Associate Board

The Associate Board brings together young professionals who are passionate about using their skills to give back to the community. Members serve as advocates for the organization’s mission and help raise funds to support its programming and impact.

  • MEMBER

    Waahibah Ahmed brings a strong background in financial analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning, with a focus on supporting mission-driven and community-based initiatives.

    She has held key leadership roles within the University Student Council at Western University, where she managed budgets, led financial planning, and supported fundraising efforts to ensure the sustainability of student programs. Beyond campus, she recently served as a mentor with the United Nations Association of Canada Eco Clubs Programme, guiding youth on sustainability initiatives, and contributes to the Harmony Movement through its fundraising committee, advancing anti-racism and inclusion efforts.

    She hopes to bring her vision and financial expertise to Droste Mental Health Services, supporting initiatives that make care more accessible, equitable, and community-centered. Through this work, she aims to help strengthen systems that empower individuals and promote long-term well-being.

  • MEMBER

    Originally from Salvador, Brazil, Amanda Baruch is a strategist with a background in marketing and communications, experienced in leading projects across Brazil and the United States. She has delivered campaigns for global brands like Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, L’Oréal, and Coca-Cola, helping companies create human-centric digital products and data-driven marketing strategies that drive measurable impact.

    Over the last years, Amanda has been working in the mental health care industry, where she applies her expertise to improve patient experience and engagement. She holds academic credentials from USP, FGV, and the University of Virginia, where her studies blended research, innovation, and creative thinking. With a strong interest in consumer behavior, access to care, and solutions at the intersection of healthcare and technology, she is passionate about shaping strategies that connect people to meaningful services and experiences.

    Currently based in New York, Amanda enjoys exploring the city's neighborhoods, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and being surrounded by pets.

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  • FOUNDING MEMBER

    Yarah Kassam is an experienced fundraising professional with over a decade of expertise in political and non-profit fundraising and advocacy within the education sector. With a strong background in event planning, operations, and fundraising strategy, Yarah is excited to bring her expertise to the Associate Board of Directors and is excited to work alongside others to make a meaningful impact in the community. Yarah is dedicated to removing the stigma surrounding mental health care and advocating for accessible and affordable care, so everyone can prioritize their well-being and continue to perform at their best.

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  • TREASURER

    FOUNDING MEMBER

    Grace Kirschner grew up in Melbourne, Florida, and is graduating from New York University this spring, with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Her passions include social and clinical psychology as well as psychological research. Her experiences researching, teaching, and volunteering in the psychology department at NYU have strengthened her desires to be a voice for the mental health community and support Droste's mission to make mental health care more accessible and affordable to those in need.

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  • FOUNDING MEMBER

    Casey Leath grew up in Dallas, Texas, and has built a career at the intersection of sales, marketing, and product, specializing in scaling growth and optimization. As the Founder of No Lines Consulting, Casey first worked with nonprofits through the American Heart Association, helping modernize their processes and improve efficiency by breaking down technical barriers. He has since worked at two of the world’s largest nonprofit software providers, helping organizations of all sizes—from grassroots initiatives to some of the world's largest nonprofits—streamline operations and maximize fundraising impact. Currently, Casey is a Senior Product Manager in the Fintech space, focused on building seamless consumer checkout experiences.

    Casey is deeply committed to expanding access to mental health care, recognizing it as one of the most underserved yet critical areas of healthcare. He is honored to support Droste in its mission to make quality mental health services accessible to all.

  • FOUNDING MEMBER

    Kim is a passionate corporate philanthropy professional and Master of Social Work candidate at Widener University, bringing over a decade of experience in the nonprofit, tech startup, and community health sectors. Kim has had the privilege of providing outpatient therapy to individuals at Droste Mental Health Services during her Master's program and looks forward to continuing to support the organization's amazing mission. Kim is committed to leveraging partnerships and clinical insight to uplift vulnerable populations and drive meaningful, systemic change.

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  • PRESIDENT

    FOUNDING MEMBER

    Shannon Oscher is the Manager of Operations Strategy and Analytics at a biotech startup and a former Life Sciences consultant at Accenture. With an undergraduate degree in chemical and biological engineering from Princeton, Shannon combines technical expertise with strategic insight to drive impactful initiatives within her teams. Having grown up across Asia and Europe, she is passionate about destigmatizing mental health needs and breaking down barriers to affordable, high-quality healthcare. Committed to creating meaningful change, Shannon also volunteers for Community Board 6 in Manhattan, where she addresses local issues and advocates for community improvements.

  • MEMBER

    John is a business administrator and professional Solver of Organization Problems, regardless of his official job title. John is bringing a decade of experience in Operations and Executive Team support in the for-profit sector to contribute to Droste’s mission however he can. John has seen the benefit of, and the need for, access to mental health services for underserved populations and is thrilled to be part of an amazing organization like Droste dedicated to that cause.

  • MEMBER

    Justin Reisch is a marketing and data analytics professional with 10 years experience working for mission-driven SaaS enterprises. Justin is excited to bring his experience driving growth in the private sector and passion for equitable mental health care to his work on the Associate Board of Directors at Droste. A Rochester New York native, Justin is a graduate of SUNY Geneseo and Imperial College London with degrees in both Physics and Engineering. In his spare time Justin enjoys cycling, le cinéma, the Buffalo Bills, and pop music.

Interested in joining the Associate Board?

Click here for more information!