The transition from AmeriCorps service to a career in public health can be both exciting and challenging. As your service term approaches its conclusion, you may be wondering: What's next?
We created the Public Health Career Accelerator to bridge the gap between your valuable service experience and your future career in public health. Your AmeriCorps service has equipped you with unique skills and perspectives that are highly valuable in the public health sector. In these uncertain times, having adaptable skills and practical experience is more important than ever.
This event is designed to help you leverage your service background as you take your next professional step, ensuring you're career-ready to thrive in both stable and challenging environments. The public health field needs resilient professionals like you who can navigate complexity and drive positive change.
Interactive Format - This isn't a day of passive listening. You'll engage in interactive workshops, participate in discussions, receive personalized guidance, and connect with peers and professionals through our smart-match networking.
Practical Focus - Every session is action-oriented, focusing on practical skills and knowledge you can immediately apply to your job search.
Supportive Environment - We've created a space where you can ask questions, share concerns, and connect with others who understand your experience.
By the end of the Virtual Career Accelerator, you'll feel more prepared, confident, and ready to pursue your public health career path. We're committed to providing you with the tools, connections, and knowledge to successfully transition from service to impact in the public health sector.
Join us on May 15, 2025, and take a significant step toward your future in public health!
Chris Chanyasulkit, PhD, MPH, is a public health consultant, advocate, keynote speaker, and master connector who speaks both nationally and internationally about public health, literacy, civic engagement, and racial, gender, and health equity. She is a Past President of the American Public Health Association (APHA), a mom of three, a dog mom of two pups, and an avid reader.
Assistant Director, Academic Programs, Department of Global and Community Health, College of Public Health, George Mason University
Kelly Beckwith, MPH, CHES®, is the Assistant Director for Academic Programs in the Department of Global and Community Health in George Mason University’s College of Public Health. She is passionate about ensuring that students have the information and tools they need to be successful in school and at the start of their public health careers.
Prior to her work in academic public health, Kelly worked at AASA, The School Superintendents Association. In that role, she collaborated with school district leaders to impact vulnerable students by improving school policies and programs focused on asthma management, indoor air quality, childhood obesity, service learning, and alternative school breakfast.
Kelly holds an MPH in Community Health Education from the University of Minnesota and a BA in English from SUNY Fredonia. Between her BA and MPH, Kelly completed two years of AmeriCorps service: first in the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), and then as a Vincentian Service Corps member who worked at St. John’s Bread and Life, a soup kitchen and social service agency in Brooklyn, NY.
Carly Bass (she/they) is an AmeriCorps VISTA alumni and current AmeriCorps program director in Philadelphia. She recently completed her MSW at Temple University. Carly's passions fall within the intersection of public health and social services. Carly's career path has been nontraditional, from moving cross country to intern with a literacy nonprofit, a brief moment of working part time at a mini-golf course, and as a barista, to finding their path during their first term as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Camden, NJ. Carly has lived in Philadelphia for ten years and currently resides in South Philadelphia with her wife and two cats.
Donna is a Public Health Consultant with an extensive background supporting Organizational Development and Change Management Initiatives across private, nonprofit, and government sectors. She also provides a range of career services (resume & cover letter reviews, LinkedIn profile revamps, & more) to students & professionals seeking remote and international job opportunities at the intersection of public health, social work, tech, government contracting, and other sectors.
Job Titles Held: Product Communications Manager, Program Manager, Adolescent Program Coordinator, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion Specialist, Global Strategic Information Fellow
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinonye-donna-egbulem/
Olivia Umoren Ezeuko is the Founder of LIV Consulting & Career Services, a business that provides professional and leadership development services to public health and health policy professionals, corporations, nonprofits, and academic institutions. Olivia is also the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at USAging in Washington, DC. In this role, she develops and maintains relationships with federal agencies and Congressional offices and directs efforts to influence legislation related to the aging population and increase federal investments in the Older Americans Act.
Prior to her current role, she was a Manager of Federal Affairs at the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and a Government Affairs Manager at the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP). Olivia is the Co-Founder of Black in Health Policy and a former Board Member of the Society of Health Policy Young Professionals and Penn State’s Nutrition and Dietetics Alumni Society. Olivia received a BS in Nutrition from Penn State and an MPH from George Washington University.
Zoila Reyna graduated in 2012 with her Master's in Public Health from UC Davis and holds a Bachelor's in Psychology from UCLA. She has over 16 years of experience in public health within state government, non-profits, healthcare, and research. She has implemented and managed complex initiatives for tobacco control, chronic disease management, youth development, workforce training, substance use, and healthcare insurance enrollment. At the height of the COVID pandemic, she founded Public Health Hired and has successfully mentored over 300 colleagues across the nation on how to get jobs and internships in public health at reputable companies, all with no connections and no recruiters involved. Most recently, she quit her job at Kaiser Permanente as a Senior Consultant for Community Health to embrace full-time mentoring for the Public Health Hired community. She lives in Los Angeles with her 2-year-old daughter, 5-year-old son, spouse, and German shepherd named Delulu.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/public-health-hired
Dr. Claude A. Jacob has over two decades of administrative experience in public health. Since July 2021, Dr. Jacob has been the Public Health Director of the nationally accredited San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health). In his role, Dr. Jacob directs over 50 programs and initiatives across Metro Health’s Communicable Disease, Community Health & Safety, and Environmental Health & Operations divisions and oversees a $100 million budget aimed at modernizing the work of the department.
In April 2022, Dr. Jacob spearheaded the launch of SA Forward, which is a multi-year plan that addresses the priority areas and social conditions that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial SA Forward milestones include the establishment of Metro Health’s Office of Mental Health & Community Resilience as well as the Policy & Civic Engagement Office.
Prior to joining Metro Health, Dr. Jacob was Chief Public Health Officer for the City of Cambridge in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dr. Jacob’s previous professional experiences also include serving as the Deputy Director for the Office of Health Promotion at the Illinois Department of Public Health, Bureau Chief with the Baltimore City Health Department’s Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, and Director of Community Affairs at the Sinai Community Institute affiliated with the Sinai Health System in Chicago.
Dr. Jacob currently serves on the board of directors for the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Public Health Accreditation Board, and the Texas Association of City and County Health Officials. He is a past president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and past president of APHA’s Black Caucus of Health Workers, which awarded Dr. Jacob the 2022 Dr. Hildrus A. Poindexter Award for distinguished service in the field of public health. Jacob also completed fellowships with the W.K. Kellogg Emerging Leadership in Public Health and the CDC’s National Public Health Leadership Institute.
Jacob received a Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.
Augustina (Tina) Mensa-Kwao is a dynamic and accomplished public health advocate, bringing over a decade of expertise cultivated in both the private and public sectors, as well as academia. For the past seven years, she has dedicated herself to guiding and inspiring public health professionals and students as a highly effective career coach. In 2023, Tina founded Tenacious Career Services with a mission to empower individuals to navigate the ever-evolving world of work with confidence, resilience, and determination. Since then, she has successfully helped numerous clients secure jobs, internships, and other career opportunities.
Tina's commitment to empowering individuals in their professional journeys was exemplified during her tenure at Chilombo Global Career Services, where, over two and a half years, she played a pivotal role in transforming resumes, conducting mock interviews, and providing other invaluable career services. Her efforts directly contributed to numerous successful job placements. Tina currently provides personalized career coaching, resume optimization, interview preparation, and job search strategies, all tailored to your unique goals and aspirations.
Brooke Mootry is the CEO and Lead Recruiter of The Public Health Network, a leading recruitment and staffing firm specializing in public health. Her approach to recruitment is guided by her 20-year career in public health, where she led initiatives across non-profit and government sectors.
Brooke is a CHES-certified Career Coach driven by her passion for connecting talented professionals with transformative opportunities that inspire them to “Look Forward to Mondays.” She holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Florida State University and a Master's in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University. Originally from South Florida, Brooke has called Atlanta ‘home’ since 2010. When she is not recruiting top talent, she is an avid reader who enjoys spending time with family.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookemootry
Emily Raviola is a career and executive coach with Blue Bridge Career Coaching, founded in 2010 to support job-seekers and career-changers. Based in Boston, Emily brings the perspective of a 20-year career in higher education, nonprofit fundraising, and healthcare administration to her coaching practice. In addition to working with individual clients, she facilitates monthly workshops, including Tools for Transition—a four-session program for job seekers and career changers—and Combatting Ageism in the Job Market, which equips professionals over 50 with strategies to overcome age-related bias in the hiring process. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, an M.P.H. from the Boston University School of Public Health, and an M.B.A. from the Boston College Carroll School of Management. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, and a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/eraviola
I work with professionals who feel the quiet call for something more—more alignment, more purpose, more presence.
As an executive and leadership coach, I support people in tuning in to their inner wisdom so they can live and lead from a place of deep clarity and grounded truth. Many of my clients are in transition: looking for the next level opportunity, navigating career shifts, addressing burnout, shifting priorities, or awakening to a deeper sense of self that can no longer be ignored.
My coaching blends intuitive presence, reflective inquiry, light-heartedness, and directness. I create spacious, sacred containers for self-discovery, healing, and realignment—so that growth unfolds not through striving, but through deeper connection to what already lives within.
I welcome public health professionals, mission-driven leaders, and all who sense that personal transformation is the path to more meaningful impact.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisrisley/
Dr. Erickson brings 18 years of experience in public health, including leadership in infectious disease and emergency response programs at the local and state levels. She has managed outbreak investigations, led cross-jurisdictional planning, and co-led Operations during the COVID-19 response.
A skilled project manager, Dr. Erickson specializes in strategic planning, quality improvement, workforce development, and data modernization. She has guided agencies in developing policies and procedures aligned with national public health standards.
Dr. Erickson serves on Georgia Southern University’s Public Health Advisory Board, is a Public Health Accreditation Board site visitor, and has held leadership roles with the Georgia Public Health Association. She is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of public health professionals.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-erickson-drph-mph-a7949a21
Justin Snair is the CEO and Founder of Preppr, leading the integration of artificial intelligence into disaster preparedness and response. With over 20 years of experience in emergency management, public health, and technology development, Justin is pioneering AI-driven solutions that enhance resilience in homeland security. His work focuses on the responsible and ethical use of AI, equipping practitioners with cutting-edge tools to strengthen disaster response and community preparedness.
Previously, Justin was a Senior Principal Consultant at SGNL Solutions, where he applied his expertise in public health and technology to address health security challenges. He served as a Senior Program Officer at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, leading key initiatives on U.S. health security, disaster response, and medical countermeasures. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Acton Public Health Department, driving initiatives in environmental health security and emergency preparedness.
Justin serves on the Steering Committee for the Public Health Extreme Events Research (PHEER) Network and has contributed as an advisor and peer reviewer in disaster medicine and public health preparedness. A U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran, he holds an MPA with a concentration in Information Assurance and Critical Infrastructure from Northeastern University and a B.S. in Health Science from Worcester State University.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinsnair/
Dr. Joyee Washington is a community-engaged research consultant from Jackson, Mississippi. In 2020, she founded Joyee Washington Consulting with a mission to revolutionize public health by transforming public health research into life-changing public health solutions. Through her business, Dr. Joyee works with community-based organizations, non-profits, public health organizations, and academic institutions to help them build meaningful community partnerships, conduct impactful research, and create data-informed solutions.
Dr. Joyee has over 18 years of research experience and 10 years of public health experience. Her educational background includes advanced degrees in biomedical sciences and public health. In 2022, she graduated with her PhD in Education (emphasis in research, evaluation, statistics, and assessment). As a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES), she has served as a coordinator of community-based participatory research, coordinator of community outreach for health resources, and faculty member in the Department of Public Health at The University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Joyee believes that a healthier and equitable future lies in the power of our communities.
Additionally, Dr. Joyee is the host of The Public Health Joy Podcast, a safe space for real and honest conversation about public health research and the relationship-building processes necessary to bring joy to the communities we serve.
For more information, please visit Dr. Joyee’s website: www.joyeewashington.com
Zamir M. Bradford, MPH, FRSPH, is a Program Officer at the de Beaumont Foundation, where he develops and manages initiatives that drive social innovation and advance health equity. He serves as the project manager for the Modernized Anti-Racist Data Ecosystems (MADE) for Health Justice initiative, a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focused on transforming and accelerating the development of local health data systems to center equity, justice, and community power.
Zamir is an AmeriCorps Public Allies alumnus, previously serving as a Reentry & Community Engagement Coordinator at a community action agency in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. He holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from The George Washington University, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an Associate of Science in Pre-Medical Studies from Durham Technical Community College.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zmbradford/
I help people get jobs that matter. I am a career coach, talent developer, health workforce researcher and advocate, Associate Dean of Career and Professional Development at one of the nation's top public health schools, published author of 2 books and numerous academic journal articles, advisor to national and international public health organizations, co-founder of a nonprofit representing public health students and graduates, and national keynote speaker.
Corinna Kelley is a Chief Community Health Strategist and Transformation Coach, and the Founder and CEO of C.R.E.I.D. Consulting LLC—a minority, women, and disabled veteran-owned agency. With over two decades of experience in Public Health, Corinna specializes in bridging leadership, wellness, and community resilience to create ecosystems of care—from the inside out. Through strategic planning, workforce development consulting, and adaptive leadership coaching, her work centers equity, elevates strengths, and helps individuals and organizations transform how they lead, live, and relate to the communities they serve.
Corinna holds an MPH in Healthcare Administration from the University of Arizona Zuckerman College of Public Health, alongside certifications in Advanced Project Management, ToP Facilitation, and Resilience Practice. Dedicated to health equity drives she volunteers with the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) as a site visitor, contributing to the evaluation and strengthening of public health systems. As a member of the PHAB Inclusion Diversity Equity Anti-Racism (IDEA) committee, she advocates for transformative change in public health infrastructure. Additionally, she collaborates with WE Public Health, a coalition of female solopreneurs dedicated to tackling society's most pressing health and social issues.
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/corinna-kelley-mph-452172a9
Melissa is an Epidemiologist and Informatician with over 15 years of experience in epidemiology, public health surveillance, and global health program implementation. She is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Ivey Public Health Partners, LLC, and works with clients in the government, NGO, and academic sectors. Melissa has deployed as a Field Epidemiologist with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on five projects in East Africa, South Asia, and West Africa, and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer with service in the Pacific Islands. She also worked as a surveillance epidemiologist with the Georgia Department of Public Health for several years, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-ivey-9622a864/
Environmental Health Specialist, Senior - Alexandria Health Department/VDH
Amanda Losardo Coletti graduated from The State University of New York College at Oneonta in 2014 with a BS in Human Biology. She earned her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from George Mason University in 2017. Amanda started her career in environmental health working as an Environmental Technician in the Disease Carrying Insects Program (DCIP) at the Fairfax County Health Department. Amanda then interned at the United States Environmental Protection Agency and worked on a wide variety of projects, including but not limited to, pesticides, asbestos, air quality, and drinking water. After her internship, Amanda was hired as an Environmental Technician with the Onsite Sewage and Water Program at the Fairfax County Health Department. She inspected wells, septic systems, and public swimming pools. She then moved on to food inspections by working as an Environmental Health Specialist in the Food Protection Program for the Prince George's County Health Department.
Amanda currently works as an Environmental Health Specialist in the Environmental Health Division for the Alexandria Health Department. She has worked in many different areas of environmental health and earned her REHS, CPO, CFPM, and Lead Inspector license during her career. Amanda currently resides in Alexandria, VA, and enjoys cooking and spending time with her three crazy dogs.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acoletti
Director, Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Bureau, Boston Public Health Commission
Uchenna Ndulue is the Bureau Director of the Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). BPHC is the oldest municipal health agency in the nation and is responsible for promoting public health in the City of Boston. The Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Bureau (CAFH) is supported by almost 100 dedicated public health professionals who promote maternal, infant, child, and adolescent health. CAFH initiatives range from implementing home visiting programs to support pregnant and parenting families to coordinating school-based health centers designed to provide care to adolescents. In his role at the Commission, Uchenna provides general oversight to all Bureau programs, assisting with program design, implementation, management, and evaluation.
Emely Sanchez, JD, MPH, is a government affairs professional with expertise in public health law and policy. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, she earned her undergraduate degrees in political science and criminal justice from Florida International University. She then pursued a Master of Public Health and a Juris Doctor at the University of Miami, focusing her efforts on health policy and leadership. She is committed to deepening her expertise through scholarship, mentorship, and community engagement.
During her educational career, she worked with several offices within and with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), including the Public Health Law Program at the Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (CSTLTS) and the Center for Global Health (CGH) at the CDC, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. She currently serves as the Vice President for Policy in the Health & Life Sciences Section of the Hispanic National Bar Association, Co-Chair of the Hispanic Bar Association’s Legislative & Policy Subcommittee, and is an At-Large Board member of the Hispanic Lobbyists Association.
Dr. Danette "Danni" Buie is a seasoned consultant with over 15 years of experience across education, human resources, public policy, and organizational strategy, known for her strategic, impact-driven approach to workforce planning, leadership development, and program implementation. She holds a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Higher Education, a Master’s in Public Administration specializing in Mission-Driven Management, is a Harvard Executive Leadership Program graduate, and a certified Associate Diversity Coach from Howard University. Through her consultancy, Thrive Limitlessly, Danni partners with organizations to enhance effectiveness, foster inclusivity, and build thriving cultures, offering customized strategies that balance big-picture vision with practical execution. She has also co-authored the bestselling anthology Ladies in Tech, showcasing transformational career stories that achieved #1 rankings on Amazon, and has driven positive change at mission-driven tech companies like Lyft, Coursera, and EarnIn. A champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Danni brings a strategic consulting mindset to every engagement, providing actionable insights that empower individuals and organizations to achieve sustainable growth and lasting impact.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danette-buie-ed-d-5366b070/
Kristi James has worked as a Public Health Practitioner for over 10 years with experience in local and state governmental agencies. Her experience includes non-profit administration, policy-related strategic planning, workforce technical support, and community-based organizational program development. She has designed, implemented, and evaluated several public health projects in various settings, primarily in Black and Brown communities. Her work as a data storyteller has helped translate systems-level data into digestible, energizing narratives of community impact. Future career interests include teaching at the collegiate level, designing culturally relevant health curricula for middle school students, and designing policy agendas to inform mental health programs on a national scale.
I'm a career coach, healthcare expert, and marketing leader. As a career coach, I work with early- and mid-career professionals to gain clarity, build confidence, and take action using their core strengths. With 15+ years of experience in healthcare, non-profits, B2B SaaS, government, and hospitality sectors, I provide coaching clients with a clearer, broader view of what's possible in their careers. I've helped clients get paid more, land new jobs, improve their professional image, and navigate office politics. I received my Master of Public Health from Drexel University and my Bachelor's degree from (the original version of) New College of Florida. I live in Philadelphia with my family, cat, and pet sourdough starter named Bready Draper.
Amaka Osuoha earned her M.P.H in Health Policy from Emory University, B.A. from The University of Michigan, and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. She is currently a Principal Researcher at American Institutes for Research (AIR). Her primary responsibilities include leading projects and tasks related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), the Quality Payment Program (QPP), and other HHS policy and program operations. This includes overseeing project operations and technical oversight for key activities including providing Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) policy subject matter expertise, supporting Collection of Information (COI) rule writing for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), and conducting qualitative research. Her previous experience involves providing technical assistance, leading technical working panels, conducting evaluation activities, developing trainings and webinars, and integrating findings of key activities into the framework of large-scale evaluations and summary reports. As an experienced PMP-certified leader, she is skilled in managing complex projects, providing strategic oversight, conducting financial management, coordinating data security, and overseeing staff development and training. Ms. Osuoha has worked with a wide range of HHS clients including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and numerous state and federal stakeholders. Ms. Osuoha also has extensive experience serving as a hiring manager, recruiting personnel, and career coach (resume development, interview preparation, etc.).
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaka-osuoha-mph-pmp-a39bab82/
Ms. Lauren Shirey is a Public Health Program Manager at the Defense Health Agency, a U.S. Department of Defense organization that provides healthcare and public health services to about 9.6 million Service Members, their Families, and more. Her career spans over 20 years working in the areas of community health assessment and improvement planning, public health performance improvement, program planning and evaluation, and infectious disease prevention. In her current role, she oversees public health accreditation of military installation departments of public health and leads strategic and cross-cutting projects. She has worked in military prevention and public health since 2013 and spent the first decade of her career working in or supporting local public health departments. Lauren is especially passionate about bridging science and practice, improving public health systems, and strengthening governmental public health. She holds a Master of Public Health degree and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Biology. A Michigan native, she currently resides and works in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
