Meet Our Team
The National Federation of Families (NFF) employs individuals dedicated to fulfilling the organization's mission with their skills covering a wide range of areas including social marketing, policy, leadership, and technical assistance. The majority of the team has lived experience as an individual or a parent/caregiver or family member who has navigated mental health and/substance use supports and services.
Lynda Gargan, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Dr. Lynda Gargan serves as the Executive Director for the National Federation of Families. In this position, she leads the country’s largest national advocacy organization focused solely on supporting the families of children and young adults who experience mental health and/or substance challenges. Throughout her career, Dr. Gargan has worked across the nation providing technical assistance and training to ensure that all individuals are afforded the opportunity to live in the community of their choice.
Gail Cormier
Project Director, NFSTAC
Gail Cormier brings over 25 years of experience providing national and statewide technical assistance and expertise working with families, youth, and young adults. She is a proven national family leader with both professional and family-lived experience. Cormier’s knowledge is demonstrated by her work at several levels. At the national level, she partners in the development of federal programs that serve at-risk and vulnerable individuals, families, and their children-of-any age.
Michelle Covington
Senior Project Manager, Conference Planning
Legislative and Policy Liaison
For over 30 years, Michelle has been a dedicated advocate for children and families experiencing behavioral health challenges. She brought her life and professional experience to the Federation in 2017. Michelle is passionate about social justice, believing firmly that every family should have access to the services they need for both their mental health and physical health. This commitment to parity shows in the work she does on behalf of the Federation in the evaluation of legislation, policy and advocacy at both the national and state level.
Dana Asby
National Certification Manager,
Project Specialist
Dana Asby is a developmental and educational psychology researcher and author, as well as a mental health and transformational leadership educator. She has a passion for helping all members of the family use their strengths to find person-centered solutions to challenges. Dana applies her lived experience as a family member to those with mental health challenges, her own recovery from traumatic experiences, and a decade as a teacher in preschool to junior high school classrooms to her current work in behavioral health.
Angela Barkett
Project Ninja
Angela comes to us with over 20 years of experience in Project Management, Marketing, HR, Digital & Website Design roles from England, Belgium and the U.S along with a bachelor’s degree in International Business Management & French from Northumbria University in England. Angela wholeheartedly advocates that all families and children should receive non-biased mental health support without socioeconomic exclusion.
Kelsey Engelbracht
Project Manager,
Partnerships & Engagement
Kelsey Engelbracht has spent her career in service to children and families. After spending more than a decade in school administration, she felt a calling to support families of children with unique needs who were underserved. She found a new home at a family-run organization in Arizona in 2013 and joined the national office in 2018. Her passion is campaigning for the rights of families and their children to promote social justice for all families.
Gena Fitzgerald
Project Manager
Gena Fitzgerald has been focused on social justice and critical social issues facing children and families for her entire career: first, as a journalist covering national and local news, and then bringing that expertise to nonprofits specializing in children and families. She is a recovery ally with lived experience supporting family, friends, and colleagues and a longtime advocate for children with learning differences and disabilities. Since 2007, Gena has directed national communications and storytelling efforts in the nonprofit sector.
Lachelle Freeman
Project Manager
Lachelle Freeman is dedicated to advocating for youth and families to receive appropriate services that meet their needs. Lachelle is trained in family systems and stands by System of Care values that ensure the system benefits the entire family. She wholeheartedly believes that treating the whole person yields the best results. With over 25 years working in the mental health system, Lachelle has provided direct care in family preservation programs and therapeutic services for Pittsburgh children and families where abuse occurred within the family.
Leann Sherman
Project Coordinator
Leann is a former National Federation of Families team member who took a brief hiatus before returning in August of 2023. She is a proud native Pittsburgher (and Steelers fan) who lived in Connecticut for many years. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh and throughout her career, has worked with a diverse range of individuals, including older adults, many of whom experienced mental health and/or cognitive challenges.