Apurv Hirsh Shekhar was born and raised in Plymouth, MN as a son of two Indian immigrants. Before starting medical school at Yale, he graduated early from Johns Hopkins University with a B.S. in Public Health and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. As Co-Founder of S-PHASEC Emergency Response, Student Research Fellow at Yale Law School’s Solomon Center for Health Law & Policy, and former National Director of National Student Response Network, Hirsh helped organize the health professions student response to COVID-19 locally and nationally, successfully advocating for a PREP Act expansion for health student vaccinators and engaging the Biden-Harris COVID-19 Task Force, Clinton Foundation, MIT PathCheck, and partners such as GOTVax, ThisIsOurShot, and Grossman Solutions.

Danielle is mentor, scientist, leader, innovator, and entrepreneur who is completing her training as an MD-PhD student at Yale School of Medicine. She has many interests but is most passionate about the intersection between technology, science, and society and hopes to incorporate addressing emerging issues at this intersection throughout her career. Now completing her PhD, her work is focused on using cutting-edge technologies (single cell epigenomics and spatial transcriptomics) combined with machine learning algorithms and molecular biology to establish how the tumor microenvironment contributes to brain cancer growth and development, while strategizing new precision medicine targets. Danielle has been involved in collaborative research studying neurovascular genetic abnormalities and has published work in The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA Neurology, and Nature Medicine as well as many other medical, neurosurgical, and scientific journals. Danielle has established herself as a leader within both the Yale and New Haven communities. She is currently Head of Life Science Research and Development at The Dev Effect, a research engineering group specializing in machine learning. She is Director of Clinical Operations for Nucleate New Haven, a member of the Board of Directors for Minorities in Medicine, Co-Founder and Co-President of the Yale Cushing Society, Co-Founder of SPHASEC emergency response and the PIECE vaccination campaign, Medical Student Representative for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Young Neurosurgeons Committee, and Founding Curator of the Global Shapers New Haven Hub.  

Deborah A. Fortune, Ph.D., MCHES, is an associate professor in the Department of Health Education at North Carolina Central University and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist. Prior to her current position, Dr. Fortune was the director of the National HIV and CSHE Project with the American Association for Health Education. She has been a faculty member at the following institutions: East Tennessee State University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Marymount University.

Dr. Fortune received her B.S. degree in Biology from Mississippi University for Women, her M.S. degree in Community Health Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her Ph.D. in Public Health Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Dr. Fortune has provided instructor training in comprehensive school health education (Growing Healthy curriculum and Teenage Health Teaching Modules), HIV/AIDS for African Americans, youth violence prevention, and cultural diversity in health education. Her research interests include HIV and sexual health among African American college women, youth violence prevention, professional preparation in health education, and faculty and youth mentoring. She has published and made numerous presentations on those topics.

Dr. Kirsten Rodgers is an Educational Consultant with over fifteen years of experience teaching and developing instructional programs in public health. As Principal and Lead Consultant of Proximate Learning, LLC, she works with federal, state, and local agencies and academic institutions to develop educational programs for public health and healthcare professionals. She is a founding member of Pedagogy in Health Promotion and serves on two national boards that focus on professional development in public health. Currently, Dr. Rodgers contracts with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to prepare current employees and fellows for the public health workforce.  She also contracts with non-profits and other national agencies to develop educational products and courses that focus on leadership, health equity, public-private partnerships, and community-level change theories in public health. Dr. Rodgers’ educational credentials include a doctorate in Health Education from Columbia University, 2010 and a Masters of Science in Public Health from the University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, 2003. She has been a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) since 2011. From 2012-2015, she served as a faculty member at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and in 2016, led the undergraduate public health program accreditation at Georgia College and State University where she was an Assistant Professor. She enjoys creating meaningful education that inspires students and professionals to thrive.

Tammy Dillard-Steels brings extensive experience in association management with over 25 years in both the nonprofit and private sectors. Dillard-Steels holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. She is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and a scholar from ASAE’s Diversity Executive Leader Program, and the Association Forum of Chicagoland’s Diversity Workforce Initiative. Dillard-Steels is responsible for leading SOPHE’s dedicated team of professionals while growing the value of the organization to its members, donors, sponsors, partners and other stakeholders. She leads efforts to expand the organization’s programs while growing and strengthening its membership base.

Martha Katz is a health policy leader who is committed to the use of policy strategies to improve health and access to quality health care for all. Martha began her career in public health in the U. S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion where she was part of the team that developed the first Healthy People: Objectives for the Nation in 1980. She then joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where she led development of CDC’s policy and budget strategies for 10 years and co-chaired Healthy People 2000, which reinforced the national commitment to addressing health disparities. She was instrumental in establishing the CDC Foundation and was its first program director. Martha then served as CDC’s Deputy Director for five years from 1998-2003, focused on policy, legislation, and communications. From 2003-2008, Martha was Director of Health Policy for Healthcare Georgia Foundation where she designed health policy and grantmaking strategies to promote better health and health care for all Georgians.Martha currently chairs the Board of Directors of the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation which awards two prizes annually for improving health and for outstanding contributions to health education. She serves on the Board of the Georgia Health Foundation, the Logan Health System in northwest Montana, and chairs the Board of the Flying Carpet Theatre Company. Martha received a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and an MPA from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Zebley Diaz currently serves as SOPHE's Editorial & Communications manager where she oversees management of Health Education and Behavior. Previously, she managed the Federal Bar Association's legal journal The Federal Lawyer. Zebley received her Masters in Strategic Communication from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She completed her bachelor's in journalism from the University of Hawaii in 2016.

Dr. Ron Williams, Jr. is a Professor of Public Health at Texas State University where he serves as the Graduate Program Coordinator for the online M.S. in Public Health Education and Promotion. His research focuses on the social ecology of substance abuse prevention with specific emphasis on alcohol and energy drink risks and advocacy for tobacco-free initiatives. He has secured over $2.8 million in federal, state, and local funding for community health and drug prevention research.

Dr. Derek Cegelka (PhD, MPH, CHES) is an Assistant Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University. His research interests include death and dying and the relationship to health, gerontology, and sexuality education.

Nancy Daley-Moore is an Assistant Professor of Health Science at Truman State University. Nancy’s research focuses on college student wellness, specifically sexual wellness and women’s sexual health. Her research explores college students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sexual communication, safer sex practices, and abortion perceptions. She uses her research to fuel sexual wellness programming efforts in her classroom and on campus through Truman’s Women’s Resource Center (WRC), the Sexual Health Advocacy Group (SHAG), and other campus organizations.

Linh Nguyen is a current Health Science student at Truman State University. She graduates in May 2022, and she hopes to attend graduate school (MPH) in the fall.

Dr. Payton Foh is an Assistant Professor of Public Health Education and a Research Fellow for the Center for Housing and Community Studies at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her current research agenda focuses on the prevention of firearm violence within educational end community settings. She is particularly interested in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities in firearm injuries and deaths.  

Kristen Welker, PhD, CHES is an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the Ohio State University. Having degrees in marketing and health promotion, Kristen brings a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of health behavior and promotion. Kristen has long been interested in the role of media in body ideals and health behaviors. She pursued health promotion with an interest in exploring social media as a new source of wide-spread, health-risk messaging, and has recently begun investigating the world of "fitspiration" - a social media phenomenon promoting fitness inspiration - and its possible role in the formation of health-risk beliefs and behaviors.

Phyllis K. Stoll, MPH, MCHES leads the educational strategy and development of responder education curricula across programs that aim to improve readiness of the CDC responder workforce. She ensures that responder education training to programs across the agency is standardized and consistent for various emergency response roles. Over 1,000 CDC staff have benefited from understanding how to work and operate in a virtual incident management system through the training she’s led and developed. She also serves as the education lead for the Incident Manager Training and Development Program, which prepares current and future CDC Incident Managers to lead agency-wide responses. Ms. Stoll has extensive applied experience in designing, disseminating, and evaluating training for in-person and eLearning modules.

Silvia M. Trigoso, MPH strategically coordinates and integrates training efforts across programs that aim to prepare the CDC responder workforce. She also leads evaluation efforts to ensure implementation of an evidence-informed training strategy that measures impact. She provides technical direction on the design and implementation of training needs assessments that informs development of role-specific training for CDC responders and leaders. In 2015, she co-led a multi-phase approach to develop the Incident Manager Training & Development Program, which has improved response leader capacity and better positioned leaders to lead complex public health emergencies. In 2017, she was awarded the Center for Preparedness and Response Excellence in Public Health Service.

Catherine Piper, MPH, CHES leads a CDC-wide responder education program. She sets strategic direction and intent for an integrated curriculum designed to prepare the CDC responder workforce. She brings 30+ years of public health education and program management experience, including 10 years in CDC’s scientific fellowships. During the CDC’s 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola Outbreak Response, she directed the development of the Anniston Training for health care workers preparing to work in Ebola Treatment Units. Ms. Piper was a 2017 Center for Preparedness and Response Excellence in Public Health awardee, and more recently the recipient of the 2019 Career Achievement Award in Health Education for leading the establishment of the Incident Manager Training and Development Program and advancing health education practice across CDC

Katherine Atcheson, MPH, CHES joined the National Clinical Training Center for Family Planning at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies in March 2019. At the NCTCFP, Katherine manages the development and implementation of online educational programming for Title X clinicians, including webinars, podcasts, CE quizzes, and other activities. She received her BA in anthropology from Grinnell College in 2012 and her MPH in maternal and child health from Boston University in 2014. In addition, Katherine has been a Certified Health Education Specialist under the NCHEC since October 2015. Prior to joining the NCTCFP, Katherine worked as a disease intervention specialist for the state of Kansas and as a Planned Parenthood health educator in Wichita, KS

Dr. Kanekar is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator for Health Education and Health Promotion at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His fourteen years of teaching experience involves more than 30 different courses (undergraduate and graduate) in the areas of public health, health education, and health promotion. Recipient of numerous teaching awards at the international, national, and local levels, his pedagogical techniques involve online –distance learning, hybrid, and face-to-face courses. His research areas of interest focus on adolescent health, measurement in health education, global health, online and hybrid pedagogy, and health behavior interventions. He currently serves on the Society for Public Health Education Ethics Committee and Editorial Board of the American Journal of Public Health and Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education at the national level and as Member at Large Finance at the Arkansas Society for Public Health Education at the state level.

Dr. Rebecca Rich is an assistant professor in the Department of Health at West Chester University. Her teaching responsibilities are primarily in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program. Dr. Rich's research focuses on women's sexual health, and health and sexuality education pedagogy. Much of her work is done with a feminist theoretical lens.

Dr. Meghan E. Burroughs is an Assistant Professor of Public Health Education at Bradley University. Dr. Burroughs received her PhD in health education and promotion from The University of Alabama and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. Her main areas of research focus on substance use and abuse of young adults, specifically marijuana use, and social media-focused research, specifically violence and women’s health issues.

Dr. Jennifer L. Evans is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Health & Kinesiology at Texas A&M University. She earned her PhD in Health Education and Promotion from The University of Alabama, and an MEd in Health Education and BHWP in Health and Wellness Promotion from Texas State University. Her research interests include investigating sexual violence via digital platforms, bystander interventions, and college student sexual health issues with a special interest in condom negotiation strategies and hookup culture. She is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) and a certified sexual assault advocate for the local sexual assault resource center. Dr. Evans is an active member of SOPHE, APHA, and ESG.

Kayla is the Program Manager for SexEdVA at James Madison University's Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services. In her time in sexual health education programming, she has taught middle school and high school classes, collected data on a rigorous evaluation project for an online sex-ed program, and previously served as the Program Coordinator for the Disability-inclusive Sexual Health Network. Kayla completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work at James Madison University as well as her master's degree in Educational Technology/Instructional Design. Outside of work she spends a lot of time with family and enjoys crafting, baking, and gardening.

Adrienne serves as the Innovation and Impact Coordinator for the Disability-inclusive Sexual Health Network (DSHN). She works closely with DSHN’s 11 statewide partners as they develop and test interventions to create accessible sexual health education for youth with disabilities. She studied Public Health Education at James Madison University as an undergraduate student and is a candidate for a MS. Ed. degree in Adult Education/Human Resources Development. At JMU she is of the co-chairs for the Basic Needs Advisory Board which helps create and advocate for resources to help students meet their basic needs so they can succeed in school. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, walking, playing with her dogs, and shopping at the farmers market.

Mauricia T. Lewis is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and resides in that country. She received a Master of Education Health Promotion from The University of the West Indies St. Augustine campus in 2018. In 2015 she received a post graduate degree in Communications, Media and Public Relations from the University of Leicester, England. In 2012, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Film with a Major in Film Studies and Minor in Psychology from The University of the West Indies. For the past twelve (12) years she has been employed in the Public Health Department and Health Education Unit of the Port of Spain Corporation. Her job title is Audio Visual Aids Officer. Her duties include working with the Public Health Educator I and II.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic she assisted and worked with the Health Educator I distributing literature to schools, business establishments, members of council and members of the public. Some of this literature includes:
• COVID-19 fact sheet (in English and Spanish). These were distributed to primary and secondary schools.
• Assisted with COVID-19 (novel Coronavirus) Bilingual Booklet. This was distributed to establishments and members of the public and distributed to members of council of the Port of Spain Corporation.
• Wash hand poster.

Dr. Brumfield currently works as Assistant Professor of Public Health within the School of Health & Wellness at Dillard University in New Orleans Louisiana and as an Adjunct Professor within the Department of Psychology at Jackson State University in Jackson Mississippi. She has 22 years of experience as a Certified Recreation Specialist and 17 years as a Certified Health Education Specialist before embarking on into Higher Education. She gained experience with Development Disabilities, Drug and Alcohol Addictions, and other Mental Illnesses. In her free time, she loves to travel, laugh, and spend time with family & friends.

Amy Wotring is an assistant professor of Public Health at Indiana State University. Her research interests focus on aging, organ donation, death and dying, college health, and stress management. Dr. Wotring is very active with the Alzheimer's Association in Terre Haute, Indiana. She serves as the Team Retention Committee Chair. Dr. Wotring is very passionate about teaching and loves serving in the community.

Dr. Jody Vogelzang, a nationally recognized speaker, researcher, registered dietitian, and health education specialist, is an expert in community health who has spent the last two decades teaching in higher education.  Her peers have formally recognized her for excellence in professional practice (Excellence in Public Health Nutrition (AND) and Achievements in Public Health Nutrition (APA) and for dedication to the high standards of the nutrition and dietetics profession through active participation, leadership, and devotion to serving others in nutrition and dietetics, as well as allied health fields (AND Medallion Award).  
She holds a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Michigan State University, a Master's Degree in Health Science from Grand Valley State University, a Master's of Arts in Biology from Miami University, and a Doctorate in Health Services specializing in community health from Walden University. She regularly volunteers in professional and community organizations locally, nationally, and internationally.

Dr. Toth is an MCHES^© credentialed health educator with 12 years of expertise in the field and over 15 as an educator. She currently serves as Assistant Professor at Alabama A&M University. Dr. Toth is national Co-Chair of the SHAPE America Task Force to revise the K-12 National Health Education Standards and was previously appointed by the Alabama State Superintendent to the State Department of Education committee to update the course of study standards for K-12 health education. She is also designated as Director for the Division Board of CHES, National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Her research and publications focus on school and campus health, health education standards, and chronic disease prevention.   

Wendy is the Ohio Regional Director for The Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, Tobacco 21 and an Assistant Professor at Baldwin Wallace University. Wendy holds a Multi Age (P-12) Ohio Health Educator License and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. Ms. Hyde, has actively worked on many of the Tobacco 21 policies throughout Ohio providing health departments with education programs and training materials.  She has also worked on smoke-free campus campaigns and youth-led advocacy initiatives. As an active participant in health promotion associations throughout the state including the Tobacco Free Ohio Alliance and Ohio SOPHE she has been a keynote speaker and plenary presenter at professional development conferences statewide.

Lauren Bartoszek, Assistant Director, Population Health at The Health Collaborative, helps lead multi-sector, multi-stakeholder strategic partnerships that center equity and focus on addressing the social determinants of health in the Greater Cincinnati region. Lauren graduated from University of Cincinnati with a PhD in Health Education and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES). She is a member of the ASAP Norwood (a community substance abuse coalition), the steering committee for Xavier University’s Center for Population Health, and on the board for Centerpoint Health. In her free time, Lauren teaches fitness at Barre3 Mariemont, enjoys visiting new restaurants with her husband and hanging out with daughter.

Megan Folkerth coordinates Interact for Health’s efforts to reduce tobacco use with a strong focus on tobacco control policy. Megan oversees grant making and technical assistance, including designing and implementing new initiatives with community partners to decrease the health effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. In 2013 Megan received the Legacy Next Generation Leader Award for Community and Social Services and in 2012 she was a Balderson Leadership Project Award Runner-Up. Megan holds a Master of Public Health in health promotion and education from Wright State University and a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Marietta College. She also earned a certificate of public health leadership from the University of Kentucky College of Public Health. Megan is a Certified Health Education Specialist and a member of the Ohio Chapter of the Society for Public Health Education. Megan represents Interact for Health on the Cradle Cincinnati Advisory Board and serves as an advisor to the Tri-State

Chelsey Hughes, MS, CHES® is the Project Manager, Grants at the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Health Promotion from Maryland University of Integrative Health. She brings several years of experience in school health, health education, and health promotion as she has authored and co-authored health education and promotion programs focused on health, wellness, and nutrition for school-aged children, adolescents, and adults. Hughes oversees the CDC Healthy Schools cooperative agreements as well as several internal committees at SOPHE; SOPHE Awards, Professional Preparation Committee, and the Student Health Edu-Thon Subcommittee.