Team
Our team brings together clinical expertise, safety training, and a shared commitment to advancing trauma-informed care through education and collaboration.
Amanda Hardin, BSN, RN
Executive Director, The Mind & Safety Institute
Creator, Firearm-Informed Training
Amanda Hardin is a Registered Nurse, NRA and USCCA Certified Firearms Instructor. With over a decade of experience teaching firearms safety, emergency response, and self-defense, Amanda brings a rare combination of clinical insight and cultural competence to the conversation around firearms and mental health.
Amanda established the Mind & Safety Institute™, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bridging the gap between behavioral health and firearm ownership. As the creator of Firearm-Informed Training, she leads a groundbreaking effort to equip clinicians with the tools to engage firearm-owning clients through evidence-based training, stigma reduction, and culturally competent care.
Her work has been recognized for confronting clinical bias, enhancing mental health access, and promoting public safety through respectful, non-political education. Amanda is deeply committed to protecting both lives and liberties, and creating spaces where honest, informed conversations about firearms can finally happen.
MELCRIS
Melcris Taguba is the Executive Assistant at Mind and Safety Institute, where she ensures smooth and efficient operations across all facets of the organization. She manages high-level administrative functions, including financial coordination, logistics for trainings and the Firearm Informed Therapist Program. With a sharp eye for detail and a proactive approach, Melcris plays a key role in supporting the Executive Director and keeping the team organized and mission-focused.
Outside the office, Melcris enjoys outdoor adventures like hiking and stays active through CrossFit and running bringing the same energy and discipline to her personal life that she applies to her work at Mind and Safety Institute.
Board Of Directors
Melissa Duval
President, Board of Directors
Background in healthcare plan administration, medical terminology, coding, pathology, anatomy, and physiology.
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Currently Seeking
The Mind and Safety Institute is currently interviewing candidates that are interested in a working board position to serve as Treasurer.
The Treasurer serves as a key member of the Board of Directors, overseeing the financial health and sustainability of the Mind and Safety Institute. This role ensures fiscal responsibility, transparency, and compliance with nonprofit regulations while supporting our mission to empower professionals at the intersection of minds, means, and safety.
Time Commitment: Quarterly board meetings plus financial oversight between meetings.
Estimated 4–6 hours per month.
Dr. Michael Victoroff
Board of Directors
Family medicine, clinical informatics, bioethics, risk management. Firearms instructor, competitive shooter. Co-founder, Colorado Firearm Safety Coalition.
Open Board Position
Board of Directors
Board Members serve as ambassadors and decision-makers for the Mind and Safety Institute, helping guide strategy, governance, and growth. As a member of the Board of Directors, you will play a vital role in shaping our mission to empower professionals at the intersection of minds, means, and safety.
Rebecca Mitchell
Board of Directors
Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Community Engagement Coordinator at Jefferson Center for Mental Health where she leads regional suicide prevention efforts across Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties. A Licensed Professional Counselor and Ph.D. candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Denver, Rebecca brings over a decade of experience in school counseling, crisis response, and coalition-building. Her work centers on equity-driven, data-informed strategies, advancing prevention through cross-sector partnerships, postvention planning, and veteran-focused initiatives. She is a lifelong learner who finds joy in winter weather, reading, and building resilient, connected communities.
Open Board Position
Board of Directors
Board Members serve as ambassadors and decision-makers for the Mind and Safety Institute, helping guide strategy, governance, and growth. As a member of the Board of Directors, you will play a vital role in shaping our mission to empower professionals at the intersection of minds, means, and safety.