Meet the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team
BHCST Leadership
Jennifer Howes, Ph.D.
Chief Mental Health Director, Student Health and Well-Being
Jennifer Howes, Ph.D. joined Johns Hopkins University in June 2022 as the Chief Mental Health Director for the Division of Student Well-Being. Dr. Howes has practiced in a range of clinical settings, including the Los Angeles County Jail system, community mental health, private practice, and over 15 years of experience serving students and leading teams at colleges and universities.
At JHU, Dr. Howes oversees the range of programs and clinics that provide care to the JHU student and learner communities across the University. Her current focus is the integration of Mental Health Services under one organization to provide equitable, accessible, and quality mental healthcare. This multi-faceted project includes the development of a reimagined leadership structure across the organization, establishing a unified philosophy of care and critical infrastructure to support the breadth of services MHS provides, and expanding the professional development available to staff.
The Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team is what drew her to this role at JHU, and she has led the effort to expand mobile crisis response to all JHU Baltimore campuses, consults regularly with colleagues from other campuses about crisis response teams. Dr. Howes frequently presents at professional conferences and trainings on the development of campus-based mobile crisis response teams and is an active member of the International Co-Response Alliance.
Two things Dr. Howes especially enjoys about her work:
- Working with such an amazing team of dedicated and skilled professionals
- Supporting the mission of JHU by creating accessible and equitable care for students and learners
Jarron Jackson
Associate Vice President for JHU Public Safety
Prior to joining JHU, Mr. Jackson served as captain for the Baltimore Police Department, crisis/hostage negotiator, executive officer of the Southeastern district, and safety supervisor (sergeant) at the public safety education and training academy. He leads the Public Safety component of the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team. Mr. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a certificate in leadership and management from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and is pursuing his graduate degree, focusing on Public Safety and Law Enforcement Leadership at the University of San Diego. His favorite thing about Baltimore is the variety of cultural experiences that one is able to have simply by traveling from neighborhood to neighborhood.
Rafiah H. Prince, PhD, LCMFT
Director of Crisis, Consultation, and Case Management
Dr. Prince (she/her) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has served as Director of Crisis, Consultation, and Case Management Services at Johns Hopkins University Mental Health Services since 2023. She oversees the delivery of case management, crisis intervention, and consultation services to students and learners across JHU locations. Her role is dedicated to ensuring these services are comprehensive and the campus community’s needs are effectively met.
Two things Dr. Prince especially enjoys about her work:
- Ensuring students and learners have support during their most difficult times
- Working collaboratively with students, learners, campus and community partners
Victoria Bishop, LCSW-C (MD), LICSW (DC)
Associate Director, Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team
Victoria (she/her) joined JHU in 2023 as the Associate Director for the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHCST). In this role, Victoria manages the BHCST’s operations and staff, working to ensure those in behavioral health crises receive high-quality, immediate support. She values collaborating with local emergency services to tailor crisis intervention to the unique needs and identities of communities served.
In addition to oversight of the BHCST, Victoria facilitates Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) sessions to students, faculty and staff who may need support after a critical incident. She is also a certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) coordinator and works closely with JHPS/JHPD leadership to provide mental health training to JHU officers.
Two things Victoria especially enjoys about her work:
- Responding to and holding space for individuals during their most difficult moments
- Collaborating with students, faculty, and staff across a wide range of disciplines
Michole Bledzki, LCSW-C
BHCST Lead Clinician
Michole (she/her) provides crisis assessment and support to students via the BHCST access line and co-responds with Johns Hopkins Public Safety on site at Homewood, East Baltimore and Peabody campuses.
As a Lead BHCST Clinician, Michole also facilitates support spaces after critical incidents, trains officers on de-escalation techniques, and provides peer support, consultation, resource connection, and training to the BHCST team.
Two things Michole especially enjoys about her work:
- Providing empathy and encouragement
- Helping students see all the different options to reach their goals
Brett Davis, PsyD
BHCST Clinician
As a clinician on the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHSCT), Brett (he/him) provides urgent and emergency intervention to JHU students and affiliates when they are experiencing a broad range of behavioral health crises. Brett is passionate about de-stigmatizing mental health services and interventions. He views therapy and other support services as preventative health – not just something to seek out when circumstances are particularly challenging.
In addition to his crisis intervention duties on the BHCST, Brett facilitates Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) sessions and participates in psychoeducational training, including with Residence Life. He has developed expertise in working with college students as well as members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
Two things Brett especially enjoys about his work:
- Offering intervention when individuals are feeling most in need of support
- Working collaboratively with campus partners focused on improving the campus experience for students
JaAlah-Ai Heughan, LCPC (MD); LPC (DC)
BHCST Clinician
A Baltimore City native, JaAlah-Ai (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC -Maryland / LPC – DC) who has worked in various outpatient clinic, community, and private practice settings. She is a mental health advocate focused on providing equitable access to mental health care to under-resourced and marginalized communities.Outside of work, JaAlah-Ai is an avid roller skater who loves road trips and seafood!
In her current role at the Johns Hopkins University Mental Health Services, JaAlah-Ai is a
Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHCST) clinician. She provides crisis support, brief counseling, and clinical consultation to JHU affiliates across Homewood and East Baltimore campuses
Two things JaAlah-Ai especially enjoys about her work:
- Supporting Hopkins community members through some of their most challenging times
- Offering light to others
Caroline Hubbard Pineau, LCSW-C
BHCST Clinician
Carrie Hubbard Pineau (she/her) is a Clinician with the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team. As a part-time member of this team, Carrie aims to be to be a source of support, strength and hope for students who are experiencing an emotional, mental, physical, or behavioral crisis.
Two things Carrie especially enjoys about her work:
- Meeting all the students and learning about their incredible talents, skills, and interests
- Helping students to enhance their well-being and build upon their innate resilience
Zachary Pocchia, LGPC (MD); LPG (DC)
BHCST Clinician
Zach (he/him) is a Johns Hopkins Class of 2020 graduate who is excited to re-engage with the Hopkins community as a BHCST clinician, following graduate school and work on a community crisis intervention team. As a BHCST clinician, Zach hopes to continue crisis work with students, staff, faculty, and community members in need.
Two things Zach especially enjoys about his work:
- Apply insights gained as a JHU alum into the common to form meaningful connections with students through our shared experiences
- Recognizing the potential in others and helping others see that potential for themselves
Kim Sutter, LCPC
BHCST Senior Lead Clinician
Kim (she/her) provides assessment and support for students in crisis via the BHCST Access Line and co-responds onsite with Johns Hopkins Public Safety to people in distress on the Homewood, Peabody and East Baltimore campuses.
As Senior Lead Clinician, Kim also helps onboard and provides peer consultation to BHCST staff, supports the Associate Director of the BHCST in managing the team’s day-to-day operations, and represents the team in collaborating with campus and community partners. She facilitates support spaces after critical incidents, trains officers on best practices for managing behavioral health incidents, and presents workshops to campus partners on topics related to mental health, including how to assist students in distress.
Two things Kim especially enjoys about her work:
- Helping a student with making a very difficult day a bit easier
- Running groups and workshops and consulting with campus partners
Amanda Menke, LCSW-C (MD); LICSW (DC)
BHCST Lead Clinician
Amanda (she/her) provides assessment and support for students in crisis via the BHCST Access Line and co-responds onsite with Johns Hopkins Public Safety to people in distress on the Homewood, Peabody and East Baltimore campuses.
As a Lead BHCST Clinician, Amanda also facilitates safe spaces and critical incident responses and provides peer support, consultation, resource connection, and training to the BHCST team.
Two things Amanda especially enjoys about her work:
- Providing support in the moment when things are overwhelming
- Working ‘non-traditional’ hours because life doesn’t happen according to a schedule
Erica Thornton, LMSW
BHCST Clinician
Erica (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker and a clinician on the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team. Erica assists individuals who call the BHCST Access Line and co-responds onsite with Johns Hopkins Public Safety officers to individuals who are in crisis on and around the Baltimore campuses.
Two things Erica especially enjoys about her work:
- Supporting students during their most difficult times
- Getting to work with so many diverse groups of people
Michael Wood, LCPC
BHCST Clinician
Mike (he/him/they) is a Licensed Professional Counselor and member of the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHCST). As a member of the BHCST, Mike aims to offer compassionate, empathic, and mindfully sensitive support for any student, facility, or staff that may need services.
In his current role, Mike provides on call and urgent mental health services to Hopkins affiliates. Mike does this through collaboration with his BHCST colleagues, Johns Hopkins Public Safety, and colleagues who provide academic and personal support for members of the Hopkins community.
Two things Mike especially enjoys about his work:
- Helping people in an immediate way
- Workingwith a diverse group of clients and colleagues
Philip Goldberg, LMSW
BHCST Clinician
Phil (he/him/his) has a master’s degree in social work from University of Maryland School of Social Work and is dually licensed in Maryland and Washington, DC. Phil has over five years of experience providing direct crisis lifeline counseling to individuals in crisis on both a local and national scale. Phil has also served victims of life-threatening violence at University at Maryland Shock Trauma and victims of adverse childhood experiences as a case manager in Baltimore City at Baltimore Child Abuse Center. Phil is passionate about providing informed, effective, and compassionate care to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Phil’s personal and professional experience lend a diverse and intersectional lens to his current work as a Behavioral Health Crisis Support clinician at Johns Hopkins University.
Public Safety Staff
Captain Rex Snider
Acting Sr. Director for Public Safety
Captain Snider has been a member of the Johns Hopkins Public Safety Department since 2017. Prior to joining the JHPSD, he served as the Training Administrator for the Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office, and he is retired from the Anne Arundel County Police Department. He has a background in law enforcement training and criminal investigations, and he currently leads the Public Safety Department’s Administrative Division, which includes managing the Crisis Intervention Training program. As a lifelong resident of the Baltimore area, his favorite things are the hometown sports teams and festivals, as well as the authenticity of the various cultures within the city’s communities.
