Awards & Recognition
Our research-driven strategies and validated outcomes have earned our team these awards:
- NREPP Certification- National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, 2016
- NASADAD Award-National Exemplary Award for Innovative Programs, Practices and Policies, 2014
- Service to Science Award for Building Evaluation Capacity for Evidence-Based Interventions, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2013
- Service to Science Award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2011
- Governor’s Traffic Safety Award for Long-term Achievement 2011
Our Team
With collective experience that spans a century, our team’s dedication to the health, safety and empowerment of youth is unparalleled. We stand firmly in our belief that when you capture the passion of youth, give them focus, support and agency, you change lives. SLS has been doing just this since 1982 and our commitment has never waivered.
Meet Our People
Staff
Dawn Flood, LMSW, CPC-R
Executive Director/CEO
Dawn joined the SLS team in 2004 and has been involved in peer education and youth-led prevention programming since 1998. After 18 years with SLS and serving as Prevention Specialist and Program Director, Dawn accepted the Executive Director position at SLS in 2022. Prior to SLS, Dawn served as the Substance Abuse Educator at Saginaw Valley State University. Dawn works directly with chapter advisors and students throughout Michigan. She combines her school social work background with a cognitive behavioral approach and applies it to prevention. Dawn incorporates changing students’ thoughts (cognitive), to change their actions (behavior) and build skills.
Pamela Voss-Page, M. Ed.
Research Director
Pamela Voss-Page has served SLS since 1984 and was a founding member of the SLS Board of Directors. Over the years, Pam held various roles in the organization and became the Executive Director in 1994 and currently serves as the Research Director. As a result of Pam's dedication, Michigan led the nation in effective youth-led health and safety programming. Pam's ongoing commitment to prevention research and evidence-based practice continues with annual evaluation and a validation study that led to our national recognition and replication.
Marcia Partin
Prevention Specialist
Marcia joined the SLS team in 2021. She previously was a Prevention Manager developing in-school and afterschool prevention programming and summer camps in Detroit. Marcia’s heart is to help students grow in all areas of thinking to help them make life changes that in turn change the world! She uses her experience as a youth minster to understand youth struggles and to see the potential in every youth to do great things. Marcia also believes that all great learning involves some fun along the way.
Ann Colwell Johnson
Program Specialist
Ann joined the SLS team in October 2024. She grew up in Clarkston and graduated from Michigan State University. After a range of teaching positions from 29 Palms, California to a UAW daycare, she landed at Mason Middle School in Waterford. She taught Language Arts and Science to 6-8th graders for 23 years. She has a Masters Degree in Science Education from Walden University. She always wanted to be the "fun" person to go to classrooms like her friend Dawn. She is so happy to be a part of SLS.
Board of Directors
Ward Bartlett, President
Retired Teacher & Advisor, Warren Consolidated Schools
Ward Bartlett spent his career as a social and physical sciences teacher in Warren Consolidated Schools. He retired in 2024 after thirty years at Mott and Cousino High Schools. He was an advisor for his schools' chapters of Student Leading Students for 28 years. He continues to be an active part of SLS chapters post-retirement : visiting schools and providing advisor trainings across Michigan. He has been a member of the SLS Board since 1997.
He is married to wife Lisa, with three daughters, and six grandchildren. He is enjoying spending his retirement with his family and exploring his hobbies of reading, visiting Presidential Homes, and scuba diving. He serves as an Elder at the Heritage Church of Christ in Clawson, MI.
Zane Sami Hatahet, Media Spokesperson
Assistant General Counsel, Real Truck
A local of both Detroit and Dubai, Zane Hatahet joined the Board of SLS in 2016. Zane works as an Assistant General Counsel for RealTruck in Ann Arbor, MI, and previously worked as an attorney at Dickinson Wright, Foley & Lardner, and Magna, after earning his Juris Doctor degree and undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. Besides serving on the Board of SLS, Zane also serves on multiple other non-profit boards and committees, and the Governor of Michigan appointed Zane to serve as a State Commissioner on the Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs.
Toni Lauretano, Vice President
Development Generalist, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
Toni is a Development and Fundraising professional. She is currently an Assistant Director of Development in the Michigan Medicine Office of Development at the University of Michigan. She has been in academic medical center development for 7 years, raising important funds for health care research, education, and programming. Specific fundraising areas have included women’s health, children’s health, Orthopaedic Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and nursing.
Toni was a member of the Chelsea High School Students Leading Students Chapter all four years of high school. She volunteered for several years following high school, before joining the Student Leadership Services Board of Directors in 2019 as the Fund Development Chair. Toni now serves as Vice President of the Board.
Toni earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Grand Valley State University. Toni also enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with friends and family.
Dianne Bostic Robinson, LMSW, Secretary/Strategic Planning Chair
Dianne Bostic Robinson & Associates, LLC
Dianne is a License Master of Social Worker and Retired non-profit executive who joined the SLS board in 1997. She is a community volunteer serving on non-profit Boards and one for profit Hospital Advisory Board. Prior to her retirement Dianne had directed nonprofit agencies or been in an executive level position. These agencies have included muti-service agencies dealing with child abuse and neglect, foster care, residential treatment, heard start, job training, substance abuse, etc.
She has served as president of the Board or Officer of numerous national, state wide and local non-profit boards and organizations, such as the Child Welfare League of American, Michigan Association of Child Care Agencies to name a few.
She also enjoys studying parliamentary law and is past president of the Louise Saks Parliamentary Unit in Michigan. She is an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Detroit, Michigan.
Michael Beard
Hudson Area Schools
Mike joined the SLS board in 2025 and brings 26 years of diverse experience in education to his current roles as Director of Educational Outreach and Director of Innovation & Strategic Initiatives at Hudson Area Schools in Hudson, MI. Now in his eighth year as an administrator, Mike is a key leader in the district.
As Director of Educational Outreach, Mike established Rising Scholars, a program designed to support students aspiring to attend highly selective universities. In his capacity as Director of Innovation & Strategic Initiatives, he is actively developing a competency-based "microschool."
Mike's educational journey began at Oakland University, where he earned degrees in Communication Arts and Journalism. He later attended Wayne State University, completing a degree in English and a Master's in Teaching.
Originally from Rochester Hills, MI, Mike now resides in Sylvania, OH, with his wife of 19 years and their four children: Max (17), Griffin (14), Lily (12), and Leo (6).
Griselda Mucollari, Google Ads Manager
(Since 2021)
Tinuiti
SLS Pastor
Pastor Benji
Mt. Vernon Nazarene University
Benjamin first started his journey with SLS when he was a sophomore at Waterford Mott High School and has served as an intern over the last 4 years. Benji has made great contributions to the organization and is a valued member of our team. In addition to creating a series of mini-handbooks, Benji wrote and received several grants, served on our Student Advisory Board, managed social media, and led student workshops. We are proud of Benji’s integrity and persistence and how he is using the skills he’s acquired for a career in children’s ministry.
Meet Our Student Advisory Board
Established in 1986, we train each passionate group of emerging leaders to lead and teach their peers and younger students. They work with our team and member schools to promote youth involvement, networking and stakeholder partnerships. The Student Advisory Board (SAB) develops and leads conferences, assemblies and workshops. These students are dedicated to creating healthy, safe and inclusive schools and communities across Michigan and we are proud to help them do this important work!
Congratulations to 40th SLS SAB
2025-2026
Featured left to right: Marvin Mills (3rd year member), Marion Jr/Sr High School; Zacur Harrell, Clarenceville High School; Myah Randolph (2nd year member), Brighton High School; A’niyah Daniels (2nd year member), Clarenceville High School; Kaley Long, Taylor High School
It makes us proud that former Student Advisory Board (SAB) members and other young adults who have benefited from SLS programs continue to support us after they graduate. They return because they want to pass on the strength, skills, and knowledge that they acquired as members of SLS programs. As part of our team, our alumni volunteers help with financial contributions, event planning, technology support, student and chapter mentoring, and fundraising. We are inspired by and incredibly grateful for their ongoing involvement!
Alumni Volunteers
Sponsors & Partners
