The Student Success & Wellness Professionals Alliance 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.

Members listening to speaker at event

Lunch, Learn & Network

Friday, Oct 30th, 2026
11:30 am to 2:30 pm | Rockville, MD

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.

Meet the Founders

  • Smiling person with brown hair wearing a black sweater and necklace, against a plain white background.

    Alex Williams

    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 - founding member

    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.

  • Wendy Weinberger, Founding Member

    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.

  • Molly Zametkin, Board Member Picture and Bio

    Molly Zametkin

    BOARD MEMBER

    Molly R. Zametkin, LCSW-C, LICSW, is a clinical social worker and healthcare operations specialist with more than 20 years of experience in mental health care.

    At CCG, she builds community partnerships and connects providers to help clients access coordinated, individualized treatment. Her clinical specialties include trauma-focused therapies, Attachment-Based Family Therapy, and clinical supervision.

    Molly’s background includes clinical leadership, 15 years providing therapy, and research at the National Institutes of Health. She is passionate about helping people find the right care and strengthening connections among the professionals who support them.

Education Partners

  • Logo of Anxiety Institute with stylized leaves

    Anxiety Institute

    Advanced anxiety and OCD for adolescents & young adults

  • CLE College Living Experience logo with green book icon

    CLE


    National Post-Secondary Education

  • Logo of an owl wearing a graduation cap, holding a pointer, with the text 'ILLUMINOS Academic Coaching & Tutoring' underneath.

    Academic Coaching & Tutoring


    Executive Function Coaching

  • Logo of ClearView Communities featuring a building silhouette with a sunburst design and text below.

    ClearView Communities


    Adult Residential Mental Health Services