Carmen Irving

Carmen Irving is the Vice President of PAXIS Institute and has worked in youth development and prevention for over twenty years, leading and empowering youth-serving professionals to implement evidence-based practices that support children and families across systems of care. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University and a PhD in Organizational Development and Leadership from the University of Arizona. A Certified Family Life Educator and Prevention Professional, Carmen has dedicated her career to strengthening families, building the capacity of youth-serving professionals, and co-authoring curricula, manuals, and journal articles on parent–child connectedness and population-level prevention. Her longstanding commitment to prevention and organizational effectiveness is grounded in the belief that all young people deserve nurturing adults, coordinated systems of support, and healthy environments in which they can thrive.

Hannah James-Alsabrook, M.S., is a Program Manager with the Oklahoma State University Center for Family Resilience, where she leads statewide prevention initiatives focused on strengthening children, families, schools, and communities. Her work spans program implementation, training and technical assistance, applied research, and evaluation, with an emphasis on translating evidence into practical strategies that improve community well-being. Hannah has trained and supported hundreds of educators, prevention professionals, healthcare providers, and community leaders across Oklahoma through initiatives including NEAR Science (Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACEs, and Resilience), PAX Good Behavior Game, PAX Tools Community Workshops, and Be Strong Families Parent Cafés.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Human Development and Family Science. Her expertise includes prevention science, implementation support, community-based participatory research, program evaluation, leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration. Hannah is a National PAXIS Trainer, a certified Be Strong Families Parent Café Trainer of Trainers, and a frequent presenter on evidence-informed approaches that bridge research, policy, and practice. She is passionate about building sustainable systems that strengthen protective factors, foster resilience, and equip communities to prevent adversity before it begins.

Jeanette Puskas serves as the Director of Customer Experience at the PAXIS Institute, providing guidance and hands-on support to organizations planning, launching, and scaling PAX programming across school and community settings. She has spent more than a decade supporting national and international sites in implementing, expanding, and sustaining evidence-based PAX programming, with a focus on workforce development and long-term impact. As an International PAX Trainer, Jeanette designs and delivers engaging, PAX trainings and works closely with local, state, tribal, and international partners on strategic planning for PAX implementation.
Jeanette has contributed to core PAX Good Behavior Game manuals and has presented at numerous regional and national conferences, including CADCA, the Governor’s Prevention Conference, National Federation of Families, and multiple behavioral health and education events.

Brooke McQuerrey Tuttle, Ph.D., serves as Director of the Oklahoma State University Center for Family Resilience, where she leads community-engaged research and translational science initiatives that strengthen prevention systems and improve behavioral health outcomes for children, families, and communities. She earned her M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Missouri and her Ph.D. in Human Sciences from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Tuttle leads the implementation and evaluation of large-scale, school- and community-based substance use prevention initiatives in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Her work advances the translation of evidence-based prevention strategies into practice through cross-sector collaboration, implementation and evaluation, workforce development, and community partnerships. Before joining the Center for Family Resilience, Dr. Tuttle worked in government and nonprofit settings serving vulnerable youth and families. Her research spans prevention science, resilience, and behavioral health across high-risk populations, including justice-involved youth and families, first responders, rural communities, and maternal-infant health. She is particularly interested in translating research into sustainable, community-based strategies that strengthen systems of care and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.