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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

Arlene Bryer

Director of development

Arlene grew up in Montreal, Canada and has a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing from Concordia University, and a MBA in International Studies from Temple University. She began her career in the non-profit world after moving to Boston in 1997. Arlene has worked for several nonprofits,  including Boston’s Morgan Memorial Goodwill, where she served as a Job Development Manager. Full bio »

Contact Arlene at:
 abryer@strategiesforyouth.org

Shelley Jackson

Law Enforcement Policies Attorney

Shelley Jackson has more than 30 years of experience protecting the civil rights of youth, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. Her work includes policy development and review, litigation and settlement enforcement, and training and technical assistance. Prior to her retirement from federal service in 2020, Shelley worked for three federal civil rights agencies as an attorney, policy analyst, and supervisor, including nearly 10 years as a Deputy Section Chief in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Full bio »

Contact Shelley at:
 sj@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

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

Law Enforcement 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 »

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 »

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.

Full bio »

Victor Torres

Police Training
Consultant

Victor is a retired patrol and school resource officer with over 24 years of experience at the Fort Wayne, Indiana Police Department. Victor has served his agency in many capacities ranging from DARE Officer, Motorcycle Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Crisis Intervention Team Officer and trainer, Street Operations Patrolman and a 20-year Crisis Response Team member … Full bio »

Psychologist Consultants

Dr. Jeffrey Aaron

Psychologist
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

Psychologist
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

Psychologist
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 »

Name

Title

Short bio. Full bio »

Dr. Brittany Parham

Psychologist
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

Psychologist
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 »

Name

Title

Short bio. Full bio »

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