Last year brought big changes. Not long after completing my DrPH at the University of Georgia, I learned my role at CDC was being eliminated. I took time to reimagine what was next for my career and my family. Like many in public health right now, I’ve experienced firsthand how quickly shifts in the field can ripple through organizations, departments, and people’s lives.

What I realized is that the work I love most hasn’t changed: helping organizations find clarity in the middle of disruption. I’ve spent more than 25 years in public health—most of them at the CDC—leading nationally recognized programs in school health, chronic disease, and environmental health, and supporting response efforts during emergencies from Hurricane Katrina to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At its core, my work is about putting knowledge into action. I focus on strategic planning, systems thinking, and program design. I enjoy helping organizations navigate financial pressures, staffing challenges, and programmatic change while keeping their mission at the center.

Through Kindling Collaborative, I now bring this approach to organizations navigating change.

Today, my goal is simple: to partner with values-driven organizations to develop practical solutions and build stronger systems that make a difference at scale.