President 

Caress Dean, Ph.D., MPH

Caress Dean, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor at Oakland University. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Department of Public and Environmental Wellness and Program Director of the Master of Public Health Program in the School of Health Sciences.

Dr. Dean specializes in chronic disease prevention and management among vulnerable populations. She has published articles and presented at state and national conferences on the impact of social determinants of health on cardiovascular health, and racial/ethnic differences in cardiovascular health among Michigan residents.

Dr. Dean received the Health Resources and Services Administration's Public Health Scholarship Program award. Through this grant, she aims to enhance the diversity of the public health workforce and prepare future public health professionals to address leading health disparities and inequities experienced by communities.

Dr. Dean is a member of multiple professional and community organizations and is the Chair of Oakland University's Interprofessional Education Task Force.

President Elect

Rie Suzuki

Dr. Suzuki is a Professor of Public Health at the University of Michigan-Flint and has an extensive background in needs assessments, developing theory-based health promotion programs, and program evaluation for adults and aging with physical disabilities.

She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Her research includes health disparities and inequities among adults and aging with and without physical disabilities.

As PI on several universities and Federal grants, she laid the groundwork for the impacts of physical environments on health outcomes in Flint, MI. Recently, she has focused on perceived loneliness and AI use. She is currently the advisor of the Eta Sigma Gamma at the Del Phi Chapter of the University of Michigan Flint.

Co-Vice President 

Kaitlyn Haner, CHES

Kaitlyn (better known as Katie) serves as the Chronic Disease Public Health Educator in Newaygo County for District Health Department #10. Currently, she is transitioning into the new role of a Community Health Coordinator within the agency to oversee their recently awarded Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) cooperative agreement with the CDC.  

Katie is a 2019 graduate of Central Michigan University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education and Clinical Exercise Science.  She enjoys being outdoors, reading various genres of books, and spending quality time with her loved ones. She lives in West-Central Michigan with her dog, Sam, the biggest baby of a Pitbull you'll ever have the pleasure  of meeting. 

Secretary and Conference Planning Secretary

Heather Alberda, BA, CSE, CSES

Heather Alberda has been a Sexuality Educator with the Ottawa County Department of Public Health for the past 21 years.  She received her BA in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University and recently completed the University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program. Heather received her AASECT certification as a sexuality educator in 2014 and her certification as a sex education supervisor in 2021. She is one of eight certified sexuality educators in Michigan. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University.  Her passion for the community, youth and sexual health has taken on many facets throughout the years. 

She began her career teaching prenatal classes and coordinating a peer education program entitled Mothers Know Best.  Her focus over the years has included STI/teen pregnancy prevention, providing parents with the power and information to encourage healthy sexual conversations as well as chairing the local sexual health coalition.  Heather’s passion lies within empowering youth and encouraging them to seek correct information about sexuality.

In 2007, Heather attended a Sex and Technology conference in San Francisco which sparked her passion of reaching youth and promoting healthy sexuality through technology.  Out of this passion grew piloted efforts on MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and other texting initiatives, a Photo Voice Project that gave voice to local pregnant and parenting teens, the launch of Wear One a condom distribution campaign that now has been replicated in over 46 counties in MI and in recent years has piloted on site school STI testing. In the summer of 2017, MDHHS awarded the OCDPH grant monies to collaborate with organizations who serve farmworkers in Allegan/Ottawa County to implement sexual health education and STI testing/treatment within the migrant communities.

She is also a current member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.  Locally, Heather is a member of GLC-SOPHE (Great Lakes Chapter).  There she has held the positions of President, Past President, Secretary and National Delegate. She has also served on the executive board and served as the secretary for the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health as well as a member of MiCASH ( Michigan Coalition of Adolescent Sexual Health)  She also has a long-standing relationship with many of the local school districts as part of their Sexual Education Advisory Boards (SEAB) assisting with data, curricula, community resources, presentations and advocating for comprehensive education.  She has also played an active role in the Allegan/Ottawa/Barry Migrant Council for more than 20 years and mostly in 2022/2023 served as the Chairperson.

In 2014 Heather had the honor of receiving the Roy R Manty Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Association for Local Public Health recognizing her for her efforts in the field of sexual health.

In the winter of 2016 Heather was also honored with a Preceptor of the Year Award given through the Masters in Public Health School at Grand Valley State University ..recognizing her work for igniting passion and inspiring young professionals.

In August 2017 Heather was recognized for her work in expanding Wear One (a condom distribution program) at the MI State STD Conference with an Outstanding Innovations Award.  Wear One now covers 46 counties in MI, including the U.P. and 3 college campuses…providing access to more than 42% of Michigan’s population.

Heather currently is an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University, teaching in the School of Public Health.  She is also overseeing the administration of 2 state grants…one focusing on school health and the other focusing on advancing health equity within Ottawa County.

She has written for Juicebox, a sexual health app, and was recently featured in the Washington Post, and The Atlantic speaking about the 20th Anniversary of “The Care and Keeping of You” and in West Michigan Woman adding to the conversation on #metoo

Secretary

Sara Crisenbery

Sara is an avid scholar pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) at Eastern Michigan University, with a special interest in opioid addiction concerning the homeless population. Sara received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Albion College, which ignited her passion for health equity and literacy. Sara’s special interests lay in her love for veterans and the homeless community, and her dedication to protecting, serving, and aiding these vulnerable populations

through continued research, advocacy, and policy.

In her role as the graduate assistant for Eastern Michigan University College of Health Promotion, Sara has been able to educate the Greek Life community on campus on critical issues such as alcohol awareness and active bystander intervention. Continuing with these acquired skills, Sara has extended this education to the homeless community by educating them on naloxone usage and understanding policy protections under the Good Samaritan Law, to increase

the community’s confidence in being active bystanders in combating opioid overdoses.

Sara’s passion for the community is further identified by being chosen as a 2024 Schweitzer Fellow for the Detroit Chapter where she will continue the education outreach in the homeless community. When Sara is not helping in the community or advocating at a march, you can find her exploring coffee shops, discovering new cities, or spending time with her cats.

National Delegate 

Ranelle Brew, Ed.D, MS, CHES

Dr. Brew teaches as a Full Professor for the Public Health program at Grand Valley State University and serves as the MPH Program Director. Her Doctoral and double Master degrees are from Columbia University in Education and Health Sciences respectively. Her doctoral research included Adolescent Asthma Health Education in New York City public schools through collaboration between New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University.

She has worked in health care for over 28 years in various settings including clinically, within the public school system, in geriatric health, fitness, and currently in higher education. She has over 20 years of higher education teaching experience in both New York City and in West Michigan.

Dr. Brew teaches courses in Public Health Promotion and Education emphasis, as well as the Introduction to Public Health course. Teaching online is an area of expertise of Dr. Brew as she has taught, designed curriculum, and trained faculty using these technologies for the past two decades. She is the author of instructor materials for F.A. Davis Publishing for Medical Terminology, Simplified , and a children’s book entitled Healthy Days.  

Dr. Brew's current research interests include diversity pipeline programs in health professions, breastfeeding, accessibility, after-school wellness programming, and global health. As co-director, she runs an annual summer health professions camp entitled, sHaPe Camp, which has won a 2018 Hometown Health Hero Award for its pipeline and diversity impact in the community as well as the 2020 national Society for Public Health Education, Clarence E. Pearson Award. Partnered with Lowell Community Wellness, she had co-led 5+ years of after-school wellness camps for elementary students in the Lowell Public School system winning a 2021 Hometown Health Hero Award.

Dr. Brew travels annually with students on global and domestically focused public health service learning trips. She’s travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, Ghana, West Africa, Beijing, China, Tacloban City, Philippines, Manenberg, South Africa, Athens/Ikaria, Greece, and the Nicoya Coast of Costa Rica, and Sardinia, Italy with students on study abroad. Her current research is focusing on the five Blue Zones locations, studying centenarians specifically. 

Dr. Brew serves in the public health community extensively. She has served as a President for the Michigan Public Health Association (MPHA) 2013-2015 and President for the Great Lakes Chapter of the Society of Public Health Education (GLC-SOPHE) 2019, and as an active member of American Public Health Association (APHA) and social co-chair for the PHEHP section, and a national member of the Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE).

Member at Large

Mark Kelley, PhD., M,Ed.

Mark is a professor in the Public Health program and former director of the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs at Western Michigan University.

Prior to coming to WMU he served in faculty and administrative roles at Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, Oklahoma State University - Tulsa, Western Illinois University, the University of Tennessee – Martin, and MidAmerica Nazarene University. His research has focused on adolescent health issues, especially alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and HIV/AIDS prevention.

In addition, to his work at universities and communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Illinois, Tennessee, Kansas, and Michigan, he has trained teachers, physicians and public health professionals in Argentina, Belarus, Fiji, Lithuania, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Russia, and Tobaggo.

His current research efforts are devoted to confirming and applying the timeless principles of the teaching and learning process as well as the factors influencing trust in public health and healthcare.

Communications and Social Media

Angelina Gjorgjevski, MPH

Angelina Gjorgjevski, MPH earned her Master of Public Health from Oakland University in 2024 and is currently a public health specialist at the Macomb County Health Department.

With experience in Qualtrics, Canva, and data-driven communication strategies, she has successfully promoted SNAP-Ed programming, multiple county services, and public health initiatives.

Angelina leverages digital media to enhance health education and engagement, making her a strong advocate for advancing GLC-SOPHE’s mission through strategic communication.

Co- Student Representative 

Justin Drain

My name is Justin Drain; I am a resident of West Michigan and a dedicated professional currently pursuing a Master's degree in Health Education and Behavior at the University of Florida. With a background in sports medicine, occupational health and health coaching.

I am passionate about advocating for health education, promoting wellness, and supporting community development. Committed to professional growth, I am currently an active member of the GLC-SOPHE advocacy committee and working with the Michigan Public Health Association executive board to create a health education and behavior section. I am excited to bring my knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to health education to the GLC-SOPHE board as co-student representative.

Co- Student Representative 

Fatimah Khan 

Fatimah Khan is a Multicultural Advancement Scholar of Distinction at Central Michigan University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Entrepreneurship. She is passionate about maternal and child health and aspires to contribute significantly to this field. In recognizing the importance of health equity and aiding vulnerable populations, Fatimah believes in ensuring healthcare is accessible to all. 

Fatimah has served on the executive board for Eta Sigma Gamma - Eta Chapter, holding the positions of Secretary and currently serving as President. Additionally, Fatimah works for the Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Central Michigan University where she contributes to initiatives that aim to foster an inclusive environment on campus. Outside of her campus and community involvements, Fatimah enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with her two cats.

Immediate Past President

Bree Bode

Historian

Carrie Chanter, MA, MCHES

Advocacy Chair

Jodi Brookins-Fisher, Ph.D., MCHES, FESG

Jodi Brookins-Fisher, PhD, MCHES, FESG is a professor and former director in the Division of Public Health, School of Health Sciences at Central Michigan University. She currently serves on the SOPHE Advocacy Committee and Advocacy Summit Planning Committee and has been the Advocacy Committee co-chair. She also served as GLC SOPHE national delegate. Dr. Brookins-Fisher has been a President of national Eta Sigma Gamma and is the Chapter Sponsor of Eta Chapter at CMU. She also serves on the steering committee for the nonpartisan public health organization Healthy Democracy Healthy People Michigan. She is a passionate human rights activist and believes strongly in equity for all groups when it comes to accessible and affordable health care. Additionally, she feels that advocacy within the Health Education profession should be at the forefront of our current and future endeavors.

CHES/CECH Review Committee Chair

OPEN POSITION

 Membership Chair

Lauren Bizyk, MPH

Lauren Bizyk has been Membership Chair for GLC-SOPHE since 2017, and has served in a leadership role in the organization since 2013. Lauren spent the majority of her career at Oakland County Health Division, where she worked for five years. She worked in health communications and chaired the Best Start for Babies infant mortality prevention coalition and Oakland County Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force.  Lauren earned her BS from the University of Michigan with majors in English and Anthropology. She earned her MPH from University of Michigan School of Public Health's Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, with a focus on chronic disease, older adults, and people with disabilities. Lauren's favorite place to be is at the Detroit Zoo with her sons, ages 6, 4, and 1. She enjoys writing, theater, and graphic design.