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 17 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.

Ruby Kelly, M.S.

Senior Grant Specialist

Ruby Kelly is the Senior Grants Specialist for BeHERE NV. She has a Master’s of Science in Equity and Diversity in Education and a Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Nevada Reno (UNR). Ruby has previously worked in workforce development in higher education for nearly 10 years. Most recently was the School Based Mental Health Services Grant’s project director at the Department of Education, promoting workforce development for our School Based Mental Health Professionals..

In Ruby’s ten years in Higher Education, she was the GEAR UP Ambassador which promoted first generation college students to go to college. She then transitioned to being the Perkins Grant Manager and Career and Technical Education Coordinator for seven great years for Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nevada. Her main goal is promoting positive behavioral health and workforce development to get more Behavioral Health professionals in our communities. Ruby looks forward to aligning funding and goals to better promote workforce development in Nevada.

Ruby is married and has two very active young boys – a 3 year old and a newly turned 6 year old. She enjoys going camping together as a family. She adores her two lively Australian Shepard/Border Collies and her sassy cat.

Chris Rocket, B.A.

Administrative Assistant III

Chris Rocket serves as the Administrative Assistant III for BeHERE NV. He brings extensive experience in social services, with a career that began in New York City supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through college work-study. Chris went on to serve as a Foster Care Case Worker and was later promoted to staff trainer, gaining valuable insight into child welfare systems and frontline social work.

After earning his Bachelor’s degree in English, Chris transitioned into administrative coordination roles, supporting human services, nonprofit organizations, and medical companies with operational excellence and a strong focus on community impact.

Outside of his professional life, Chris is a passionate creative. He has appeared on multiple major television networks as an actor, host, and entertainer, and enjoys writing, recording, and performing music. His unique blend of social service and artistic experience brings creativity, compassion, and communication to his work with BeHERE NV.

Yuhan Bi, B.A.

Graduate Assistant

Yuhan Bi is a graduate assistant at BeHERE NV. With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Family Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Yuhan is currently pursuing a Master’s in Couple and Family Therapy. Born and raised in China, Yuhan has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals from similar cultural backgrounds, especially regarding mental health resources and the stigma surrounding behavioral health. She is passionate about working with underserved communities, motivated by her personal experiences and a desire to contribute to solutions that address these gaps. Yuhan is excited to bring her background and perspective to BeHERE NV, hoping her work will support the mental health needs of Nevada’s diverse populations. In her personal time, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with friends.

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.

Sarah Y. T. Hartzell, Ph.D.

Regional Coordinator

Dr. Sarah Hartzell is the Regional Coordinator for BeHERE NV. She has a Ph.D. in Public Health and a Master’s in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Reno. Before returning to UNR for her Ph.D., Dr. Hartzell worked in the behavioral health field, running a day treatment program for adults living with severe mental illness and overseeing the work completed by psychosocial rehabilitation workers in the community. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for NAMI Northern Nevada for over 5 years.

Dr. Hartzell was born and raised in Alaska and witnessed first-hand the impacts living in a rural location can have. Additionally, Alaska presented a unique environment that created potential hardships on people’s well-being – including the long, dark, and cold winter days. This perspective and Dr. Hartzell’s previous experience in the mental health field shaped her work at UNR. During her Ph.D. program, Dr. Hartzell worked on various projects, including research examining the opioid epidemic in Nevada, mental health impacts from COVID-19 on UNR students, COVID-19 impacts on the growth of telemedicine in rural locations, and other behavioral health topics. Her dissertation examined the impact of the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders on the development of new behavioral health diagnoses and suicide attempts in the United States.

Dr. Hartzell is passionate about improving the behavioral health services offered in Nevada and is excited to work on projects geared toward expanding the behavioral health workforce in the state. Outside of work, Dr. Hartzell enjoys spending time with her husband, their two young children, and their two dogs! She also can be found enjoying a Disney movie and planning out her next run.