Karen Larsen, LMFT
Karen Larsen brings a rich history of public service and proven leadership to the role of the Steinberg Institute’s first Chief Executive Officer. As a natural result of her own life’s experience, her academic training, and the thirty years of recovery she has achieved, she possesses an unwavering passion and extraordinary ability to improve the lives of California’s most vulnerable communities.
Prior to joining the Steinberg Institute, Karen served as the Director of Yolo County’s Health and Human Services Agency, an integrated agency providing social services, public health, mental health, and substance abuse services to the over 212,000 residents of Davis, W. Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland. Prior to her work at the county, Karen spent 20 years caring for uninsured, undocumented, and underserved people in community clinics and non-profit agencies. Her commitment to integrating care has not only ensured people receive the care they need but has exponentially improved the outcomes for those who have both a behavioral health challenge and other comorbid physical health conditions. Her leadership has inspired others to build bridges across systems as a mechanism for improving outcomes between health systems, the criminal justice community, school districts, cities, and many other key stakeholder groups and organizations. This innovative model has served as a beacon that has cleared the way for the development of innumerable innovative programs with braided funding streams that maximized services for those in need across the state.
In addition to her work at the local level, Karen has been an active member of many statewide groups engaging in cross-system collaboration to address all determinants of health, including the California Welfare Directors Association and California Behavioral Health Directors Association where she co-chaired the Children’s Committee and Criminal Justice Committee. Karen also plays a leadership role on the Child Welfare Council as the co-chair of the Behavioral Health Committee; on the CalAIM Foster Care Model of Care Workgroup; and, as a member of California’s Department of Health Care Services’ Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee. She also is a member of the California Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Task Force.
Karen is the mother of three children and a rescue dog. She has a long-term partner, is a member of the LGBTQ community, and is a long-time resident of Sacramento. Her self-care strategies include daily walks, a gallon of water a day, and gardening.
Tracey Dickinson
Tracey is a dedicated public administrator with nearly 20 years of leadership in public and nonprofit programs, focused on promoting health, safety, and stability for the communities she serves. Known for turning visionary ideas into actionable work plans, Tracey understands what it takes to keep complex initiatives moving forward.
Prior to joining the Steinberg Institute, Tracey served as the Deputy Branch Director of Administration at the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, where she led a diverse range of administrative and strategic services for an integrated agency.
Tracey’s early career was spent in non-profit organizations, as well two-years of service in the United States Peace Corps in Thailand. She joined the Yolo County Administrator’s Office in 2012, providing policy analysis and Board support with a focus on health and human services issues. She went on to coordinate homelessness programs for the County, partnering with stakeholders to implement system-wide changes that enhanced use of evidence-based practices in the local homeless continuum of care.
Tracey holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration. Based in Sacramento, Tracey shares her home with her energetic toddler and stubborn border collie. Driven by a strong sense of wanderlust, she jumps at every opportunity to explore new places.
Tara Gamboa-Eastman
Tara Gamboa-Eastman is a seasoned policy and advocacy professional with a deep commitment to advancing public policy solutions that drive meaningful change. Currently serving as the Director of Government Affairs at the Steinberg Institute, Tara leads integrated advocacy campaigns, leveraging her expertise in policy analysis, strategic communications, and coalition-building. She plays a key role in shaping legislative, budget, and regulatory priorities, ensuring that critical mental health and social policy issues remain at the forefront of policymaking.
At the Steinberg Institute, Tara has spearheaded numerous legislative and budgetary initiatives. She was the lead advocate for AB 988 (Bauer-Kahan), a groundbreaking bill establishing a statewide mental health crisis response system. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in securing hundreds of millions of dollars in workforce funding through the state budget to address our behavioral health workforce shortage.
Before joining the Steinberg Institute, Tara served in the California State Assembly in the Office of Assemblymember Phil Ting, where she managed legislative efforts related to housing, homelessness, and human services. Over her career, she has also held impactful roles with the San Francisco Treasurer’s Financial Justice Project, Western Center on Law & Poverty, and the California Work & Family Coalition, driving research, advocacy, and policy development in areas of economic and social justice.
Tara holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UC Berkeley. With a track record of policy innovation and legislative success, she remains dedicated to fostering equitable and effective public policies that improve the lives of all Californians.
Corey Hashida
Corey is a recognized behavioral health financing and policy expert who explains complex and technical issues in simple, easy-to-understand ways. He leads fiscal and policy analysis for the Institute and enjoys using his insights to strengthen advocacy and implementation work. Corey has authored many publications on mental health and substance use disorder policy in California and his work has played a pivotal role in shaping public policy as addressing behavioral health has become a high priority for the state.
Before joining the Steinberg Institute Corey worked for the nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst’s Office. In this role, he advised the state legislature on health care budget issues and was the office’s primary subject-matter expert on behavioral health.
Corey is a lifelong fan of the Oakland Athletics and Oakland Raiders and is fluent in American Sign Language. He holds a Master of Public Policy from USC and a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in economics from UC Irvine.
Carmen Marcelo
Carmen was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She immigrated to the US when she was nineteen and made California her home ever since. She has seen and experienced how access to basic human needs or even one’s cultural background impedes the important role mental health has in a person’s quality of life.
Having been an administrative professional for over 20 years, Carmen’s experience has given her the opportunity to work across different sectors and industries. Her past roles included managing a small nonprofit counseling agency and helping establish office operations for a Silicon Valley tech start-up. Carmen has served as a top-level executive assistant to CEOs, hedge fund managers, and business owners. Her transition back to the mental health landscape is a deep-seated passion to make a positive impact on the lives of those who are most vulnerable in our communities.
Carmen holds a BS degree in Business Administration. She lives in Sacramento County with her husband, Sonny, and has two kids out of college.
Kelsey McGillis
Kelsey is a marketing and communications professional with a background in digital strategy, content development, research, and behavioral health policy. She has nearly a decade of experience translating complex ideas into clear, accessible campaigns that boost visibility and drive engagement. By leading multi-channel initiatives and crafting strategic messaging, she has helped organizations across sectors communicate effectively and advance their missions.
With a Master of Public Policy from UCLA focused on mental health, she has contributed to research on serious mental illness care gaps, long-term services for individuals with disabilities, and behavioral health workforce challenges. Kelsey is particularly interested in utilizing communication as a tool for mental health equity. Building on her prior experience as a Research Fellow at the Steinberg Institute, she supports the organization’s mental health systems advocacy by bridging her work in marketing and behavioral health policy.
Born and raised on the east coast, Kelsey became a west coast transplant when she moved to California from New York in 2021. She lives in Sacramento with her rescue dog, Rosie.
Jason Shoultz
Jason is an award-winning storyteller and communicator who brings a passion for connecting with audiences in new ways.
His work has made him familiar with the importance of mental health policy in California. In 2011 he produced Critical Condition: California’s Emergency Rooms for KVIE Public Television. The documentary highlighted the impact of mental health funding cuts on health care providers. He also was a producer for the documentary A New State of Mind: Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness.
For ten years Jason traveled the world capturing stories about American agriculture for the program America’s Heartland and was honored to get an exclusive tour of the White House Kitchen Garden from First Lady Michelle Obama in 2010. He has won three regional EMMY Awards for his work as a producer and executive producer. An Iowa native, he graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and minor in political science.
As Director of Strategic Partnerships, Jason leads the organization’s communication and development efforts – ensuring the work of the Steinberg Institute reaches audiences and partners throughout California and beyond.
Jason served on the board of directors for My Sister’s House, an organization serving Asian and Pacific Islander and other underserved women and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. He lives with his wife and two children in the Sacramento area.