Karl Starkweather’s passion for filmmaking began at a young age with hand-drawn animation and claymation. At 17, he founded The SW Group, a Philadelphia-based community organization that provided free filmmaking instruction and showcased local individuals’ work in monthly sold-out shows and annual film festivals. From 2007 to 2014, The SW Group helped hundreds of people […]
Isabella “Bella” Nadeau joined the Quell team in April 2025 as the Assistant Director of University and Alumni Programs. She brings with her a wide range of experience in mental health advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs. Having played collegiate softball and experienced mental health challenges firsthand, Bella created a social media movement. She […]
Shannon Atkins is the Director of Development at The Quell Foundation, bringing wide-ranging experience in sales, analytics, and operations. Her dedication to mental health advocacy is deeply personal, informed by her own journey with an anxiety disorder, diagnosed at the age of 14. This has given her a profound passion for The Quell Foundation’s mission. […]
Erin Smith is the widow of Officer Jeffrey L. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C. Officer Smith died in the Line of Duty on January 15, 2021, due to injuries he suffered at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His loss led Erin to fight for Line of Duty Designation for his […]
Julia is a Junior at Elon University studying strategic communications and psychology. As Marketing Intern, she focuses on Quell’s social media pages, as well as, the monthly blog posts. Quell has helped her find a creative outlet to promote breaking the stigma towards mental health challenges. Beyond academics, Julia is involved in Elon’s on-campus PR […]
Allie Rosenberg, a Junior at Penn State University in the Schreyer Honors College, majors in Psychology and Sociology. Originally from Westchester, NY, she graduated from Irvington High School in 2021. Motivated by her brother’s struggles with mental illnesses, she aspires to make a positive impact on others’ mental health journeys. Beyond academics, Allie is actively […]
Joining as an intern three years ago, Maya quickly became an integral part of the organization, driven by her dedication to the Foundation’s mission and her passion for mental health advocacy. Through her role as Assistant Director of Development for The Quell Foundation’s First Responder Resilience Project, Maya led the development of the FRRP mental […]
Ashley Persaud is a compassionate advocate for ending the stigma surrounding mental health. She holds a degree in Advertising, Public Relations, and Social Media from Lynn University, where she honed her skills in effective communication and creative strategies. Regardless of personal challenges faced, Ashley has dedicated herself to making a positive impact on the lives […]
As the Assistant Director of Development, Emily Abbott is responsible for planning The Quell Foundation’s annual fundraising events, managing The Quell Foundation’s Scholarship Program, as well as maintaining and cultivating donor relationships. Emily is one of The Quell Foundation’s first-ever recipients of the Fighter Scholarship, awarded to students with a diagnosed mental health condition. Emily’s […]
Amber Chembars Meyerl of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, joined our team in June 2023 as the Executive Director of The Quell Foundation. In April 2025, she transitioned into the role of President. Amber brings a diverse and dynamic professional background, with extensive experience in the behavioral health field spanning several years. Amber’s history includes working with […]