Meet the Team

ICC TAC Staff

John Charles
Director of Government & Public Affairs

Kyle Fontaine, BEd, MSc
Program Coordinator, ICC TAC

Kyle Fontaine earned a Bachelor of Education (2017) from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is a certified teacher in the state of Illinois, and prior to moving to Illinois in July 2023 he taught at an Adult Education Center and Alternative High School in Winnipeg. Before entering the realm of teaching, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of Education, and Master of Science from the University of Manitoba.

Sonya J. Leathers, PhD
Professor, Jane Addams College of Social Work at UIC
Director, BHWC

Sonya J. Leathers, PhD, is a professor at the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the director of the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center activities at UIC. Her areas of expertise include the development of effective behavioral health training programs, mental health services research in public service systems, interventions for children and adolescents with complex behavior problems, and implementation methods. She is the director of an evidence-based mental health practices training program and a recipient of the UIC Award for Excellence in Teaching. Her research is focused on the mental health needs of children and adolescents in foster care with complex needs and the development of more effective behavioral health service systems.

Over the past two decades, she has received continuous federal and state funding for multiple research projects and training programs funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Institute for Mental Health, the Illinois Division of Mental Health, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Administration for Children and Families, and private foundations.

Catherine Melka-Kaffer, LCSW
Initiative Coordinator, ICC TAC

Catherine Melka-Kaffer, LCSW, serves as a Coordinator for the Illinois Campus Cares Technical Assistance Center. Since 2015, Catherine has served as the Training Director of the Integrated Behavioral Health Care Training Program at the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago, supporting MSW students in learning evidence-based behavioral health practices to serve youth with mental health challenges. Her passion for improving mental health services for youth and young adults arose from providing direct services in a youth agency, community mental health center, and group home. Catherine is also one of the Initiative Coordinators for the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center, focusing specifically on the needs of community mental health centers across the state. Catherine is committed to supporting behavioral health providers and improving the quality and availability of services for all.

Mackenzie Montgomery
Director for Student Success, Illinois Community College Board

Mackenzie Montgomery is the Director for Student Success at the Illinois Community College Board. In this role, she collaborates closely with the 39 community college districts in Illinois to implement and enhance mental health and wrap-around services for students. She also leads the veteran support initiatives at ICCB and actively participates in student-focused initiatives such as Developmental Education at the agency and state levels. Before joining the Illinois Community College Board, Mackenzie served as the Director of Health Services at the Community Action Agency of Central Illinois. In that role, she provided technical assistance and professional development, contributed to developing the federal Head Start grant, and coordinated the treatment and follow-up of health, dental, mental health, and nutrition concerns for children in seven counties in central Illinois. Mackenzie has devoted most of her professional life to advocating for the healthcare needs of underrepresented groups, working tirelessly to ensure they have access to high-quality health services, necessary medical procedures, and comprehensive education, ultimately empowering them to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Jenna Rossi
Director of Intergovernmental Relations

Deana Schenk, M.A.
Senior Director for Student Success and Learning Renewal, Illinois Community College Board

Deana Schenk, M.A., serves as the Senior Director for Student Success and Learning Renewal with the Illinois Community College Board. In this role, she works closely with the 39 community college districts in Illinois on initiatives to implement and improve mental health and wrap around services to support students. She also leads ICCB’s Developmental Education Reform efforts and participates in agency and state DEIA projects. Prior to joining the Illinois Community College Board, Deana worked at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, where she provided technical assistance, professional development, and training to rape crisis staff and allied professionals across Illinois. She also previously taught English, literature, and humanities as an adjunct instructor at several central Illinois community colleges. Deana is a lifelong educator who is passionate about ensuring individuals receive the academic and social-emotional supports they need to achieve their goals and is committed to creating equitable opportunities for all people.

Anita Sego, PhD, MCHES
Director, ICC TAC

Anita Sego, PhD, is the director of the Illinois Campus Cares Technical Assistance Center at the SIU School of Medicine. Dr. Sego holds a national certification as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) from NCHEC as well as certifications in instructional design, advanced online learning, economic development, Narcan Training, and Tobacco Cessation. Dr. Sego has an extensive background in working with government and non-profit public health programs and services with multicultural and special populations, especially in the areas of adult and juvenile justice, addiction studies, community planning and organizing, occupational health and safety, environmental health, emergency management and response, and public health administration. Her research has been focused on juvenile justice, service learning, sexuality training for direct service personnel working in group homes, addiction, faculty development, and more.

Dr. Sego graduated from Southern Illinois University with her PhD in Health Education, received her Master’s in Health Program and Facility Administration from Indiana State University, and her BS degree in Health Studies at Eastern Illinois University. Her areas of expertise include the development of evidence-based health training programs, online learning, mentoring developing professionals, and grant writing/administration. She has served in leadership roles for the American Red Cross, Girl Scouts, Community Corrections, and state boards for health organizations and on committees in national health organizations. Dr. Sego has won awards for her online teaching, diversity, community service, and her leadership of working with student organizations at two different universities.

Brittany Tolar, LCSW
Deputy Director, ICC TAC

Brittany Tolar, LCSW, serves as the Deputy Director at the Illinois Campus Cares Technical Assistance Center supporting the capacity of universities and colleges to meet the behavioral health needs of their students. Brittany draws on ten years of direct experience working with transition-age youth, leading projects that seamlessly integrate research and evaluation into clinical practice through statewide initiatives like the First Episode Psychosis program. Prior to joining ICC TAC, Brittany served as the Director of a Chicago-based transitional living program providing multidisciplinary wellness support to young adults experiencing mental health and accessibility challenges, while enrolled in college and vocational programs. Brittany received her A.M. from University of Chicago with an emphasis on trauma informed clinical care and policy. Brittany is committed to work that involves the integration of direct practice and lived experience into research to create impactful social policy.

Melissa Van
Policy Research Associate, Illinois Board of Higher Education

Melissa Van serves as the Policy Research Associate at the Illinois Board of Higher Education where she supports policy and practice changes and coordinates the programmatic aspects of the agency’s current allocation of the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act (MHEAC) grant, End Student Housing Insecurity (ESHI) grant, PELL55 grant, etc. She also supports the work of the designated Benefits Navigators, HOUSE Liaisons, Undocumented Student Liaisons, and the Veteran Coordinators at 4-year institutions of higher education. Previously, as an ISACorps member at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, she provided high-quality and personal pre-college counseling services for low-income, first-generation students to help make education beyond high school accessible and affordable. She also worked to build and enhance ISAC partnerships with local high schools, businesses, and non-profit community organizations. Melissa obtained her Masters of Science in Higher Education Leadership at Western Illinois University and received her Bachelors of Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Springfield.