People
Leadership & Advisors
Governance
Board of Directors
Sam Karame
Founder & Board Chair
The driving force behind the Cedar Institute's mission. A parent of neurodivergent children, a multi-unit business operator, public speaker, AI Architect, and a lifelong advocate for underserved populations.
Mark Halushka
Board Member & Advisor on Organizational Governance
Mark Halushka brings over two decades of expertise in organizational development, human-centered workplace culture, and nonprofit governance to The Cedar Institute. As a recognized leader in human resources and a passionate advocate for mental health, Mark provides critical oversight to ensure that Cedar's internal operations reflect the same rigorous, compassionate, and inclusive principles that drive our clinical research. Mark has a deep, proven commitment to community impact. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Professionals In Human Resources Association (PIHRA) as well as multiple educational and cultural nonprofits, including Operation Jump Start, the Angels Gate Cultural Center, and the CSULB Human Resource Advisory Board. At Cedar, Mark guides our organizational resilience, helping build a foundation that is structurally sound and built to support generational change.
Additional board seats in Neuroscience, Legal & Regulatory, and Neurodivergent Advocacy are currently being filled.
Team
Institute Team
The Cedar Institute operates on a lean, AI-assisted model with staff focused on communications, research coordination, and institutional development.
Head of Communications
Shawn Spears
A communications strategist with over a decade shaping brand narratives across healthcare, entertainment, and consumer categories. At Cedar, Shawn directs the Institute's public voice — translating rigorous clinical science into communications built to sustain a generational research mission.
Science
Scientific Advisory Board
The Cedar Institute is assembling a Scientific Advisory Board composed of leading investigators in psychedelic pharmacology, autism neuroscience, and clinical trial methodology. Formal appointments will be announced as research partnerships are established. Inquiries from qualified researchers are welcome at [email protected].
Advisors to be announced