Leadership Team
Lisa Thurau
Executive Director
In 2004, Lisa initiated a training with 180 officers in the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) Transit Police to improve police/youth interactions, to increase officers’ skills in working with youth, and to support officers’ development of innovative approaches to policing large groups of teens in public transit areas. Full bio »
Contact Lisa at:
lht@strategiesforyouth.org
David Walker
Training Director
In his role as COO/Training Director, David manages the day-to-day operations of Strategies for Youth while also leading the Policing the Teen Brain program efforts. In addition to his law enforcement experience, David has global business development experience in the for-profit world. Full bio »
Contact David at: dw@strategiesforyouth.org
Kristen Wheeler
Staff Attorney
As Staff Attorney, Kristen leads the Juvenile Justice Jeopardy game development and implementation, and also coordinates the Youth Policies Initiative. She brings her experience and perspective as a public defender and trial attorney to SFY’s work. Full bio »
Contact Kristen at:
kew@strategiesforyouth.org
Program Staff
Johanna Wald
Communications and Policy Specialist
Johanna Wald is a writer and researcher who has written and presented extensively about issues related to criminal and juvenile justice reform, educational equity, and implicit bias. Full bio »
Contact Johanna at:
jw@strategiesforyouth.org
Amina Scott
Consulting Accountant
Boston native Amina, received her B.S. in accounting at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She is currently pursuing her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) accreditation through Boston University. Amina has held the role of Controller, Grants and Finance Manager, and Director of Finance for multiple nonprofits throughout Massachusetts. Amina has served the greater mission of the nonprofit world by providing financial direction and strategy for grassroots organizations. Full bio »
Contact Amina at:
ascott@strategiesforyouth.org
Heidi Pihl-Buckley
Heidi Pihl-Buckley has worked in the juvenile justice field for over 30 years. Heidi has extensive experience in direct service work with youth. She spent 8 years as a Shift Administrator at a secure detention unit for girls and has worked in the majority of programs for boys as a member of an On-Call Team. In these roles she collaborated to ensure the safety and security of both the youth and staff members.
Contact Heidi at:
info@strategiesforyouth.org
Police Training Consultants
Jim Golden
Police Training
Consultant
Jim Golden has worked in law enforcement for more than 40 years. As a partner of the ADG Law Enforcement Training Group, LLP, Jim currently provides advice to communities and police departments seeking to build trust and strengthen the relationship between police officers and the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect. Full bio »
Shane Gardner
Police Training
Consultant
Shane worked as a Patrol Officer and Narcotics Detective before being promoted to Sergeant. He has also served as the Community Outreach Sergeant supervising five School Resource Officers from four different school districts. Shane is currently the Director of Safety and Security for a public school district in Southwest Washington, with an enrollment of over 26,000. Full bio »
Brian Lowe
Police Training
Consultant
Brian Lowe has over 20 years law enforcement experience serving the City of West Lafayette, IN and the Tippecanoe County Indiana Sheriff’s Office, where he is currently assigned as a Lieutenant in Patrol. Full bio »
John Martino
Police Training
Consultant
John Martino retired as Deputy Chief of Patrol from the MBTA Transit Police Department, after a 34-year law enforcement career. John has spent several years working as a consultant and expert on Transit System Security and Policing. Full bio »
Matt Smith
Police Training
Consultant
Matt Smith has worked in law enforcement for 7 years. Currently he works as a patrol officer serving the City of Richmond, Indiana, where he is also an instructor and Field Training Officer. Matt previously served the citizens of southern Nevada as a State Trooper for the Nevada Highway Patrol. Full bio »
Psychologist Consultants
Dr. Jeffery Aaron
Psychcologist
Training Consultant
Jeffrey Aaron, Ph.D. is a clinical and forensic psychologist. Currently the Juvenile Justice and Behavioral Health Program Manager for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services, he previously spent almost 18 years at the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents (CCCA), Virginia’s only public psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents. Full bio »
Dr. Matthew Aalsma
Psychcologist
Training Consultant
Matthew Aalsma, PhD, is a Professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Director of the Adolescent Health Research Program. He is a child and forensic psychologist with over 20 years of experience conducting research, clinical work, and teaching focused on adolescent health behavior. Full bio »
Dr. Jeff Q. Bostic
Psychcologist
Training Consultant
Jeff Bostic, MD, EdD, is a member of the child psychiatry faculty at Georgetown University Hospital, active in the intake clinic, DC MAP consultation program to primary care clinicians, and consultation to local DC schools. He remains affiliated with Harvard/Mass General Hospital, where he was the Director of School Psychiatry from 1997-2016. Full bio »
Dr. Jeffery Burnett
Psychcologist
Training Consultant
Jeff Bostic, MD, EdD, is a member of the child psychiatry faculty at Georgetown University Hospital, active in the intake clinic, DC MAP consultation program to primary care clinicians, and consultation to local DC schools. He remains affiliated with Harvard/Mass General Hospital, where he was the Director of School Psychiatry from 1997-2016. Full bio »
Dr. Dana Cunningham
Psychcologist
Training Consultant
Dana Cunningham, Ph.D. obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Full bio »
Dr. Brittany Parham
Psychcologist
Training Consultant
Dr. Parham is an Assistant Professor with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), and is a faculty member with the national Center for School Mental Health at UMSOM.
Full bio »
Dr. Linda Watt
Psychcologist
Training Consultant
Linda Watt PhD is a licensed psychologist specializing in treatment of adolescents. She received both her Bachelor of Arts degree and Masters in Psychology from Boston College. Full bio »
