NaBITA, the National Behavioral Intervention Team Association, has appointed Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D as its new executive director. NaBITA is a membership association serving more than 1,500 professionals in schools, colleges and workplaces whose role is to support individuals in need of mental health intervention and to minimize the potential for school and workplace violence.
Brett A. Sokolow, who founded NaBITA and has served as its executive director since 2009, is transitioning to emeritus status, and remains on the association’s Advisory Board. Sokolow discussed the appointment of Brian Van Brunt, who serves as the organization’s current president. “I am leaving the ED role with the association at its strongest point since we created it. Membership is at its highest historic level, the annual conference is bigger this year than ever, and our Threat Management and BIT Certification Trainings continue to sell out. The key is knowing when to step aside and make room for new ideas, new energy, and the association’s next phase of evolution. Dr. Van Brunt is the perfect person for this role. He has been an able president for the association, and rather than lose his talents when his term is up, we decided to make permanent use of Brian’s talents as the next Executive Director.”
Van Brunt, who also serves as the senior executive vice president for professional program development at The NCHERM Group, has distinguished himself as a leading expert on issues related to campus violence, mental health, and behavioral intervention. He has presented at conferences around the world, and is often called upon by major media outlets, including National Public Radio, USA Today, and The New York Times. He also consults at colleges and universities across the country, providing strategic direction to administrators and training countless faculty and staff. His online seminars and classes alone have reached well over 150,000 higher education professionals.