2025 DELPH Cohort

Syed Abbas, MPP, is the Deputy Legislative Director at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. In this capacity, Syed is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including organizational and agency leaders, advocacy groups, elected officials, and other government representatives. He actively contributes to the development of legislative policies and assists in addressing inquiries and concerns from legislators.

Prior to joining the Wisconsin Department of Human Services, he was the Director of Education and Training at Slipstream, where he established a clear vision for the organization’s educational and training portfolio. His work focused on statewide workforce planning, equity and inclusion, and developing strategic partnerships with local nonprofits, municipalities, and the energy and health sectors.

Previously, Syed was the President and Alder of the Madison Common Council, where he advocated for and developed key policies related to affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and public health and safety.

Before entering state service, he served on the board of the United States Green Building Council and held positions on various state and city committees. A committed servant leader, Syed also contributes to his community as a board member of the River Food Pantry and Adelante.

In recognition of his contributions, Syed received the 2021 Asian American Most Influential Leaders Award from Madison 365.

Syed holds two master’s degrees: one in Journalism and the other in Public Policy and Human Development from Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Jefflyn Brown, MSN-Ed, RN, is a dynamic public health leader and nurse executive who brings a powerful blend of lived experience, resilience, and professional expertise to her work. Once a teen mother, she has transformed her journey into a testament to perseverance and purpose, building a career dedicated to improving health outcomes and advancing equity.

With over 14 years of nursing experience, Jefflyn is the Deputy Commissioner of Clinical Services for the City of Milwaukee Health Department. She oversees critical public health programs, including the Public Health Laboratory, Immunization, Tuberculosis, Communicable Diseases, Breast and Cervical Cancer, and Sexual and Reproductive Health programs. A steadfast advocate for anti-racism and health equity, Jefflyn leads transformative efforts to dismantle systemic barriers and promote sustainable community well-being.

With a Master of Science in Nursing Education and over 20 years of healthcare experience, Jefflyn blends clinical expertise with a passion for advocacy. She has led new initiatives like the Neighborhood Nursing Program, advancing culturally responsive care, and is shaping diverse leadership pathways within her organization. A lifelong learner and cultural enthusiast, Jefflyn values honoring diverse traditions alongside her supportive Indigenous husband. Whether driving health policy or collaborating with communities, she blends compassion, innovation, and a touch of humor to inspire meaningful change.

Driven to make the world healthier and more just, Jefflyn excels in both boardrooms and community spaces. Off-duty, Jefflyn enjoys assembling puzzles, spending time with her family and two fur babies, practicing self-care, and planning her next personal or professional growth adventure.

Sharde' Burton, MPH, is the Health Systems and Survivorship Unit Manager in the Cancer Prevention and Control Section at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, she oversees the statewide Colorectal Cancer Control Program, Lung Cancer Control Program, and the Program for Breast Cancer in Young Adults. With over 10 years of experience in public health, Sharde’ is deeply committed to health equity and advocating for underserved communities, leading initiatives to address health disparities through policy, systems, and environmental changes.

Sharde’ holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Michigan State University. She serves as a member of the Executive Committee for the Michigan Breastfeeding Network's Board of Directors and a member of the University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center Community Advisory Board.

In addition to her work at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Sharde’ is a birth doula and Lamaze-certified childbirth educator, empowering families to have positive birth experiences. She also serves as a mentor in her community. In her free time, Sharde’ enjoys traveling, reading, playing tennis, and spending time with family and friends.

Samuel Elenwo, MPH, CIC, is the Public Health Program Administrator for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health, serving as the CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services) and Language Access Coordinator. In this role, he leverages over a decade of expertise in public health administration, health equity, and infectious disease prevention to ensure equitable access to healthcare services for diverse populations. With a passion for advancing epidemiology, lung cancer advocacy, and combating infectious diseases, Samuel has made significant strides in improving health outcomes for underserved communities.

Samuel holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Biomedical Science with a Chemistry focus from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Texas A&M Health Science Center. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology with a concentration in Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Immunology at Walden University, deepening his research and analytical expertise in public health.

In his previous roles, Samuel has demonstrated exceptional leadership in addressing healthcare-associated infections and integrating health equity into public health programming. His work includes spearheading Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services initiatives within Pennsylvania's Department of Health, Office of Health Equity, and mentoring cross-disciplinary teams to promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in healthcare settings.

Samuel is a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Health Equity Taskforce and an active member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. He has led diverse projects, including infection control program development, epidemiological data analysis, and strategic partnerships to address health disparities.

Beyond his professional achievements, Samuel is committed to empowering communities through resource education and advocacy. He aspires to bridge gaps in healthcare by fostering equity and resilience among populations facing systemic barriers to care.

His dedication to advancing public health is reflected in his involvement with professional organizations, research, and the implementation of innovative public health initiatives. When not advancing these missions, he enjoys spending time with family, exploring DIY projects, and advocating for impactful policy change.

Rita Espinoza, DrPH, has served as the Chief of Epidemiology for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District since April 2015. She has over 20 years of experience in infectious disease epidemiology at the state, regional, and local level in Texas.

Rita has led numerous disease investigations and has responded to statewide and local public health events, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, and disease outbreaks. She was instrumental in leading the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rita is now co-leading the Office of Epi Analytics and Informatics, which is focused on enhancing public health decision-making by strengthening data and technology infrastructure, advancing data modernization, and ensuring access to timely and actionable data.

Rita obtained her Master of Public Health in epidemiology from Tulane University and her doctoral degree in public health leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Keyonie "Key" James, MPH, is a dedicated public health professional with over 15 years of experience managing programs that advance community health, promote health equity, and reduce health disparities in underserved populations. She has the unique distinction of having worked through both an epidemic and a pandemic, demonstrating her adaptability, leadership, and commitment to public health during critical global health crises.

Keyonie currently serves as the Reproductive Health Unit Manager for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing the federally funded Title X Family Planning Program. In this role, she leads strategic planning, ensures regulatory compliance, and works to expand access to reproductive health services across Michigan.

Previously, she served as Operations and Compliance Manager for the Ingham County Health Department, where she supported the operations of 11 federally qualified health centers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the rapid implementation of telehealth services, ensuring continuous care for over 26,000 patients. Her global health experience includes serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, where she led capacity-building initiatives and collaborated with community stakeholders to implement prevention programs.

Keyonie holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies from Michigan State University. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she is passionate about improving health outcomes through innovative, evidence-based approaches. By day, she leads public health initiatives, and by night, she brings stories to life as an audiobook narrator.

Sam Jarvis MS, LEHP, CERC, CPH, is the Community Health Division Manager at Johnson County Public Health. He has been with the department for over six years, serving previously as the Emergency Preparedness Planner, and has over 12 years of local government public health experience. Sam holds an MS in Health Science from Western Illinois University and a BA in Biochemistry from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.

Sam leads an integrated division that encompasses health protection and prevention services that includes communicable and chronic disease prevention, emergency preparedness, tobacco prevention and cessation, employee wellness, community health nursing, and health assessment and improvement planning. Sam also held the role of Incident Command for Johnson County, Iowa during the pandemic. He is an adjunct lecturer at the College of Public Health, where he co-lectures on emergency preparedness. He is a board member for the Iowa Public Health Association and participates in Iowa Immunizes, the state immunization coalition of Iowa.

His professional interests include all things public health, grant writing, and organizing digital files. Sam holds a fifth degree black belt in Korean martial arts and likes to cook. He’s a Midwest-coast native determined to make an indelible mark in his community.

LaRita Jones, PhD, joins the DELPH program with over 15 years’ experience working in public health, specifically in the areas of epidemiology and health equity. After completing her undergraduate studies at Mississippi State University and working in the community mental health field in Jackson, MS and Atlanta, GA, LaRita earned her Doctorate in Lifespan Developmental Health Psychology and completed a NIH-sponsored post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where her work included investigations of the racial and ethnic differences in associations between chronic illness and mental health. After her time at University of Alabama at Birmingham, LaRita went on to work as Clinical Research Data Coordinator with the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Orthopedic Surgery Department, before heading West and joining the California Department of Public Health in late 2019.

Initially serving as Syndromic Surveillance Advisor with the Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, LaRita became Logistics Section Chief for California's COVID response team in 2022, before stepping into her current role as Genomic Epidemiology Chief within CDPH's COVID Control Branch. In this role, LaRita leads CDPH's efforts for respiratory illness syndromic surveillance. This allows her to drive policy and decision-making at the state-level based on health equity-focused data.

LaRita spends her free time supporting local community aid efforts, gardening, painting, and attending concerts or one of the many other live events that pop up in Sacramento and the Bay Area.

Aubrenie Jones, MPH, was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. As a graduate of Middle Tennessee University, Aubrenie earned a Bachelor of Science in Community and Public Health and a Master of Public Health. Early in her career as a health educator, Aubrenie gained experience in community outreach and education, grant writing, health policy, and program evaluation. It was there that she developed a passion for advocating for vulnerable populations and health equity.

In her current position, Aubrenie is the Local Engagement and Actions Director for Tennessee’s Department of Health’s Office of Strategic Initiatives. She provides program management support to Health Councils and department staff during their assessment, planning, evaluation, and implementation of Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans. Taking on this role allows Aubrenie to be able to fulfill her passion for collaborating to address health equity based on local knowledge and expertise.

In addition to her work, Aubrenie is an active member of the Pi Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Tennessee Public Health Association. In her spare time, she enjoys crafts, cooking, shoe shopping, and hiking.

Remeka Jones, MPH, has over a decade of public health experience and is the Deputy Chief for the Executive Office of Public Affairs and Equity at the Washington Department of Health. In this role, she leads cross-departmental collaborations, drives communications, equity, and health promotion initiatives, and ensures alignment with agency-wide strategic goals.

Passionate about improving health equity, Remeka has spent her career empowering diverse teams and advancing impactful public health solutions. Previously, she directed the Center for Health Promotion and Education, implementing innovative programs to enhance health behaviors. Her work in Texas focused on maternal and child health initiatives and building coordinated care networks, leveraging technology to improve community health and well-being. Remeka’s expertise in culturally competent education, meaningful community engagement, and systems-level change reflects her commitment to fostering inclusive team cultures and advancing equitable public health practices.

A proud alumna of Xavier University of Louisiana and Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Remeka holds a Master of Public Health in Health Systems. In her free time, she enjoys testing new recipes, reading, exploring local restaurants, and spending time with family, friends, and her new puppy, Gumbo.

Courtney McFadden, MPH, serves as the Deputy Director of the Maryland Department of Health's Prevention and Health Promotion Administration, where she champions health equity and aids in stewarding an over $500M budget. In this role, she provides strategic oversight for more than 600 team members, making up Maryland’s leading state public health workforce.

Courtney’s career in public health began at a reproductive healthcare organization, where she worked as a health educator delivering impactful sexual health education programs to diverse audiences. After earning her Master of Public Health degree from George Washington University, she joined Maryland Department of Health in 2006, advancing through several key leadership roles. Her tenure includes serving as Director of the Center for Cancer Prevention and Control (2011 – 2016), where she spearheaded innovative programs to improve cancer outcomes statewide, and as Director of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau in 2017, leading initiatives to enhance the health and well-being of Maryland’s women and children.

Throughout her career, Courtney has remained committed to addressing health disparities and fostering a more equitable and effective public health system.

Robert Palmer, PhD, MSN, RN, serves as the Director of the Office of Public Health Informatics in the Department of Public Health (DPH) for the State of Georgia. Since his selection in 2020, he has expanded the Office of Public Health Informatics as a key strategic partner in DPH initiatives. He is responsible for the attainment and oversight of over $100 million in grant funds to support state and local public health agencies. He is developing a new electronic health record program at the state-level to support the first-time procurement of a state-wide electronic health record that he is also leading. He is fostering relationships with external partners (i.e., government, academic, and non-profit) to improve the capabilities of public health and inform policymakers and the public. He is an advocate for the combination of data, technology, and information science to improve efficiency, optimize public health efforts, and drive data-driven decisions.

Prior to DPH, Robert served as the Director of Advanced Analytics and Outcomes at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where he oversaw clinical, operational, and research data teams that specialized in clinical quality, process improvement, root cause analysis, forecasting, research, and decision support.

Robert has spent over 20 years in healthcare by successfully fulfilling roles as a clinical nurse, engineer, quality manager, and healthcare program consultant. Robert is a multiple year graduate of Vanderbilt University where he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in both Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, a Bachelor of Nursing Equivalent, a Master of Nursing, and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering.

Shenai Powell, MPH, CHES®, is a public health professional with expertise in program evaluation and data-driven solutions. As a Research Specialist V with the Texas Department of State Health Services, she leads the Medication Data and Analysis Group in the HIV/STD section, overseeing initiatives that enhance health outcomes and mentoring junior analysts.

Shenai is the Graduate Board Member of the Texas Society for Public Health Education and Awards Consultant for the National Society for Public Health Education. She also serves as an Operation ID Intake Coordinator with Houston Main Street Ministries and is a certified Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar. Her professional affiliations include the American Public Health Association and the National Association for Doctors of Public Health.

She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health degree at Tulane University, a program emphasizing Leadership, Advocacy, and Equity. She also holds a Master of Public Health from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Science in Biological/Biosystems Engineering from Louisiana State University.

Driven by a passion for health equity, Shenai is dedicated to developing innovative strategies that improve healthcare access and outcomes in underserved communities. Her expertise includes epidemiology, data visualization, and addressing chronic issues such as obesity, cardiovascular illness, and maternal and child health.

Outside of work, Shenai enjoys fitness, cooking healthy meals, traveling, hosting intimate dinner parties, and spending time with loved ones. Committed to community engagement, she fosters meaningful connections to drive impactful change.

Ana Scuteri, MPH, is the Assistant Health Officer at the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole). She was born and raised in Lima, Peru and she knew from start she wanted to make a difference and impact people’s lives. She has experience working in the field of infectious diseases and epidemiology, public health preparedness, crisis communications, refugee health, management performance, quality improvement, health education, and community outreach. She is a proven leader and community liaison who is recognized for her expertise in the field of public health serving on community boards, including Seminole County Aging Committee, NACCHO’s Workforce Development workgroup, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ HIV/Hepatitis committee.

Ana holds a Master of Public Health from Florida International University and has worked in the field of public health for over 20 years and held leadership positions with the Florida Department of Health for over 15 years. She is recognized for establishing community partnerships and creating innovative solutions to meet the needs of communities. During hard times, Ana always rallies the DOH-Seminole team together, providing strong guidance with the reassurance that they can make it together. Ana considers the DOH-Seminole team part of her extended family and is always concerned about their well-being and health. She is passionate about working to reduce health disparities and increasing access to care and well-being for all. She often stands for and speaks on behalf of those whose voices may not be heard. She considers mentoring her biggest contribution to public health.

Eduardo Sida, MPH,has worked in public health for over 10 years striving to improve the health of underserved communities through policies, systems, and environmental changes. He graduated from the University of California, Davis, and then received his Master of Public Health from California Baptist University. At UC Davis, he started his public health career interning at Clinica Tepati providing primary care services to undocumented and uninsured communities in the Sacramento area.

Eduardo has worked in non-profit organizations and local government in the Inland Empire, focusing his work on addressing chronic diseases through evidenced-based interventions and implementation of system changes where planning and public health intersect. He developed and led Grow Perris, a nationally awarded first-prize program, addressing food insecurities and improving the health outcomes of Perris residents. He joined the San Francisco Department of Public Health in 2020 to support the efforts of the COVID response leading the Case Investigation, Contact Tracing, and Outbreak Management teams for which he received a Good Government Award for public health emergency operations.

Currently, he serves as the Director of Administration, Policy, and Performance for the Population Health Division, providing strategic direction and oversight to the grants, contracts, policy, purchasing, project management, and performance/quality improvement teams with the overall goal to strengthen the infrastructure of the division.

During his free time, he travels periodically to Southern California to spend time with his 10-year-old niece, Aaliyah, who aspires to be a professional soccer player, and his 3-year-old nephew, Alberto.

Lawrence Young, MPH, serves as the Section Chief for the Office of Health Equity at the Connecticut Department of Public Health dedicated to advancing health equity and eliminating disparities by fostering partnerships across public health, healthcare, and social service agencies. With a background in grant management, healthcare administration, and program development, Lawrence's passion for improving the health of underserved communities has been a driving force throughout his career.

Previously, as Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at Charter Oak Health Center, he played a pivotal role in executing strategic visions and fostering community engagement.

Additionally, as the proprietor of Lawrence Young Consulting, he focuses on capacity building, curriculum development, and facilitating sessions on racial and health equity. Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Public Health from Morehouse College and a Master of Public Health from Emory University. Committed to promoting inclusive diversity in the healthcare workforce, he aims to continue his career focusing on increasing systems capacity for health equity and addressing social determinants of health.