Leadership through Trauma

Dr. Christine Somervill is a mental health educator and Director of Programs at NAMI Cook County North Suburban where she directs education programs, support groups, advocacy activities and builds community partnerships. Prior to joining NAMI she served as Vice President at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Dean of Psychology Programs at University of Phoenix, Associate Provost at Bard College, and Dean of Faculty at Columbia College Chicago. Dr. Somervill earned her Bachelor of Psychology with honors from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Ph.D. in Education from Illinois State University. She is a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) trained speaker and currently serves as Chair of the Mental Health Task Force of Evanston.

Teri Latter’s passion for mental health began when her 19-year old son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and she vowed to do everything in her power to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness. Two years later, she became a Family Education Leader for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. After six years of volunteering as a leader in numerous NAMI program, she assumed the role of NAMI Illinois State Program Director in 2018. She is responsible for training, delivery, and development of NAMI peer and family programs in Illinois. She is also on the Board of Directors of NAMI Barrington Area. Teri spent 27 years at AT&T, primarily concentrating in Marketing and Product Development. After leaving AT&T, she worked for a boutique marketing company where she was the Director of Program Management. Teri received an Executive Development Certificate through the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and is also a Certified Professional Coach.

Amber Sandberg serves as a Customer Sales Lead on the Grocery West Leadership Team for Campbell Snacks. Prior to shifting to the food and snacks industry 4 years ago, she worked in the beverage industry for 8 years having had the pleasure of working for both Coca Cola and PepsiCo. Having grown up in and out of the foster care system, she is passionate about sharing her story of perseverance and encouraging others to not let their past define them. As a child advocate, she encourages the empowerment of children providing support and insight stemming from personal experience. By sharing her story, she hopes to inspire those around her to see their true self-worth regardless of current or past circumstances and encourage them to chase their dreams.