NEHA NEWS
value collaborating with my NEHA colleagues and our excep- tional contractors from whose diverse expertise and experience in environmental health I have learned so much already. Following graduation from Northwestern University, I served as a corps member with City Year Providence and found a pas- sion for public education that led me to pursue a master’s degree in urban education policy from Brown University. In my most recent role before joining NEHA, I worked in public procure- ment and contract management as the director of purchasing for Providence Public School District in Providence, Rhode Island. In this role, I oversaw the daily operation and long- term strategy of the school department’s purchasing. In joining NEHA, I have transitioned from public education to environ- mental health work but remain committed to doing work that fosters healthier communities. My partner and I moved to Colorado in October 2023 with our cat Winifred. In my free time, I enjoy taking advantage of the great outdoor activities that Colorado has to oer, whether that is walk- ing, hiking, or skiing. I am an avid reader and the proud host of a long-running, virtual book club. Ashley Miller
Vi Nguyen Toward the end of January 2024, I joined NEHA as a project coordina- tor for the Program and Partnership Development Department. As a project coordinator, I collaborate and foster partnerships with dierent individuals and organizations, working together to meet project deliverables. The projects that I coordinate and support include
workforce and leadership development, data modernization and management, and climate and health. I really appreciate the opportunity to work on such diverse projects and to meet and work with so many experts from various fields of environmental health. I hope to have more opportunities to learn and expand in climate and health. I received my bachelor of science in environmental health from Colorado State University in 2014. I have more than 6 years of expe- rience in environmental health but have also worked in healthcare and human services. I enjoy the simple things in life—food, family, good company, napping, cute animals, plants, and peaceful walks. Of course, as a Colorado native, I also enjoy hiking, paddle board- ing, and kayaking whenever I get out of the comforts of my home. Rachel Stokes
I am thrilled to be part of the NEHA team as a senior program coordina- tor. My role centers around managing grant-funded programs, with a par- ticular focus on the NEHA-FDA RFFM Program and the Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaborative grants. I spend my time working with colleagues and partners to ensure our
I am thrilled to serve as a project coordi- nator II in the Program and Partnership Development Department. My journey in public health has taken me from working as an environmental health specialist with the Indian Health Ser- vice—where I had the incredible oppor- tunity to support Native American com- munities throughout the nation—to
projects are successful while finding creative ways to improve our systems and processes. What excites me most about my work is the opportunity to bring big ideas to life, using innovation and teamwork to create tangible solutions that make a real dierence in protecting public health. I hold a master of public health (MPH) and have spent the past 15 years immersed in the world of food safety. Before joining NEHA, I worked in various food safety roles for organizations such as Amazon, Mesa County Public Health, and the National Restau- rant Association. These experiences helped me hone my skills in program management, cross-functional policy development, and regulatory compliance. When not at work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking and exploring the natural beauty of Colorado with my rescue pup, Sadie. I am excited to continue contributing to NEHA’s mission while also being part of a community that shares my passion for environmental health.
deploying as an epidemiologist during the COVID-19 pandemic to support vulnerable populations along the southern U.S. border. My passion for environmental public health sparked in middle school through an unlikely source—a science project on radon. I managed to convince my parents to allow me to test our base- ment for radon gas. (Thanks, Mom and Dad, for letting me turn our house into a science experiment.) This interest, however, deepened through personal experience, having grown up in a community devastated by industrial pollution. Understanding firsthand the anxiety of questioning your water and air quality shaped my commitment to ensuring other communities do not face similar uncertainties. My academic journey includes a bachelor’s degree in environ- mental science from Samford University and an MPH in environ- mental health and toxicology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After gaining field experience, I pursued a doctorate in public health in population health analytics and decision-mak-
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January/February 2025 • Journal of Environmental Health
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