our team
Our team is made up of people that are FOR Students and want to see them thrive. Whether on our board or in our schools, we are all determined to do whatever is necessary to help better prepare teens for their transition to what's next.
WHITNEY D’ALLAIRD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hi, I am Whitney D’Allaird and in December of 2017, I lost my oldest son Tyler to suicide – 15 weeks into his freshmen year of college. I do not want other parents to experience the pain I currently feel.
Unfortunately, I never had many of the conversations with Tyler that I now know – we MUST be having with our children. THIS – is why I founded FOR Students.
We are here to teach and talk with students about what matters most to them, what they are experiencing in their lives and give them tools to help themselves and their peers.
CHRIS LEE
MeDIA DIRECTOR
Chris has always had a passion for working with students and believes in the power of storytelling to help them develop essential life skills and grow into resilient adults. He believes in the importance of creating engaging and relatable content that can capture the imagination of young minds and inspire them to reach their full potential. Weaving together meaningful stories that resonate with students through dedication, creativity, and empathy is what he creates at FOR Students and those stories have the power to impact the lives of the next generation.
ED WILLIAMS
PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR
Ed has spent his adult life working with young people and their families. A degree in education, a dad of 2 girls. Ed has spent the last 26 years of his life helping teens and parents thrive. It’s simply in his DNA.
In the fall of 2021 Ed was invited by Whitney to come and help create the teams and programs that now make up FOR Students. He is more excited than ever about the impact these programs are having and their potential to help students in the future.
KELLIE SHOPE
EVENT DIRECTOR
Kellie found her passion for working with students over a decade ago and has been leading and mentoring groups of students all along the way. Because of her love for young people, she realized that in some way, shape or form, she would be spending the rest of her life helping the next generation navigate the growing pains, the transitions, the decisions, and the many ups and downs of life. She believes we have a great responsibility to walk alongside young adults and equip them for life and all that comes with entering adulthood.
She spends her free time traveling and creating special moments with her two boys and husband of 15 years.
ADVISORY BOARD
PATRICK BALSLEY
Patrick is a North Carolina Addiction Specialist Professional Practice Board Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He has been working with families affected by substance use for a decade. Patrick is a member of the clinical team at Herren Project, a national non-profit organization founded by former NBA basketball player Chris Herren and serves as a Wellness Coach and Structured Family Recovery®️ Counselor at T.R.U.S.T, a comprehensive case management company in New York, NY. In the Charlotte community, Patrick currently serves on the Behavioral Health Committee at Atrium Health Foundation and the Board of Directors at Emerald School of Excellence, the Carolina’s first Recovery High School. Patrick is also co-host of Champagne Problems, a podcast that takes a hard look at the normalization of alcohol in our culture.
AMY WORK MA, LCMHCS, RPT-S
Amy R. Work is the founder and owner of Renewed Counseling & Play Therapy in Charlotte, NC, where she treats children, adolescents, and adults facing a variety of issues including mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, behavioral issues, and parenting concerns. She holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (LCMHCS), and Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor (RPT-S). Amy is also a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at UNC Charlotte. As a former public high school teacher, Amy chose to become a counselor after witnessing many of her students struggle with mental health. She continues to support high schoolers as an Advisory Board member of FOR Students. Outside of the counseling world, you can find Amy reading with a cup of coffee or tea, trying new recipes in her kitchen, reading a good book, or spending time with her husband and son.
JENNIFER FIGHTS LCMHC, NCC
Jennifer Fights, LCMHC, is an EMDR psychotherapist working with adolescents, adults and families in private practice in Charlotte, NC. She is an EMDRIA Certified therapist and is a Consultant. Jennifer received her master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from New York University in 2002. Jennifer completed her training in EMDR therapy in 2015 and has studied extensively with Deany since that time.
Jennifer’s early career focused on working with complex developmental trauma with youth and their families within the juvenile justice system, residential treatment centers and community mental health centers. Since transitioning to private practice in 2015, Jennifer’s areas of focus continue to include complex attachment trauma as well as treating complicated grief and bereavement and specializes in the trauma of suicide loss by families, loved ones and communities. She also treats individuals that struggle with suicidal thoughts and behaviors which gives her a unique perspective in working with the survivors of suicide loss.
As a lifelong learner, Jennifer regularly attends advanced EMDR trainings and has completed trainings in the R-TEP-G-TEP, and the IATP-C protocols for recent traumatic events. Jennifer is also a fully trained Level III DBT therapist. Currently, Jennifer offers individual and group EMDR case consultation in person and online.
Amanda McGough, PhD
Dr. McGough is a licensed psychologist who specializes in suicide prevention. She’s a former Board President for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s North Carolina Chapter. She consults and speaks on suicide prevention and suicide bereavement on local and national levels. She owns her own private practice in Charlotte where she works with teens and adults coping with grief, depression, anxiety and life transitions. She also provides family therapy to help families communicate and relate more effectively. Dr. McGough is passionate about helping people acquire the skills they need to cope effectively, build a life they love and lean in to hope.
AMANDA CUMBO, LCMHC
Amanda is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) who earned her Master’s Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and undergraduate degree at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Her main passion in life is teaching people how to understand and regulate their own emotional and mental health. She is an experienced counselor in practice at Rodgers Christian Counseling and enjoys helping people find hope no matter the depth of their struggle. She believes that therapy is a sacred place where people can feel fully seen and heard, sometimes for the very first time in life. Amanda is committed to creating a safe space for people to heal. She works with people of all ages process their emotions, develop empathy, and hopes to create a place where they are listened to and really heard. She also loves to help people reconnect to their authentic self as they find exactly who they are meant to be. Amanda has training in Soul Healing Love Couples Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Neuroscience-Based Treatments, and Brainspotting.
dr. Samantha Martinez PhD, MSW, MA
Dr. Samantha Martinez, a licensed psychologist who works with individuals across the lifespan—from children to adults, athletes to professionals, parents to students. Her work spans therapy, consultation, and assessment, and while each of those services looks a little different, the heart of her approach is always the same: helping you make sense of what’s happening and take meaningful steps forward.
governing BOARD
JANE HUNTER
Jane has been involved with FOR Students as a volunteer from the beginning. A former corporate and entrepreneurial professional with a BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Northwestern University, she brings both a heart for students and a strong business background to the Board. Her board service includes several mental health organizations — Alexander Youth Network, Mission 34, and HopeWay — reflecting her belief that we should invest our time and talents into supporting our wonderful young people. She is QPR trained and can often be found at mental wellness talks throughout Charlotte.
JANE TUNE
Jane was an early partner with FOR Students, serving as Director of Community Engagement before joining the Board. Her commitment to serving children and young adults has spanned more than three decades and includes Board service with the Council for Children’s Rights and volunteer involvement with numerous community organizations in Charlotte and Chicago. Jane earned a BA from the University of Southern California and an MA in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Chicago. Her work with FOR Students has brought her career full circle as her graduate school thesis focused on school-based mental health programs, inspiring her to build a career dedicated to this field. Jane has a particular gift for connecting people with one another and with resources throughout the community. She is passionate about building supportive communities and especially enjoys encouraging and supporting children and young adults.
NADER SAMII
Nader joined the FOR Students Board in 2025 after seeing the organization's impact firsthand, as two of his children served as senior leaders at FOR Students. Nader brings extensive business and leadership experience to the Board. He is the Executive Chairman and former CEO of nimble solutions. Earlier, he co-founded Ajuba International, worked as an investment banker at UBS and Merrill Lynch, and began his career as a corporate finance attorney. Nader earned a BA/BBA from the University of Notre Dame and a JD/MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He believes deeply in the power of students supporting one another and is passionate about helping FOR Students reach more young people across Charlotte.
KEVIN D'ALLAIRD
Kevin co-founded FOR Students with his wife, Whitney, after losing their oldest son to suicide during his freshman year of college. Their commitment to helping young people feel connected, supported, and less alone is deeply personal. Kevin brings an entrepreneurial and strategic perspective to the Board. He co-founded Next Gear Growth Partners and Varda Partners and previously held senior leadership roles at Red Ventures. He earned a BS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University. A longtime Charlotte-area resident, Kevin is dedicated to helping FOR Students reach more young people and build communities where students can be themselves, support one another, and know they belong.
Frankie Castellucci
Frankie has been involved with FOR Students since starting Students FOR Students - a branch of the organization that invites students to engage in peer-led small groups - at Providence Day School in 2023. This was FOR Students first expansion, and she has stayed closely connected to the organization ever since by interning to help build new resources for the program, supporting new generations of student leaders, and now serving on the board. Her journey from student participant to board member ensures students' voices remain at the center of the organization and reflects her belief in the life-changing impact FOR Students has on young people.