to discuss mental health in a positive way while working to provide innovative and community centered treatment options.

Dr. Kristie Norwood is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who currently serves as the Director of the Student Counseling Center and Psychology Professor at Hampton University. As the Counseling Center Director, she has effectively enhanced clinical and outreach services for students including doubling the size of her staff, coordinating Mental Health First Aid and Safe Talk training and hosting the U.S. Surgeon General’s “We are Made to Connect Tour.” One of her most impactful moments has included the partnership with BLHF and KSNY to open the SheCare Wellness Pods this past fall at Hampton University. Prior to joining Hampton University, Dr. Kristie worked as the Assistant Chief of Psychology at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During that time, she served as the coordinator of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder clinical team, coordinated efforts for the opening of the Women’s Mental Health Clinic, and helped to establish the first Diversity Discussion groups.

Dr. Kristie remains an active member of her local community, including her involvement with Mount Lebanon Baptist Church and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. both of which are an extension of her personal and professional value of diversity and wellness. Dr. Kristie is married to her life partner, Lester and the pair have two amazing children. In her personal and professional life, she is guided by the idea that “we may not be responsible for being down…but with culturally responsive healing practices and safe communities…we can get up."

Juanita Burtt, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 17 years of experience working in the mental health field. She has been a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner for four years and has worked in various health care settings. Juanita’s previous roles have helped shape her into a compassionate, empathic, patient-centered provider who listens to her patients’ goals. She offers high quality, personalized care to individuals seeking support for their mental health needs. She specializes in depression, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, serious mental illness, emotional disturbances, and individuals with intellectual disabilities. She currently practices at the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board’s Adult Comprehensive Outpatient Clinic where she treats individuals with serious mental illness and various healthcare needs.

Dr. Vanessa Jenkins, professionally known as Dr. V, serves as the Executive Director of Health and Wellness at Norfolk State University. In this role, she develops and implements comprehensive programs and resources designed to support students’, faculty and staff overall well-being.

Dr. Jenkins brings more than 25 years of progressive experience in higher education and leadership development training. Her areas of expertise include mental health and wellness, emotional intelligence, domestic violence and sexual assault prevention, diversity and inclusion, conflict resolution, and a wide range of professional development initiatives.

She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Norfolk State University Campus Wellness initiative for faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Jenkins has authored several publications and has delivered keynote addresses on platforms nationwide.

This leadership guru holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and is a member and coach with the Dr. John C Maxwell team. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the YWCA of South Hampton Roads.

Dr. Francine Pearce was born and raised in New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University and practiced as a physical therapist for three years before pursuing medicine. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Illinois and completed a three-year pediatric residency at Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She earned an MBA in Hospital Administration in 2022.

For more than 25 years, Dr. Pearce provided pediatric care across hospital-based medicine, urgent care, and private practice. Her leadership roles have included Medical Director of Health Promotion for the State of Illinois, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Franciscan Health, and Medical Director of Chamberlain University’s Physician Assistant Program.

Clinically, she built a specialized focus in the care of adolescents with ADHD and learning differences, with particular strength in evaluating attention, executive functioning, and school performance. Her practice also addressed common adolescent mental health concerns that often co-occur with ADHD, partnering with families and schools to support safe, practical care plans. She authored a national column for MDEdge/Pediatric News on the care of the adolescent patient. She was the owner of Pearce Pediatrics, which served as the medical home for thousands of children on the south side of Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Pearce now serves as Medical Director of Health Impact and Engagement at Sentara Health in Virginia. In this role, she partners with clinical, operational, and community stakeholders to reduce inequities, strengthen culturally responsive care, and remove barriers that limit access to high-quality services.

She is committed to practical, sustainable solutions that address socioeconomic barriers and bias, advance inclusive policies, and elevate community voices so every person has a fair opportunity to achieve health.

Dr. James Rapley is a board-certified psychiatrist and Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), where he also serves as Line Chief for Psychiatry Outpatient Services. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his psychiatry residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Earlier in his career, Dr. Rapley served as a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer before transitioning to medicine. He completed five deployments and later served as Force Psychiatrist for Commander Submarine Forces Atlantic, where he led large-scale, systems-level behavioral health initiatives for more than 21,000 service members across seven homeports.

Clinically and academically, Dr. Rapley focuses on complex mood and anxiety disorders, integrated care, and the intersection of leadership, mental health, and well-being. He has led inpatient psychiatric services at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, now directs the Treatment-Resistant Depression Program at EVMS, and oversees EVMS Psychiatry Outpatient Services, strengthening access to care, care coordination, and the training and support of mental health clinicians across Hampton Roads. In September 2023, he became licensed in medical acupuncture, reflecting his commitment to integrative, patient-centered care and expanding non-pharmacologic treatment options for individuals with complex psychiatric conditions. Dr. Rapley is committed to advancing equitable, accessible, and culturally responsive mental health care through education, collaboration, and community partnership.

Chef Jonathan brings more than 20 years of culinary experience and a passion for health-forward cuisine to his role as Executive Chef at Patriots Colony at Williamsburg, where he has been instrumental in enhancing residents’ quality of life for nearly three years.

Born in New York to parents of Italian and Polish/Russian heritage, Chef Jonathan developed an early love for cooking by helping his mother in the kitchen. His professional career began in a local catering operation, where he worked his way through multiple roles and discovered his calling in the culinary arts. After high school, he earned an associate degree in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu in Pittsburgh.

Chef Jonathan’s career includes leadership roles at notable destinations such as Kingsmill Resort, The Woodstock Inn & Resort, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Colonial Williamsburg, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Today, he leads and mentors the culinary team at Patriots Colony, focusing on fresh ingredients, balanced nutrition, and flavorful meals that support healthy living. Through cooking demonstrations and daily dining experiences, Chef Jonathan is committed to educating and inspiring others while continually refining his craft.

Hiliary Muse is a Registered Dietitian with Riverside Health. She received her Bachelors of Science in Dietetics from James Madison University in 2007 and completed the VSU Dietetic Internship in 2008. She has worked for Riverside Health for 17 years. Hiliary worked as a clinical dietitian providing medical nutrition therapy for critically ill patients as Certified Nutrition Support Clinician Her current role is Clinical Nutrition System Manager, and she oversees the clinical nutrition aspects of patient care provided by the acute care dietitians and while providing leadership and support. Outside of work, she likes to experiment with new recipes when my 2 young boys aren’t keeping her busy.