During his college years, Tommy began to struggle with bi-polar symptoms, severe depression, and anxiety. He fell into a depression that drove him to suicidal thoughts and he began self-medicating to deal with the mounting pressures and mental/emotional illness. Tommy stopped attending classes,  rarely left his room for weeks and left Tech to attend Boise State University in Idaho.  Tommy was misdiagnosed and began a series of anti-depressants and sleeping pills that further complicated his illness.

Tommy found shelter in his art, poetry, and music so he left Boise to pursue a career as an artist. He felt the disappointment of his family, friends, and community in that he didn’t pursue a professional football carrier. This weighed heavy on Tommy’s heart and mind and added to the already debilitating depression that he was entrenched in. His self-medicating turned into the abuse of alcohol and drugs to try to cope with the mental/ emotional illness that had slowly eroded his sense of self-confidence and self-worth.

Jen comes to The Heart of Virginia Foundation with a vast background both personally and professionally.  She wanted to be a nurse all of her life and had her first authentic stethoscope when she was three years old. Her dream became a reality when she graduated from Radford University in 1991 with a Bachelor Degree in Nursing and a minor in Psychology.

Over the years Jen has practiced in Neonatal and Obstetrics, as a school nurse and as Coordinator of Mental Health Support Services for SW Virginia. She has also facilitated support groups for women with high risk pregnancy, chronic pain patients, patients living with chronic health conditions, and bereavement as a bereavement counselor.  Jen has over 17 years experience in health care.

Jen is "married to an amazing man" that brought her a second chance at life and love. They are blessed with four teenagers who definitely keep them on our toes, but bring them great joy and pride. Mental Health issues and illness have always been close to Jen's heart, as her family both immediate and extended, have been affected by mental health illness. She has a deep passion for helping others make positive changes that result in success in their lives.

Monica Shelor, Radford University Music Graduate, performer and lover of the arts is proud to support the Heart of Virginia in its mission. The need for expanded mental health and well being programs is great and she plans to use her past experiences and talents to erase the stigma of mental illness and promote well-being initiatives. Growing up in the New River Valley, she has seen too many people suffer as a result of their or another's mental illness. Too many of those people have died as a result of their or another's mental illness. Monica hopes that a Center for Integrated Arts, as well as accessible and thoroughly developed mental health programs, will begin a journey towards a healthier, well balanced future for our community.