All Live & Learn, Inc. employees are either someone who has had personal experiences in the mental health system, faced mental health challenges around work, or has a family member that’s been impacted. Our workplace culture emphasizes mutual accountability, creativity, and opportunities to learn and grow.
Founder & CEO
Laysha Ostrow
Laysha Ostrow is the founder and CEO of Live & Learn, Inc. and has been the Principal Investigator on six federally-funded research and development grants, including the Certified Peer Specialist Career Outcomes Study and Reclaiming Employment. She was a Co-Investigator on the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities and the University of Illinois at Chicago's Center on Mental Health Services Research & Policy. In addition to her duties at Live & Learn, Inc., Dr. Ostrow is a Visiting Professional in University of California San Francisco’s Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Ostrow has first-hand lived experience of the special education, Social Security disability, and psychiatric systems and is driven by a mission to improve these systems through research that advances the use of evidence-based practices in real-world settings.
Education & Experience
University of California, San Francisco, Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, PhD
Brandeis University, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, MPP
Lesley University, BS (Psychology)
Interests
Employment outcomes
Strategies to promote decent work
Entrepreneurship
Peer support
Research Program Manager
Morgan Pelot
Morgan Pelot has worked with Live & Learn, Inc. since 2018. She coordinates recruitment for the CPS Career Outcomes Study and is leading the 2020 Peer Respite Essential Features survey.
Morgan has served as a peer counselor for almost two years at Second Story Respite house in Santa Cruz, CA and has completed peer support trainings including Intentional Peer Support, Cultural Competency, and required ethics trainings. She has worked as a Direct Service Professional with adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, providing job coaching, teaching independent living skills, and education about mental and emotional health.
Morgan loves the outdoors, specifically hiking, camping and practicing archery. She also enjoys baking and spending time with her precious cat Fluffy.
Education & Experience
University of California, Santa Cruz, BA (Psychology)
University of California, Santa Cruz, BS (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology)
Intentional Peer Support, Core Training
Interests
Psychosocial approaches to emotional health
Alternatives to traditional mental health treatments
Psychotherapy research
Peer support
CFO/CTO
Matthew Hubbard
Matthew Hubbard, B.S. (Web Developer) is in charge of business administration and technology at Live & Learn, Inc. Matthew is the lead developer for Live & Learn’s NIDILRR-funded Reclaiming Employment platform, and is responsible for implementing content on the platform and ensuring it is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and the ADA. He holds a certificate in front-end web development from Cornell University and a B.S. in geology from Southern Oregon University.
Matthew spent the early part of his career in environmental sciences, gaining expertise in areas such as regulatory compliance, protocol implementation, and quality control. Matthew’s core values of helping disenfranchised communities has allowed for a seamless transition into public health, where he uses his experience in operations, admin, and tech to support Live & Learn, Inc. in executing its mission.
When not behind the soft glow of a computer monitor, Matthew also enjoys board games, gardening, politics and political science, and spending time with his dog Woogie.
Education & Experience
Southern Oregon University, BS (Geology)
Cornell University, Certificate in Web Development
Interests
Regulatory compliance
HTML
Promoting healthy workplaces
Environmental justice and sanitation
Research Assistant
Kila Robinett
Kila Robinett joined Live & Learn, Inc. as a research assistant in 2022. She recently completed a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento. Kila relocated from San Diego to San Luis Obispo County in 2019 where she resumed her education. In San Diego she focused on creative entrepreneurial ventures while prioritizing raising her two children.
When not studying or working, Kila enjoys the outdoors, camping and hiking with her son, or just being home and creating in her free time.
Interests
Education & Experience
Entrepreneurship
Jewelry design
American Sign Language (ASL)
California State University, Sacramento, B.A. (Psychology)
Cuesta College, A.A. (Social & Behavioral Sciences, Psychology)
Data Analyst Consultant
Jane Burke-Miller, PhD
Jane Burke-Miller is a consulting data analyst for Live & Learn, Inc. She has extensive experience in all phases of the research process, from study design and project management to and statistical analysis of complex longitudinal, multisite data and publication. With degrees in health policy and public health, she has conducted research in a variety of health and behavioral health settings, including universities, hospitals, community organizations, and government agencies. She enjoys new challenges in research and evaluation. She was Project Manager of the Coordinating Center for the Employment Intervention Demonstration Program, SAMHSA’s randomized controlled trial of Supported Employment conducted in 8 states from 1996-2001. She works on Live & Learn’s Certified Peer Specialist Career Outcomes Study, Reclaiming Employment, and collaborates on a study of tobacco harm reduction with faculty at UCSF.
Education & Experience
University of Illinois, Chicago, PhD (Public Health Sciences)
Open Opportunities with Live & Learn, Inc.
None right now! Please check back or keep an eye on our Facebook page, or Idealist.org where we typically post open positions.