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Principal Investigator
Nev Jones, PhD. Nev is an associate professor in the Pitt School of Social Work and an interdisciplinary mental health services research with formal training in continental philosophy, community psychology, psychiatric rehabilitation and medical anthropology. Nev has published widely on the sociostructural determinants of mental health/disability, SMI and SMI-focused services, the peer support workforce and the involvement and leadership of individuals with personal experience of psychiatric disabilities in research.
PathLab Staff
Todd Wittenberg. Research Training Manager
Todd is a peer researcher that has worked in a variety of roles as a Peer Specialist, providing needed support whether it be one-on-one, as a group facilitator for peers in jail, or as part of a team with OnTrack NY. Todd published his drawings and wrote the article, “Be a Lamp”, which was published by Psychiatric Services. He’s taken photos of wildlife in the Serengeti, the Galapagos, and the mountains of North America. He feels fortunate for his opportunities to travel as he also traversed the seas as part of his work on an iron ore bulk carrier ship. Todd’s wheelhouse is mathematics and writing. The guiding principle of his work is to support recovery through creativity and community. He developed The P.O.S.T. System, a template for recovery plan and review, that he hopes will help energize the mental health field.
Dr. Daniel Hyung Jik Lee. Research Associate
Daniel is a Research Associate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. He earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. His research interests center on racial and ethnic disparities in mental health, with a particular focus on Asian and Latino populations. He is also interested in the mental health and well-being of children involved with child and youth services (CYF). At Pitt, Dr. Lee contributes to a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded research project and several community-based initiatives, including the Allegheny County Jail Needs Assessment and a study on the utilization of human services in Allegheny County.
Jessica Engel, BA, CPRS. Communication and Research Coordinator
Jessica is a writer of fantasy genre fiction as well as a costume jewelry designer. She earned her Bachelor of Art in English with a concentration in creative writing from George Mason University. Jessica is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in MD who specializes in first episode psychosis care for young adults. She has created and facilitated workshops to improve the wellbeing of individuals. In her free time, she likes to play RPG video games and craft collage art.
Callie Bennet, MSW. Research Coordinator
Callie is a recent MSW graduate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. They received their Bachelor of Science in Counseling from Lesley University. Callie worked in various clinical settings including inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health before pursuing a research career in 2023. Their research interests include autism, trauma and development, self-harm, suicidality, and clinical education.
Sophia Shieh. Research Coordinator/Doctoral Collaborator.
Sophia earned her MSc in Education and Developmental Psychology from the University of Oxford and her BA in Applied Psychology and Human Development, with minors in Philosophy and Medical Humanities, from Boston College. She has worked on peer-support integration projects and served as a mental health worker at McLean Hospital, conducted public health research on accessibility and structural determinants of health through a National Science Foundation internship, and contributed to trauma-informed child welfare and juvenile justice systems projects at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Informed by her own lived experiences of multiple system involvement, Sophia is deeply committed to research that centers lived experience and employs participatory action frameworks to promote equity in service delivery.
Doctoral Students
Shannon Pagdon, BA (she/they). Shannon is a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Her research explores how lived experience and participatory methods can transform early psychosis care, drawing on user/survivor research and mad studies perspectives. With a background in peer support, Shannon is committed to advancing equity, voice, and collaboration across mental health systems. She is the co-creator of Psychosis Outside the Box and currently serves as Vice President of Lived Experience Research within IEPA: Early Intervention in Mental Health. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys reading, hiking, baking, and sewing.