Speakers
Rita Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D.
Although Rita has shifted her focus from academics and ethics to creative writing, passive solar systems, and spirituality, she is a highly coveted keynote speaker, small group facilitator and workshop leader. Rita has presented on professional ethics, embracing your shadow, simple solar systems, and more. If you want a speaker who will prompt you toward self-reflection and provide guidance for your soul, consider Rita S-F.
John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D.
John is a professor of counseling at the University of Montana, a clinical psychologist, and author or coauthor of over 100 professional publications. If you want a speaker who can move you to laughter, tears, and learning, consider John S-F. His topics include suicide assessment and treatment planning, working effectively with youth and parents, general principles of counseling and psychotherapy, and variations on the clinical interview. He has delivered virtual and in-person keynote speeches and professional workshops with many national and state organizations, including the New Zealand Psychological Society and the Association for Humanistic Counseling.
Reach out to John if you'd like to have him present to your organization.
Daniel Salois, Ph.D.
Daniel Salois works in the Department of Counseling at the University of Montana where he teaches classes on diagnosis, group counseling, assessment, and supervises counselors-in-training. He is also passionate about working with clients who are experiencing grief after loss of a loved one and is the Clinical Supervisor at Tamarack Grief Resource Center in Missoula Montana. Daniel’s research has focused on college student well-being and evidence-based strategies for living a happier life.
Presentations: Strengths-based suicide assessment, Evidence-based happiness strategies for counselors and clients
Please contact Dan if you'd like to have him present to your organization.
Emily Sallee, Ph.D.
Emily is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at the University of Montana as well as the Executive Director of the Montana Safe Schools Center housed at UM. Emily’s experiences as a professional school counselor led to her drive in training future school counselors and continuing advocacy efforts for the profession by serving on the MSCA Board of Directors and in various other roles throughout the state. Whenever possible, Emily also subs for school counselors and educators in her communities to both stay attune to current educational challenges and contexts as well as to keep her school counselor-bucket full. While other people’s kiddos tend to be easier to work with, Emily has three of her own to wrangle, in addition to a growing menagerie and ever-increasing lists of books to read, foods to eat, and trails to run.
Reach out to Emily if you’d like to have her present to your organization.
Jayna Mumbauer-Pisano, Ph.D.
Jayna is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at the University of Montana. Her clinical expertise focuses on working with children and adolescents in school and mental health settings. Jayna’s research and professional interests include children's mental health literacy, creative interventions in counseling, and underserved populations including LGBTQIA+ youth. Jayna is a children’s literature aficionado and always prides herself on having the perfect book recommendation. As a speaker, Jayna is engaged and informed, always looking to give her audience something more than what they walked in with.
Please reach out to Jayna if you'd like to have her present to your organization.
Dylan Wright, PCLC
Dylan Wright is a National Certified Counselor™ with an M.A. in Counselor Education from the University of Montana. During his final year in the UMT program he served as an intern at Families First Learning Lab, spending a majority of his time doing research and curriculum development for the Montana Happiness Project. He also served as a School Counselor intern at Frenchtown High School where he was able to implement the Montana Happiness Project’s exciting new evidence-based programs.
As the Wellness Education Coordinator at Families First, Dylan enjoys working with parents in one-on-one parenting consultations, providing counseling services to clients, and presenting to groups and organizations on an array of topics from cultivating a well-lived life, to raising healthy and happy families. As a father himself, he has especially enjoyed developing and running the Dads & Dialogues group at Families First.
When taking a break from all the “irons in the fire,” Dylan relaxes with long bike rides, and by spending time with his very supportive wife and daughters.
Joyce Mphande-Finn, Ed.D.
Dr. Joyce Mphande-Finn is an associate professor at MSU-N in the Counselor Education Program. She is a happy wife, mother, and grandmother. She is also a proud and devoted mother to her adorable cat named Lutsa. Joyce is a happy participant in the Happiness Project and would love to speak to your organization.
In Joyce’s words, “Happiness is everything we all want, to work with others on this is my dream.”
Please contact Joyce if you’re interested in having him speak to your organization.
Chris Spromberg, Psy.D.
Chris is a clinical psychologist living, working, hiking, hunting, and fishing out of Livingston, Montana. An avid beard grower with a contagious laugh, he enjoys being present in moments with others and creating new experiences for new learning. Dr. Spromberg has worked clinically with adolescents and adults for many years and has had extensive experience and training in topics of diversity, masculinity, suicide assessment, and positive psychology.
Reach out to Chris if you’d like to have him present to your organization.
Charlie Speicher
Charlie lives with his wife, Sienna, three sons, and plenty of extended family near the “Backbone of the World” in East Glacier. When Charlie's not adventuring with his family and friends, he can be found wandering the peaks and ridges of Glacier Park, no doubt banging his head to some metallic guitar riffage unfolding in his brain. An active and engaged lover of alpine skiing, climbing, the Philadelphia 76er's, and attending punk rock warehouse shows, Charlie vigorously loves his life and family and lives with salty enthusiasm.
Please contact Charlie if you’re interested in having him speak to your organization.
Sidney Shaw, Ph.D.
Sidney has been a mental health counselor since 2002, working with adults, adolescents, and families. His clinical experience includes working in rural community mental health in Alaska, school counseling, adventure-based counseling, medical clinic settings for native peoples, and private practice. He has conducted trainings and presentations at national, regional, state, and local levels and was selected as the keynote speaker for a state counseling association annual conference. He is a published author in peer-reviewed journals including The Journal of Mental Health Counseling, The Family Journal, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, and The Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. Sidney is the co-author of a professional video through Alexander Press on the topic of cultural humility. He has also published several articles in Counseling Today. When not teaching or wrestling with statistics he enjoys trail running, playing guitar, and floating rivers.
Sidney presents on the following topics: A Strength and Wellness-Focused Approach to Suicide Assessment and Intervention, Psychological Flexibility: An Empirically Supported Path to Well-being, Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy: Emerging Trends in Efficacious Treatment. Please contact Sidney if you’d like to have him present to your organization.
Lillian Martz
Lillian Martz is a 3rd year doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at The University of Montana and part-time school counselor at Seeley-Swan High School. Her dissertation work is focused on evaluating a brief positive psychology group intervention with secondary students to determine effectiveness for improving overall wellbeing and academic performance. She co-taught “Happiness for Educators” last summer with Dr. John Sommers-Flanagan and is excited to continue to bring The Montana Happiness project into her work in schools in Montana. She has presented on topics related to positive psychology, and The Montana Happiness Project at local, state, and regional conferences.
Lillian is also a member of the board of directors with the Montana School Counselor Association and co-chair of the Professional Development Committee. She is passionate about social justice and is a member of the inaugural class of National School Counseling Fellows with the Center for Equity in Postsecondary Attainment hosted by San Diego State University where she and other fellows are working on leadership and advocacy projects supporting school counselors. When she’s not working on her research, teaching, or providing counseling services, she enjoys spending time with her husband and getting outdoors!
Please reach out to Lillian if you would like to have her present to your organization.