The Student Support & Wellness Professionals Association is an education and networking group that includes an array of distinguished professionals committed to supporting students' academic, mental, social, and physical well-being

SSWPA is comprised of therapists, educators, schools, pediatricians, psychiatrists, counselors, learning support professionals, advocates, education attorneys, education consultants, and college counselors, test prep professionals and more!

Join a student support and wellness community that is knowledgeable, passionate, collaborative, and respected.

Interested in Joining?

Upcoming Event

Lunch, Learn & Network
Friday, April 25th - 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Tysons Corner, Virginia

Event invitation for "Student Success + Wellness Professional Alliance" lunch, learn, and network session on children's mental health, scheduled for April 25, 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM at Tysons Corner, VA.

Why Join SSWPA

Joining SSWPA provides an unparalleled opportunity to be part of an elite community of professionals shaping the future of student support and wellness. Our alliance prioritizes students' holistic well-being, fostering an environment of collaborative excellence, equity, and continuous learning. Become a member to actively participate in driving impactful change at the intersection of education and mental health.

Benefits

By becoming a member of SSWPA, you join a dynamic community dedicated to the holistic well-being of students. Our approach emphasizes the profound interconnection between the academic, mental, social, and physical facets of student well-being. Membership grants you access to a vibrant tapestry of professionals, allowing for enriching collaborations, sharing invaluable knowledge, and pooling resources. In addition, members gain access to our membership ListServ.

Learn More

Events

Our events are held in the DC Metro Area and NY Tri-State Area, so every member can more readily join our Lunch, Learn & Network event closest to them. They are held two times a year, typically on a Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Color-coded name tags to help identify member categories so attendees can quickly seek out those they want to speak with. Most events include networking, a 3-course plated meal, and a guest speaker. We also host smaller networking opportunities, breakfasts, and brunches.

Meet the Founders

Alex Williams, MSW

FOUNDING MEMBER
Alex Williams serves as the Clinical Outreach Specialist with Anxiety Institute, an organization treating those with significant anxiety and OCD. She works with therapeutic, educational, and community professionals to assist in resource connection, clinical assessments, and mental health education to ensure adolescents and families can thrive with the right resources. She has a passion for making sure everyone has access to the care they need, no matter what their situation. Outside of work, you can catch Alex whipping up recipes at home, exploring new cuisines, or escaping to the mountains to reconnect with nature.
Carmen Zahra, M.Ed.

FOUNDING MEMBER
Carmen Izurieta-Zahra, M.Ed. serves as the National Director of Outreach for CLE, a national post-secondary program for students with a variety of exceptionalities (including ADHD and ASD). Throughout her career, she has pursued a mission to empower students in finding their true potential. Carmen currently holds a master's in special education and a bachelor's in public relations. In her current role, she has married both professional backgrounds in hopes of making a long-lasting impact in the educational community.
Olga Marable, M.A.

FOUNDING MEMBER
Olga Marable, M.A., is the Business Development Manager at ClearView Communities, a residential mental health treatment program for young adults in Frederick, MD. She previously served as the Director of Admissions & Outreach at Fusion Academy for six years.
With a passion for relationship-building, Olga enjoys fostering connections within the education and mental health communities, as well as the individuals they support. She also has experience in digital marketing and luxury wedding planning.
Olga holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with a focus on Advertising and Public Relations from Towson University and a Master of Arts in Management with a focus on Marketing.
Originally from Belarus, Olga immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of three. She takes pride in preserving her native language and passing it on to her children, Connor and Payton.
Wendy Weinberger, J.D.

FOUNDING MEMBER
Wendy Weinberger, J.D. is the President and co-founder of Illuminos, a passion-born business from her experiences growing up with numerous family members with ADHD. When her son received the same diagnosis, she worked hard to help him overcome the many challenges and decided to expand her cousin Evan’s unique curriculum-based academic coaching business to the DC area to help parents and students in her community with similar challenges.
In 2023, Wendy was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Education by Women We Admire.
A lifelong supporter of children’s causes, Wendy has been a long-time advocate for Children’s Miracle Hospital Networks and Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC for whom she raised more than $550,000 for the facility.
Wendy holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center, and a Bachelor’s in Science, cum laude, from the University of Maryland. Prior to founding Illuminos, she spent 25 years as a practicing attorney, General Counsel & COO of publicly traded companies gaining a broad range of experiences that she leverages today in managing Illuminos.