2026 Annual Conference, Bios

Dr. Jill Abney is the associate director of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching where she directs CELT’s Teaching Innovation Institute and serves as the associate director of the UK-JHF Holocaust Education Initiative. She also teaches courses for UK’s department of history such as history research methods and war and society. Dr. Abney’s pedagogical research interests include fostering belonging in the classroom and inclusive teaching. As a historian she has a background of research in gender, rhetoric, politics, and power.

As Rural Project Manager for the ELEVATE and RISE Programs, Josh has led employer recruitment and established state-certified apprenticeship sites to expand the Community Health Worker (CHW) and Peer Support workforce. Josh oversees all aspects of the apprenticeship program, ensuring compliance with state regulations, smooth day-to-day operations, and accurate documentation that supports apprentice growth and program outcomes. Josh collaborates with Kentucky Homeplace on various projects to strengthen rural health initiatives and align community resources with workforce development efforts. In addition to program management, he facilitates the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) component of CHW training and delivers advanced upskilling sessions for ELEVATE participants, enhancing their knowledge and competencies in addressing SUD and improving care in rural communities.

Deena Bell serves as the Workforce Education Section Supervisor in the Public Health Workforce Readiness Branch at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, where she leads efforts to strengthen and support the local and state public health workforce through education, training, and strategic partnerships. Through cross-sector collaboration, she partners with academic institutions and professional organizations to expand professional development opportunities and build a skilled, engaged, and sustainable public health workforce. She holds a Master of Public Administration and brings a background in higher education and behavioral health, which provides a strong foundation in workforce development, collaboration, and applied learning.

Cameron Burkeen serves as the Harm Reduction Project Manager, Recovery Coach, and Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) for the Purchase District Health Department, located in far western KY. He also serves as the Vice Chair for McCracken County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP) and facilitates the Western Kentucky Opioid Taskforce Cameron received his Bachelor’s in Public and Community Health with a concentration in Health and Fitness Management from Murray State University in 2023. He is currently pursuing his Master’s in Health and Human from the University of the Cumberlands.

Kyle Burnett is a Rural Project Manager for the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health. Kyle is currently the Project Manager of both the ELEVATE and RISE grants and works to integrate Community Health Workers into the healthcare workforce across Kentucky. Kyle has a unique understanding of the challenges and barriers that face rural Appalachia and has worked his entire career to address these issues.

Angela Carman, DrPH, associate professor, University of Kentucky, College of Public Health and the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s Endowed chair in Health Policy, also serves as a consultant to local health departments and hospitals. Dr. Carman received her DrPH from the University of Kentucky, MBA from Eastern Kentucky University and BS in Business Administration from Berea College. Her research focuses on public health practice. Prior to UK, Dr. Carman served as critical-access hospital CEO.

Ashley Carroll has been working with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) since June 2022. She served as an intern for the Center for Foundational Health for one year before being hired as the team’s LHD Workforce Training Program Administrator in May 2023. In her role, Ashley provides support to the Kentucky Health Departments Association (KHDA) on LHD-related workforce development initiatives. She also coordinates with KDPH and other organizations to support LHD employee training, education, and professional development initiatives. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Health Science from Messiah University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Kentucky.

Maria Church is an ADA Coordinator and Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Program Coordinator with extensive experience in emergency preparedness, public health, and community resilience. A U.S. Navy veteran, she has served in leadership roles with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the Lexington Division of Emergency Management, coordinating inclusive preparedness and response initiatives for vulnerable populations. Maria is skilled in policy development, outreach, training, and program evaluation. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she also leads community engagement for the nonprofit organization Immigrant Initiative, which supports immigrant families and advances equitable access to education and emergency services.

Daniel B. Cooper is an epidemiologist at the Kentucky Department for Public Health with extensive experience in population health and healthcare data analysis. He currently specializes in wastewater-based epidemiology, using R, Python, and Shiny to transform viral surveillance into actionable public health insights. A proponent of data modernization, Daniel focuses on building automated pipelines and reproducible tools that empower domain experts to use their own data. His work is centered on making the emerging science of wastewater surveillance practical and accessible for evidence-based decision-making.

Kathleen Croley serves as a Health Educator at the Whitley County Health Department, where she leads initiatives focused on community health education, mental health, harm reduction, and strategic planning. With a Bachelor of Science in Education, Kathleen brings more than 30 years of expertise in HANDS and health education. She was recently awarded the 2025 Whitley County Health Department Equity Award for her fierce dedication and advocacy.

Maddey Culbertson is a research apprentice at the Center for Public Health Systems and Services Research. She has experience in both local and state public health settings, where she contributed to community health initiatives and infectious disease investigations.

Maddey holds a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Management and Policy and a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, both from the University of Kentucky. Her interests include social determinants of health, community-based research, and the integration of healthcare and public health systems.

Lindsey Dierenfield is an Epidemiologist with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, where she focuses on HIV/AIDS Prevention. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Women’s and Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and applies an equity-centered, interdisciplinary lens to her public health work. Lindsey is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion at Eastern Kentucky University to further strengthen community-driven and evidence-based HIV Prevention efforts.

Jennifer Duncan is the Mpox Prevention Coordinator and an Epidemiologist with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). A Louisville native, she earned a BA in Anthropology from Eckerd College, an MPH from the Tulane University School of Public Health, and deepened her commitment to public health as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana from 2016–2018. Before entering state service, she supported HIV prevention and PrEP implementation efforts with USAID across West Africa. Since joining KDPH in 2020, Jennifer has worked across multiple programs, building partnerships with local health departments, community-based organizations, academic partners, and public health practitioners to advance equitable prevention, testing, and treatment services.

Amanda Fallin-Bennett is an Associate Professor at the UK College of Nursing, a co-founder of Voices of Hope (a recovery community organization), and a member of the Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health. Dr. Fallin-Bennett is a passionate advocate for access to evidence-based recovery, treatment, and harm reduction services. She is also the co=Project Lead of the UK Harm Reduction Hub.

Dr. Zach S. Farley holds a PhD in Prevention Science with a specialization in Educational Data Science and a focus on School and Community Health Promotion from the University of Oregon, and a Master of Public Health(MPH) and bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Previously, he worked in epidemiology for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department (Chattanooga, TN) and served as a Summer Cancer Research Fellow in the National Cancer Institute’s, Health Behavior Research Branch. Dr. Farley conducts community-based public health research and is committed to be of service to his community in the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and equitable distribution of health promoting resources.

Dr. Ferrell is a maternal and child health epidemiologist at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, where she has worked for nearly a dozen years. In this capacity she has led a variety of projects relating to preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, infancy, and early childhood. Her professional interests include program planning and evaluation, data linkage, and mentorship. She holds a DrPH in public health leadership from the University of South Florida.

Katie Gardner, RN, BSN, is a public health nurse and health educator with 18 years of experience, including clinical care, harm reduction and infectious disease care and prevention. Katie currently serves on the board of the Kentucky Youth Health Network, which works to create public awareness of health risks and promote healthy outcomes for Kentucky youth. In her role as Viral Hepatitis Program Coordinator for the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Katie focuses on increasing hepatitis C education, prevention, and linkage in communities most impacted by hepatitis C and the overdose epidemic.

Anne Goodman has worked for the Kentucky Department for Public Health as a Regional Epidemiologist since 2024. She served the Buffalo Trace/Gateway Region until 2025, before transitioning to serving the Bluegrass Region, which includes 8 counties in central Kentucky where her primary duties include outbreak investigation coordination and supporting local disease surveillance. She has been a part-time faculty member for the College of Health Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University since 2024, previously working for the university as a graduate assistant and the Coordinator of Violence Prevention. Anne graduated from EKU with her BSPH with a minor in Women and Gender Studies in 2022, and her MPH in 2024.

Chase Herrmann is a current doctoral student serving as the epidemiologist for the Bullitt County Health Department. He has specific interests in statistical modeling and epidemiologic methods. His research experience has spanned environmental toxins, behavioral health hospitalizations, prostate and colorectal cancer, and food access.

Brooke Hiltz is a Research Program Administrator at the UK College of Public Health. She provides support to multiple projects at the University of Kentucky focusing on harm reduction. She is also the Project Director for the UK Harm Reduction Hub.

James House has worked for the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) since December 1, 2007. During his years of employment with KDPH, he has served as the Harm Reduction Program Administrator, Public Health Preparedness Branch Manager/Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director, Hospital Preparedness Program Manager, Emergency Support Function #8 Planning Coordinator and the Exercise Program Coordinator. Currently, he is the Workforce Director for the Public Health Infrastructure Grant responsible for developing workforce development programs through the Public Health Workforce Readiness Branch, Division of Public Health Protection and Safety. James supervises eight employees and is the Chairperson of KDPH’s Public Health Workforce Readiness Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Kentucky Public Health Association’s Workforce Development Committee.

Dr. Johnson is the program manager for the Kentucky Wastewater Surveillance System. She is a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) and was previously an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health. She is also the environmental technical advisor to the Legionella Response Team. Her interests include accurate exposure measurement, risk management, and risk communication.

Dr. Oshea Johnson is a sociologist with multidisciplinary research and practical public health experience spanning fields of medical sociology, public health, behavioral health, epidemiology, and criminology. Dr. Johnson currently serves as an independent research consultant, providing expert qualitative research support, data analysis, and project management for a qualitative research study within the Viral Hepatitis Program at the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) as well as two NIH-funded R01 studies. Prior to independent consulting, Dr. Johnson worked at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a Regional Behavioral Health Advisor serving eight southeastern states and six federally recognized tribes. Before joining SAMHSA, Dr. Johnson completed a two-year applied epidemiology fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, stationed in the Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning at KDPH.

Lauren W. Kathman, MS, CPH, is the Programs Manager of Harm Reduction programs at the Northern Kentucky Health Department. She provides oversight for program development, grants management, and daily operations of the Northern Kentucky Harm Reduction Programs, which address local substance use and public health priorities. Her program portfolio includes the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) program, a comprehensive Hepatitis C, HIV, and Syphilis testing outreach program, and community-based initiatives focused on overdose education and naloxone distribution.

Kaitlyn Krolikowski is the Public Health Director for the Purchase District Health Department in far Western KY. She received her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Informatics from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2017 and is pursuing her DrPH from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kaitlyn has managed over 7mil in direct federal grants that have created programs in partnership such as the jail referral program, the recovery housing stipend, and the library Narcan community hub.

Chad Lynch has worked 25 years in the Public Health field. His first 23 years of public health service started at the local level, working at two different local health departments, Bullitt County Health Department and Oldham County Health Department. During his time with the local health departments, he has served as Health Educator, Environmentalist, Preparedness Coordinator, and Environmental Health Director. Chad Lynch has worked for the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) in the Division of Public Health Protection and Safety (PHPS) since December 16, 2023. During his time with PHPS, he has served as the Environmental Health Capacity Manager and currently serves as the Technical Advisor and Chief Administrator for Environmental Health Programs. In his current role, he oversees the Environmental Management Branch, Food Safety Branch and the Public Safety Branch within PHPS.

Jamie Madden has a great deal of life experience with overcoming addiction and helping others to do the same. She works daily helping those in addiction find the resources and support they need to live healthier lifestyles. She also helps those individuals in recovery overcome the barriers they face to maintain sobriety.

Dr. Lauren McClain is an evaluation consultant and former tenured sociologist who partners with coalitions, nonprofits, and public agencies to strengthen community-driven planning and decision-making. Her work focuses on community health assessments, mixed-methods evaluation, and translating data into actionable insights that support health improvement efforts. She brings a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to evaluation, with experience working across public health, education, and community-based systems. Lauren is especially committed to approaches that elevate community voice and produce findings that are both rigorous and usable.

Elizabeth McGuire serves as the Director of Health Education at the Bullitt County Health Department, where she leads a comprehensive team dedicated to promoting community wellness and reducing health risks across Bullitt County. With nearly two decades of public health experience, she has developed, implemented, and evaluated a wide range of health education programs focused on prevention, chronic disease management, and healthy living. Elizabeth holds a Master of Science in Health Science from Northern Kentucky University and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration from Eastern Kentucky University. She is a certified facilitator for several nationally recognized programs, including Freedom from Smoking, WE CAN, Body Recall, and Safe Sitter, and serves as an American Heart Association CPR and First Aid instructor.

Throughout her career, Elizabeth has been recognized for her leadership and dedication to public service. She was honored with the Sara C. Stice Award for Outstanding Health Education in Kentucky and received the Bullitt County Citizenship Award from the Chamber of Commerce. A former Kentucky Public Health Leadership Institute Scholar, she continues to be a strong advocate for collaboration, prevention, and community engagement in public health.

Nikki Miller is the Human Resources Manager at the Marshall County Health Department, a role she assumed in 2024. She has been with the organization for four years and a total of 19 years in the healthcare field. Nikki earned her Master of Business Administration in 2023 and is committed to supporting organizational excellence through effective human resources leadership.

Trevor Moffitt is an Assistant Professor of Health and Exercise Science at Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. Trevor's work focuses on elevating the voices of individuals with lived experience of substance use, especially in research spaces. Trevor also integrates AI into the classroom with his students and has presented on public health applications for AI.

Doni is seasoned public health expert with over 25 years of global experience in clinical and public health contexts. Adept at translating complex health data into actionable policies and interventions. Proven track record in qualitative research, systematic reviews, and data analysis, with a focus on improving health outcomes and addressing disparities.

Mary Elizabeth Pendergrass is the Public Health Policy and Practice Apprentice with Team Up: a Public Health Academic Practice Collaborative, an initiative supported by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Her interests include public health practice, assessment, and community engagement, which she applies through applied scholarship and collaborative community organizing.

Melissa Phillips has worked for the Lincoln Trail District Health Department for 21 years. Beginning her career in public health in health education, Melissa has also worked in harm reduction, coalition building, and policy development. In the spring of 2023, she became the agency's first Public Relations Officer, a role that grew from her duties as part of the district's Emergency Operations Center during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Public Relations Officer, Melissa handles community relations, marketing, advertising, and oversees the agency's website, social media platforms, and smartphone app.

Kimberly Randolph is a 38-year-old mother of four and a dedicated Peer Support Specialist and Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) with the Purchase District Health Department’s Harm Reduction Program in far western Kentucky. She also serves as the Paducah Chapter Lead for Young People in Recovery, advocating for individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Kimberly is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology with a concentration in Media and Technology from the University of Phoenix.

Allison Robinson is the Drug-Free Communities Coordinator for Bullitt County Public Schools, where she leads youth substance use prevention efforts and coordinates the Bullitt County Youth Coalition. With a background in justice administration and chemical dependency counseling, Allison has over 15 years of experience in public service, including roles in social services and corrections. She is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, healthequity, and community collaboration, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Liberty University.

Allison Robinson is the Drug-Free Communities Coordinator for Bullitt County Public Schools, where she leads youth substance use prevention efforts and coordinates the Bullitt County Youth Coalition. With a background in justice administration and chemical dependency counseling, Allison has over 15 years of experience in public service, including roles in social services and corrections. She is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, healthequity, and community collaboration, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Liberty University.

Brian Simmons is a seasoned and engaging Human Resources professional dedicated to building thriving workplaces. He is an alumnus of the 2024 - 2025 Region IV Public Health KY-PHELI Cohort. As the Human Resources Administrative Services Manager at Lake Cumberland District Health Department, he leverages over three decades of experience to advance public health initiatives through strategic workforce planning, recruitment, leadership development, performance management and employment law compliance. Holding the esteemed Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designation, Brian is a recognized expert in cultivating resilient and adaptable public health workforces.

Alison O. Spiller, MPH, currently serves as the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Coordinator for the Northern Kentucky Health Department. In this role, she synthesizes data from medical records, toxicology reports and death investigations to identify critical trends within the evolving drug landscape. By uniting multi-disciplinary partners, including law enforcement, EMS, and clinical experts, she facilitates collaborative case reviews to develop targeted overdose prevention strategies.

Rebecca first came to The Hub in April 2024 as a volunteer seeking sober support and guidance, never expecting to one day become part of the team. What began as a step toward her own healing eventually grew into opportunities through AmeriCorps, KRDHD, and now her role as Team Lead.

Beth Vanover has been a regional epidemiologist with Kentucky Department for Public Health since 2022. She serves the Cumberland Valley region, an eight-county southeastern portion of the state, with primary duties including outbreak investigation coordination and supporting local disease surveillance. Beth is a graduate from Eastern Kentucky University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Public Health in 2018, and Master of Public Health in 2020. Following graduation, she began her public health career working as a COVID-19 disease investigator for 2 years, before transitioning as the region's epidemiologist.

Dr. Jonathan Vorbeck is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Eastern Kentucky University. He holds an Ed.D. in Leadership, Policy Studies, and Social Justice, an MPH, and is Certified in Public Health (CPH), with research and professional experience focused on academic–practice partnerships and strengthening public health systems. Prior to academia, he spent ten years in local governmental public health and currently serves as a volunteer site visitor for the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), having completed 20 accreditation site visits nationwide since 2018.

Briana Wagner is a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Epidemiologist at the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Originally from Kentucky, she previously served as a Chronic Disease Epidemiologist in Baltimore City as a Council of State and Territorial Applied Epidemiology Fellow before returning home. In her current role, she supports several MCH programs and statewide initiatives including HANDS, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, and the Title V MCH Block Grant by analyzing data to strengthen outreach, monitor trends, and establish priority areas to improve health outcomes for Kentucky's women, children, and families.

Juanita (JJ) Wallace is an Associate Professor and Program Director of Health and Exercise Science at Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. Her current work has focused on the liberal arts, pedagogical practices using engaged learning strategies, and integrating technology into the classroom. Her research has focused on emerging and novel technologies like extended realities (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Sierra Williams is the Rural Project Manager at the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard, Kentucky, where she leads initiatives that support rural communities, including the Healthcare Worker Loan Relief Program of the Commonwealth. She also serves as a member of the Kentucky Core for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)–funded RURAL Heart and Lung Study, conducted in partnership with the University of Louisville. With diverse experience in healthcare and research, Sierra focuses on strengthening the rural health workforce and translating community-identified needs into actionable strategies that improve health outcomes. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, a Master of Health Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health degree.