Workplace Diversity and Mental Health

Brandon J. Johnson, MHS

Brandon J. Johnson, MHS, MCHES is a tireless advocate for positive mental health and suicide prevention services for youth and adults across the country. Brandon earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Morgan State University in 2008 and a Master of Health Science Degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2012. Currently, he serves as a Public Health Advisor at the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the Suicide Prevention Branch at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this role, Brandon serves as a Government Project Officer (GPO) for various suicide prevention grant programs that respectively target youth, adults, and health care systems. Brandon is also the GPO for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) which provides suicide-specific materials, webinars, and training to organizations and communities all over the country working to prevent suicides. Another highlight of Brandon’s career is his current role as the Co-Lead of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Faith Communities Task Force. The group works with faith communities all over the nation to equip them with tools and resources to combat the often stigmatized issue of suicide. Brandon serves as the subject matter expert in suicide among Black people and has lead numerous projects to develop resources and materials to specifically prevent suicide among African-American youth. Brandon is the creator of “The Black Mental Wellness Lounge,” a YouTube channel dedicated to discussing Black mental health and healing. The Black Mental Wellness Lounge is his YouTube page dedicated to the promotion of Black mental health tips, education, and resources for the community. Previously, Brandon served as the Director of Suicide and Violence Prevention for the State of Maryland where he worked in communities throughout the state to help develop strategies to end violence in various forms, such as community violence and human trafficking. In this role, Brandon also worked on the MD Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention as well as organized the annual Suicide Prevention Conference.

Abigail Asper, MSW

Abigail Asper was Psych Hub's Clinical Research Manager from 2019 to 2021. During her time at Psych Hub she was responsible for ensuring that Psych Hub videos and learning hubs are evidence-based, clinically  sound, and trauma-informed as well, overseeing Psych Hub content research and continuing education initiatives.  Along with lived experience of mental illness and losing a loved one to suicide, Ms. Asper has years of professional  experience in mental health, social justice, and clinical settings. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from College of  Charleston Honors College and a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University Graduate School of Social  Service. Before joining the Psych Hub team, she worked as an NGO Representative to the United Nations for the  International Federation of Social Workers, a case manager on an assertive community treatment team for older  adults with serious mental illnesses, a victim advocate at a rape crisis center, and a phone counselor at a crisis  hotline. She is also a published author, editor, and researcher. Most recently, she was an editor of Behavioral Science  in the Global Arena, Volume I , a text for which she authored two chapters: “Migrant Adaptation and Well-Being” and  “Gender Equity and Reproductive Justice”.

Jennifer Currence, MBA, SHRM-SCP, PCC

CEO OF WITHIN LEADERSHIP; CREATOR OF THE LEADING FOR REAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; CONTENT CREATOR FOR SHRM’S PEOPLE MANAGER QUALIFICATION

Jennifer Currence is the CEO of WithIN Leadership in Tampa, Florida, where she delivers results through customized training and coaching programs for leaders and HR. She is the creator of the Leading for RealTM  leadership development program and content creator for SHRM’s People Manager Qualification (PMQ).

Jennifer earned her MBA with an emphasis in management and holds a nationally accredited certification in coaching (PCC) and an international senior-level certification in human resources (SHRM-SCP). She has been recognized as a Thought Leader by the International Society of Performance Improvement, a Subject Matter Expert by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and was named Tampa Bay’s HR Consultant of the Year for 2017.  She has over 25 years of experience in Human Resources and training in organizations, and is a faculty member for SHRM as well as a professor at the University of Tampa’s award-winning Sykes school of business.

Jennifer has been published in HR Magazine and featured in Fast Company magazine, USA Weekly, and HR.com. She is a professional member of SHRM, the National Speakers Association (NSA), the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and the author of three SHRM-published books on business behavioral competencies.

Carolyn Barley

As SHRM’s Instructional Design Manager, Carolyn Barley leads the team responsible for the development of the Specialty Credential, eLearning and Seminar products portfolio. She oversees the curriculum by creating and enforcing curriculum development standards, templates, and procedures, while ensuring the use of good instructional design processes and adult learning methodologies. She is responsible for overseeing the development of new learning solutions across media, with a focus on face-to-face, live virtual, eLearning. Working closely with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and partnering cross-functionally, she works on new initiatives, refines and evolves current products, while also advising organizational leadership on educational trends and best practices in adult learning. 

She was instrumental in the development of SHRM’s People Manager Qualification (PMQ), SHRM’s Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential, SHRM’s People Analytics Specialty Credential, SHRM’s CA HR Law Specialty Credential, SHRM’s Inclusive Workplace Culture Specialty Credential, SHRM’s HR Department of One Specialty Credential and SHRM’s Workplace Investigations Specialty Credential. 

Prior to SHRM, Carolyn worked as a corporate university consultant. During that time, she architected corporate university blueprints, conducted content reviews and completed instructional design projects. She has worked with over 50 organizations identifying operational processes and procedures to standardize how global learning should occur across the enterprise. 

Carolyn is a lifelong learner. She is focused on making a difference in the lives she touches through education and raising awareness. She is committed to elevating HR through her involvement with curriculum to contribute to creating better workplaces. 

Andrew Morton

As SHRM’s Director of Certification and Veteran Affairs Andrew Morton works with the military and veterans' organizations to develop workforce readiness pathways for veterans and military-families. As part of SHRM’s Speaker’s Bureau Andrew informs and empowers organizations in their inclusion-hiring efforts across many populations including Veterans and military spouses, individuals with disabilities, and Returning Citizens as part of SHRM’s Getting Talent Back to Work Initiative.  He is the contributing author to Justin Constantine’s SHRM published book “From We Will to At Will- A Handbook for Veteran Hiring, Transitioning and Thriving in Today’s Workplace.”  Andrew has and continues to serve on several veteran and military community employee related initiatives to include serving on the board of the non-profit “Hiring America Serves” as well as an ambassador to the American Legion’s and Lumina Foundation’s Military Credentialing Advancement Initiative (MCAI). 

Andrew, a retired Infantry-Officer, served in several leadership roles during multiple overseas and combat tours (Iraq, Bosnia, Macedonia, and Egypt) in his 21-year Army career. He also served as the Chief of Marketing and Advertising and the Chief of Digital and Social Media for the Army Reserve.   After his transition from the military and prior to his arrival at SHRM, Andrew served as a digital media director for a leading PR firm in Alexandria, VA.  

Andrew is passionate about awareness and resources in support of mental health within our workforce and society at large and has written extensively about breaking through the challenges of mental health stigma and accessibility (I Want My Dad Back).  He’s currently completing his Masters in Mental Health Counseling with the College of William and Mary.  Andrew resides in Alexandria, VA. with his three teenage children, his wife Emily, and far too many dogs and cats to manage effectively.