Bradford is a peer support group facilitator with Emotions Matter and has lived experience with BPD. Through therapy, community, and believing that there is a better life to be lived, he has overcome many of these challenges. He brings his experience in marketing and strategic planning, with a master’s in marketing and international business to the Board of Directors. Seeing the impact that Emotions Matter has made with his life and his peers, he’s excited to be of further service to the organization. 

Paula Tusiani-Eng, Co-Founder and Director of Strategic Growth at Emotions Matter Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to educate, support, and advocate for those impacted by borderline personality disorder (BPD).  

She received her Master's in Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in 2001 and her Master's in Social Work from Adelphi University in 2014.  She received her Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Adelphi University in 2019.  

Paula is co-author with her mother, Bea Tusiani, of Remnants of a Life on Paper: A Mother and Daughter's Struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).  She lost her younger sister, Pamela Tusiani, who suffered from BPD at the age of 23 in 2001.  

Her passion for BPD education, resources and advocacy is in her sister's memory to help others survive and thrive with BPD with access to mental health care needed to achieve a meaningful recovery.  Paula lives with her husband and four children in Garden City, New York. 

My name is Oliver MacDonald (he/him). I am a 41-year man from Guelph, Ontario Canada with lived experience with Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, PDD, and Addiction who is in recovery. I am a father of a 5-year-old son and husband to my wife for 20+ years. I am a dedicated board member for Emotions Matter, Vice President & Treasurer of Guelph Minor Baseball Association and a patient/family advisor on the Patient & Family Advisory Council for the Guelph Wellington Ontario Health Team. I currently work full-time for our Province of Ontario's Niagara Escarpment Commission as the Compliance Program Supervisor and Senior Provincial Offenses Officer.

Richard joins the Emotions Matter Board with a deep experience in capital management for non-profits and organizational psychology. As a highly effective and results-driven person, he looks forward to driving efficiency and process improvements within Emotions Matter to expand the help we can offer to those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Richard was diagnosed with BPD later in life and is most excited to advance EM’s mission and help more people with BPD in his own demographic.

Kimberly Hickey, MS, is a current graduate of Oberlin College (22’) and Boston University School of Medicine (24’) where she received bachelor's degrees in Psychology, Music Performance, and a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences. Kimberly has been involved with Emotions Matter since 2021, a Board Member since 2023, and is the current Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee. Kimberly has a strong passion for the field of personality disorders and has contributed to this space through advocacy work, and clinical research. She plans to pursue a career in medicine, specializing in Psychiatry.

C.E. is a nonprofit consultant with 14 years of professional office experience and six years (and counting!) dedicated to the nonprofit sector, from working with at-risk youth to a domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking nonprofit to hospice care. Passionate about strengthening communities through meaningful change, she brings expertise in design, social media management, marketing, and grant writing, with a growing interest in strategic planning and capital campaign design. Currently, she is further enhancing her skills as a scholarship recipient with the Nonprofit Leadership Academy through Aims Community College in Greeley, CO. When she’s not working, she can be found collecting fossils and rocks, cross-stitching intricate designs, or chasing after her newest adventure partner—a spirited kitten named Blessie.

Jessica Daggett hails from Yorktown, VA and loves yoga, books, and her cats – Pete, Elliott, and Willow. Since 2021, Jessica has worked as the Education Program Director for Virginia’s only statewide, all peer-run mental health nonprofit, Vocal Virginia. Prior to that, Jessica, spent close to a decade doing direct-service peer support to individuals with serious mental illness. She looks forward to contributing to the mission of Emotions Matters and creating a kinder world for those who live with BPD.

Dr. Maggie Davis is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at Yale University School of Medicine in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology.  Her research and clinical work focus on understanding and reducing risk for suicide and negative outcomes in people with trauma related psychopathology, including BPD and substance use. She is the director of the UPLiFT lab (Understanding and Preventing Loss aFter Trauma;  https://www.upliftlab.net/)

Melissa Ferdinando is a member of Emotions Matter Executive Board and has been involved since its beginning.  As VP of Events and Volunteers Melissa has chaired Emotions Matter past Walks for BPD, contributed to the Art Shows and various events, and is active in the Connections Program.  When her daughter was diagnosed with BPD in 2012 she discovered the lack of valid information about BPD, the difficulty getting health care coverage, and the absence of peer support. Because of this she became a fierce advocate for her daughter.  In 2015 she was invited to attend a meeting with others who had loved ones with BPD, and she jumped at the chance. Little did she know it would develop into this empowering, peer driven organization called Emotions Matter and is honored to be a part of it.

Hello everyone, a pleasure to serve and be a part of this wonderful community. My name is Andre Grant, I love working out, reading and I’m an avid movie buff. I explore nature and hike during the summer months, and I volunteer with blood banks or food shelter during the winter months. I advocate for mental health and self-reflection in my own circles and now I cant wait to advocate to a bigger audience on BPD. The pleasure is all mine to be here and to make change together!  

I live in the Chicago land area and have practiced law for almost 40 years representing hospitals and health care providers. I obtained my Juris doctorate from IIT/Kent College of law and my Masters degree from DePaul University in healthcare law. Prior to that I obtained my undergraduate degree from Elmhurst college (now university) with a double major in political science and urban studies . I have a family member with BPD. I am on the Executive Board and Board of Emotions Matter and serve as their compliance officer.

Sussel Ibarra has been involved with Emotions Matter since 2022, a board member since 2023, and is currently serving as a co-chair for the Lived Experience Advisory Council. Having lived experience herself, she is passionate about bringing awareness to Borderline Personality Disorder and ending the stigma that comes with this diagnosis. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and volunteering.

Varun is someone with borderline personality disorder who has achieved long-term recovery and is dedicated to helping others with the disorder find healing and peace. His primary focuses are advocacy, destigmatization, and sharing clear, practical knowledge about BPD and strategies for managing and overcoming its symptoms. He does this through his YouTube and TikTok channels, as well as through speaking engagements. In his free time, Varun enjoys skateboarding, playing video games, and spending time with his wife.

Certifications and professional or organizational affiliations:

Varun Joshi (GA), Board Member, Lived Experience Advisory Committee, IT

B.S – Data Science, Georgia State University

Cheryl A. Kempinsky, Ph.D., received her degree from the California School of Professional Psychology in 1990. Her practice, DBT Associates of Southern California, in Westwood, Los Angeles specializes in the treatment of BPD and consultation to adults, adolescents, children and families using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder. She remains an active member of national and state professional organizations. Currently, she is a member of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association’s Ethics Information and Education Committee. 

Cameron is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Mount Sinai whose research aims to advance our understanding of social cognitive functioning in borderline personality disorder. Drawing on her lived experience with the disorder, she brings a deeply personal commitment to this work and is particularly passionate about empowering others with lived experience through accessible scientific communication, advocacy, and peer support.

Affiliations/Certifications: 

Board Member, Education Committee (Co-Chair)

PhD Candidate, Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

B.S., Biological Sciences, NC State University

Lived Experience of Borderline Personality Disorder

Jillian Papa, MPH-  Jillian is a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Advisor for Save the Children US. Jillian was diagnosed with BPD in 2012.  As a result of DBT and medication management, she was able to achieve recovery.  During her recovery journey, she discovered Emotions Matter and was inspired by the mission.  Over the last 6 years, she has supported Emotions Matter in varying capacities, including Board Chair,  online peer support group facilitator and chairing the Program Evaluation Committee.  She has spent the last decade of her professional career evaluating nonprofit and government children’s health programs.  She received her Master’s degree in Epidemiology from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. 

Margo Singer, LICSW is a clinical social worker licensed in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Alabama. Her work as a psychotherapist focuses on individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), using a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) framework. Margo trained as a clinical and research fellow in the treatment of serious mental illness (SMI) at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Hospital and as a didactic fellow in contextually-focused dialectical behavior therapy (C-DBT) at the University of Chicago.

She is honoured to join the Board of Emotions Matter and to support in the ongoing work of advancing awareness and advocacy for individuals diagnosed with BPD. As a board member, Margo serves as a clinical advisor and as a member of the education committee.

In her free time, Margo enjoys traveling (particularly when accompanied by her toy poodle), reformer Pilates, and Cricut crafting. 

Alexander H. Sheppe, M.D. is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City, and an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Sheppe is passionate about and is a nationally recognized expert in the assessment and treatment of personality disorders in adolescents and young adults. Dr. Sheppe has experience with all major psychotherapeutic treatments for personality disorders including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mentalization-based treatment (MBT), and especially transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) where he adapts the treatment to adolescents (TFP-A). He teaches postgraduate courses at Columbia University on the assessment and treatment of youth with personality disorders, supervises postgraduate trainees in psychodynamic psychotherapy, engages in clinical research and publishes on TFP-A, and lectures at international conferences.

I'm very excited to join the Board of Emotions Matter so that I can help lend my experience as a clinician to such an important organization that so passionately and effectively raises awareness and advocates for those impacted by BPD. Several of my mentors including Frank Yeomans and Maria Solomon have contributed to this organization, and I hope I can honor them by contributing in my own way. I'm excited to help Emotions Matter with adolescent and young adult outreach, advocacy, and programming in particular.

Akanksha was diagnosed with BPD later in life and began attending meetings at EM after a traumatic incident in November of 2023. The meetings helped her journey so deeply, she started volunteering as a peer facilitator. She is excited to join the EM Board of Directors to give others the same opportunity and perspective she gained from joining this community. 

Akanksha holds a degree in business and marketing, and hopes to use her expertise to increase community engagement and awareness of BPD. 

Antoinette Del Rio serves as the Interim Executive Director of Emotions Matter. Her journey with the organization has come full circle: beginning as a peer seeking support, evolving into a dedicated volunteer and support group facilitator, and eventually serving as a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Advocacy and Outreach Committee. Today, she is honored to lead the organization through this pivotal season of growth.

Antoinette’s work is deeply personal, rooted in her own lived experience with BPD. She understands that behind every email, donation, and support group is a person or a family looking for hope. As a bilingual woman of Peruvian and Puerto Rican descent, she is also passionate about making sure recovery resources reach families from all walks of life. Her own recovery, fueled by Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and the peer connection she found at Emotions Matter, serves as the foundation for her commitment to expanding access to care and reducing the stigma surrounding the diagnosis.

Professionally, Antoinette brings a strategic, big-picture mindset shaped by over 10 years in advertising account management. Having led high-stakes campaigns in New York City for both global agencies and small businesses, she is adept at navigating complex challenges and fostering collaborative environments. Antoinette is dedicated to applying this expertise to modernize the organization’s operations and expand its reach. Her hope is to build a sustainable foundation that allows Emotions Matter to support more families, empower more individuals, and ensure that no one regardless of their background has to navigate their BPD journey alone.

Haley Amering, the Programs Director at Emotions Matter, is a passionate mental health advocate with a deep commitment to peer support, and empowering individuals affected by Borderline Personality Disorder. With lived experience at the core of her work, Haley brings both empathy and expertise to her role, where she focuses on expanding the reach and impact of programming and administrative operations.

The birth of Haley’s career in mental health occurred after experiencing a mental health crisis during her first year of studying drumset performance at Berklee College of Music. This turning point inspired her to shift her path, earning a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Leadership from the University at Albany. Since then, she has become a recognized leader, both statewide and nationally, for her unwavering dedication toward various mental health advocacy and education initiatives. Her personal story was featured in You Are Not Alone, a book published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to highlight real voices of resilience and recovery.

Haley believes deeply in the power of human connection, storytelling, and creating inclusive spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. She often shares that the emotions which once felt like her greatest burden have become her greatest gift - allowing her to walk alongside others with authenticity, compassion, and hope.

Sara Rosenberg serves as Associate Director for Strategic Growth & Operations at Emotions Matter, where she helps guide organizational strategy, fundraising initiatives, and events planning. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors for several years, working closely with staff and fellow board members to strengthen governance and support organizational priorities.

With lived experience of borderline personality disorder (BPD), Sara is deeply committed to fostering connection and increasing understanding for individuals and families affected by BPD. Drawing from her own recovery journey, she brings empathy, insight, and purpose to her leadership, helping to reduce stigma and create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and understood.

In addition to her work at Emotions Matter, Sara is a licensed Financial Advisor and Private Wealth Manager, where she works with individuals and families to build, manage, and protect their financial futures. She brings this strategic and analytical background to her nonprofit work, supporting Emotions Matter’s fundraising strategy, operational planning, and long-term sustainability.

Christina Byrnes serves as the Business Manager, overseeing the fiscal management of Emotions Matter.  She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in accounting from Fordham University and a Master’s of Science degree in secondary education from St. John’s University.  She has over twenty years of experience working as a secondary mathematics educator.  Christina is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Emotions Matter team to connect and empower those impacted by Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and to raise awareness about BPD.

For the past five years, Alyssa has dedicated herself to the healing process and is in functional recovery from borderline personality disorder (a diagnosis that she received in 2018). 

Part of Alyssa’s life worth living includes being a peer facilitator and trainer with Emotions Matter where she's able to use the skills of making meaning and contribution within the BPD community. In her free time, 

Alyssa enjoys playing guitar, being in nature, creating memes, writing, and playing with her adorable cat (Sky). She is grateful to be part of the Emotions Matter team! You can reach her via email at peers@emotionsmatterbpd.org.