Meet Our OCEACT Team!

OCEACT is housed within the Regional Research Institute for Human Services, which is the research arm of the School of Social Work at Portland State University. We have access to a wide range of faculty and trainers at the School of Social Work, the School of Education, and other Centers within PSU. Our permanent staff includes ACT Trainers, experts in assessing fidelity to evidence-based and promising models, data analysts, and communications experts.

Administration Team

Karen Cellarius, MPA

OCEACT Administrator

Karen Cellarius has conducted human services research and evaluation at PSU since 1998, serving as lead evaluator for over 20 federal grants awarded to community partners in the areas of evidence-based behavioral health interventions, housing, and suicide prevention, among others. Karen is currently a Senior Research Associate at the PSU Regional Research Institute for Human Services, which is the research arm of the PSU School of Social Work, where she administers three statewide behavioral health initiatives: (1) the Oregon Center for Excellence of Assertive Community Treatment (OCEACT), (2) the Oregon Supported Employment Center for Excellence (OSECE), and (3) Oregon Campuses United for Suicide Prevention (OCUSP). She is also the founder and director of the Human Services Implementation Lab (iLab) at RRI and co-investigator for the Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Aging (OCEBHA). Karen specializes in fidelity assessments, needs assessments, program evaluation, and system change.

cellark@pdx.edu

Asia W. Gray, LMSW, CPMC-T

OCEACT Director

Asia Gray has a decade of experience providing direct services in behavioral health. More recently, Asia has held leadership positions in a variety of settings across the continuum of care in Community Mental Health.
She is the proud recipient of a GED and a Ford Family scholar (an event that changed the trajectory of her life). She holds an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree from Portland Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marylhurst University, and a Master of Social Work degree from the Portland State University (PSU) School of Social Work.

Asia has found that her life experiences and the adversity she has faced and overcome have built resiliency and helped her connect with people from all walks of life in her career.

Asia is a lifelong learner. Currently, she is focused on somatic approaches to healing and treatments that utilize one’s inner healer. Asia is committed to upholding the values of social justice, the dignity of every human, and data-driven decisions that drive heartfelt practices in the field.

asgray@pdx.edu

Training Team

Janet Bardossi, MSW

OCEACT Senior Statewide Trainer

Janet Bardossi was excited to join the OCEACT team in the Fall of 2025 and serves as a Senior State Wide trainer. Janet’s professional career started in the 1980s serving individuals with substance use and mental health issues in Portland, Oregon’s Old Town area. Her experience with ACT began when she served as the Clinical Director for the first ACT project in Oregon.

This work shaped her belief in the power of connection and caring. Her career has focused on communities, recovery and practice improvement locally and nationally. Janet graduated with her MSW from Portland State University. She is a licensed clinical social worker and certified as a Master Addiction Counselor.

In addition to her professional work, Janet loves her family and friends. She has a passion for musicals and is at significant risk of breaking out in song (you have been warned).

bardossi@pdx.edu

Monica Dechert, BS, QMHA

OCEACT Statewide ACT Trainer

Monica is very excited to be part of the Oregon Center for Excellence of Assertive Community Treatment (OCEACT) through Portland State University, to provide technical assistance and support to Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams and help to create positive outcomes for teams and the individuals they serve. Monica brings warmth, dedication, experience, and a passion for helping others to this role.

Monica has over 20 years of experience working in behavioral health and human services. Throughout her career, Monica has worn many hats. She has been a Vocational Rehabilitation Workforce and Business Coordinator, Oregon Supported Employment Center for Excellence (OSECE) Statewide Trainer, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Education/Employment Specialist, ACT Intensive Case Manager, Eligibility Specialist, and Community Mental Health Case Manager, in addition to other roles. In each role, she has taken the time to understand and respond to the unique needs of others, helping them access the resources and support they need to achieve their goals. Her work has involved direct care, coordinating services, navigating complex systems, and building strong community partnerships.

Monica earned a Bachelor of Science degree with major emphasis in Psychology from Southern Oregon University and is a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA). She is also a Certified Personal Medicine Coach (CPMC) and CPMC Trainer (CPMC-T).

When not working, Monica enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, singing, working on small creative projects, being in nature, and playing games. She and her spouse live in the beautiful Willamette Valley.

mdechert@pdx.edu

Shane Semin, CADCII

OCEACT Senior Statewide Trainer

Shane Semin has over 25 years of experience working with people with substance use issues. He is passionate about helping people who are struggling to find ways to move forward with less strife. Shane started in the ACT world over 10 years ago and looks forward to continuing to help this population receive the services shown to help them thrive! Shane’s ACT experience includes inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol treatment, especially in the areas of Enhanced Illness Management & Recovery (EIMR), Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), harm reduction, and peer support.

ssemin@pdx.edu

Professional Services Team

Arjun Gutierrez Viray, BS

Communications Manager

Arjun is the Communications Manager for OCEACT and OSECE. They develop and manage communication strategies that support statewide behavioral health training and implementation initiatives at PSU’s Regional Research Institute for Human Services. They have worked at Portland State University since 2019 and previously supported research programs and centers like BUILD EXITO and the Center for Internship, Mentoring, and Research (CIMR).

iarjun@pdx.edu

Emmanuel Legarreta, MS

Data Manager

Emmanuel has a background in public health, working primarily in achieving equitable health outcomes for underserved communities. This work has been mainly done through participatory action research groups using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. After his work in a state health department he got his Master of Science in Sociology at Portland State University, having completed a quantitative thesis exploring health outcomes for individuals with intersecting marginalized social identities.

With a focus on quantitative methods and statistical analyses throughout his graduate career, Emmanuel is eager to provide support as the data manager for the Oregon Center of Excellence for Assertive Community Treatment (OCEACT), and the Oregon Supported Employment Center for Excellence (OSECE).

emmalega@pdx.edu

Aliza Simmons, MUS

Fidelity Reviewer

Aliza is a Research Associate at the PSU Regional Research Institute, the lead fidelity reviewer with the Oregon Center of Excellence for Assertive Community Treatment (OCEACT), and co-director at the Human Services Implementation Lab. Aliza also contributes to program evaluation projects funded by SAMHSA, CDC, and other smaller local organizations on a wide variety of program subjects, including behavioral health, suicide prevention, and food systems.

taliza@pdx.edu