SOURCE Service-Learning Faculty & Community Fellows

Bridget Kelly is the Program Manager for the DC Metro Urban Health Program, a service-learning initiative open to all residential Public Health students at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the team at GW, Bridget was the Director of Research for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights at the Population Institute where she worked to support domestic and international sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy through evidence-based research. Bridget started her career in public health as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia, serving as a community health advisor. Bridget holds a Master’s Degree in International Law and Human Rights from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace, a Master in Public Health from GW, and is currently a Doctor of Public Health student at GW. 

My name is Courtney Coffey and I live in Rye, New Hampshire with my husband and two sons.  I currently work full time at the University of New Hampshire as an assistant clinical faculty member.  Clinically, I practice as a certified nurse midwife.  Teaching is a passion of mine, and I am fortunate that is incorporated in both of my careers.  My goals for teaching related to the patients that I see in practice are to provide evidenced-based knowledge that allows patients to be an active participant in their healthcare team and participate in in the shared-decision making process related to their health.  When teaching students, I aim to emphasize the disparities that exist within obstetrical and gynecological care, especially for patients who are already vulnerable and often marginalized in other areas of life.  It is my hope that through the completion of the Service-Learning Academy, that I can involve students more in their education journey, enabling them to become life-long learners who also share a passion for service within the communities in which they live and work.   

Jennifer Peterson is an Assistant Professor and pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist with experience in a variety of advanced nursing practice roles focusing on the care of infants, children, young adults, and their families affected by heart disease. Dr. Peterson is chairperson of the Pediatric Cardiovascular Nursing Committee for the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. She is active in many other organizations including the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society, Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Collaborative, and Consortium of Congenital Cardiac Care-Measurement of Nursing Practice (C4-MNP). Her clinical and research interests include biobehavioral, neurodevelopmental, and psychosocial outcomes in infants and children with heart disease, interventions that support optimal outcomes such as family-centered individualized developmental care, and the influence of social determinants of health and health inequity on children and their families.

Katy Gilb is a dedicated nursing educator with a passion for community health and public service. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Miami University. With almost a decade of experience in community and public health, Katy has served as a public health nurse and supervisor, specializing in communicable disease surveillance, epidemiology, adolescent and reproductive health, home visiting, early childhood development, early intervention, quality assurance, community health education, and nurse leadership. Her commitment to professional development extends beyond the classroom as she actively contributes to the field through her involvement in the Association of Community Health Nurse Educators Awards Committee. Katy also serves as the Secretary of the Omicron Chi Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. At Miami University, she mentors future nurses as a faculty advisor for the Miami Oxford Student Nurse Association (MOSNA). Katy's research interests focus on innovative strategies in nursing education related to population health, disaster response, and health policy advocacy. She is particularly interested in the effectiveness and equity of health promotion activities in the community, with a focus on harm reduction, mental health and coping, and adolescent health. 

Laura Vinson currently serves as the Director of the Masters Program and faculty for the applied practice and capstone experiences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Maurer Center for Public Health. As a native rural Nebraskan and also a UNMC alumnus, Laura has a deep commitment to help train the next generation of public health practitioners. With over a decade of experience in higher education and experiential learning in graduate or professional programs, she understands the value of community and campus partnerships as a tool for meaningful contributions toward student education and population health. Other past experiences have involved building community partnerships and supporting interprofessional medical education through co-curricular Service Learning initiatives with underserved communities. Laura resides in Omaha with her husband and two sons. She finds happiness spending time with her family, hiking at low-elevations, and searching for the best local ice-cream.  

Dr Montejo is a nurse educator experienced in distance education and incorporation of innovation and technology to promote student engagement and improve learning outcomes in remote learning environments. She attended Duke University School of nursing for her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree and The Catholic University of America - Conway School of Nursing for her Master of Nursing (MSN) Degree. Her bachelor's degrees are in nursing and health science from the University of S. Florida and the University of Florida. As a nationally certified family nurse practitioner (FNP), Dr Montejo has been committed to improving care access through clinical practice in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), the Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, and convenience care clinics. Her current clinical practice is in employer-sponsored onsite wellness clinics, where she provides primary care to patients across the lifespan. Dr. Montejo is committed to implementing evidence-based best practices in her roles as educator and clinician and her scholarly interests include online nursing education, health care technology, and interventions to improve primary care access and patient health outcomes.

Dr. Liesl Nydegger is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She earned her PhD (2015) in health promotion sciences with a concentration in global health from the School of Community and Global Health, Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Nydegger was awarded a 2-year Kirschstein NRSA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Dr. Nydegger was also awarded a Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowship (2012-2013) at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban, South Africa. Dr. Nydegger’s research program identifies individual, social, and structural factors that impact sexual health to develop interventions using a syndemic framework to reduce health disparities and improve sexual health among populations with intersectional identities.  

Dr. Mudasir (Roohi) Andrabi is an assistant professor at the Capstone College of Nursing. Her specialty areas are adult health, gerontology nursing, and community health promotion. She has more than 15 years of experience in nursing academics and teaching students from multicultural backgrounds in India, Saudi Arabia, and the United States of America.  

Her research is focused on cardiovascular health promotion in older adults living in geographically underserved areas. Her research with older adults has provided her with direct experience and knowledge about cardiovascular disease risks and the need for heart health promotion among these populations. Over the last few years, Dr. Andrabi has worked with aging populations living in rural Alabama and has conducted some projects in collaboration with some rural health organizations and non-profit organizations. Dr. Andrabi continues to engage with these populations to help them promote their cardiovascular health. 

Dr. Andrabi's goal is to engage continually in teaching while meeting the needs of learners and the health needs of underserved populations. 

Nicole Johnson has been a nurse for 25 years.  She received a BSN from Bethune-Cookman University, a Master's in Nursing Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University, and is pursuing a Doctorate in Nursing Degree.  Nicole is a medical-surgical nurse in various specialties, and her expertise was instrumental in successfully piloting the After Care Clinic at the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Medicine Clinic.  Since joining the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 2014, Nicole has been a clinical, lab, and theory Coordinator.  She is a faculty mentor for practicum students, facilitates interprofessional and clinical simulations, and teaches clinical courses across the MEN program.  

Nicole volunteers on committees in service to her school and the community.  She is a Maryland Resilience Nurses Initiative representative at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and promotes resilience practices in academia and all nursing sectors.  Nicole volunteers with community organizations to advocate for the prevention of Human Trafficking and Intimate Partner Violence.  Her additional memberships include the Sigma Theta International Honor Society at large, the American Nurses Association, the Maryland Nurses Association, the Kappa Gamma Pi honor society, and the Fellowship of Christian Nurses.  Nicole received the Inaugural Linda K. Diaconis Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2013 and was a Daisy Award nominee in 2022. When she is not working, Nicole enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, walking, and watching movies.

Dr. Van Roper holds a Ph.D. in Nursing with a major in Systems and a minor in Rural Health from the University of Arizona. His doctoral dissertation explored "Evidence Based Practice Among Primary Care Nurse Practitioners." Prior to his Ph.D., he earned a Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgia State University and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Kennesaw State University. 

Van is a Certified Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse in New Mexico, holding Controlled Substance Licenses and DEA Controlled Substances Registration. He is Board Certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and holds certifications in Basic Cardiac Life Support and Wilderness Medicine First Responder. Van's extensive healthcare career spans various roles, including: Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs at the University of New Mexico College of Nursing; Associate Clinical Professor and an Project ECHO Clinic Director at the University of New Mexico College of Nursing; Medical Lead, New Mexico Missions of Mercy, among other roles.

Van has been involved in numerous research projects and grants, focusing on topics such as telehealth, rural healthcare delivery, and nurse practitioner education. He has secured funding from various organizations, including the Health Resources and Services Administration and private entities. He has contributed to peer-reviewed journals, covering topics such as opioid use disorder in pregnancy and the impact of amalgam dental restorations on mercury levels in children. He has presented at numerous national and international conferences on telehealth, nursing education, and rural healthcare, showcasing his expertise and contributions to the field. Van is actively involved in professional organizations such as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Telemedicine Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. Throughout his career, he has received recognition for his teaching, leadership, and clinical excellence, including awards such as the Quality Matters Award and the UNM Golden Paw Award. 

Outside of his professional endeavors, Van is dedicated to serving his community, participating in mission clinics and providing healthcare services to underserved populations both locally and internationally. He has also contributed to the academic community as a grant reviewer and manuscript reviewer for various publications. He has also been featured in media coverage and interviews, sharing his expertise and insights on healthcare-related topics. 

Christine Pannell is a seasoned community engagement and marketing professional with 10+ years of experience in the nonprofit and education sectors. She currently serves as the Community Engagement Director at Reading Partners Baltimore, leading a dynamic team and strategy to drive community engagement initiatives and partnerships for the region. Christine also held previous marketing positions at Reading Partners. Prior to Reading Partners, Christine spent six years at Pearson supporting publicity efforts for its full-time online public schools. Christine began her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Baltimore City Office of the Mayor's StepUP volunteerism initiative. She holds a bachelor's degree from La Salle University and a master's degree in communication management from Towson University. 

La’Tonya is the Deputy Chief of Staff for the State of Maryland’s Baltimore City Department of Social Services Agency where she leads staff in the Office of the Director, and in partnership with lead agencies manages strategic priorities for buildings, space utilization, safety, and technology. Her career as a public servant spans the federal, state, local, and municipality levels of government. La’Tonya has led, championed, and implemented change initiatives throughout her career that have helped reshape and innovate public agencies. La’Tonya presently serves on the Community Council of SOURCE, for Johns Hopkins University Schools of Public Health, Nursing, and Medicine and is an Organizational Leadership Doctoral Candidate at Hood College in Frederick Maryland where her research focus is Public Value and e-Government.

Samuel Walker III is the Director of Operations for MERIT Health Leadership Academy. This academic and career mentorship program supports high school students from underrepresented backgrounds who aspire to have careers in the health field. MERIT is an Out-of-School Time program that provides Saturday College Prep Classes, Professional Internships, College Admissions Guidance, and Longitudinal Mentorship to empower students with additional opportunities and resources. Mr. Walker is responsible for creating and refining the curriculum and program design for Saturday classes, summer internships, and scholar support structures. He also evaluates programming and drives internal programmatic improvements. Before working at MERIT, he worked as a Career Development Specialist at Baltimore City Community College, assisting students and alums with career inventories, resume development, and interview skills. He also helped employers with job descriptions and onboarding procedures for newly hired employees. Mr. Walker has also worked as a College Advisor at the CollegeBound Foundation as the Associate Program Director, designing a college access curriculum which addressed standardized test improvements, college advising, essay writing, and financial aid advising. 

Mr. Walker holds a BA in Economics from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He is also the Founder and Director of Playing With A Purpose LLC, a college counseling and mentorship program explicitly targeting student-athletes. 

Sarah Blenner, JD, MPH, is the Director of Field Studies and Applied Professional Training for UCLA Fielding School of Public Health’s Department of Community Health Sciences, where she develops, implements, and evaluates experiential learning, public health training programs, and interprofessional education. She is Co-Director of the Public Health Training Program on Population Health Advocacy and a faculty advisor for UCLA Mobile Clinic Project. Sarah’s areas of interest include workforce development, experiential education, and integrating health into laws and policies. Prior to joining UCLA, Sarah was the Director of the Center for Diabetes Research and Policy at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Sarah is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and the United States District Court Northern District of Illinois.  Sarah received her JD from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, MPH from UIC School of Public Health, and BA with High Honors from Emory University.

Dr. Jodie Guest is a Professor and Senior Vice Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Rollins School of Public Health, Co-Director of the Office of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, and the Associate Program Director for the Physician Assistant Program in the School of Medicine at Emory University.  She has been the recipient of multiple awards at Emory, most recently the 2022 Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award for Rollins School of Public Health, the 2022 and 2020 Rollins School of Public Health Professor of the Year, 2020 Teaching Excellence Award from the Department of Epidemiology, and the 2019 Emory School of Medicine Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award.  She is also the 2023 Society for Epidemiologic Research Kenneth Rothman Career Achievement Winner. Dr. Guest has a broad background in epidemiology and specific expertise in HIV cohorts and clinical trials and emergency preparedness and has focused her research in racial, sexual and gender minority populations in HIV care.  Dr. Guest is also the director of the Emory Farmworker Project, a multi-disciplinary program to provide healthcare to thousands of migrant farmworkers each year.  

Since March 2020, Dr. Guest has led Emory’s Outbreak Response Team for COVID-19, working with poultry plant workers, communities in middle Georgia, the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta, and communities with limited access to vaccines and testing due to unstable housing.  She has prepared public health plans for multiple community organizations including being the Iditarod COVID Czar for the 2021-2023 races. Dr. Guest also serves as the MPox advisor for the City of Atlanta. Dr. Guest has played a prominent role in engaging with local and national media since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and hosts Emory’s weekly video updates about COVID-19. She was awarded Emory’s 2021 MLK Community Service Award for her work with her Outbreak Response Team.

Dr. Guest serves on the Board of Trustees for Leadership Atlanta, the Leadership Council for Zoo Atlanta, is a Faculty Counselor for Emory Board of Trustees, secretary of the University Senate, serves on the Atlanta Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Council, and is the co-chair of the National LGBTQ Health Conference.  Additionally, Dr. Guest is the Founder and Executive Director of Teen Corp, a medical and philanthropy organization created to bring experiential learning to youth leaders.

I am a registered nurse and Certified Nurse Educator. My nursing practice has focused on both medical-surgical nursing and community health. At Hood, I work to connect students with service-learning experiences through partnership with several community agencies.

As a nurse educator, I strive to bridge the gap between learning in the lecture and clinical settings, and to help students transfer knowledge to real life situations using creative teaching methods.

Dr. Robin McGee is Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences (BSHES) at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. As a behavioral scientist, she uses mixed-methods to evaluate practice-based interventions and training programs. In collaboration with the Emory Prevention Research Center, Dr. McGee is leading a project that evaluates interventions developed by community-based organizations throughout Georgia. This project aims to contribute to the dissemination of practice-based evidence. Additionally, Dr. McGee has focused on the adaptation and implementation of an evidence-based self-management program for people with epilepsy. Most recently, she led an evaluation assessing adoption and implementation of the program among trained providers to facilitate understanding about translation to the community. 

In her role as the Assistant Director of the Office of Evidence-based Learning, she evaluates teaching approaches and contributes to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Dr. McGee teaches several classes in the BSHES Master of Public Health program, including Theory Driven Research and Practice and Program Evaluation. In her teaching, she engages with community partners and develops learning opportunities that connect academic and practice-based public health. 

Taylor Tresatti is a Program Manager in the Office of Applied Public Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.  She received her Master’s Degree in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation from GW and a Global Health Certificate from the University of Copenhagen. After spending the first few years of her career in international humanitarian health and assistance, she is most passionate about contributing to improving health equity outcomes and social justice in DC, the place she has called home for nearly a decade. Her current work centers on building sustainable academic-community partnership through various programs including the GW Urban Health Program, a public-health focused, community engagement and service-learning initiative for public health students serving organizations and agencies in the DC Metro Area. 

Elizabeth Wall-Bassett is professor of nutrition and dietetics in the School of Health Sciences at Western Carolina University. Simply stated, I highly value pedagogy with engaged scholarship. I aim to create and transmit knowledge with meaning to ensure relevant and authentic teaching and learning experiences through engagement and interdisciplinary activities. My vitae demonstrates my coherent focus on collaborating, partnering, presenting and publishing with others in industry, education, government, and communities to nutritionally assess the population and provide educational interventions to better understand, address, and improve community issues. I use the infrastructure of SLCE to guide my work as well as my being a role model to others. These reciprocal [co-created] partnerships engage students, faculty/staff, and community members to achieve academic, civic, and personal [growth] learning objectives as well as to advance public purposes. I depend on building trusting relationships with not only the community, colleagues, and other partners but also the students and vulnerable populations that we serve. I have actively incorporated SLCE concepts in my courses, helped other faculty and students understand SLCE key concepts through successful application and scholarship with local and overseas partners, and been recognized through the SLCE teaching and leadership awards and fellowships. By developing capacity (academic, civic, and/or personal), the hope is to have investment, appreciation, and realization of the change that occurs through intentional forethought, engagement, and reflection.

Dr. Wilensky focuses on financing, access and health care needs of the medically underserved, with an emphasis on issues relating to Medicaid. After completing her undergraduate work, Dr. Wilensky served as a fellow at Plan de Salud del Valle Community Health Center, located in rural Colorado, gaining first-hand insights into the needs of these populations. Subsequently, she pursued a law degree, clerked for a federal judge, and worked briefly at a law firm, before becoming a member of the GW health policy faculty in 2002. 

Dr. Wilensky has taught in both the undergraduate and graduate public health programs and has co-authored a textbook, Essentials of Health Policy and Law, which is used at both levels of study. Dr. Wilensky currently serves on two Department committees – Curriculum and Faculty and Staff Affairs -- and on the School's SPH Curriculum Committee, BSPH Curriculum Committee, and Undergraduate Planning and Practice Committee. She also participates in the GW committee for Undergraduate Deans.

Dr. Wilensky is the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education. In this role, she oversees programming and development for all of SPH's undergraduate offerings, including our three majors and four minors.  In addition, she works with partners across the university to improve the experience for SPH's undergraduate students.

Rebecca Wright has worked in health care since 2004. Her program of research focuses on principles of justice and equity within palliative care, and development and application of qualitative, participatory methodologies within a diverse range of settings and with vulnerable populations. She was a nurse at St. Christopher's Hospice in London and a research assistant at King's College London on local, national, and international projects. Dr. Wright earned her doctoral degree in nursing research and her bachelor's degree from the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at King's College London and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the New York University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine. Her doctoral research demonstrated mechanisms or improving clinical practice in the emergency department (ED) through partnership with older adults with palliative care needs using the methodology Experience-based Co-design (EBCD).

Dr. Wright works with national and international inter-professional and trans-disciplinary teams from schools of nursing, medicine, and public health, and local Baltimore community members to advance participatory, co-design approaches to improve experiences of access and delivery to palliative and end-of-life care. She is a founding member of the Palliative Interprofessional Collaborative for Action Research (PICAR), and a founding member of the Qualitative Core at the JHSON. Her current research applies an equity and access focus and approach to improving palliative care in a range of settings. She is working with clinical and supportive care staff across inpatient, outpatient, and ED settings, and partnering with Black, Korean, and Puerto Rican populations specifically, as well as those with palliative and end-of-life needs more broadly.

Jayson Jarual Green is the Executive Director of New Song Community Learning Center, Baltimore City Public Charter School Operator of New Song Academy #322, a PreK-8th charter school located in the heart of Sandtown-Winchester. Jayson has spent his career working with young people and their families to expand their educational and employment opportunities building strong community connections. Previously, Jayson served as the Executive Director of the Y in Druid Hill in West Baltimore.  

Born in the Bronx, NY, Jayson grew up in a community much like West Baltimore understanding the critical importance of education and equity. Jayson has led organizations by raising and stewarding the critical funds needed to accomplish their missions.  

Jayson also serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for B-CIITY (Baltimore City Intergenerational Initiatives for Trauma & Youth). He is a devoted Husband to his beautiful Wife, proud Father of two amazing young women, and loving Grandfather of two precious little girls. 

Ciara M. Huff is a Baltimore native whose passion for child welfare started very early. As a young girl, she observed her mother, a devoted childcare provider, care for and nurture children in the community, which sparked her interest in child advocacy. Ms. Huff entered her academic career intending to advocate for at-risk youth. She holds a B.A. in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a minor in Human Development, an M.A. in Legal & Ethical Studies, and an M.S. in Negotiations & Conflict Management from the University of Baltimore.

Ms. Huff started as a volunteer advocate for CASA of Baltimore in 2014. As a volunteer, she supported children in five cases, in which one closed due to the child being placed in a safe and permanent home. Additionally, due to the conflict she experienced among the parties of this case, she developed and implemented Conflict Management and Effective Communication training for other CASA volunteers. She became CASA's Executive Director in 2019.

Ms. Huff believes that children are our most vulnerable population, especially those abused and neglected, and it is an obligation of those with the capacity and ability to make a difference, give children a voice, and help them reach their full potential. She takes the necessary actions daily to make a difference in a child's life. Ms. Huff serves on the CLIA Youth and Phase 3 Training Corporation boards and the Selection Advisory Council for GreenLight Fund.

Sandra Hunsicker (she/her) is the Volunteer Coordinator and Educational Services Co-Coordinator at the Esperanza Center. She has a B.A. in Communication and Spanish Language, Literatures, and Culture from the University of Maryland, College Park. Sandra joined the Esperanza Center team in 2021 as an AmeriCorps VISTA member working with the Educational Services Team. Through this experience, Sandra discovered her passion for placing volunteers in meaningful volunteer positions that could help them grow both professionally and personally. In August 2022, Sandra began her current positions at the Esperanza Center. As the Volunteer Coordinator, Sandra has the opportunity to recruit volunteers for Esperanza Center’s diverse programs, build and strengthen volunteer partnerships with local organizations and universities, and match volunteers to appropriate positions. As the Educational Services Co-Coordinator, Sandra recruits, trains, and supervises over 25 volunteer teachers a quarter for Esperanza Center’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. Outside of her work with the Esperanza Center, Sandra loves spending time with her spouse, listening to audiobooks, and baking.