Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health

Meet the team

Staff

Carolyn E. Hawley is a professor in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program in the VCU Department of Rehabilitation Counseling. Hawley has experience related to counseling, training, research and education in treatment, employment and community service needs of individuals with disabilities. She has also worked in programs specializing in addiction and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.

Hawley has served on numerous state and national boards. She is president of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling and a past board member with the National Council on Problem Gambling. She has experience managing grants through the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, among many others. She obtained her M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and her Ph.D. at VCU.

Jennifer Davis-Walton, M.A., ICGC-II has worked in the gambling disorder field since 2007. She previously served as the Director of Gambling Addiction Services at First Choice Services, Inc. where she managed the PGHNWV and the VCPG helpline.

Davis-Walton is an Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor, Level II. She is a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, where she serves as chair of the Helpline Committee and as a member of the NCPG Membership Committee. She also serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Administrators for Disordered Gambling Services, and is part of the Standards of Care, DEI and Learning Community workgroups.

Originally from northwestern Pennsylvania, Emma Freeman earned her B.S. in Early Childhood and Special Education from Edinboro University. After teaching elementary school for five years, Freeman pivoted to working at VCU in 2023. She was previously a Research Administrative Assistant for the Institute of Drug and Alcohol Studies. Outside of work, Freeman enjoys being with family and friends, playing card games, volunteering with her church, and spending time outside.

Following her passion for research, Shruti Sampath has engaged in a range of research projects while earning her M.S. in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at VCU. Sampath had the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Kanako Iwanaga on a research paper titled ‘Psychometric Validation of Stress Appraisal Measures,’ and as a research assistant under Dr. Courtney Holmes, focusing research on parents with children with Chronic Medical Complexity. Sampath presented her collaborated research work at VCU’s 26th and 27th Annual Graduate Research Symposium and the 2024 VACES Graduate Student Conference. She also completed her clinical internship at Richmond Behavioral Health Authority where she provided outpatient psychotherapy and psychosocial rehabilitation services.

Throughout her time at VCU, Sampath has continued to develop her leadership capabilities and find her voice through advocacy. She was selected as a 2024 Michele Dowdy Emerging Leader by the Virginia Counselors Association, and is an elected member of the prestigious Chi Sigma Iota and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies at VCU. Sampath is a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, the American Counseling Association, the Virginia Counseling Association, the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association. She also served as the communications chair for the Graduate Student Association at VCU and as the student representative for the College of Health Professions Executive Student Committee board.

Peer Recovery Specialists

At 17, Azeem Majeed was sentenced to two life terms without parole due to trauma and substance use. In prison, Majeed began his recovery journey, driven by faith, remorse, and a commitment to change. He became a respected leader, mentor, and co-facilitator in re-entry and substance abuse programs.

After serving 26 years, Majeed became the first juvenile offender in Virginia to have his sentence vacated by a federal court. He was granted parole in 2021 and has since achieved remarkable success. He completed training with Carbon Arc, spoke at conferences such as UVR, VCU, Virginia Tech, and the National Juvenile Services Symposium, and became an advocate for juvenile justice reform.

Majeed holds multiple certifications. He is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Integrated Forensic Peer Recovery Specialist Trainer, Certified Medication-Assisted Recovery Trainer, Problem Gambling Peer Recovery Specialist, and a Reentry Specialist. He’s also a Leadership Trainer and the Virginia ICAN Regional Connector for the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.

Majeed has earned numerous awards, including the 2022 Returning Citizen of the Year and the Point of Impact Award. In December 2022, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed him as a notary public. In 2023, Majeed became the first R-CPRS to join VCU’s College of Health Professions full-time, specializing in problem gambling addiction.

Matthew E. Britt’s personal journey with recovery and mental wellness has fueled his desire to support others in navigating similar challenges. He believes that no one should have to face challenges alone and is determined to make a difference in the lives of others. His mission is to ensure that everyone struggling with similar issues has access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Britt provides nonjudgmental and unconditional support to individuals seeking recovery. His approach emphasizes understanding, compassion, and empowerment. He holds additional certifications as a Forensic Peer Specialist Trainer of Trainers, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction practitioner, and an Acudetox Specialist, reflecting his commitment to expanding his skill set to meet diverse client needs.

Britt earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in human services from Old Dominion University and an associate degree in psychology from Germanna Community College.

Elizabeth Childress has a passion for helping the underserved and using her vast lived experience in addiction, the judicial system, Medication Assisted Treatment, and her unique experience in recovery to instill hope in others.

She is a Qualified Mental Health Professional and a Registered Certified Peer Support Specialist. She has a Problem Gambling endorsement in Virginia and is a Certified Peer Support Specialist in Tennessee and with the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium. In addition to her work with VPGH, Childress partners with East Tennessee State University’s Addiction Science Center, where she serves on the Central Appalachian Peer Partnership board for the STARS project and serves as a board member for the Collaborative Hub for Emerging Adult Recovery Research. 

Childress holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, a Clinical Addiction Counseling Graduate Certificate from East Tennessee State University and is currently pursuing her M.S.W. at VCU. 

Lisa Cochran, CPRS-PG-T, i-FPRS-T, MARS-T, is the Region 2 Peer Support Coordinator assisting individuals impacted by gambling addiction at VPGH. Cochran has found sustained long-term recovery after struggling with addiction for more than 20 years. She is empowered by the privilege of helping others as a legacy to her daughter, Skylar Ann, who lost her battle with addiction and overdosed at the young age of 18.  She has weaponized her life experiences against the disease of addiction and uses them to support others on their journey of recovery.

Cochran is certified with the Virginia Board of Counseling in Peer Support and is a trainer of both Forensic Peer Support and Medication Assisted Recovery Support with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. She also carries several additional certifications in a variety of integrative healing modalities that focus on compassionate, collaborative, trauma-informed, and person-centered care.

Cochran is committed to eliminating treatment disparities by participating in practices that build equity. She has held various board and volunteer positions that focus on criminal justice reform, mental health and addiction treatment, youth development, recovery supports and restorative justice. She currently serves as the president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness for the Northern Shenandoah Valley where she is also a program facilitator, speaker and peer trainer.

Sean Fournia is committed to assisting individuals grappling with gambling disorders. Drawing from his personal journey of overcoming gambling and substance use disorders, Fournia found his calling in supporting others on their path to recovery. Prior to working with VPGH, Fournia spent 15 years in the information technology field at various Fortune 500 companies, leveraging his skills and experiences to excel in his career. However, it was his transition to peer support services that truly ignited his passion for helping others.

In 2017, Fournia was selected as an AmeriCorps member to provide peer support services as part of the governor’s initiative to combat the opioid epidemic in the city of Richmond. Through his work at the Richmond nonprofit CARITAS, he quickly advanced from a peer mentor to roles such as Transition Peer Mentor, Peer Supervisor, and eventually Recovery Program Coordinator, where his servant-leadership qualities were nationally recognized. Fournia’s commitment to serving extends beyond his professional roles. He actively participates in various organizations and initiatives, including the THP Alumni Association, CARITAS AfterWorks Committee, VCPG, NAADAC, and VAAP, and volunteers at Chesterfield County Jail and Beaumont Correctional Facility.

Fournia is a Nationally Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist with a Problem Gambling endorsement from the DBHDS. As the owner of Teamwork Recovery Services LLC, he is leading efforts to provide peer support to Virginia citizens through partnerships with organizations. Outside of his professional endeavors, Fournia enjoys a range of adventures, hobbies and interests, including spiritual development, yoga, weightlifting, soccer, surfing, skydiving, water skiing, snow skiing, and fostering connections through fellowship and learning from others.

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

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