our team
Jason Roop, PhD
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Jason Roop is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Trait-Based Transformation, where he leads the development and national implementation of a unified, evidence-based human development framework expressed through prevention, recovery, and leadership. His work integrates research, lived experience, and systems-level innovation to support identity formation, restoration, and ethical influence across the lifespan.
Dr. Roop’s professional path is rooted in profound personal transformation. After 17 years of active addiction and homelessness, he entered recovery in 2013. That lived experience became the foundation for a rigorous academic and applied journey, culminating in a Ph.D. in Business Management and Leadership in 2022 and the creation of the Trait-Based framework now used across diverse community settings.
An accomplished researcher, author, and national speaker, Dr. Roop is widely recognized for advancing a trait-centered understanding of human behavior, addiction, and change. His work challenges deficit-based and pathology-driven models by highlighting the adaptive strengths, leadership capacities, and inherent potential present even in periods of struggle. He is actively involved with the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission and collaborates nationally with schools, treatment providers, justice systems, and community organizations.
Dr. Roop’s research and program development focus on identifying and activating core traits that support balance, resilience, and responsible influence. This work led to the creation of the Trait-Based Model of Prevention, the Trait-Based Model of Recovery, and the Trait-Based Leadership framework, which together form a cohesive approach to human development. These models are implemented nationwide in schools, residential and outpatient treatment programs, court systems, workforce initiatives, and leadership development contexts.
Through ongoing research, program expansion, and strategic partnerships, Dr. Roop continues to advance accessible, data-informed, and person-centered approaches that honor the strengths people already possess and translate internal balance into meaningful contribution and leadership.
Amanda Jo Roop
Co-Founder and Program Developer
Amanda Jo Roop is a certified peer support specialist, co-creator of the Trait-Based Model of Recovery and Prevention, and a passionate advocate for identity-focused, strengths-based healing.
With more than 12 years of experience working in the school system, Amanda brings a deep understanding of youth development, emotional wellness, and the critical role of connection in both prevention and recovery. Her professional and personal journey have shaped her ability to walk alongside individuals with compassion, insight, and authenticity.
Amanda has played a key role in designing and delivering the Trait-Based curriculum across both treatment centers and school-based settings. As a teacher, mentor, and program facilitator, she creates safe and engaging environments where individuals can reflect, grow, and rediscover their inner strengths.
Her lived experience in recovery and her background in trauma-informed care allow her to connect deeply with participants of all ages. Whether guiding a group through a peer circle, supporting adolescents in crisis, or helping adults reframe their narrative, Amanda leads with grace, grounded presence, and an unwavering belief in each person’s capacity to grow.
She currently serves as a lead trainer and facilitator at the Center for Trait-Based Transformation and continues to play an instrumental role in developing content, assessments, and healing experiences that meet people where they are—and help them Start from Strength.
Nick Rhodus- APSS
Director of Facilitation and Innovation
Since getting sober in August of 2020 Nick has experienced a meteoric rise in the recovery field. After obtaining his Peer Support Specialist license he went on to serve as a Peer Support trainer in the state of Kentucky helping hundreds of individuals to become certified peer support specialists.
He was then promoted to program administrator role before being named Executive Director at one of Kentucky’s largest non profit SUD treatment organizations where he has helped guide thousands of men and women on their recovery journey.
Nick brings an approach to teaching and leadership that is eclectic, engaging, and effective – blending philosophical inquiry, martial arts concepts, spiritual principles, and personal experience
Betsy Colwell- CSA, APSS
Peer Support Coordinator
Betsy is a Certified Support Associate and Peer Support Specialist where she brings compassion, lived experience, and creative energy to her work in long-term recovery. Based in Louisville, KY, she currently serves individuals navigating substance use disorder (SUD), offering support through a lens of personal empowerment and healing. Betsy began her recovery journey on September 26, 2023, and is a proud graduate of the Trait Based Center for Transformation (Class of February 2024).
She earned her Peer Support Specialist certification in September 2024, followed by her CSA certification in June 2025. These milestones reflect her commitment to both personal growth and professional excellence in the recovery field. A gifted artist and passionate advocate, Betsy is currently in her second semester of college, working toward an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design. Her creativity deeply informs her approach to recovery work — helping others explore the connection between expression, identity, and healing. She believes in the power of embracing one’s shadow as a path to uncovering the light that has always existed within. Through her role at The Center, she invites those she works with to move beyond survival and into transformation — honoring the unique traits, stories, and strengths that make recovery not only possible but meaningful.