About Us

Who We Are

A group of people posing for a picture in front of a building

Friends of ASH is the Volunteer Services Council (VSC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of patients at the Austin State Hospital (ASH) and the staff who serve them.


Donations we receive fund the many projects and programs that make ASH an ideal place for mental health recovery and healing. 


Friends of ASH (VSC) maintains a close relationship with the Austin State Hospital Community Relations Department, who serve as liaison between the nonprofit board and the hospital. 

Our

Mission & Values

We have been a working partner of the Austin State Hospital for over 70 years, promoting a better quality of life for the patients the hospital serves. Our mission, to enrich the lives of children and adults receiving treatment for mental illness, is accomplished through community education, active solicitation of goods, services and donations, and provides support to programs and projects that fall outside the state budget.

Meet Our Board

Meet Our Board

A woman wearing a necklace and earrings is smiling for the camera.

Stacy Mendelson

Dr. Stacy Mendelson has served on the Austin State Hospital Volunteer Service Council, currently known as Friends of ASH, for more than 2 years. She is currently the Chair of the council. She has over 30 years of medical experience.  Throughout her diverse career, Dr Mendelson has held various roles, including Assistant Director of Pharmacy as well as a psychopharmacologist consultant at ASH, an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin Pharmacy school and a clinical consultant at e-MDs, a prominent electronic health record (EHR) software company.  Her passion lies in mental health advocacy, where she strives to make a difference in the lives of others especially in mental wellness.  Beyond her medical commitments, she enjoys painting and finds solace in outdoor activities like gardening, running, hiking, and skiing. 

A man with glasses and a black jacket.

Darrell Merriweather

Darrell Merriweather has been an Austin State Hospital Volunteer Service Council member since 2018, and has served in various roles. He is currently the Treasurer of the council. As a Friend of ASH, he will continue to bring awareness of mental illness to the public while promoting the importance of mental health; along with providing resources to enhance the quality of life for those at ASH. Outside of his community engagement endeavors, Darrell enjoys watching sports, reading books, spending time outdoors and exploring life with his family.

A woman with blonde hair and a necklace is smiling for the camera

Dianna Pickens

Dianna Pickens was the Director of Education and Rehabilitation at Austin State Hospital for thirty years. The patient services included children, adolescent, adult education and occupation, physical, recreation, music, art and dance therapies. These services enhanced the patients’ healing process and provided skills for community transition. Dianna's passion for helping the mentally ill patients at Austin State Hospital and her commitment for mental health awareness has continued. She has been a member of the non-profit Board of Friends of the Austin State Hospital for fourteen years.

A man in a purple shirt and tie is smiling for the camera.

Irvin Joseph

Irvin Joseph has been a member of the Volunteer Services Council for ASH since 2022. He has more than a decade of experience in the healthcare sector in various roles. Irvin-with his dual masters degrees in healthcare management & public health-manages telehealth operations at Ascension Seton. Alongside his healthcare experience, Irvin has spent more than a decade volunteering at various organizations with a focus on mental health and mentorship. Irvin is currently a mentor for BIg Brothers Big Sisters & Austin Angels, and a Peer-to-Peer class instructor for NAMI. He has a passion for being a voice to the voiceless and combating stigmas and inequalities.

A woman wearing sunglasses and a white shirt is smiling

Susan Gelber

Susan first joined the Friends of Austin State Hospital in 2003 after she retired. For 11 years, she was the Continuity of Care Coordinator at ASH for Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, which was the local mental health provided in 8 counties. She had a 40 year career as a Clinical Social Worker in 5 states working with individuals who were seriously mentally ill in a variety of settings. She loved ASH and its wonderful staff and wanted to continue her support of both patients and staff as a member of the board.


After a several year hiatus, she rejoined the board in 2022,  and she is interested in continuing to support the patients and staff in any way she can. Her other interests include traveling, hiking and spending time in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

A woman in a red shirt is smiling for the camera.

Janice Goodspeed

Janice Goodspeed has been a member of the Volunteer Services Council for ASH since 2015. She serves as the secretary. She retired from ASH in 2015 after working as a trainer and chair of the Diversity Committee for 18 years. Prior to that she worked as a Social Worker at Austin Travis County MHMR (now called Integral Care) primarily in Crisis Care, Family Support/Respite Care and Adult Foster Care. She has a passion for helping people with the experience of mental illness and also for the staff and people served at ASH.

A man with glasses and a beard looks at the camera

Larry Gorman

Larry Gorman, RN, (aka John Laurence Gorman, III) retired from Austin State Hospital as the Medical Services Clinic Nurse in 2019, a position he held for eight years. He graduated from the El Centro College Nursing Program in 1980 and worked in ICU, Pediatric ICU, ER, Neuro, and Psych fields for most of his career prior to coming to ASH in 2007. He enjoys walking, travelling, reading, and live music. He and his wife, Faye, live on the edge of Pflugerville, Texas.

A woman wearing a black jacket and earrings is smiling for the camera.

Courtney Fowler

Courtney Fowler is a licensed mental health professional with over ten years of experience in the behavioral health field working with individuals impacted by substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries and survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence. Courtney currently works in higher education supporting students from varied backgrounds achieve their academic goals and create fulfilling lives. Courtney has master’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. She has been a member of VSC since May 2023.

A woman wearing a necklace and earrings is smiling for the camera.

Stacy Mendelson

Dr. Stacy Mendelson has served on the Austin State Hospital Volunteer Service Council, currently known as Friends of ASH, for more than 2 years. She is currently the Chair of the council. She has over 30 years of medical experience.  Throughout her diverse career, Dr Mendelson has held various roles, including Assistant Director of Pharmacy as well as a psychopharmacologist consultant at ASH, an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin Pharmacy school and a clinical consultant at e-MDs, a prominent electronic health record (EHR) software company.  Her passion lies in mental health advocacy, where she strives to make a difference in the lives of others especially in mental wellness.  Beyond her medical commitments, she enjoys painting and finds solace in outdoor activities like gardening, running, hiking, and skiing. 

A man with glasses and a black jacket.

Darrell Merriweather

Darrell Merriweather has been an Austin State Hospital Volunteer Service Council member since 2018, and has served in various roles. He is currently the Treasurer of the council. As a Friend of ASH, he will continue to bring awareness of mental illness to the public while promoting the importance of mental health; along with providing resources to enhance the quality of life for those at ASH. Outside of his community engagement endeavors, Darrell enjoys watching sports, reading books, spending time outdoors and exploring life with his family.

A woman with blonde hair is wearing a brown shirt and a necklace.

Dianna Pickens

Dianna Pickens was the Director of Education and Rehabilitation at Austin State Hospital for thirty years. The patient services included children, adolescent, adult education and occupation, physical, recreation, music, art and dance therapies. These services enhanced the patients’ healing process and provided skills for community transition. Dianna's passion for helping the mentally ill patients at Austin State Hospital and her commitment for mental health awareness has continued. She has been a member of the non-profit Board of Friends of the Austin State Hospital for fourteen years.

A man in a purple shirt and tie is smiling for the camera.

Irvin Joseph

Irvin Joseph has been a member of the Volunteer Services Council for ASH since 2022. He has more than a decade of experience in the healthcare sector in various roles. Irvin-with his dual masters degrees in healthcare management & public health-manages telehealth operations at Ascension Seton. Alongside his healthcare experience, Irvin has spent more than a decade volunteering at various organizations with a focus on mental health and mentorship. Irvin is currently a mentor for BIg Brothers Big Sisters & Austin Angels, and a Peer-to-Peer class instructor for NAMI. He has a passion for being a voice to the voiceless and combating stigmas and inequalities.

A woman wearing sunglasses and a white shirt is smiling

Susan Gelber

Susan first joined the Friends of Austin State Hospital in 2003 after she retired. For 11 years, she was the Continuity of Care Coordinator at ASH for Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, which was the local mental health provided in 8 counties. She had a 40 year career as a Clinical Social Worker in 5 states working with individuals who were seriously mentally ill in a variety of settings. She loved ASH and its wonderful staff and wanted to continue her support of both patients and staff as a member of the board.



After a several year hiatus, she rejoined the board in 2022, and she is interested in continuing to support the patients and staff in any way she can. Her other interests include traveling, hiking and spending time in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

A woman in a red shirt is smiling for the camera.

Janice Goodspeed

Janice Goodspeed has been a member of the Volunteer Services Council for ASH since 2015. She serves as the secretary. She retired from ASH in 2015 after working as a trainer and chair of the Diversity Committee for 18 years. Prior to that she worked as a Social Worker at Austin Travis County MHMR (now called Integral Care) primarily in Crisis Care, Family Support/Respite Care and Adult Foster Care. She has a passion for helping people with the experience of mental illness and also for the staff and people served at ASH.

A man with glasses and a beard looks at the camera

Larry Gorman

Larry Gorman, RN, (aka John Laurence Gorman, III) retired from Austin State Hospital as the Medical Services Clinic Nurse in 2019, a position he held for eight years. He graduated from the El Centro College Nursing Program in 1980 and worked in ICU, Pediatric ICU, ER, Neuro, and Psych fields for most of his career prior to coming to ASH in 2007. He enjoys walking, travelling, reading, and live music. He and his wife, Faye, live on the edge of Pflugerville, Texas.

A woman wearing a black jacket and earrings is smiling for the camera.

Courtney Fowler

Courtney Fowler is a licensed mental health professional with over ten years of experience in the behavioral health field working with individuals impacted by substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries and survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence. Courtney currently works in higher education supporting students from varied backgrounds achieve their academic goals and create fulfilling lives. Courtney has master’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. She has been a member of VSC since May 2023.

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