Greater Seattle Area
With over 20 years as an innovative public health leader, I've served as academic faculty, administrator, and non-profit executive, specializing in workforce development and environmental public health. I've led diverse teams developing and implementing culturally responsive training programs that have enhanced the capabilities of tens of thousands of professionals globally, with particular expertise in designing programs for resource-limited and remote settings. My expertise spans infectious disease epidemiology, emergency public health preparedness, and global disaster response, with particular focus on building community resilience and culturally appropriate programs for US Territories, Pacific Island Nations, and AI/AN communities. I've designed and implemented successful workforce development initiatives across the Pacific Rim, Africa, Central & South America, and the Caribbean, consistently addressing unique jurisdictional challenges while building sustainable local capacity. Drawing on my advanced degrees in psychology, international public health, and infectious disease epidemiology, I excel at creating practical, hands-on learning models that strengthen public health systems. I've pioneered innovative approaches to environmental public health challenges, particularly in hazard mitigation, humanitarian disaster response, and community resilience building. My teams have established new benchmarks for effective public health workforce development in remote and underserved communities. My work focuses on expanding capacity for essential public health services through evidence-based training and educational resources. I consistently lead at the intersection of workforce development and emerging public health challenges, developing new models for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. My extensive experience with MEAL systems ensures programs deliver measurable, sustainable impact while building local expertise and leadership capacity. I specialize in developing and implementing programs that bridge cultural and jurisdictional boundaries, creating lasting partnerships that enhance public health infrastructure and workforce capabilities. My approach combines rigorous methodology with practical, field-tested solutions that work in diverse and challenging environments.
Participated in the academic program development and administration in both the Environmental Health and Health Geoinformatics Sciences program and the Global Health program. Faculty in the Center for Community Resilience. Teaching Experience: 2005-2007, ENVH 521 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 2005-2007, ENVH 524 – GIS Software Applications and Methods 2006-2007, ENVH 536 – Spatial and Analytical Techniques & GIS 2011 ENVH 547 – GIS for Public Health Practice 2007-2014, GLBH 558 – Public Health Issues in Emergencies 2007-2010, GLBH 527 – Psychosocial Models and Interventions 2013, ENVH 558 – Global Environmental Health 2010, 2011, 2014 GLBH 545 – Integrated Community Development (International Course, Peru & Philippines)
•Led LLU School of Public Health in the development and targeted deployment of core public health services •Expanded upon existing programs in emergency public health and coordinated expansion and relationship building among key partner agencies such as state and local health agencies, community and faith-based organizations, Tribal governments and U.S. Trust Territories. •Supported international engagement in developing resilient communities, targeting key strengths and areas for growth to enhance regional capacity to respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters. •Established monitoring and evaluation capacity within OPHP and supported faculty and student development in this area •Provided opportunities for student experience, practicum and dissertation projects
Led a team of highly skilled emergency public health research and service professionals in the development, testing and implementation of targeted emergency public health interventions and services. The Center for Public Health Preparedness is an academic center, for which the primary functions and activities are to support building resilient communities through collaboration with wide variety of partners to promote disaster preparedness and community resilience. This is achieved through the development and implementation of targeted education, training, exercises and drills to support emergency public health readiness and enhanced response capacity. Our specialized service audiences include individuals, neighborhoods, faith and community-based organizations, businesses, and local, state, tribal, federal and international governments and agencies.