Suicide Prevention Summit

Jonathan B. Singer, Ph.D., LCSW, is Professor at Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work, past-president of the American Association of Suicidology, coauthor of two editions of the best-selling text, Suicide in Schools: A Practitioner's Guide to Multi-level Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Postvention, and co-editor of the 2024 text Podcasting in Social Work Education. He is a two-time winner of the National Association of Social Workers Media Award. In 2023, he was inducted as an NASW "Social Work Pioneer" for introducing podcasting to social work, and in 2024 was inducted as a Society for Social Work and Research Fellow.

Earl Dotson is a Super Bowl champion, former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman, and nationally recognized mental health advocate whose voice is shaped by both elite performance and profound personal loss. A 2026 inductee into the Packers Hall of Fame, Dotson spent a decade protecting Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre and competing at the highest level of professional football. Today, he brings that same strength and resilience to the urgent work of suicide prevention.

After the devastating loss of his son to suicide in 2022, Dotson co-founded A Tale of Two Sons Foundation to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support individuals and families navigating mental health challenges. His advocacy is grounded in lived experience—speaking candidly about grief, masculinity, help-seeking, and the importance of community connection.

Dotson’s background in psychology, combined with his journey through injury, recovery, and personal tragedy, gives him a unique perspective on mental health across the lifespan—from athletes and veterans to families and young people. A recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, he continues to exemplify compassion, courage, and service beyond the field.

Through powerful storytelling and authentic connection, Dotson inspires audiences to have difficult conversations, recognize warning signs, and take action to support those at risk.

As a first‑generation Hmong refugee, Sheng Lee Yang, M.S.W., LCSW, PMH-C, brings a deeply personal commitment to equity and healing. Resettled in Wisconsin as a young refugee, she became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, perinatal mental health therapist, and nonprofit executive. A former professor, Sheng taught social justice, mental health, and advocacy to future social workers. Her work spans public, private, government, and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on integrating cultural humility into behavioral health. In 2019, she founded Us 2 Behavioral Health Care to advance accessible, community‑centered mental health services. As a mother of two, she leads with empathy and purpose.