Leadership & Staff | South Central MIRECC
The South Central MIRECC was funded in 1998 and encompasses all or parts of four states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Center has anchor sites at three medical centers in Houston, Little Rock, and New Orleans. It is closely aligned with the VISN 16 Mental Health Product Line, which oversees the delivery of mental health care and the facility Mental Health Directors.
Directors
Site Leaders
Personnel

Director
Michael A. Cucciare, PhD
Michael.Cucciare@va.gov | MACucciare@uams.edu

Co-Director
Jan Lindsay, PhD
Jan.Lindsay2@va.gov

Associate Director for Education
Ali Abbas Asghar-Ali, MD
Ali.Asghar-Ali@va.gov | asgharal@bcm.edu

Assistant Director for Education
Jennifer (Jenn) Bryan, PhD
Jennifer.Bryan1@va.gov

Associate Director for Improving Clinical Care
Jeffrey (Jeff) Cully, PhD
Jeffrey.Cully@va.gov

Associate Director for Research Training
Natalie Hundt, PhD
Natalie.Hundt@va.gov

Director of the Advanced Fellowship in Little Rock
Rajinder (Sonia) Singh, PhD
Rajinder.Singh2@va.gov

Associate Director for Research
Jeffrey (Jeff) Pyne, MD
Jeffrey.Pyne@va.gov

Assistant Director for Research
Brandon Griffin, PhD
Brandon.Griffin2@va.gov

MIDAS Director
Amber (Amy) Amspoker, PhD
Amber.Amspoker@va.gov

Houston Site Leader
Lilian Dindo, PhD
Lilian.Dindo@va.gov | Lilian.Dindo@bcm.edu

Little Rock Site Leader
Jeffrey (Jeff) Pyne, MD
Jeffrey.Pyne@va.gov

New Orleans Site Leader
C. Laurel Harlin, PhD
Laurel.Harlin@va.gov

New Orleans Site Leader
Amanda Raines, PhD
Amanda.Raines@va.gov
VISN 16 SC MIRECC Administrative Officer
Kristin Ward
Kristin.Ward2@va.gov
Houston Anchor Site Administrative Officer
Kendall R. Moore
Kendall.Moore2@va.gov
SC MIRECC Budget Officer
Dale Perkins
Wendell.Perkins@va.gov
Last updated: February 19, 2025