This year brought big changes. When I unexpectedly left the CDC, I had to pause, rethink, and reimagine what was next for my career and my family. Like many in public health right now, I’ve felt 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 environmental health, chronic disease, and school wellness, and serving on the front lines during emergencies from Hurricane Katrina to COVID-19.

Along the way, I earned an MPH from UNC–Chapel Hill and a DrPH from the University of Georgia, but what matters most to me is putting knowledge into action. I thrive on strategic planning, systems thinking, and program design—the kind of work that helps organizations navigate financial pressures, staffing challenges, and programmatic change while keeping their mission at the center.

Starting this new chapter, my goal is simple: to partner with values-driven organizations, brainstorm creative solutions together, and build stronger systems that make a difference at scale.