Staff
Executive Director
Carly Woythaler-Runestad, MHA
Carly Woythaler-Runestad, MHA has served as the executive director of the Mourning Hope Grief Center for 16 years. A music therapist by trade, she received a Master's in Health Administration from the University of Iowa.
Prior to Mourning Hope, Carly worked as the recreation therapy director of a 165-bed long-term care facility in Minneapolis, as the director of an Alzheimer's unit in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and as the health policy director for the Nebraska Hospital Association, providing advocacy services at the local, state and federal level for 85 Nebraska hospitals.
Carly has enjoyed a handful of nonprofit board appointments, including the advisory board for the American Cancer Society, as the President of the Nebraska Rural Health Association, the Area Health Education Statewide Advisory Board, the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, and Blixt Locally Grown. She also completed a six-year term on the National Alliance for Children’s Grief Board of Directors, serving as the National Board President in 2019.
A frequent speaker on topics of health policy, community health, leadership and children’s grief, Carly also delivered a TEDx Talk titled: “No Child Should Ever Grieve Alone.”
Carly is delighted to serve as Mourning Hope's executive director and is committed to promoting healthy communities through innovative programs and partnerships.
Program Coordinator
Sarah Berghoff-Music, MS, CCLS
Sarah Berghoff-Music is the program coordinator at the Mourning Hope Grief Center. She studied child development and psychology and earned her BA in General Studies from Purdue University Fort Wayne. She holds a Master’s in Developmental Disabilities with a concentration in Child Life from Nova Southeastern University. Sarah has a lifelong love of children, and as a Certified Child Life Specialist, she has had the privilege of accompanying families during their most challenging times, in and out of the hospital setting.
Sarah has supported pediatric patient well-being in multiple healthcare settings in Indiana, Michigan and South Africa. Additionally, she provided therapeutic activities and peer bereavement services at Erin’s House for Grieving Children in Fort Wayne, Indiana. With over 15 years of experience working with children, Sarah is eager to make an impact in the Lincoln community and is grateful to be a part of the Mourning Hope staff.
At Mourning Hope, Sarah assists with grief support groups for children, families and adults and is the point person for youth and family grief camps.
Grief Services Director
Jason Christensen, MA, LMHP
Jason Christensen is the grief services director at the Mourning Hope Grief Center. He has provided therapy services in the Lincoln area for over 20-years including individual therapy, family therapy, marital/couples counseling and group therapy. He is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jason’s passion for providing help to grieving people started after he began facilitating a GriefShare group at his church. At Mourning Hope, Jason provides individual, family, and group counseling, supervises interns and trains volunteers.
Jason is honored to join the Mourning Hope family.
Volunteer and Program Coordinator
Hope DaCosta-Schiltz
Hope is the volunteer and program coordinator for the Mourning Hope Grief Center. Hope has worked with children in childcare and school settings for the last 20 years. Attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Inclusive Early Childhood Education, with a Master's of Education in School Counseling currently in progress through Doane University.
A proud product of Lincoln Public Schools, Hope wanted to give back to the community that supported her. Hope was a classroom teacher for 13 years and a school counselor for her last year in LPS. She is passionate about connecting with children and their families by forming solid relationships. Hope feels honored to have helped cultivate an inclusive, welcoming and safe space for children, allowing them to feel comforted by the sense of community that allowed them to be uniquely themselves.
Hope is incredibly grateful to be serving the Lincoln community in this capacity.
Grants and Development Director
Tara Gregg, MA, CRA
Tara is the grants and development director for the Mourning Hope Grief Center. She has 15 years of professional experience working for non-profit organizations, primarily in fundraising and grant writing roles. She served two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Lawrence, Kansas, which strengthened her interest in community nonprofit work.
Tara received a B.A. in Music from Southern Methodist University in Texas before earning a Master’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Roosevelt University in Illinois. Prior to joining Mourning Hope, Tara was the grants director at Nebraska Wesleyan University, and she holds the Certified Research Administrator credential.
Tara was drawn to Mourning Hope because of the pervasive grief generated by the pandemic. She believes that nonprofits play a crucial role in promoting community health and well-being, and helping community members thrive. She is thrilled to leverage her experience to fulfill Mourning Hope’s mission.
Grief Education Director
Amy Lipins, LMHP, LCSW
Amy Lipins is the grief education director at the Mourning Hope Grief Center. Amy holds a mental health practitioner license, with a Master's in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Since 1993, Amy has spent her career in the public school system. She was a school social worker and school counselor, and was a member of the Crisis Response Team. She has been a Mourning Hope volunteer for the past 25 years, serving on the Program Committee and Board of Directors, and as a group facilitator. Amy then became a part-time staff member as school liaison and social work intern supervisor. After retiring from Lincoln Public Schools in the spring of 2022, she very happily joined the team as a full-time staff member. She will continue to supervise interns, provide counseling and train volunteers for group facilitation.
Amy is excited to be part of Mourning Hope’s dedicated and passionate staff!
Bilingual Grief Counselor
Nishma N. Ramos Gonzalez, LIMHP
Nishma N. Ramos Gonzalez offers bilingual and bicultural grief counseling services to the Latinx community at the Mourning Hope Grief Center. She is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner with a B.A. in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico and an M.A. in mental health counseling from John Jay College. She's currently a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology.
Nishma’s interest in grief work started when working as a psychotherapist in inpatient and outpatient clinics. Nishma participated in the internship at Mourning Hope providing grief support to children, teens, adults and families before joining the Mourning Hope team.
She is excited to support bereaved individuals mourn in a linguistically and culturally sensitive environment.
Founder
Pam Dinneen, LMHP, FT
Pam Dinneen, Mourning Hope's founder, is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, with a Master’s in Counseling, and a Fellowship in Thanatology, focused on death education and counseling.
Pam has dedicated a large portion of her life to supporting grieving families. Starting her career as an educator and then counselor, she worked with numerous students impacted by death and grief. While serving as a team leader for the crisis response team with Lincoln Public Schools, she became acutely aware of the need for support services for grieving families in our community. This fueled her determination to create a safe space for bereaved families to heal, which was the beginning of Mourning Hope.
Pam’s passion is to companion people, walking with them through the most difficult times in their lives and helping them find hope, healing and happiness again.
Campus Outreach Coordinator for the Schroder Park Wellness Campus
Hannah Davis
Hannah Davis is the campus outreach coordinator for the Schroder Park Wellness Campus. She studied Advertising Public Relations at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a background in Business & Marketing. Her experience over the past eight years has been in project management, recruitment and refugee outreach, serving in roles at Heartland’s Church, Nebraska Wesleyan University and Union Bank & Trust.
Hannah works in partnership with Mourning Hope, Willard Community Center, Lutheran Family Services, Lincoln Parks and Recreation and Community Crops to enhance the overall health and vibrancy of the Schroder Park neighborhood. She works to foster a campus environment that enriches the lives of neighborhood residents, supports their holistic well-being and engages the broader Lincoln community.
Hannah was drawn to Mourning Hope because of the safety and light they provide to families who are grieving today and for years to come. She understands that neighborhood well-being is important to a thriving community and looks forward to immersing herself in the Schroder Park Wellness Campus.
Operations and Communications Coordinator
Jennifer Smith
Jennifer serves as the Operations and Communications Coordinator at the Mourning Hope Grief Center. She brings a diverse background, having worked in advertising, healthcare and nonprofit organizations. Over the years, Jennifer has honed her expertise in event coordination, marketing strategy, and operations management, successfully leading initiatives that drive engagement and advance organizational goals. With a strong foundation in marketing communications, event management, and data-driven decision-making, she offers a versatile skill set that enhances Mourning Hope’s impact.
Jennifer holds a B.S. in Marketing Management from Bellevue University and is deeply passionate about community engagement and nonprofit work.
Jennifer feels honored to join the Mourning Hope team and is excited to leverage her creativity, strategic insights and broad experience to support the organization’s mission and make a meaningful impact.
