Christine Tharseo
President

Christine works as a sexual violence crisis counselor. She has a BA in Psychology and a MA in Human Service with an emphasis on Forensic Behavioral Health. She has family members, friends, and clients with mental health concerns. She is committed to improving education and awareness, ending stigma, and helping families understand ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and their long-term impacts.

Liz Sjaastad
Vice President

Liz brings her personal experience as well as extensive nonprofit governance background to the NAMI Ramsey County board. After a twenty-five year career in Human Resources and Organizational Development, Liz began writing. She received The Loft Literary Center’s Mentor Series Fellowship and has been published in The Sun Magazine, Motherwell Magazine, and WritersDigest.com. Her first book will be released May 6, 2025 entitled You’re Too Young to Understand: A Memoir. As the caregiver for a loved one with serious mental illness, Liz has experienced what millions of families experience across the US. She has faced the roadblocks and what she sees as the moral vs legal choices in her efforts to assist her family members over the years. She also served on the board of Touchstone Mental Health for seven years. “At this stage of my life, I’d prefer to be more hands-on in education, advocacy & change.”

Andy Dawkins
Board Director

Growing up, Andy was the Director of the Summer Rec Program. After college, he was a “streetworker” dealing with “throwaway” youth. As a lawyer (1980-2014) and state legislator (1987-2002), Andy focused on family well-being and later the same as a Hennepin County Family Court Magistrate. He was married for 23 years and helped raise two boys to manhood. One of his sons is currently diagnosed with major depression, anxiety and schizoaffective disorder. Andy states, “Helping him is now my major #1 effort in life; thus my interest in serving on the NAMI Ramsey Board.”

Emily Deusing
Board Director

Emily is a NAMI volunteer who contributes to our mission through professional and advocacy efforts. As a case manager for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, Emily works directly with clients navigating complex mental health challenges. Her background in psychology, social services and housing has given her firsthand insight into the barriers individuals face when seeking care. Emily states, “I am eager to contribute my experience to NAMI Ramsey County, particularly in community outreach, advocacy, and improving access to mental health services. I look forward to  contributing to NAMI Ramsey County’s vital work.”

Michelle Gran
Board Director

Michele is a co-leader of a NAMI First Episode Psychosis family support group at Fairview hospital and established a caregiver support group for parents of daughters and sons with psychosis. She is an advocate for people with chronic mental health concerns at local and state events.

Billy Dinkel
Board Director

After owning his own business, Billy now manages fleet maintenance for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. He and his wife live in St Paul. With therapy, support, and self-care, Billy has recovered from depression, trauma, and alcohol use disorder related to childhood sexual abuse. He has shared his own story to help himself heal and to prevent the sexual abuse of other children.   

Debi Gunsell
Board Director

Debbi Gunsell served as Secretary of the Board for NAMI Ramsey County for several years, before taking a break. She also co-facilitated a NAMI Connections group. She lives with mental illness and hopes to go back to school to become a librarian.

Kathy Jackson
Ex Officio

Kathy recently retired after a 32-year career as an English teacher and administrator in the St Paul Public Schools. She and her husband raised their family in the Como Park neighborhood of St Paul. Faced with the onset of serious mental illness in a loved one, Kathy received invaluable support, information and advice from NAMI. She is committed to serving and advocating for others with mental illnesses and their families.

Jennifer Laforgia
Board Director

Jennifer worked at the Mayo Clinic as a health information writer/editor for 15 years and has facilitated a NAMI Family Support Group for 7 years. She has several family members with mental illness.  

Larry Nelsen
Board Director

Larry is a retired pathologist with much experience as an inspector for programs that validate the quality of services offered by hospital laboratories and pathology practices. Larry states, “A member of my family has a serious mental illness that prevents him from working in a profession for which he is otherwise well qualified. His experiences with mental health caregivers have convinced me of the vital importance of open and frequent communication and coordination among psychiatrists, patients, hospitals, social workers, and family members to achieve accurate diagnoses and best treatments for all mental illnesses.”

Jeff Ronning
Board Director

Jeff grew up in Fergus Falls, attended the University of North Dakota and completed his divinity degree at Luther Seminary.  He has served ELCA congregations in both Greater Minnesota and in St Paul. Peer support is a priority for Jeff.  He wants to help people living with mental illnesses and get connected to the services they need for recovery.  Jeff volunteered to start a new Peer Connections group that now meets weekly in downtown St Paul and has served as its first facilitator. He is also committed to policy work and is familiar with children’s mental health.  Jeff and his wife live in Maplewood and have two adult children.

Michelle Sherman
Board Director

Michelle is a board-certified clinical psychologist living and working in Roseville who has dedicated her career to supporting families of adults living with a mental illness or trauma history. Sheis a Fellow of American Psychological Association’s Society for Couple and Family Psychology, and was named their Family Psychologist of the Year in 2022. She is the Editor in Chief of the journal, Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice. She worked for 17 years in the VA system and as a Professor at the University of Minnesota and Oklahoma medical schools. In her personal life, she writes books (with her co-author mother) for family members who love someone living with a mental illness/PTSD (www.SeedsofHopeBooks.com). Michelle states, “I served on the Board of NAMI-Oklahoma for 14 years, and now enjoy the opportunity to serve in my home community of Ramsey County.”

Rochelle Underwood
Board Director

Rochelle is a public health nurse with Ramsey County who works with women who have substance use issues, as well as mental health concerns. Rochelle has experience with mental illness in her own family and is hoping to help end the stigma for those seeking care.

Joan Cleary
Advisor

In 2018, Joan retired from a career in health philanthropy, nonprofit management, and government. She earned a master’s degree in management from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in religion from Oberlin College. Joan has family experience with serious mental illnesses. She is excited to work together to build on our momentum and grow our capacity in order to advance NAMI Ramsey’s mission and values.

Mindy Greiling
Advisor

Mindy was a state representative for 20 years, served on state and national NAMI boards, and is the author of Fix What You Can, a book about her legislative work and her family’s story about her son’s schizo-affective disorder.

Ana Kaveh
Advisor

Ana is currently the Coordinator for the Parents as Teachers program at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. In her current position and her past work with the Mind Matters exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota, as well as personal relationships with people living with anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder, Ana has seen the importance of educating the public on mental illnesses.

David Nathan
Advisor

Bio coming soon!

Colleen Oftedahl
Advisor

Colleen worked for MnDOT for 32 years and served on the NAMI Ramsey County board for 6 years. She is on the board for the Ramsey County Adult Mental Health Advisory Committee. She has family members who live with mental health issues.