2026 Speakers
Keynote
Susan Johnson, Ph.D., Founder and CEO Nature at Work
Dr. Susan Johnson is President & CEO of the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition and Founder of Nature at Work, leading initiatives that integrate nature-based health promotion into workplace wellness and community development. A faculty member at MUSC with over 15 years of experience in health promotion and higher education, Dr. Johnson has held faculty roles at Duke University, The Citadel, and Charleston Southern University. She is widely recognized for building cross-sector partnerships that align healthcare, business, education, and conservation to improve health outcomes and strengthen local economies. An accomplished speaker and board member for multiple organizations, including the MUSC Arboretum, Dr. Johnson has received numerous awards for her leadership in workplace wellbeing and community impact.
Breakout Sessions
Amy Hudock, Ph.D.: Basic Need Resources
Education changes lives, improves communities, and shapes the future. Amy Hudock, Ph.D., has over 25 years of experience doing just that. She is an Assistant Vice President and the Campus Dean of the Trident Technical College Downtown Palmer Campus, where she oversees the TTC Grocery Vault, a food pantry. She also teaches literature, creative writing, and composition, empowering students to tell their stories and use their voices. She comes to her love for words from active writing practice. She is a co-editor of the books Literary Mama: Reading for the Maternally Inclined and American Women Prose Writers, 1820-1870 . Her writing has been published in anthologies, magazines, newspapers, and literary journals. She co-founded Literary Mama, an online literary magazine chosen by Writers Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers and by Forbes as 100 Best of the Web. Her continued writing practice informs her teaching.
Noni Langford: Horticulture Therapy
Noni Langford is the Special Projects Coordinator and Pocket Urban Farm Manager at MUSC, where she designs accessible gardens and delivers therapeutic horticulture programming to diverse populations—from students with disabilities to psychiatric patients. A member of the American Horticultural Therapy Association, Noni educates campus and community members on the healing connection between nature, nutrition, and wellness. Her recent accomplishments include securing grant funding for a food forest at the Institute of Psychiatry and teaching a College of Medicine humanities course on horticultural therapy and food insecurity. With a degree in Horticulture and a certificate in Horticultural Therapy, Noni combines her expertise in therapeutic gardening with her work as a residential design consultant.
Jonathan Kessler & Jordan Watkins: VA S.A.V.E.: Four Ways You Can Help a Veteran in Crisis
Jonathan Kessler is the Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System, where he leads suicide prevention efforts across Charleston and the Lowcountry. Drawing on his own experience as a military child, Kessler builds coalitions with community leaders, schools, and local organizations to support Veterans and military-connected families. He collaborates with Joint Base Charleston, participates in community events and resource fairs, and implements the VA's Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention—blending data-driven strategies with direct community engagement. Recognized as a trusted partner in suicide prevention, Kessler is committed to ensuring no Veteran faces their struggles alone.
Jordan Watkins, Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Eileen Quinn: Mental Health First Aid Kit
Eileen G. Quinn is the Director of Campus Advocacy, Response, and Education (CARE) at The Citadel, where she has dedicated over two decades to supporting the well-being of the campus community. A proud alumnus of The Citadel (Class of 2001, Psychology), she went on to serve ten years in the U.S. Army, including serving as a Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention (SHARP) Officer. Returning to her alma mater in 2011, she spent 14 years training, mentoring, and advising cadets before stepping into her current leadership role. With a career rooted in trauma-informed service, advocacy, and education, she is a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a passionate advocate for breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health in high-stress environments.
Movement Moment
Dusty Jackson, MS, Director, MUSC Wellness Center Division of Education Innovation & Student Life
Dusty Jackson is an experienced fitness and wellness professional with a strong background in exercise science, program development, and leadership. As the Director of the Medical University of South Carolina Wellness Center, Dusty oversees strategy, program implementation, and staff leadership to drive membership growth and enhance wellness offerings. With a Master’s in Kinesiology from the University of Georgia and multiple industry certifications, he has a passion for helping individuals improve their health through innovative fitness programming and strategic wellness initiatives. His career includes leadership roles at Wounded Warrior Project, University of Georgia, and Kennesaw State University, where he has developed and managed large-scale fitness programs, led professional teams, and fostered community engagement. Dusty’s expertise in strength and conditioning, general fitness, and rehabilitation is complemented by his commitment to professional development and improving the overall member experience. His ability to motivate teams, optimize operations, and create impactful wellness programs makes him a dynamic leader in the field.
Panel: A Conversation about College Men’s Mental Health
A. Lee Lewis, MD is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at MUSC, where he leads the Medical Director role for Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services at the Integrated Center of Clinical Excellence. A Wofford College graduate with a background in psychology and theatre, Dr. Lewis brings a unique perspective to adolescent mental health by exploring the therapeutic potential of the arts in treating substance abuse, anxiety, personality disorders, and depression. An accomplished actor and improviser, he is also recognized as an award-winning educator.
Brian Durbin is Executive Director of the Center for Intentionality at the College of Charleston, a partnership between Beemok and Modern Minds designed to expand access to intentionality-based learning and community building. With over 25 years of experience in the wellness industry, spanning cardiac rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and health coaching, Durbin brings deep expertise in the mind-body connection. He has contributed to the development of multiple Beemok wellness initiatives, including Intentionality, a transformative course that guides students toward purposeful living. A Board Member of Modern Minds and graduate of Bowling Green State University (B.A. in Exercise Science, M.S. in Education/Biomechanics), Durbin is an active leader in Charleston's wellness community.
Rico Gabriel is the Program Director of the Electrical and Computer Engineering program in the School of Engineering at The Citadel.
