Kristen Gilliland earned her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She later served as an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. Where she taught Organic Chemistry, Neurochemistry, and the Chemistry of Drugs and Poisons. After Kristen’s 17-year-old son developed schizophrenia – which was most triggered by high potency cannabis use - Kristen joined the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt Medical School (2018). At Vanderbilt, she researched new antipsychotic treatments for schizophrenia. During that same year, Kristen delivered a TEDx presentation titled Rewiring Revolution: Neuroplasticity’s Impact on Wellbeing. Tragically, Kristen lost her son to an accidental overdose in 2019 after his mental health severely declined, and he became addicted to opioids and stimulants. Two years after her devastating loss, Kristen changed the trajectory of her life to utilize her scientific teaching and research skills to educate adolescent-aged children and their parents on mental health challenges and how it can lead to substance use and substance use disorder. As the Director of Outreach and Advocacy Programs for the Warren Center and Assistant Professor of Research at Vanderbilt, Kristen presents to middle schools, high schools, parents, law enforcement, prevention coalitions, and recovery programs across the nation. In addition, she developed a multi award-winning educational documentary aimed at middle school and high school-aged children titled “Speaking Through Me” that was released August 2023. In April of 2024, Kristen appeared on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt as part of a Kate Snow interview regarding increased psychosis risk with high-potency cannabis use during adolescence.