OUR BOARD
At ASHA International, we are grateful for the diverse expertise of our Board. Each member of the Board of Directors brings with them knowledge and experience that has contributed to the advancement and support of ASHA International’s mission, and the global community we serve.
Gayathri Ramprasad, MBA, CPS
Founder and President
Gayathri Ramprasad is a mental health advocate and a social entrepreneur with a unique insight into the world of mental health. Her successful battle in overcoming life-threatening mental illness and her amazing recovery taught her the power of hope and holistic healing in overcoming chronic illness. Now, she shares that message with others. Her ability to transform trauma into triumph has inspired and empowered thousands of audience members nationally, and internationally. Individuals and organizations alike applaud Gayathri as an agent of hope and transformational change. Read more…
Shailajah Prasannan
Treasurer
Shailajah Prasannan has a Master’s degree in Commerce and Accounting from the University of Madras, India. She completed her CPA in Oregon in 1988. Shailajah has worked as a financial controller for Intersoft, Inc., in Lake Oswego, OR, from 1992 – 2004. Shailajah is an accomplished musician and highly sought after music teacher. Read more …
Kathy Van Riesen
Secretary
Kathy Van Riesen has a degree in Computer Science from University of California/Irvine and has worked in the high tech industry for over 30 years. Kathy is a devoted volunteer and master quilter. Read more…
James K. Boehnlein, M.D., M.S.C.
Director
After completing psychiatry residency training at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, Dr. James K. Boehnlein was a VA/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia VA Medical Center, where he received his Master’s Degree in medical anthropology. Since 1987, he has been a staff psychiatrist at the Portland VAMC Mental Health Clinic and at OHSU’s Intercultural Psychiatric Program, where he has treated Southeast Asian and Central American refugees. He is currently President of the Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture, an international association of psychiatric and social science researchers and educators. Read more…
Julie A. Fast
Director
Julie Fast is a world leading mental health expert on the topics of bipolar disorder, depression, seasonal affective disorder and mood management. She was diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar II in 1995 and struggled for many years to get the illness under control. In 1999, she took her mental health management into her own hands and created The Health Cards System for Bipolar Disorder, a treatment system now used around the world. Julie is the bestselling author of five books on mood disorders, including Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Get it Done When You’re Depressed. She is also an award winning columnist, a bipolar disorder management specialist who has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz website www.ShareCare.com as well as a much sought-after speaker and family and partner coach. Read more…
Lilly Glass Akoto, LCSW
Director
Lilly Glass Akoto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been in the mental health field since 1989. She has worked with a myriad of clientele, both individuals and families impacted by trauma as well as collaborated with community members regarding mental health and wellness. She currently has a private practice, Looking In ~ Looking Out, LLC where she serves individuals, couples, groups and families. She also provides clinical supervision to both those seeking licensure and those who request general clinical direction. Lilly is an avid volunteer. Read more…
Utpala Shanker, Ph.D.
Director
Dr. Shanker is a licensed psychologist in private practice. She has a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology with a specialization in ‘Learning, Cognition, and Development’ from Rutgers University. She completed another Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Dr. Shanker did her pre-doctoral internship at the University of New Mexico -School of Medicine through the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Read more…
Barbara B. Maloney, PhD
Member, Advisory Board
Dr. Barbara B. Maloney is an independent consultant in business and technical writing and communication. For over 25 years she has worked with organizations and individuals to establish and enhance better communication in the workplace. Barbara is an avid skier and scuba diver. Read more…
William H. Wilson, M.D.
Member, Advisory Board
William H. Wilson, M.D. is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Inpatient Psychiatric Services at the Oregon Health & Science University, in Portland, OR. Dr. Wilson received his undergraduate degree from Brown University in Rhode Island, attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, and completed his specialty training in psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is now an Attending Physician for OHSU’s inpatient psychiatric service and maintains an outpatient practice dealing with complex treatment issues in adult psychiatry.
Dr. Wilson is listed in the Best Doctors in America, the Guide to America’s Top Psychiatrists, and Who’s Who in America. Actively involved in the education of medical students, resident physicians and other professionals, he has received the Residency Teaching Award and the Faculty Mentor Award from the OHSU Department of Psychiatry. Read more…
John Head
Member, Advisory Board
John Head is the author of Black Men and Depression: Saving Our Lives, Healing Our Families and Friends (originally published in hardcover as Standing in the Shadows: Understanding and Overcoming Depression in Black Men.” The book is based on his experiences with clinical depression. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Psychiatric Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. He worked for more than 20 years as a journalist for the Detroit Free Press, USA TODAY and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and served as press secretary to Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first African-American mayor. Read more…
Don Moore
Member, Advisory Board
Don Moore is President of New Venture Networks, a computer consulting firm based in Portland, OR. He graduated from Central Michigan University, with majors in speech communication and psychology, and has work experience in commercial insurance underwriting. He has served as the President of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Portland, OR, and has been active in creating media projects to advocate for people with mental illness. Read more…
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