Debra Kichline
Senior Project Coordinator
Debra Kichline is a Senior Project Coordinator for the STRONG STAR Training Initiative working to develop their veterans suicide prevention initiative. Ms. Kichline earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. While working in her Master’s program, she assisted in multiple research projects with the developmentally disabled population at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, Illinois. Ms. Kichline also conducted research in the field of organizational behavior management through Project 12-Ways in the Behavior Analysis and Therapy Department of Southern Illinois University. Ms. Kichline went on to apply her skills working with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury clients. After some significant life events, she moved into project management and program development. Prior to joining the STRONGSTAR team, she assisted in the development and launch of the Rural Telementoring Training Center at UTHSA. Her family consists of her son, Hunter, and entirely too many rescue dogs.
Dina Garcia, MSW
Project Coordinator
Dina Garcia, MSW, has been a member of the STRONG STAR Training Initiative team since 2022, serving as a Project Coordinator. In this capacity, she provides essential administrative support to both the Training Initiative leadership and community-based mental health providers, ensuring smooth operations and effective collaboration. Ms. Garcia’s work includes fostering grant-funded learning communities through her proactive outreach and communication efforts. Before joining the STRONG STAR Training Initiative, Ms. Garcia held the position of Behavioral Navigation Specialist at The United Way of Greater Austin. In this role, she facilitated connections to state-funded mental health resources for central Texas residents, contributing to community well-being.
Jenny Antons
Operations Manager
Jenny Antons is an operations manager for the STRONG STAR Training Initiative. Ms. Antons organizes support for SSTI workshops and webinars, manages the portal, and provides tech support to the community-based mental health providers enrolled in learning communities. Prior to working for the Strong Star Training Initiative, Ms. Antons worked with small medical device companies to manage medical device design and development projects. Jenny looks forward to drawing on her project management experience to maintain and support an unparalleled provider portal for community-based mental health providers. Jenny holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Jenn Vieira
Senior Project Coordinator
Jennifer Vieira is joining our team as a Senior Project Coordinator for the STRONG STAR Training Initiative (SSTI), where she will use her expertise with project management to support UTHSA’s work with USAA and Face the Fight. Prior to joining the SSTI Team and the Face the Fight initiative, Ms. Vieira worked on various Pentagon projects with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS), to create and implement IT transformational change. She also has experience in policy implementation, and small business management. Ms. Vieira is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, former U.S. Foreign Service diplomat, and proud wife to an active-duty U.S. Army husband. She has her B.A in International Affairs and Geography from the University of Mary Washington. She is also the proud mom of three boys and spends any spare time on an athletic field supporting them.
Cy Pattee
Research Associate
Cy Pattee, MPH joined the Strong Star Training Initiative in 2023 as a Research Associate and helps provide administrative assistance for SSTI and support for webinars and grants. Mr. Pattee earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Kenyon College, and his Master’s in Public Health Administration and Policy from the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining SSTI, Mr. Pattee worked in public health research, including mental health policy and compliance for a company that provides services for autistic children and adults.
Maythe Vega
Research Associate
Maythe Vega joined the STRONG STAR Training Initiative as a Research Associate in 2023 and provides administrative support for training events and the provider portal. Ms. Vega earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Brown University, and worked as a research assistant with the Mindfulness Center at Brown. Prior to working with SSTI, Maythe worked on user design of health plan applications at Kyruus.
