About the Presenters

Alex Elswick, PhD joined the Department of Family Sciences in 2020 as an Assistant Extension Professor for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.  He began his journey with the department as a graduate student in 2015, where he earned his Masters and PhD and later served Family and Consumer Sciences Extension as an Extension Associate and as an Extension Specialist.  Using this experience, Dr. Elswick’s Extension emphasis focuses on equipping Extension to build recovery capital in the community. Dr. Elswick’s research agenda examines long-term recovery from substance use disorder.  In particular, much of his research examines recovery capital, an assets-based approach to understanding addiction recovery. As co-founder of a Lexington-based non-profit organization called Voices of Hope, Dr. Elswick is a tireless advocate for people with substance use disorder.  He works to promote long-term recovery by providing education in the community, reducing stigma, and studying the effectiveness of recovery support services.

Tyler Meenach graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BS in Criminal Justice in 2011. He spent the next 10 years developing his career in correctional rehabilitation—earning his MS in Criminal Justice along the way. During his time in corrections, Tyler managed large dual-diagnosis caseloads, conducted group SUD counseling, and oversaw quality assurance efforts for a community-based facility. In late 2021, Tyler began a new career as a Community Health Coordinator in the Harm Reduction division of Hamilton County Public Health. In this role, he has been active in the development and growth of the Recovery Friendly Hamilton County (RFHC) program. Since its launch in June 2022, RFHC has reached 60 employers (representing over 17,000 employees) and won three prestigious awards. Tyler is an avid bookworm, movie buff, and record collector.