Clinical & Education Staff
lori allen, Ph.D., Executive director
Dr. Lori Allen is executive director of the Oregon Mind Body Institute. She is a licensed psychologist specializing in mind-body treatment of traumatic stress, eating and body image, depression, and anxiety. Dr. Allen holds a Master of Education and began her career in Special Education teaching students with learning and behavioral issues.
As executive director of OMBI, Dr. Allen oversees the everyday operations of the business and supervises and trains trainers, leads groups, and teaches mindfulness-based mental health in schools. She believes our individual and collective health and well-being are intricately connected, and that to address mental health at its core, we need to reimagine the meaning of education and the deeper societal sources of stress.
lori allen, Ph.D., Executive director
Dr. Lori Allen is executive director of the Oregon Mind Body Institute. She is a licensed psychologist specializing in mind-body treatment of traumatic stress, eating and body image, depression, and anxiety. Dr. Allen holds a Master of Education and began her career in Special Education teaching students with learning and behavioral issues.
As executive director of OMBI, Dr. Allen oversees the everyday operations of the business and supervises and trains trainers, leads groups, and teaches mindfulness-based mental health in schools. She believes our individual and collective health and well-being are intricately connected, and that to address mental health at its core, we need to reimagine the meaning of education and the deeper societal sources of stress.
shin shin tAng, ph.D., clinical director
Dr. Shin Shin Tang is a licensed psychologist specializing in the mind-body treatment of traumatic stress and persistent pain. Dr. Tang received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon where she also taught numerous courses. She opened her own practice in Eugene in 2010 and joined OMBI in 2015.
As an educator, Dr. Tang brings her passion for helping others improve their sense of well-being to the therapy groups she leads at OMBI and to professional development trainings for teachers.
shin shin tAng, ph.D., CLINICAL director
Dr. Shin Shin Tang is a licensed psychologist specializing in the mind-body treatment of traumatic stress and persistent pain. Dr. Tang received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon where she also taught numerous courses. She opened her own practice in Eugene in 2010 and joined OMBI in 2015.
As an educator, Dr. Tang brings her passion for helping others improve their sense of well-being to the therapy groups she leads at OMBI and to professional development trainings for teachers.
Emily PetersOn, M.S.W., Education director
Emily Peterson has worked at the Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC) since 2011. She is the co-clinical director for the Kids in Transition to Schools (KITS) program, providing clinical supervision to KITS teams, lead teaching for school readiness groups, and consulting for the implementation of school readiness intervention. She earned her master’s degree in Social Work from Portland State, and is currently finishing an internship at Embody Play Yoga, where she is learning how to incorporate play, attachment, and somatic work to open the doors for children and families to live in balance and harmony together.
Over the past five years, Peterson has worked with children and families in many different capacities, including treatment foster care, residential day treatment programs, elementary schools, and county mental health. She is also working toward completing her Kids Yoga Teaching License.
Emily Peterson, M.S.W., education director
Emily Peterson has worked at the Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC) since 2011. She is the co-clinical director for the Kids in Transition to Schools (KITS) program, providing clinical supervision to KITS teams, lead teaching for school readiness groups, and consulting for the implementation of school readiness intervention. She earned her master’s degree in Social Work from Portland State, and is currently finishing an internship at Embody Play Yoga, where she is learning how to incorporate play, attachment, and somatic work to open the doors for children and families to live in balance and harmony together.
Over the past five years, Peterson has worked with children and families in many different capacities, including treatment foster care, residential day treatment programs, elementary schools, and county mental health. She is also working toward completing her Kids Yoga Teaching License.
Lela Ross, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Lela Ross brings experience as a Student Success Navigator for the Lane African American Black Student Success Program (Lane AABSS), where she worked to improve African American Black students’ access to an equitable education in Lane County. She has also been Executive Director and a long-standing member of Honoring Our Ethnic Youth (HONEY), a nonprofit established in 1983 dedicated to supporting and advocating for multiracial youth and families in Lane County. Lela has training in restorative and social justice, and has helped organize community events such as as Juneteenth, Black Cultural Festival, MLK Celebration, and Black Women of Eugene/Springfield.
She is an experienced mindfulness teacher, and she studies and practices shamanic healing. She is currently working on her 200hr Yoga Alliance Teacher certification.
Lela Ross, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Lela Ross brings experience as a Student Success Navigator for the Lane African American Black Student Success Program (Lane AABSS), where she worked to improve African American Black students’ access to an equitable education in Lane County. She has also been Executive Director and a long-standing member of Honoring Our Ethnic Youth (HONEY), a nonprofit established in 1983 dedicated to supporting and advocating for multiracial youth and families in Lane County. Lela has training in restorative and social justice, and has helped organize community events such as as Juneteenth, Black Cultural Festival, MLK Celebration, and Black Women of Eugene/Springfield.
She is an experienced mindfulness teacher, and she studies and practices shamanic healing. She is currently working on her 200hr Yoga Alliance Teacher certification.
Samantha Martínez, M.Phil.Ed, M.S.Ed
Samantha Martínez, M.Phil.Ed., OMHP is a sixth-year doctoral student in the University of Oregon’s Counseling Psychology and Human Services program. Samantha completed her M.S.Ed and M.Phil.Ed in Counseling and Mental Health Services and Professional Counseling at the University of Pennsylvania. Her past research efforts include the efficacy of racial socialization techniques in Black families as well as the impact of early college high school (ECHS) programs on academic self-efficacy. Her current research interests are fostering racial identity development and promoting academic achievement in Latinx youth, as well as providing bilingual and bicultural mental health services in Oregon.
Samantha also works closely with racial literacy groups all over the country to support improved cultural competency in corporate settings. Samantha enjoys reading, cooking, dancing, stand-up comedy and spending time with her family and friends. She has two elderly kitties and a young, rambunctious dog that keeps her busy in her day-to-day life. She also tremendously appreciates terrible puns and is always looking for the next bad pun that helps her annoy her loved ones.
Samantha Martínez, M.Phil.Ed, M.S.Ed
Samantha Martínez, M.Phil.Ed., OMHP is a sixth-year doctoral student in the University of Oregon’s Counseling Psychology and Human Services program. Samantha completed her M.S.Ed and M.Phil.Ed in Counseling and Mental Health Services and Professional Counseling at the University of Pennsylvania. Her past research efforts include the efficacy of racial socialization techniques in Black families as well as the impact of early college high school (ECHS) programs on academic self-efficacy. Her current research interests are fostering racial identity development and promoting academic achievement in Latinx youth, as well as providing bilingual and bicultural mental health services in Oregon.
Samantha also works closely with racial literacy groups all over the country to support improved cultural competency in corporate settings. Samantha enjoys reading, cooking, dancing, stand-up comedy and spending time with her family and friends. She has two elderly kitties and a young, rambunctious dog that keeps her busy in her day-to-day life. She also tremendously appreciates terrible puns and is always looking for the next bad pun that helps her annoy her loved ones.
Administrative Staff
ada Chester, finance director
Ada Chester is responsible for OMBI’s financial operations, bringing her extensive experience in accounting, human resources, contracting, and strategic planning to the organization. She works closely with the executive director, the Board of Directors, and OMBI’s Finance Committee to create our financial policies and procedures, and provide budgeting and forecasting to forward OMBI’s mission. She manages all of this while raising a child and running her own business.
Ada’s early background in art and large art communities has informed a creative and humanistic approach to her work. Ada believes art, creativity, and balance are important components of mental health.
ada Chester, finance director
Ada Chester is responsible for OMBI’s financial operations, bringing her extensive experience in accounting, human resources, contracting, and strategic planning to the organization. She works closely with the executive director, the Board of Directors, and OMBI’s Finance Committee to create our financial policies and procedures, and provide budgeting and forecasting to forward OMBI’s mission. She manages all of this while raising a child and running her own business.
Ada’s early background in art and large art communities has informed a creative and humanistic approach to her work. Ada believes art, creativity, and balance are important components of mental health.
Oregon Mind Body Institute (OMBI) is a tax-exempt organization with a 501(c)(3) status.