WELCOME

 

Dr. Kathryn Hamel is a best-selling author, distinguished academic, dedicated philanthropist, sought-after speaker, and career professional with a passion for education, mental health, and non-profit leadership.

Kathryn Hamel, Ph.D., is the Vice-President of Mobile Operations at Be Well OC.

 

She previously worked as a Chief Executive Officer for a mental health nonprofit dedicated to providing education, information, and services to traumatized persons. In addition, she has been involved as a volunteer with Be Well OC’s community initiatives since 2021 and has served on various committees and sub-committees.

 

Before transitioning into nonprofit leadership, she worked in higher education and later as the Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Organizational Development for a private, accredited international university.

She also served her community for nearly 25 years as a law-enforcement professional for two mid-sized municipal police departments and retired as a police lieutenant in 2019.

Dr. Hamel is a certified facilitator, a certified trauma and resilience professional, and a seasoned educator. She has spoken at numerous conferences and engagements on trauma and resiliency throughout North America. She is also the best-selling author of Body Mind & Badge: Strategies for Navigating Trauma & Resilience in Law Enforcement.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Hamel is the 2023 recipient of the Advocate of the Year award from the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce and the 2022 recipient of the Mental Health Association of Orange County’s Professional of the Year.

 

She is pursuing a second Master’s Degree in Psychology with a completion date in 2024. In addition, Dr. Hamel holds two professional certifications in trauma and resilience (Level 1 and Level 2) from Florida State University, a Doctoral Degree in Organizational Leadership & Criminal Justice from Capella University, a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University, and a Bachelor's Degree in Vocational Education and Occupational Studies from California State University, Long Beach.

She has almost three decades of experience guiding nonprofit and charitable organizations as a committed community volunteer. She is currently an appointed member of the Human and Civil Rights Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a Board Member of KinderVision, a nonprofit co-founded by her late mother, Ashby Sebastian, dedicated to addressing the exploitation of children.