PTSD Awareness & Suicide Prevention Conference
Registration is Now Open!
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 / 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Maucker Union Ballrooms, UNI Campus
Hosted by Military and Veteran Student Services, UNI Veteran Association, & Student Wellness Services
If you need reasonable accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact MVSS Coordinator at 319-273-3040 prior to the event.
Event is *FREE! Light breakfast and lunch are provided.
*CEUs (5 credit hours) are available for $40. Payments can be made in advance.
Pay Here
2025 Keynotes and Breakout Topics Included: Living with PTSD & Life After the Military (transitioning to the civilian sector with a disability), Grief of Suicide and Talking to Those Affected, Women Warriors: Gathering to Empower, QPR Suicide Prevention Training, Healing Through Self-Compassion: Nurturing Resilience after Trauma, Suicide Prevention in Older Veterans, Counseling Against Lethal Means (CALM), Assessing Risks and Safety Planning, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention "Be Real: College Students & Mental Health" program, VA - S.A.V.E Training, Kevin Hines Movie "The Ripple Effect" & Discussion, "Bridging the Silence: Meaningful Conversations on Veterans’ Mental Health" with Chaplin Tim Hadley of the Iowa Army National Guard.
2024 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Loneshia Shelton, M.DIV, JD, Founder & Executive Director of Empowerment Legal Services
Loneshia Shelton, Founder and Executive Director of Empowerment Legal Services, served in the United States armed forces for over 14 years before being medically discharged in 2015. As a disabled veteran, she decided to follow her lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. In 2017, she graduated from the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law. Ms. Shelton has always had a heart for the disenfranchised and marginalized. She began her legal career working as a legal associate for two major non-profit organizations within the District of Columbia; Legal Counsel for the Elderly and Veterans First of Friendship Place.
After several years of working for both of those entities, Ms. Shelton felt a greater calling to provide more directed care to the indigent populace of the District without as much “red-tape.” This is why she founded Empowerment Legal Services, a nonprofit organization that aims to interrupt the status quo by offering holistic services to the indigent and disenfranchised with an enhanced focus on the veteran population.
Buffy Peters, Director, Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss
Buffy Peters is the Director of Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss, a division of Hamilton’s Funeral Home in Des Moines, Iowa. The Academy provides grief-related information, education, resources, and support to the community.
Buffy began supporting children and families who are grieving in 2011, first as a bereavement camp counselor, working with elementary-aged children, and in 2014 when she began working at Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss. In her work, Buffy provides support to children, teens, and adults. Some of this work includes: keeping an up-to-date detailed listing of grief support information for the state of Iowa as well as online options; supporting area schools through grief education, facilitating grief support groups, as well as assisting with grief responses after a death; and overseeing Hamilton’s two children’s grief programs serving children ages 4 to 12. She isn’t typically alone in these endeavors. She is the very proud handler of Family Support Dog and certified Therapy Dog, Bear, who assists in providing smiles and comfort to those he interacts with.
Buffy is actively providing presentations, both locally and nationally, and is particularly passionate about educating on grief after a stigmatized death, such as suicide, homicide, and substance-related deaths. She is a proud co-founder of the Hamilton’s Pet Loss Support Group, and facilitates monthly Death Café’s and virtual grief support groups with HealGrief. She is one of the co-chairs for the Polk County Suicide Prevention Coalition and is a member of the following organizations: the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the Coalition to Support Grieving Students, and a very active member of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG). Buffy has contributed to many grief resources, including the NACG’s GriefTalk toolkits and “Creating Children Friendly Spaces in Funeral Homes”.
2025 Presenter Bio's
- Lori Reynolds, LISW
Lori Reynolds, LISW, has been a provider of Mental Health services since graduating with an MSW from the University of Iowa in 1993. She was independently licensed in 1995. For the first 14 years of her career, she worked in Community Mental Health as a psychotherapist, first with children and adolescents before changing to strictly adult care in 2003. VA-Central Iowa Health Care System has employed Lori since August of 2007. She initially provided social work services in an acute inpatient psychiatric setting. She moved to providing outpatient psychotherapy in 2013. Currently, she holds the position of Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator. This position was created because every day, we lose 20 Veterans and Service Members to suicide. Of the 20, only 6 are involved in VA care. The VA is taking a public health approach to suicide prevention in an effort to reduce not only suicide in Veterans but non-veterans as well. Education is an essential part of her mission. She is a trainer for VA SAVE, CALM, Adult Mental Health First Aid, Veterans in Crisis: Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention.
- Luba Bijelic, MA, LMHC, NCC
President | CEO| Clinical Director
Bijelic Counseling and Consulting Services, LLCLuba Bijelic is a licensed therapist with a passion for supporting individuals on their journey to healing and well-being. As the Clinical Director at Bijelic Counseling and Consulting Services, LLC in Cedar Falls, Iowa, she leads a growing group practice with a focus on a "collective company culture approach." With training in trauma recovery and self-compassion, Luba empowers individuals and organizations to navigate their healing journey with resilience and compassion, offering tools to overcome challenges and thrive on the path to well-being. Luba also provides expert teaching, and consulting services for organizations to better support their staff, increase wellness, and improve retention.
- Gage De La Cruz
Gage De La Cruz is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to joining UNI, he earned his B.A. in psychology from Dartmouth College. During his time at Dartmouth, Gage was awarded the M.R. Robinson Grant, allowing him to work at the Ledyard Charter School in Lebanon, New Hampshire. In this role, he enriched in-class instruction and provided individualized support services to students who had previously faced barriers to attending standard high school. After completing his undergraduate studies, Gage transitioned to a teaching position at the Brooke Charter School in East Boston, Massachusetts. Working collaboratively with a diverse team of educators, he taught 4th-grade general education classes and implemented social and emotional learning lessons. These experiences fueled his passion for aiding individuals in navigating mental health challenges and promoting overall well-being. Motivated by this newfound passion, Gage made the decision to return to academia to pursue his master’s degree. Currently serving as a Graduate Assistant for both the counseling center and suicide prevention teams at UNI, he takes a leading role in conducting various mental health and suicide prevention trainings on campus. Notably, Gage facilitates VAR, QPR, and men and mental health sessions. In addition to his academic pursuits, Gage, who grapples with a persistent mental illness himself, emphasizes the importance of mental health education. He firmly believes in the significance of reducing stigma, fostering hope, and equipping individuals to assist others, drawing from his own experiences of receiving support over the years. His current focus in the realm of suicide prevention revolves around intersectionality, specifically addressing the mental health needs of men.
- Chaplain Tim Hadley
Currently assigned to the 1-133 Infantry Battalion headquartered in Waterloo is also a bi-vocational minister and educator.
As the senior pastor of Trinity Friends Church in Richland for over a decade, Chaplain Hadley has also spoken at church camps, marriage events, youth gatherings, prison ministry and men’s and women’s groups around the country.
Currently principal of Oelwein High School, Tim has the opportunity to influence a variety of individuals and his community in his role each day.
Commissioned in October of 2018, Chaplain Hadley completed the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course in 2019 as a member of the Commandant’s List and earned the Army Physical Fitness Badge.
He has also been awarded the Iowa Recruiting Ribbon, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and Captains Career Course as the Naismith Award Recipient and Honor Graduate. Most recently completing Airborne School, Chaplain Hadley has also been sought after for several community events representing the Iowa Army National Guard in performing the duties of a chaplain.
He, his wife Bethany, and his two children currently reside in Oelwein, Iowa.
- Katie Kopp, PhD
Katie Kopp is a clinical psychologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa (’03). She is a former Army psychologist (2007-2013), including two deployments to Afghanistan as the brigade psychologist with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Mountain Warriors). She has special interest in treating combat trauma and helping veterans cope with moral injuries. She lives in Dubuque, Iowa with her husband of 21 years, their two children, and a pit bull named Poppy.
- Christina Schauer, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC
Christina Schauer is a U.S. Army veteran, nurse, and advocate for veterans’ health care. She served as a combat medic during Operation Iraqi Freedom, which inspired her dedication to addressing veterans’ unique health needs. In her former position as the Director of Clinical and Professional Development at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center, she led initiatives like the Military and Veterans Health Care program, focusing on personalized care for veterans. Christina also empowers female veterans as Vice President of Tri-State Women Warriors and was recognized as a 2023 Iowa Hospital Hero for her service and advocacy.
- Dr. Jennifer Jass, DNP, ARNP
Dr. Jennifer Jass is a doctoral prepared psychiatric and family nurse practitioner, educator, and leader with a demonstrated commitment to improving mental health care and the education of future healthcare professionals. Serving as the Director of Psychiatric and Counseling Services and Family & Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at the University of Northern Iowa since 2016, Dr. Jass has helped implement various initiatives to ensure timely and personalized mental health support for students. She serves as the PMHNP track lead and NP Clinical Director at Allen College, where she has advised several graduate projects related to suicide prevention. She is passionate about integrating evidence-based practices and fostering interprofessional collaboration to improve healthcare delivery and education.
- Deb Moeller, MSW, LCSW, LMSW
Suicide Prevention – Program Coordinator
Iowa City VA Suicide Prevention TeamDeb Moeller, MSW, LCSW, LMSW is the Program Coordinator with the Suicide Prevention Team at the Iowa City VA Health Care System. She has worked as a community-based, medical social worker for more than thirty (30) years, having earned her Bachelors Degree in Social Work in 1990 from the University of Northern Iowa and her Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of Iowa in 2007.
Deb spent the first portion of her career with a large home care and hospice agency, where she coordinated care and services to assist patients remain in their homes. Since 2013, Deb has worked for the Iowa City VA Health Care System, serving in several roles. The foundation of her current work in suicide prevention is a comprehensive, public health approach to suicide prevention, which incorporates the provision of clinical care and services with community-based strategies and initiatives. She is honored to work with our Nation’s Service Members, Veterans, and their Families as we work to identify those at risk for suicide and foster community creativity to support prevention efforts.
Deb was born, raised, and resides in the Quad Cities/Scott County, Iowa area. She a proud mother of two daughters and enjoys spending time with family and friends, outdoor adventures, and traveling to fun places.
- Justin Bogers
Justin Bogers is a board member with AFSP - Iowa, a survivor of suicide loss, a mental health awareness advocate, event volunteer, and educator.
Breakout: CALM Training
Join Deb Moeller, LCSW, LMSW-Community Engagement & Partnerships Coordinator from the VA for CLAM
CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) provides mental health professionals within a
healthcare team working with Veterans and their families, and others an increased knowledge about the
association between access to lethal means and suicide and the role of means restriction in
preventing suicide.
Breakout: QPR Training
Join Gage De La Cruz, Masters Candidate for Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Graduate Assistant for Suicide Prevention
QPR, just like CPR, is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can SAVE lives. QPR is the most widely taught gatekeeper training in the world.
According to the QPR Institute website, "The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training.
Breakout: Building Life-Saving Plans: Suicide Screening and Safety Planning Basics
Join Dr. Jennifer Jass, DNP, ARNP, Director of UNI Counseling & Psychiatric Services
Implementing suicide screening and safety planning in practice is essential for early identification and intervention. By integrating these critical processes into routine care, providers can identify at-risk individuals and create personalized safety plans to aid in suicide prevention. The purpose of this presentation is to revisit best practices for suicide screening and discuss how to create an effective safety plan for individuals at risk for suicide.
Women Warriors: Gathering to Empower
Join Christina Schauer, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC and Katie Kopp, PhD from the Tri-State Women Warriors & Dubuque VA Clinic.
The most recent veteran suicide annual report demonstrated a significant increase in the unadjusted suicide rate for women veterans, who are also the fastest-growing veteran demographic. Women veterans also suffer disproportionately high rates of PTSD, a known risk factor for suicide. Social support and connection play important roles in managing PTSD and preventing suicide, but established veteran groups tend to be male-dominated, leaving women veterans more likely than male veterans to report feelings of isolation.
In September 2022, a community called the Tri-State Women Warriors (TSWW), whose mission is to provide connection and advocacy to support the unique needs of women veterans in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, was created. Since then, TSWW has hosted over fifty events ranging from casual meet-and-greets to goat yoga, building a strong community of women veterans and service members. Over seventy-five members have attended at least one live event and many more follow through social media. Though suicide prevention is the driver of this initiative, the community’s focus is empowerment. The leaders share updates about available resources to help the women reach their goals, and group members also provide advice to each other on how to access resources. Many have been connected to VHA, VBA, and other resources through these meetups. In January 2024, Tri-State Women Warriors became an official nonprofit in Iowa with intent to continue to grow and scale to other communities. This presentation serves to share lessons learned and inspire other communities.
"Healing Through Self-Compassion: Nurturing Resilience after Trauma"
Join Luba Bijelic, Psychotherapist | President | CEO | Clinical Director of Bijelic Counseling
This presentation explores the powerful connection between self-compassion and trauma healing. Participants will learn how cultivating self-compassion can nurture resilience, promote healing, and empower individuals to navigate the challenges of trauma with compassion and courage. Join us to discover how self-compassion can be a transformative tool in the journey toward healing and well-being.
"It's Real: College Students and Mental Health
Join Justin Boger, a board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Film-based program, featuring the stories of six college students from across the country. The 20-minute film encourages students to be mindful of their mental health, acknowledge and recognize when they are struggling, and take steps to seek help. After the film, Justin will guide participants through a 20–40-minute live discussion on available resources and support strategies. This workshop is designed for college students, college-bound high school seniors, faculty, and staff.
"Bridging the Silence: Meaningful Conversations on Veterans' Mental Health"
Join Chaplain Tim Hadley of the Iowa Army National Guard
This workshop is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to engage in compassionate, effective conversations with veterans about their mental well-being. Too often, the invisible wounds of service go unspoken, leaving veterans feeling isolated and misunderstood. This session will break down barriers, provide practical communication strategies, and foster a deeper understanding of the challenges veterans face. Whether you're a friend, family member, colleague, or service provider, this workshop will empower you to create a safe space where veterans feel heard, respected, and supported.
This conference and materials are possible and funded [in part] under grant number 1H79SM086381-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of CMHS, SAMHSA, or HHS; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.”