WHO
WE ARE
We are a team of dedicated partners and collaborators working together to make an impact.
TEAM MEMBERS.
Susan M. Bissett, PhD
President
Dr. Susan Bissett is the president of the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute and is committed to reducing overdose deaths in West Virginia.
Bissett has over 25 years of administrative experience with non-profits and education. She is fiercely committed to public health and health education. Most recently, she developed and implemented opioid prescription and medication safety programs aimed at educating all young people and the public about the dangers of prescription and illicit drug use/misuse. She is an advocate for evidence-based prevention programming, harm reduction services, and common-sense SUD response. Susan has written over 100 articles to date, with her most recent publications focusing on OTP treatment, harm reduction programming, medication safety, overdose response, and increasing the pipeline of healthcare professionals in Appalachia. She also serves on the board of the West Virginia Rural Health Association and has received recognition for outstanding and innovative contributions in combatting our nation’s drug crisis.
Mia Manfredi is the Executive Assistant to Dr. Bissett, President of the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute. She has over 15 years of experience in office management primarily in the legal field where she worked in Criminal Defense and Family Law. There she worked diligently assisting adult and juvenile clients enter into treatment programs both privately and through the Kanawha County Drug Court Program. Ms. Manfredi’s background provides unique insight to the opioid epidemic and the struggles facing West Virginians.
Mia’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s in Psychology as well as multiple certifications in health and fitness. She enjoys teaching Pilates and Lagree in her spare time so that she may encourage others to live their best lives.
Mia Manfredi
Budget & Office Manager
Heather McDaniel
Heather McDaniel serves as the Grants Administrator for WV DII.
Heather McDaniel has worked in the Substance Use Disorder field for many years. From managing behavioral health/substance use disorder helplines to assisting with launching new treatment centers and programs in multiple states to working in state government, Heather has vast experience in the field and is committed to helping improve the treatment and recovery sector in West Virginia.
Heather is passionate about helping those struggling with addiction and is excited to work with a team of people focused on helping our great state. She looks forward to collaborating with others to improve the existing treatment and recovery landscape within the state and help advance public policy and work to reduce stigma statewide.
Heather McDaniel
Vice President
Lilith McGhee serves as the Outreach Coordinator at the WVDII.
Lilith has experience working on various neuroscience studies related to alcohol and substance use disorder (SUD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) research at West Virginia University. She has experience working as a student alongside quick response teams and threat preparedness at the local level. Lilith is passionate about practicing evidence-based prevention strategies and identifying gaps in current practices.
In her free time, she works in the community, specifically with service industry on overdose prevention effort.
Lilith McGhee
Outreach Coordinator
Rachel Hensley
Kenny Matthews
Customer Service & Production Specialist
Rachel Hensley serves as the Customer Service & Production Specialist. Kenny Matthews serves as the ONEbox Outreach Coordinator at the Institute. Both persons in long-term recovery, Matthews and Hensley are active in promoting health care reform, encouraging increased access to harm reduction services, and advocating for policies that address the root causes of addiction.
Matthews is a member of several activist organizations, including the West Virginia Citizen Action Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting social, economic, and environmental justice in the state. Both Matthews and Hensley are vocal about issues related to addiction and recovery in West Virginia, including expanding access to addiction treatment and recovery support services.
ONEbox Outreach Coordinator
Rhiannon Wiseman is the Receptionist and Customer Service Representative for the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute. She has over 11 years in long-term recovery and is driven to bring her best to the team. Rhiannon is currently enrolled with Jobs & Hope and is completing her certification as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) in order to better assist others in her community while promoting the Institute’s mission.
Rhiannon expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the WV DII team. She feels she is right where she belongs.
Rhiannon Wiseman
Receptionist/Customer Service Representative
Edward A. Sisson has joined the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute as a Development Consultant. Sisson has 25 years of Experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry serving in Various Positions with Glaxo Smith Kline. He Retired as a Sr. Executive Clinical Specialist in the NeuroHealth Division at GSK.
Sisson has worked in Higher Education Development for 10 years at West Virginia Wesleyan College. A Native of the Kanawha Valley Sisson has Returned and is Living in Charleston.
Ed Sisson
Development Consultant
Dr. Rebecca S. Linger serves as a Research Consultant and the Nalox(ONE) WV coordinator for the WV DII.
Rebecca is also a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy. She received a B.A. in Music and a B.S. in Biochemistry from San Francisco State University. She earned her Ph.D. at Purdue University in the laboratory of V. Jo Davisson at the School of Pharmacy. She has over seventeen years of teaching experience at the professional level. She has published several articles on mechanistic enzymological topics in top scientific journals.
Rebecca S. Linger, PhD
Research Consultant & Nalox(ONE) WV Project Coordinator
Matt Rafa is a 2010 graduate of the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy and a pharmacy manager at Kroger Grocery Store in Wheeling, WV. In his 12-year career, Matt has been on the board for WV Pharmacists Association for 8 years and is currently the President. He has won numerous awards for community volunteerism and pharmacy achievement. Having lost friends to overdose, Matt is honored to be working with the WVDII to hopefully prevent others from the loss of loved ones.
Matt Rafa
Research Consultant
Darynann Washington is DII's coordinator of the SAPT grant. She will focus on the Kanawha Communities that Cares Coalition.
Darynann has a background in SUD prevention, Recovery, Harm Reduction, Marketing, & fundraising. She has a huge passion for helping community members in need. Darynann is a graduate of WVSU with an AS in Health Care and BS of Psychology. Darynann previously coordinated the SAPT grant in Boone County as the Director of the Boone STOPWatch Coalition. The Institute is proud to be the fiscal agent and partner with the Kanawha Communities that Care Coalition.
Darynann Washington
SAPT Grant Coordinator
Joe Murphy, President of MURPHY MEDIA, has over 20 years of experience working as a Video Production Specialist. He is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and artist however, while skilled in cinematic storytelling with traditional still and video images, Murphy may be just as typically be found directing a Virtual reality shoot, creating a mobile application platform, or piloting an Unmanned Aerial System during the open of ABC’s Indy 500.
As a native West Virginian, Murphy has continuously been actively engaged in developing platforms and media outreach to combat the opioid epidemic. Murphy’s work with agencies such as Recovery Point, CCSAPP, and most recently, his work with Lily’s Place has brought attention and potentially Millions of dollars in much-needed support.
Joe is the creator and visionary behind Rex the Rx, ONEbox, and many new initiatives to support the mission of WV DII and educate the public on the importance of medication safety and the opioid epidemic using cutting-edge technology.
Joe Murphy
Content, Creative, and Media Partner
Jason Hager has over 20 years of experience helping clients grow and market their businesses. He has worked with companies large and small, local and international, to increase market share and generate more business. He is a marketing expert and has trained groups of business professionals from all over the world on sales and marketing strategies.
Jason has the ability and experience to help organizations of all sizes plan and execute highly effective marketing plans with measurable results. He has been an international keynote speaker and consultant to businesses on marketing strategy, business development, social media, and website development.
Jason leads the marketing and public relations efforts for WVDII. He has worked with Dr. Bissett and the WV DII team to create and launch online learning programs for Naloxone training as well as medication safety programs for adults and children.
Jason Hager
Marketing & Public Relations Consultant
Education Program Coordinator