2026 National Meeting Schedule
*Schedule is tentative and subject to change* All times in Eastern Daylight Time.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
Presenters:
Molly Lindner, Missouri Partner in Prevention
- Molly Lindner is the Communications Asst. with Missouri Partners in Prevention and previously worked with PIP as a campus contact. She holds a Bachelor of Science-Graphic Design (William Woods University) and a Master of Education-Higher Education Administration (Baylor University). Professionally, she has held roles related to student conduct, crisis management, Title IX, the Clery Act, the DFSCA, and related prevention topics. Currently, she provides policy and compliance technical assistance/consultation throughout the state and nationally, while also serving as the point of contact for social media management and graphic design projects. Molly is a master trainer of facilitators for HECAOD’s problem gambling training program in Missouri
Brittany Carpenter, Missouri Partner in Prevention
- Brittany Carpenter is a Tobacco Prevention Coordinator with Partners in Prevention. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Exercise Science and later obtained her Master of Public Health from Concordia University with a focus in Community Health Education. Outside of work, Brittany loves to golf, garden, and read. She spends a lot of time with family, her two little boys, and two dogs.
Description:
Tobacco-free policies can transform campuses, workplaces, and community spaces into healthier environments. This session will explore key components of comprehensive tobacco-free policies (to include their intersection with the DFSCA), lessons learned from assessing campus tobacco-free policies in the state of Missouri, and strategies for overcoming common challenges. Overall, the aim is for participants to leave with practical and actionable strategies to help encourage and promote healthier communities/campuses
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able analyze current trends in tobacco use and apply evidence-based strategies to prevention and reduce tobacco use in their communities.
- Identify key components of a comprehensive tobacco-free campus policy, including enforcement strategies, communication plans and cessation support.
- Participants will be able to better understand how tobacco policy relates to Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act (DFSCA) and the importance of integrating the two.
Continuing Education Approval:
Examining the Relationships Between Financial Motives and Means on Problem Gambling Severity in College Students
Presenters:
Kamdyn Thakur, Ohio University
- Kamdyn Thakur is a Clinical Psychology Graduate Student at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Honors Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Her research aims to improve care for those with behavioral addictions by focusing on the impact of culture.
Description:
Problem gambling is a public health concern, and college students are at increased risk (Nowak & Aloe, 2014; Wardle et al., 2024). Financial gambling motives are positively related to problem gambling severity (Dechant, 2014), and prior research on general adults found that perceived financial standing positively moderated this relationship while annual income didn’t (Floyd et al., 2024). It is unknown if this relationship is true for students. Using data collected from Ohio University students, we explore how income sources (e.g., family, employment, etc.) and perceptions about finances in students impact the relationship between financial motives and problem gambling severity. This research informs prevention and intervention strategies.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the financial factors that may be related to college students’ problem gambling severity.
- Describe how financial motives to gamble interact with students’ financial situations to increase problem gambling risk.
- Identify at least one way that financial support services could better support college students at risk for problem gambling.
A Hidden Crisis: Students, Families, and the Reality of College Gambling Harm
Presenters:
Kim Freudenberg, Parents Standing Together
- Kim Freudenberg is an educator and advocate working at the intersection of youth gambling harm and family support. As President of Parents Standing Together and an educator with decades of experience, she combines professional training with lived experience parenting a child through a gambling disorder. A National Board Certified teacher and International Gambling Recovery Specialist, Kim brings a powerful, real-world perspective to her work. She is dedicated to helping others recognize early warning signs and respond to the growing risks facing young people. Kim is also deeply committed to supporting parents navigating the challenges of a child’s gambling harm, helping them find connection, understanding, and practical pathways forward
Description:
Gambling harm among college students is increasing rapidly, yet often goes undetected until a crisis. This session brings a rare lived-experience perspective from parents who navigated gambling harm in their own families and built a peer support organization in response. Through video vignettes, narratives, and evidence-informed content, participants will explore emerging trends in online gambling and sports betting, why gambling harm is frequently missed, and its co-occurrence with mental health and substance use. Attendees will gain practical tools, including warning signs, conversation strategies, and family-facing resources to support early identification and intervention.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify current and emerging high-risk forms of gambling among college students, including the role of online platforms and sports betting in increasing access and normalization.
- Recognize and apply key warning signs and risk factors for gambling harm, including presentations complicated by co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges, using a lived-experience-informed lens.
- Demonstrate effective strategies for engaging students and families in conversations about gambling harm and connecting them to appropriate campus and community resources for early intervention.
Playing the Cards Right: How to Leverage AOD Expertise for Collegiate Gambling Prevention
Presenters:
Logan Davis, HECAOD
- Logan Davis joined the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery in January of 2019 as the Outreach and Engagement Manager and transitioned into the Gambling Education Specialist role in February 2026. In Logan’s new role, he will help spearhead and coordinate HECAOD’s collegiate gambling efforts. Prior to working with HECAOD, Logan worked in fraternity and sorority life and has experience as a campus-based advisor and working at an (inter)national fraternal organization. Logan obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Murray State University (Go Racers!) and his Master of Arts in Higher Education from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!).
Description:
This session will explore strategies used within HECAOD’s You Bet? curriculum, an evidence-informed gambling education program for students. Learn what leading gambling researchers and practitioners felt was critical for students to know about gambling and sports betting and how HECAOD has applied the evidence-based prevention principles used when addressing high-risk alcohol use to the topic of gambling. Leave this session with the language, knowledge, and confidence to integrate gambling into your prevention portfolio.
Learning Objectives:
- Name mental and physical health consequences associated with gambling disorder in a collegiate population.
- Develop and strengthen best practices that campuses can implement to reduce the spread of gambling disorders.
- Identify appropriate referral pathways and treatment resources for students experiencing gambling-related harm.
Continuing Education Approval:
Presenter:
Elizabeth Branham, HECAOD
JR Denson, American University
Christina Gannon, Gallaudet University
Ashley Meunch, University of North Florida
Kelleen Weber, University of Mount Union
Jamie Laurson, Illinois State University
- Elizabeth Branham joined the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery in August 2024 as a Traffic Safety Specialist. In this role, she convenes campus coalitions nationwide to address impaired road use and provides training and technical assistance through an improvement science framework. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Public Health and her Master of Public Health from Boise State University, where she served as a Health Educator in the Wellness Office, managing substance misuse prevention initiatives and peer education programs. Elizabeth is a Certified Health Education Specialist and is passionate about supporting campuses in creating safer environments for all road users.
- JR Denson is a health policy advisor, counselor, and educator at American University (AU) in Washington, DC. Before joining academia, he worked as a legislative fellow in the House of Representatives, a public health official for the local government, and an emergency medical technician (EMT). JR received his bachelor’s in linguistics from the University of Florida and his master’s in public health from AU.
- Dr. Christine Gannon is an associate professor and the director for the public Health program at Gallaudet University. She has been providing health related education and training since 1995 and has been at Gallaudet University since 2011. She completed her PhD in 2023. She has her B.A. in sociology from University of Lynchburg, a master’s degree in human sexuality education from the University of Pennsylvania, a certificate in chemical dependency from the Minnesota Chemical Dependency Program for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals, and a Master of Philosophy in health education and promotion from Walden University. She has research interests in the area of substance use and was involved in the traffic safety coalition through the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery.
- Ashley Muench is the Health Education Coordinator at the University of North Florida with 13 years of experience in health and wellness and 10 years of experience in education. She oversees peer health education, substance misuse prevention, and campus wellness initiatives, and is passionate about developing evidence-based programs that support student success and well-being
- Kelleen Weber is a Supervising Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor with more than 30 years of experience in mental health, substance abuse prevention, and wellness education. Since 2006, she has served as Director of Alcohol, Drug & Wellness Education at the University of Mount Union, leading counseling, prevention, and health promotion efforts for students. Previously, she worked for 10 years as a Chemical Dependency Counselor with Townhall II in Kent, Ohio. Kelleen holds a master’s degree in Community Counseling from The University of Akron and has extensive experience as an educator, trainer, presenter, and community advocate. Through clinical expertise, education, advocacy, and community partnership, Kelleen continues to make a meaningful contribution to the fields of counseling, addiction prevention, mental health, and wellness.
- Jamie Laurson, MS, LCPC, is a seasoned clinician and prevention specialist with more than a decade of experience addressing alcohol and cannabis use among college students. At Illinois State University, Jamie leads evidence based alcohol and other drug prevention initiatives, provides motivational interviewing driven interventions, and develops campus wide harm reduction programming. Her work includes shaping institutional policy through the University Alcohol Task Force and JED Committee. Across roles in counseling centers, residential settings, and community treatment programs, Jamie’s career reflects a deep commitment to reducing substance related harm and supporting student well being.
Description:
Impaired road use is an important issue for the campus prevention field. While many institutions have strong alcohol and other drug (AOD) strategies in place, fewer have explored how those efforts intersect with transportation behaviors and road safety risks. This interactive session brings together campus practitioners to share how they are beginning to address impaired road use through assessment, partnership, and intervention development. Participants will hear brief presentations from a panel of campuses highlighting their unique contexts, the catalysts that led them to prioritize this issue, and key insights gained through environmental scans and data collection. Presenters will discuss partnerships that made this work possible and the strategies they are currently implementing or exploring. Through a facilitated panel discussion and audience Q&A, attendees will identify common themes, challenges, and opportunities across campus settings.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe why impaired road use is an important and emerging focus for campus prevention efforts.
- Identify key strategies and partnerships used by campuses to address impaired road use.
- Apply assessment tools and peer insights to inform prevention efforts on campus.
Continuing Education Approval:
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
Presenter:
Margaret A. Thorwart, Millersville University
- Margaret A. Thorwart is the Director of the Center for Health Education and Promotion at Millersville University and a doctoral candidate in Communication and Media Studies with a focus on public health communication. She leads campus-wide, evidence-based initiatives addressing alcohol and other drug prevention, mental health, and student well-being through peer education, social norms marketing, and community partnerships. Thorwart as secured multiple state and local grants and regularly presents on motivational interviewing, wellness coaching, and prevention strategies. Her research examines the effectiveness of large-scale prevention campaigns and culturally responsive health communication.
Description:
Traditional AOD task forces often struggle to sustain engagement and impact. This session highlights a practical approach to transforming a campus taskforce into a dynamic, community-engaged coalition grounded in prevention science and student voice. Participants will explore a structured model that includes a campus listening session, ongoing coalition meetings, and integration of evidence-informed strategies such as the Strategic Prevention Framework, Social Ecological Model, Motivational Interviewing, and storytelling. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to engage students, build partnerships, and create sustainable, culture-level change in AOD prevention.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the differences between a traditional AOD task force and a coalition model, including how coalition structures enhance long-term, community-engaged prevention efforts.
- Apply evidence-informed frameworks, including the Strategic Prevention Framework, Social Ecological Model, and Motivational Interviewing principles, to analyze and structure effective AOD coalition initiatives.
- Design a coalition-based action plan that engages students, faculty, staff, and campus/community partners to advance sustainable AOD prevention and culture change.
Continuing Education Approval:
Presenters:
William L. Mynk, Kentucky State University
- William L. Mynk is a Mental Health and Substance Misuse Counselor at Kentucky State University. William is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over 17 years of experience in treating mental health and substance use disorders. Prior to his career in higher education, he spent seven years working treating clients with substance use disorders in a residential setting. William earned a M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and has done additional post graduate work from the University of South Florida and University of Kentucky. He has presented at a number of state, regional, and national conferences on topics ranging from cultural competence to the intesection of hazing and substance misuse in Greek life.
Description:
Student athletes are often the most visible and isolated population on campus. Often student athletes deal with challenges that the general student population does not experience. The internal and external pressure to perform; physical pain, and team cultures that often promote substance misuse are realities for many student athletes. This presentation will identify the specific needs of college athletes; discuss the importance of coaches and athletic staff in treatment and prevention; and also provide some implications for substance misuse professionals working with this unique student population.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss current trends related to student athletes and substance misuse.
- Identify unique factors that contribute to substance misuse among college students.
- Discuss the role that Coaches and athletic staffers can play in the identification and referral of student athletes for substance misuse counseling.
Continuing Education Approval:
Presenters:
Cori Hammond, Prevention Services at Partnership to End Addiction
- Cori Hammond, MPH, is the Senior Director of Prevention Services at Partnership to End Addiction, a national non-profit organization based in New York City. Cori currently works with partners across the country to bring evidence-based services and resources about substance use prevention to adolescents, caregivers, and community-based prevention professionals. Cori received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree from Tulane University and her Master of Public Health from New York University.
Linda Richter, Prevention Services at Partnership to End Addiction
- Linda Richter, PhD, is Senior Vice President of Prevention Research and Policy at Partnership to End Addiction, where she leads the organization’s prevention research and policy agenda. Her work focuses on advancing earlier, broader, and more effective approaches to substance use prevention, with particular emphasis on policies, programs, and practices that protect young people and promote healthy development. Dr. Richter translates research into practice by leveraging her own scholarship and the broader evidence base to inform parents, educators, health professionals, and policymakers about best practices in prevention and addiction care.
Description:
Though rates of substance use among adolescents are lower than ever, the landscape of substances is more dangerous than ever. Emerging substance use threats pose complex risks for college populations. This session will cover emerging trends relevant for college populations: “gas station drugs” (e.g. kratom, 7-OH, and tianeptine), inhalants (e.g. Galaxy Gas and other whippets), and club drugs (e.g. ketamine and Tusi). It will also discuss new developments in commonly used substances including hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids, nicotine pouches, BORGs and other dangerous drinking trends. Subject matter experts from Partnership to End Addiction will share national data but also anchor the discussion around upstream prevention.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe several of the new emerging threats in the current substance use landscape that are relevant for college populations.
- Define an upstream model of prevention and explain how upstream prevention can be a buffer against emerging drug trends.
- Outline the current national policy status for relevant substances (7-OH, hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids).
Continuing Education Approval:
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. – Keynote
Presenters:
TBA
Description:
TBA
Learning Objectives:
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Continuing Education Approval:
