About

History

• For many years, Nevada has ranked 51st in the nation when it comes to the prevalence of mental illness and access to mental healthcare (Mental Health America).
• Shortages in workforce numbers across multiple mental health disciplines have been documented throughout the state (Office of Statewide Initiatives; HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas).
• Other states experiencing the same issues, especially in rural and frontier areas, are focusing on a “grown our own” model of workforce development.
• In 2023, the Nevada Legislature unanimously passed Assembly Bill 37 to create a statewide behavioral health workforce development center within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).
• AB 37 was a collaborative effort between the Nevada Rural Regional Behavioral Health Policy Board and University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV).
• In September 2023, the NSHE Board of Regents approved UNLV’s proposal to establish the Behavioral Health Education, Retention, and Expansion Network of Nevada (BeHERE NV).

Jill Manit, Ph.D., MSW

Associate Director of Education and Training

Dr. Jill Manit is the Associate Director of Education and Training for BeHERE NV. She has a Ph.D. in Political Science and a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Nevada Reno (UNR). Dr. Manit has been in higher education for nearly 20 years and most recently served as the MSW Program Director in the School of Social Work at Sacred Heart University. She has experience teaching courses across social work curricula and also worked with social work students at UNR in her role as Director of Field Education.

Dr. Manit’s practice background spans working with individuals, groups, and communities. She has provided direct services in the fields of substance abuse treatment, family services, and was actively involved in building substance abuse prevention coalitions across the state of Nevada. While at the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) at UNR, Dr. Manit provided extensive training and technical assistance in the area of program evaluation to substance abuse prevention providers across the Western region of the United States, including the Pacific Jurisdictions. Through this work, Dr. Manit supported programs in balancing the demands of accountability at the federal and state levels with local cultural contexts that impact service delivery. This effort sparked a humble pursuit for understanding the impact of culture, diversity, inclusion, oppression and organizational context on individuals and families within service delivery systems.

Dr. Manit is passionate about mobilizing stakeholders to meet the needs of local communities and looks forward to an opportunity to expand the behavioral health workforce across the state of Nevada. When not working on BeHERE NV, Dr. Manit can be found hanging out with her family and pets or exploring the world of Italian language learning.

Roberta Miranda-Alfonzo, Ph.D.

Associate Director of Recruitment and Outreach

Roberta Miranda-Alfonzo, Ph.D., CPC, LCADC-S, NCC, ACS, serves as the Associate Director of Recruitment and Outreach. She is strongly dedicated to fostering excellence in behavioral health professionals and has a profound commitment to education, supervision, and mentorship. She endeavors to recruit, retain, and motivate individuals pursuing careers in behavioral health, mental health, and addiction counseling. As a dually-licensed addiction and mental health professional counselor and state-approved supervisor, she has gained experience in a wide array of treatment and academic settings for over twenty years.

Despite facing adversity as a high school dropout in Las Vegas, Roberta’s journey is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of mentorship. Grateful for the guiding figures who supported her path, she pursued her academic aspirations, earning a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Community Counseling from UNLV, followed by a Ph.D. in Counseling from Oregon State University. Identified as Mexican-American, Roberta is deeply committed to inspiring individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers as fellow providers in the behavioral health field.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Roberta finds joy in traveling, exploring the arts district in Downtown Las Vegas, and hosting themed parties for friends and family.

Ashley Noel Pruitt, DPP

Associate Director of Technical Assistance & Policy

Dr. Ashley Noel Pruitt serves as the BeHERE Associate Director of Technical Assistance and Policy. She brings over 18 years of comprehensive experience in public service, emphasizing mental health and policy innovation. She has served the State of Nevada analyzing policies for continuous improvement, developing strategic solutions to enhance social services, and ensuring regulatory compliance under numerous Medicaid waiver programs. Her expertise spans public policy, mental health, change management, and justice systems, with a strong focus on innovation and community impact. Passionate about creating impactful, data-driven policies, Dr. Ashley is committed to promoting mental health equity and effective systems of care. She holds a Bachelors in Psychology and Sociology, a Master’s in Urban Leadership and a Doctorate in Public Policy.

Outside of work, Dr. Ashley spends her time volunteering at local community serving organizations.

Sarah Y. T. Hartzell, Ph.D.

Regional Coordinator

Dr. Sarah Hartzell is the Regional Coordinator for BeHERE NV. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Health and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Reno. Before returning to UNR for her doctoral studies, Dr. Hartzell worked in the behavioral health field, where she managed a day treatment program for adults living with severe mental illness and supervised psychosocial rehabilitation services delivered in the community.

Dr. Hartzell has served on the Board of Directors for NAMI Northern Nevada since 2018 and currently serves as Board President. She is also a proud member of the Junior League of Reno, reflecting her strong commitment to volunteerism and community engagement across Northern Nevada.

Born and raised in Alaska, Dr. Hartzell witnessed firsthand the challenges of living in a rural environment, including limited access to care and the mental health impacts of long, dark winters. These early experiences, combined with her professional background in mental health services, shaped her academic and professional focus. During her Ph.D. program, she contributed to multiple research projects examining Nevada’s opioid epidemic, the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on university students, and the expansion of telemedicine in rural communities. Her dissertation explored the effects of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders on new behavioral health diagnoses and suicide attempts across the United States.

Dr. Hartzell is passionate about strengthening Nevada’s behavioral health system and expanding the state’s workforce to better meet community needs. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their two young children, and their dog. She’s also a Disney movie enthusiast and is often planning her next run.

Aileen Y. Lovitt, Ph.D.

Data Analyst

Dr. Aileen Y. Lovitt (also known as Allie) is the Data Analyst for BeHERE NV, where she leads data initiatives that enhance behavioral health services and strengthen data-driven strategies to address mental health and wellness across Nevada. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with expertise in research methods, inferential statistics, and program evaluation. Her research background includes a focus on stereotyping and racial bias, which informs her commitment to equity and culturally responsive practices in data analysis and program evaluation.

A multiracial Nevadan and proud member of the Te-Moak Band of Western Shoshone, Dr. Lovitt was born and raised in the state and has family ties spanning its diverse communities. Her deep connection to Nevada fuels her passion for improving behavioral health outcomes in her home state.

Before joining BeHERE NV, Dr. Lovitt worked as a data analyst and program evaluation consultant for nonprofit organizations, specializing in evidence-based evaluation frameworks, complex data analysis, and actionable reporting to drive program effectiveness. Her experience includes designing customized survey instruments, assessing program impacts, and translating data insights into accessible narratives for diverse stakeholders.

When she’s not analyzing data, Allie enjoys reading, playing slow-pitch softball, and spending time with friends and family.

Cassia Ciciliano, B.A.

Graduate Assistant

Cassia Ciciliano serves as a Graduate Assistant for BeHERE NV. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy at UNLV. Her professional background includes nonprofit mental health work, community outreach, volunteer program development, advocacy, and providing peer-based support to adolescents.

Cassia is passionate about expanding access to mental and behavioral health services, particularly for youth and underserved communities. Her experiences working within community mental health have shaped her interest in strengthening the behavioral health workforce and helping create clearer pathways for individuals interested in entering the field. She hopes to eventually practice as a trauma-informed therapist and continue advocating for accessible and inclusive mental health care.

Outside of work and school, Cassia enjoys drawing, spending time with her dog, Latte, and getting way too invested in anime.

Tra Bui, M.A.

Graduate Assistant

Tra Bui is a Graduate Assistant for BeHERE NV. She earned her Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree in Developmental Psychology at UNLV. Her professional background includes how AI tools influence student academic skills and how children interact with voice assistants.

Before BeHERE NV, Tra works on her personal project to create content helping Vietnamese students learn more about psychology as a field and the career opportunities a psychology degree can open up. She is passionate about making psychological science more accessible, particularly to communities that don’t always see themselves represented in the field.

Outside of work and school, Tra enjoys spending time with her cats, Friday and Turnip, along with watching movies and TV shows. Recently, she is really into dinosaurs.