Our Advisors
At The Social Institute, we’re thrilled to have the support and advice of incredible individuals in teaching, child development, media, and related fields. Together, our team and our advisors supercharge our work with schools and enable us to address the ever-evolving needs of educators, families, and students.
Our advisors inform our approach to serving schools by sharing their deep experience and wisdom about education, student well-being, and a variety of other important topics impacting schools.
Members:
 | Dr. Jessica Anderson |
| Licensed School and Clinical Psychologist | |
| Dr. Jessica Anderson is a Licensed School and Clinical Psychologist who has been working with children and adolescents for 19 years. She specializes in anxiety, ADHD, depression, autism, and social challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults. She also supports students through the college exploration and application process based on her work in college admissions and teaching. She earned her Doctorate in Psychology from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has a Masters/Specialist Degree in School Psychology with a concentration in Therapeutic Interventions from Fordham University, Lincoln Center. Dr. Anderson also completed post-doctoral work at Fordham where she supervised students at the Hagin School Consultation Center in comprehensive psycho-educational assessment. Dr. Anderson earned her Bachelor Degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Anderson started her career as a School Psychologist in public schools in New Jersey serving as a case manager, evaluator, and mental health provider. She has also worked in independent schools as a psychologist and administrator. Her private practice utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and strategies from the Social Thinking curriculum. Dr. Anderson has taught a variety of psychology classes at the graduate school level and has presented at conferences from the school to national level. Dr. Anderson has a strong focus on helping students build self-confidence through learning how to be strong problem solvers and flexible thinkers. She is passionate about collaboration with others in the education and mental-health fields and maintains a constantly growing network of colleagues to consult and collaborate with. When not working, Dr. Anderson enjoys spending time at the beach, swimming, and bike riding with her husband and two sons. |
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 | Valerie C. Merriweather |
| Founder & Chief Well-being Officer Fitwell Solutions |
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| Valerie Merriweather is the Founder and Chief Well-being Officer of Fitwell Solutions. With more than 20 years of experience in health promotion and consulting, she has a strong track record for delivering transformative and innovative programs designed to improve the health and well being of high-performing teams. Ms. Merriweather was instrumental in leading wellness initiatives at Kaiser Permanente Northern California region, one of the largest HMOs in the country, supporting 300,000 members. In the corporate space, Ms. Merriweather’s clients include the American Health Association, Duke University, The Social Institute, and Warner Bros. Discovery, where she served on the leadership team for their annual “Take Your Kid to Work Day” event. A native of Riverside, California, Valerie holds a B.S. in Radiation Therapy from Howard University and an MHA and MA from The Ohio State University and NC Central University, respectively. She holds national coaching certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise. Ms. Merriweather is a nationally certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Stress First Aid Facilitator. |
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 | Kurt Merriweather |
| Co-Founder The Diversity Movement |
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| Kurt is an accomplished business leader and marketing executive passionate about helping organizations implement growth strategies. He co founded The Diversity Movement and is a thought leader in building teams through integrating DEI and technology. Kurt has worked for global brands like Discovery, AOL, and Procter & Gamble. With over 20 years of experience, Kurt’s approach to advising clients and developing strategy blends creative thinking and data analysis. He is an avid speaker, a workshop leader, and a patent holder. Kurt holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Kurt advises startups through Google for Startups Black Founders Exchange and mentors students at UNC, SKEMA Business School, and NC State. He also serves on NC TECH’s Board of Advisors. |
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 | Katelyn Donnelly |
| Founder and Managing Director Avalanche VC |
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| Katelyn is an investor and entrepreneur. Katelyn is the founder and Managing Director of Avalanche VC, an early-stage venture firm investing early in technology companies that transform how people learn, earn, and own. Previously, she was co-founder and Director at Delivery Associates, the leading public sector advisory firm implementing technology and large-scale reform worldwide. She served on the board until the company partnered with a private equity firm in November 2022. Constantly curious, she has invested in companies, funds, and founders building behind massive trends that are obviously the future. Katelyn grew up in Minneapolis and is frequently found in Austin and New York City. She has lived and worked globally, including in London, San Francisco, Seattle, Lagos, and Lahore. |
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 | Gregory A. Dale, Ph.D. |
| Former Director of Sport Psychology and Leadership Programs Duke University |
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| In 2022, we lost a brilliant mind and respected member of The Social Institute community. We are honored to have had Greg Dale, PhD, as a founding member of our Research Advisory Committee, and our work was greatly influenced by his knowledge and expertise in Sport Psychology. Throughout his career as a Professor of Sport Psychology and Sport Ethics at Duke University, Director of the Sport Psychology and Leadership Programs for Duke Athletics, and member of TSI’s Research Advisory Committee, Greg provided guidance on striking a balance between your responsibilities and “being where your feet are,” encouraging everyone to live in the moment and stay engaged wherever they may be. In addition to his work with Duke athletes and coaches, Greg consulted with numerous college and professional athletes and provided educational workshops for coaches, parents, and student-athletes at the middle and high school levels. Greg also provided teambuilding, performance, and leadership programming for organizations and corporations around the world including IBM, VF Corporation, COACH, The World Bank, Airports Council International, Habitat for Humanity International, Pfizer, Northwestern Mutual, and Skanska International. He wrote five books related to leadership, parenting, and performance. He was also featured in the feature-length documentary WINNING and served as the expert in a series of 14 educational videos. He was a member of the National Executive Boards for The Positive Coaching Alliance, The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game for Life Foundation, and the United States Lacrosse Coaches Association. | |