MindPeace

CINCINNATI, Ohio — May 15, 2026— MindPeace is proud to announce the appointment of Nicole Pfirman, M.Ed., OTR/L, as its new Executive Director, ushering in a new chapter of leadership dedicated to expanding youth mental health supports and strengthening school-based systems of care to improve the lives of youth across Southwest Ohio. Nicole will officially transition into the role in August 2026.

Nicole brings extensive experience as an educational leader in school-based mental health, with a unique occupation-based perspective that recognizes meaningful engagement in daily activities as foundational to identity, connection, and overall wellness. Throughout her career, she has focused on aligning educational and medical models through collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches that support the whole child.

With deep expertise in behavioral and mental health services, Nicole has championed integrated systems that bridge the classroom and the clinic, ensuring students receive the coordinated support they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Her leadership has centered on designing innovative, sustainable systems that challenge traditional approaches and create lasting outcomes for students, families, educators, and communities.

“MindPeace has long been a leader in transforming how schools and communities respond to youth mental health needs,” said Pfirman. “I am honored to lead this incredible organization and build upon its strong foundation of innovation, collaboration, and advocacy. We will continue expanding access to care and creating systems where every child can thrive.”

Nicole succeeds founder and longtime leader, Susan Shelton, whose visionary leadership helped establish MindPeace as a nationally recognized model for bringing a continuum of mental health services into schools throughout Southwest Ohio. Through Shelton's unmatched energy, experience, and unwavering dedication, MindPeace has transformed access to care for over 130,000 young people and 240+ school teams, with a focus on strengthening partnerships between schools, healthcare providers, and communities.

About MindPeace
MindPeace began in 2003 as a project of the Junior League of Cincinnati and became a 501c(3) in 2008. MindPeace is dedicated to improving the mental health and wellness of youth and families through school-based partnerships, system collaboration, and expanded access to care. By connecting education, healthcare, and community partners, MindPeace helps create environments where all students can succeed and thrive. For more information about MindPeace visit mindpeacecincinnati.com.

School leaders across our region are coming together for an important conversation around the future of student mental health support.

MindPeace is honored to welcome Eric Arzubi, MD for our upcoming School Administrator Forum: From Crisis Response to Crisis Prevention: A Strategic Framework for School Mental Health Systems.

Dr. Arzubi is a board-certified child and adult psychiatrist, CEO of Frontier Psychiatry, Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale Child Study Center, TEDx speaker, and nationally recognized mental health voice. His work has helped schools move beyond reactive crisis management toward proactive systems that better support students and educators alike.

The day will focus on practical strategies, systems-level thinking, and meaningful collaboration, followed by a networking reception for attending administrators and educational leaders.

Invited guests are encouraged to register soon through the email invitation shared with you.