Meet the Team

Samantha Wettje, Ed.M.

Samantha is the Co-Founder of 16 Strong Project and an adolescent mental well-being advocate. She created the 16 Strong Project in 2017 in response to what she experienced as a young person, living with a mentally ill and addicted parent, struggling to find answers and understand what was happening in her life. It wasn’t until she finished college, and shared her story with many of her friends, that she realized that she was not the only one, and that what happened to her mattered. So many times people do not realize they are not alone or that what they are experiencing has a name. Determined to ensure that the next generation of youth is equipped to handle their adversity, and not suffer in silence, Samantha created a program to empower resilience to adverse childhood experiences, because she believes what happens to all of us matters.

Samantha has an Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University and a B.S.in Financial Economics from Binghamton University. Samantha also serves as a mentor for the Youth Commission to the Committee on Gang Prevention and Intervention in San Diego and as a member of the New Jersey ACEs Coalition. In addition to her work with the 16 Strong Project, Samantha previously worked with the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s EASEL Lab for social-emotional learning where she is a co-author on the Navigating SEL From the Inside Out guides published in 2021 and 2022 in partnership with the Wallace Foundation. She currently works for the Morgan Stanley Foundation which focuses on youth health with a specific emphasis on youth mental health.

Samantha is an avid traveler, exercise enthusiast, sports junkie, loves music, reading, ice cream, her cat Boots, and most of all, the New York Mets.

Donna Wettje, MBA

Donna Wettje is a Co-Founder of 16 Strong Project and a lifelong advocate for ensuring every person’s voice is heard.

Donna works with her daughter, Samantha, to raise the collective voice of adolescents in an effort to ensure that young people recognize and resist the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences and break the cycle of generational trauma. Under Donna’s guidance, The 16 Strong Project has connected with thousands of young people across the globe, developed proactive youth-based mental health programming and launched an innovative peer-to-peer adversity resilience model. She is a tireless advocate with nearly thirty years of experience helping young people on their path to speak their truth and be heard.

Dana brown

Dana Brown is the ACEs Science Statewide Facilitator, Learn4Life and PACEs Connection Organizational Liaison, and Executive Director of Youth Voice. A social entrepreneur, Dana founded a character development program at Tierrasanta Elementary in San Diego, CA; co-founded OurSOLES (Our Students of Leadership ~ Empowerment ~ Service), founded Youth Leadership TICS (Trauma-Informed Community Schools) and Youth Leadership with McGill School of Success. Dana is a Commissioner on the City of San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention & Intervention and Chair of the Youth Committee., co-chair of the San Diego Trauma-Informed Guide Team , on the Advisory Council of the University of San Diego’s Character Development Center, the steering committee of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, Strong Families, Thriving Communities, and the leadership team of the Southern California Warrior Spirit with Indigenous communities. An author, Hidden Treasures, Ms. Brown has received many awards over the years, including, the Joy McAllister Advocacy Award from Mental Health America in 2014, President Obama’s USA Volunteer Presidential Award in 2013 (with San Diego Compassion Project), and the City of San Diego’s Human Relations Commission Award in 2009. 

Kathleen Dwyer

Kathleen is our Board Vice President and Education Director. Kathleen recently retired after spending 30 years in the classroom teaching English at high school and college level in the suburbs of NYC. Her involvement with and dedication to the 16 Strong Project was sparked by Clarkstown alumnus and 16 Strong Co-Founder, Samantha Wettje’s, meaningful work with her Assets Leadership course, wherein Samantha impressively conducted lessons involving ACEs and how to identify and mitigate them. This acted as a springboard for Kathleen’s desire to focus on incorporating ACEs activities into her courses.  Kathleen has developed curriculum resources for 16 Strong Project that help students to tell their stories as a means to successfully identify, navigate, and mitigate the circumstances of their lives.  She will continue to use her educational background and professional experience to focus on program development and curriculum design to increase 16 Strong’s impact in educational settings..  She is eager to continue building inclusive and engaging programs that support the emotional well-being of adolescents. Kathleen is active in community service, a member of her parish council, a voracious reader, movie enthusiast, college basketball superfan, and she enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband, children, family, friends, and dog.

Karen Allen

Karen Allen has been an educator for over 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her career as a high school French and English teacher. After over 10 years in the classroom, Karen shifted her focus to supporting teachers as a curriculum specialist working with English Language Arts teachers, and then later as School Principal in Alternative Education programs. For the past several years Karen served as the Coordinator for the Marin County Office of Education’s Foster and Homeless Youth Education programs. As the National Education Director for Brighten Leaning, she has had the enormous pleasure of bringing professional learning opportunities to teachers, administrators, school district and county office support staff, parents, and community partners. Karen is committed to sharing meaningful strategies and to helping increase knowledge around trauma informed care; restorative practices; social emotional learning; strengths-based practices; and shares a plentitude of effective strategies that lead to positive outcomes and success.

Christina Hamdan

Christina is a Speech-Language Pathologist (M.S., CCC-SLP TSSLD) in the New York City Department of Education and has been a mental health advocate for the greater duration of her academic and professional career. She is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she was an active member of a community dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Christina has collaborated with several non-profit organizations to encourage, inform, and inspire conversations surrounding mental health. Through 16 Strong Project, she has introduced youth in the NYC public school system to the importance of mental health education and resilience to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). These experiences and Christina’s willingness to share personal experiences about her mental health has played a pivotal role in her growth and healing. 

In her free time, Christina enjoys creating art, playing sports, drinking coffee, chasing sunsets, and spending time with loved ones.

Katherine Mendoza-Wright

Katherine is a 2017 graduate of The George Washington University, where she earned a B.A. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is currently pursuing her MPH in Health Communication & Promotion at Boston University’s School of Public Health. Katherine joined 16 Strong Project as an intern completing her MPH Practicum.

Katherine has nearly seven years of youth development and public health experience. From 2017 to 2019, she served in Peace Corps Peru's Community Health program. Following her return to the U.S., she served as a health educator at a community clinic in Queens, NY and later a program coordinator for an adolescent health program at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She is now a program associate for a children's rights philanthropic organization.

A passionate feminist, youth advocate, and public health organizer, Katherine is committed to deconstructing barriers for informed, healthy decision-making. 

Jiwen Fan

Jiwen Fan, a researcher at Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializes in adolescent bullying and empowerment. Her journey, rooted in personal challenges faced during high school, has fueled a profound interest in understanding and preventing school violence. With a robust educational theory background from Trinity College, where she also minored in film studies, her current focus lies in the cultural and societal dynamics of bullying. Her research aims to develop inclusive strategies to combat bullying and create supportive educational environments. Beyond academia, she is committed to providing practical solutions for schools and communities. She is actively involved with the 16 Strong Project's Advocacy Board, offering online resources and support and integrating her passion for film studies to enhance her advocacy and educational outreach. In her free time, she enjoys capturing life's beautiful moments through photography and delving into the study of fragrances, finding tranquility and harmony in these pursuits.

Noa Blonder

Noa is a graduate from San Diego State University with a B.S in Child and Family Development. As an aspiring preschool teacher, working with children has always been a wholehearted source of joy in her life. She is deeply committed to furthering her understanding and experience in the realm of child development, with a particular focus on cultivating positive sexual health and identity. By grounding her approach in empathy, understanding, and empowerment, she aspires to nurture the next generation’s capacity for attaining personal autonomy, cultivating healthy relationships, and nurturing a positive self-concept.

Brittney Domschot

Brittney Domschot received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Youth and Society from Michigan State University. She is incredibly passionate about working with and improving the lives of youth and just accepted a job offer working as a behavioral therapist in San Diego. As a child of adverse experiences herself, she aims to spread awareness about ACES and is excited to do so as a social media intern with 16 Strong. She absolutely loves to travel, surf, and try new vegan recipes. She is also currently working on a blog that focuses on her journey with mental health and her traveling adventures.

Hannah Grannis

Hannah Grannis is a Junior at New York University studying Applied Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. She is passionate about youth mental health as well as the protection and support of children and adolescents with traumatic experiences through the application of trauma-informed care. She is currently involved as a researcher in a National Institute of Health-funded study. She also brings years of experience working with kids of diverse ages, backgrounds, and life experiences. Outside of her academic and research pursuits, she enjoys reading, playing with her dogs, and music.

Natalie Plavec

Natalie Plavec is a junior at New York University. She is studying Applied Psychology as well as focusing on Spanish and Journalism. She is passionate in learning about the science of human connection along with adolescent and young adult mental health. She is also very fascinated in learning how journaling can work as an accessible, therapeutic technique. She has years of experience working with children as a tennis instructor and volunteering at an orphanage while abroad in Greece. She hopes to become a bilingual mental health counselor. In her free time she enjoys reading, journaling, fashion, playing tennis and spending time in nature and with animals. She is excited to use her past experiences to continue the mission of 16 Strong.

Avery Appling

Avery Appling is a Junior at New York University studying Social Work with concentrations in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies and Creative Writing. She is extremely passionate about youth mental health, specifically childhood trauma and LGBTQ+ youth. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree, she will jointly pursue her MSW and LCSW, with which she plans to work directly with adolescents through clinical practice and trauma-informed care. She is currently involved as a curriculum researcher and developer for the company Your Cooper, which connects thousands of parents and children to various resources and communities that best fit their parenting needs. Furthermore, she worked previously as a Membership Services Intern for The Door - A Center of Alternatives, where she engaged with youth aged 12-24 by conducting intake counseling sessions for new members. She is eager to bring her years of experience working with adolescents to 16 Strong as an intern. Outside of her academic and professional life, she enjoys reading, writing, cycling, hiking, and walking her dog. 

Maya Leifer

Maya is a Junior at Michigan State University studying Psychology with a minor in Human Behavior and Social Services. She is passionate about destigmatizing mental illnesses as well as the advocacy for therapy work. She has years of experience serving as a mentor for children of all ages at various summer camps. She is a strong youth mental health advocate and has big aspirations to pursue a career in counseling and clinical work. She hopes to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, navigating individuals’ mental health challenges through clinical therapy. She loves spending time with her friends and family and going to the beach in her free time! She is so excited to apply her enthusiasm towards all that she takes on with 16 Strong and to be a part of the 16 Strong Family!