Our Vision
We have assembled a first-class team that are ready to advance how telehealth impacts outcomes for gamblers and gamers. KRI’s Scientific Advisory Board is composed of leading scientists in addiction and related fields. The board’s responsibility is to ensure the highest standards in research are met. The volunteer Scientific Advisory Board provides valued guidance and knowledge on all aspects of the research. Learn more about consulting services here.
Leadership Team
Mark Lucia
Director of Programming
Mark Lucia is a strategic operator and public health leader whose work sits at the intersection of military service, behavioral health, and data-driven decision-making. As Director of Programming he leads initiatives designed to translate insight into impact—strengthening systems that support service members, veterans, and their families.
Mark began his tenure at KRI through the Military Research Associate Program, where he played a foundational role in building and scaling the initiative into a structured pipeline connecting military service with academic and professional pathways in mental health. His work has helped formalize bridges between military experience and evidence-based research, ensuring that lived experience informs policy, programming, and prevention efforts.
He currently chairs the Military Gambling Awareness Committee, where he drives strategic initiatives focused on readiness, financial stability, and mental health within military populations. Under his leadership, the committee has advanced awareness strategies grounded in operational realities—recognizing that gambling-related harm affects not only individuals, but unit cohesion, morale, and long-term force resilience. His approach integrates behavioral health insight with data analytics to develop scalable, prevention oriented solutions.
Prior to his work in nonprofit leadership, Mark managed complex, multimillion-dollar initiatives at Amazon and led logistics and security operations in support of NATO missions. Across corporate and military environments, he developed a reputation for aligning high-level strategic objectives with disciplined operational execution. His ability to synthesize data, optimize processes, and mobilize cross functional teams has consistently delivered measurable efficiency gains and mission critical outcomes.
Mark holds dual master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, equipping him with a rare combination of strategic, analytical, and population-health expertise. His cross-sector experience enables him to see both the macro systems and the ground-level realities—translating complex challenges into structured, sustainable solutions with long-term impact.
Dishi Umfleet
Executive Director
As Executive Director of the Kindbridge Research Institute (KRI), Dishi leads the
organization’s strategic vision, governance alignment, and national growth. KRI operates at the intersection of research, public health, and digital-age behavioral health, with particular expertise in gambling-related harm, financial vulnerability, and emerging behavioral risks tied to technology and modern financial systems.
Her leadership focuses on translating research into applied infrastructure—developing scalable programs, academic collaborations, public-private partnerships, and policy-informed initiatives that strengthen prevention, early identification, and system-level response. She works closely with regulators, healthcare systems, universities, and industry stakeholders to
ensure that evidence-based solutions are operationalized in ways that create measurable population-level impact.
She brings extensive governance experience to the role, having previously served on multiple nonprofit and advisory boards. Through these positions, she has developed deep expertise in fiduciary oversight, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, fundraising, and long-term
organizational sustainability.
She currently serves as a Board Member of the Saints Foundation, the charitable arm of Southampton Football Club, where she contributes to governance, community impact strategy, and sustainable funding development. Her work with the Foundation reflects a broader commitment to leveraging sport and community institutions to advance mental health awareness, financial resilience, and social mobility.
Her leadership style combines strategic foresight with operational discipline, ensuring that research initiatives are grounded in strong governance structures and positioned for long-term, sustainable growth.
Dr. Nathan Smith
Director of Research
Ph.D., Psychiatric Epidemiology
Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Tim Fong
MD, Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry
Dr. Fong is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.
Dr. Fong completed his undergraduate and medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He then came to UCLA and finished his residency in adult general psychiatry in 2002 and was the first accredited addiction psychiatry fellow at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute (2002-2004).
He is the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program (UGSP). The purpose of this program is to examine the underlying causes and clinical characteristics of gambling disorder in order to develop effective, evidence-based treatment strategies.
Since 2009, he has been the director of the UCLA Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship, a one-year accredited program that provides clinical training in addiction psychiatry.
Finally, he is part of the faculty leadership of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, a multidisciplinary effort to examine the full impact of cannabis on the body, mind and brain.
Dr. Jeremiah Weinstock
Ph.D., Psychology
Dr. Jeremiah Weinstock is a professor in the Psychology department at Saint Louis University, focusing on addictive behaviors with an emphasis on gambling disorder and exercise as an intervention. As an academic clinical psychologist, he is expert in addictions treatment and prevention research with a specific emphasis on gambling disorder and the utility of exercise as an intervention strategy for all addictions. He frequently conducts clinical trainings on gambling disorder treatment and on the development and implementation of contingency management for the treatment of substance use disorders.
Dr. Lia Nower
J.D., Ph.D.
Lia Nower, J.D., Ph.D., is a Professor and Director of the Center for Gambling Studies. A clinician and attorney who specializes in gambling disorder and behavioral addictions, she is also Director of the Addiction Counselor Training Certificate Program, a member of the leadership team of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) and a research affiliate with the Sydney University Gambling Treatment Unit in the Brain and Mind Centre.
Dr. Nower’s research focuses on online gambling and video gaming, sports wagering, psychometric measurement, the etiology and treatment of gambling and gaming disorder, and gambling-related policy issues.
She currently serves as a Regional Assistant Editor for International Gambling Studies and an Associate Editor for Addiction and Addictive Behaviors journals. Dr. Nower is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council on Problem Gambling in Washington, D.C., where she also chairs the research committee and received the 2019 research award.
Dr. Nower has also co-authored several policy initiatives, including a model for self-exclusion programs and an industry framework for informed-choice and responsible gambling. She co-edited the book The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Disordered Gambling (2013).
KRI’s Scientific Advisory Board is composed of leading scientists in addiction and related fields. The board’s responsibility is to ensure the highest standards in research are met. The volunteer Scientific Advisory Board provides valued guidance and knowledge on all aspects of the research.
Board of Directors
Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel
Ph.D., MSW, LCSW, MCAP
Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel (pronouns: she/her) is an associate professor and the Program Director of the Masters of Social Work graduate program at Pennsylvania Western University. As a Licensed Clinical Social and PhD level researcher, Dr. Diez Morel has dedicated her work to helping improve the lives of youth, families, adults, and communities. She is the author of a plethora of presentations, scientific research studies, and book chapters on the topics of gaming disorder and associated behavioral addictions. In 2013, Dr. Diez Morel founded Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding solutions for a balanced living in a technology-driven world. She has established education, prevention curriculums, treatment, and research on gaming disorder and other problematic technology-based behaviors for children, youth, adults, and families that have been utilized by organizations worldwide. Her work has been presented nationally and internationally to aid prevention workers, social workers, counselors, and medical professionals working with youth, families, and adults experiencing psychosocial concerns or harm due to their gaming or technology use behavior.
Dr. Diez-Morel earned her Ph.D. from Florida International University where she was awarded a student scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellowship with CRUSADA (the Center for Research on US Latino/as Drug Abuse and Addictions) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Diez-Morel utilizes her expertise in behavioral health and addictions to serve in various roles including as the Emirtus Board Member of the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) and through this role, helped to lead the development of the world’s first International Gaming Disorder Certification for helping professionals. Dr. Diez-Morel is also the co-lead for the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Gaming Disorder Taskforce and serves as the National Association of Social Work’s (NASW-PA) 2nd Vice President of Finance and Executive Committee member. Dr. Diez Morel continues her clinical practice as a licensed practitioner and splits her time between direct clinical practice, research, prevention work, teaching, and service to the community.
Caroline Ponseti
Caroline Ponseti is a communications strategist at Invariant, where she leverages her Capitol Hill, trade association, and political campaign experience to create integrated communications campaigns that shift public perception and build relationships with important stakeholders. She previously led media relations for the American Gaming Association and served as press secretary for the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Caroline is also a mental health advocate, writing and speaking about her own experiences with mental health to encourage dialogue and reduce stigma. She channels this passion into advising gambling companies on how to effectively communicate about problem gambling.
She has been recognized as one of Global Gaming Women’s 10 Women Rising in Gaming and Bulldog PR’s Rising Stars.
Caroline graduated from Rhodes College and lives in Washington, DC.
Caroline is a part of KRI’s Military Gambling Awareness Committee where she is focused on better understanding problem gambling in the military.
Douglas Mishkin
Doug is a partner in our New York office. Following six years at the National Football League, he joined BCLP with rare experience in U.S. gambling and sports betting transactions – having handled every major gambling-related deal for the NFL during his tenure there. Prior to the NFL, Doug worked in Las Vegas as SVP, Legal & Business Affairs of an international sports betting technology company, where he oversaw all legal and regulatory matters.
In addition to U.S. gaming and sports betting, Doug brings a wealth of expertise in general commercial transactions, including sponsorships, data distribution deals, consumer products licenses, and primary ticketing partnerships.
Doug represents clients across a range of industries, from sports leagues and professional teams to international gaming companies, data distributors and consumer brands, negotiating and closing their largest, most complex commercial deals. Doug also advises clients on compliance with U.S. gaming and daily fantasy sports laws, corresponding legislative developments, training in-house legal and compliance teams on sports betting matters, and developing, drafting and enforcing corporate gambling policies.
Doug is known among his clients and peers as an approachable, trusted advisor and problem-solver, who closes deals by quickly identifying issues and providing practical, business-oriented solutions. With nearly a decade of in-house counsel experience, Doug understands and anticipates business needs to consistently drive efficient, valuable results.
Wanor Franca
Wanor is the Chief Revenue Officer for Casino Cash Trac based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He brings more than 25 years of software experience working with sales, consulting, and client relations for many Tribal and Corporate Casinos and Fortune 500 companies in the US, Asia Pacific, and South America. Wanor’s role is to act as the visionary “revenue architect,” being responsible for driving better integration and alignment between all revenue-related areas — focusing on sales, corporate development, marketing, pricing, and marketplace growth. Wanor has been instrumental in the last two decades being the forefront person focusing on new market expansions in Brazil, London, and Singapore. Wanor is passionate about giving back working closely with the United Way and many nonprofit organizations and focusing on mentoring young adults.