Call for Mental Health Services
Hanna Center announces Jane E. Bleasdale, PhD, to lead trauma-informed development, advance trainings, and scale community impact.
Sonoma, Calif. (September 14, 2026) – Hanna Center, a nonprofit that provides a comprehensive system of mental health services, trauma-informed care training, residential services for foster youth, and community support services for people of all ages and backgrounds, is pleased to announce Jane E. Bleasdale, PhD, as Hanna Center’s Vice President of Research & Training.
Dr. Bleasdale holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy from Fordham University in New York, an MA in Administration and Supervision, and a BA in the Humanities, and brings a practical, relational, and research-informed approach to leadership. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful organizational change happens through strong relationships, courageous leadership, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge established assumptions and practices.
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jane Bleasdale to the Hanna Center team. Her extensive experience and passion for our mission make her an invaluable addition. We are confident that her innovative approach and dedication will significantly contribute to our ongoing efforts to support and empower our community.
– Cameron Safarloo, President and CEO of Hanna Center
Dr. Bleasdale is an educator, researcher, leadership consultant, and organizational leader with extensive experience advancing equity, inclusion, leadership development, and systemic change. She began her career in secondary education, spending 20 years working in schools in the United Kingdom, the Bahamas, and New Jersey. Throughout that time, she served in a variety of roles, including as a classroom teacher, theatre director, and administrator. A commitment to student-centered pedagogy and practice has been at the core of her work, shaping her approach to leadership, learning, and organizational change. She has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between academic scholarship and professional practice in the fields of education and organizational leadership.
Between 2016 and 2024, Dr. Bleasdale was a professor in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco. During her eight-year tenure, she advanced from assistant professor to associate professor in 2023. A dedicated educator, she was honored with the Sarlo Prize for Teaching in 2022. She also held key leadership roles, including Program Coordinator, Department Chair, and member of the Executive Board of the University Faculty Association. Her research focused on leadership and organizational change, and she chaired or served on more than 30 doctoral committees. Through this work, she experienced firsthand the transformative power of action research to drive meaningful organizational learning, individual growth, and systemic improvement.
At Hanna Center, she will lead research and evaluation efforts, oversee trainings, develop learning products and curricula, and build partnerships across the community. Known for combining strategic thinking with a deeply human approach, Dr. Bleasdale is passionate about creating communities and organizations where people experience a genuine sense of belonging and have the opportunity to thrive.
I am honored to join Hanna Center and to contribute to an organization with such a strong commitment to strengthening individuals, families, and communities. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Hanna Center to advance innovative programs, expand learning opportunities, and ensure that our work continues to drive positive outcomes for the people we serve. Together, we have an exciting opportunity to build on Hanna Center’s legacy while shaping new pathways for growth, healing, and transformation.
– Dr. Jane Bleasdale, Vice President of Research & Training
Learn more about Hanna Center’s Training & Research programs.
About Hanna Center
Located on a 90-acre campus in Sonoma, California, Hanna Center is a nonprofit that offers a system of mental health, trauma-informed care training, residential, and community support services to improve the well-being and mental health of youth, families, and communities. A leader in compassionate, integrative care, Hanna Center services extend from mental health services and clinical resources to recreational programs open to the community in multiple languages and a range of settings. Hanna Center also offers training for individuals, practitioners, and organizations nationwide in the trauma-informed best practices and methods implemented in its programs.
Together with others, Hanna Center disrupts unhealthy cycles to achieve lasting outcomes. For more information, visit hannacenter.org.