Tanya Purdy, MPH, MCHES
Director
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Tanya has developed, implemented and assessed a range of health promotion interventions focusing on bystander intervention, transforming masculinities, hazing prevention, and wellbeing equity. She is invested in bringing restorative practices, feminist theory and research on the social determinants of health into all of her health promotion work. She is also a dedicated reproductive justice advocate and a trained full spectrum doula. Tanya received a BA in Political Science and Women’s Studies from Montclair State University and a Masters in Public Health from Rutgers University. When not at work, you can find Tanya playing drums, embroidering or volunteering for a local animal rescue.
Katie Coble, MSW, LICSW
SHARE Advocate
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Katie has practiced for the last decade, working primarily with youth, families, and young adults who have been impacted by trauma. Katie received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Connecticut, completing clinical field work at the University of Connecticut Health Center’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinic. She has extensive training and experience in crisis response, was a part of the Newtown School Tragedy Disaster Relief Team and most recently has specialized in supporting survivors of human sex trafficking within the United States and advocating for disproportionately impacted survivor populations while working at the international organization Love146 based in Connecticut. Katie has a passion for helping individuals discover their resiliency, seeking traumatic growth through individualized holistic healing and continually addressing systemic inequities that further oppress, particularly BIPOC, survivors. In Katie's spare time you will find her near a body of water engaging in recreational activities with loved ones and friends, supporting local businesses, and exploring new cities and towns.
Connor Curtis, MSW, LICSW
SHARE Advocate
pronouns: she/her/hers
Connor is a licensed clinical social worker focused on providing mental health care to young adults and college students, with an emphasis on creating authentic connection and warmth. Connor’s clinical framework centers the belief in the innate strength and wisdom of each person. Connor received her Master’s of Social Work from Boston University and her BS in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island, where her passion for working with survivors and challenging systems that perpetuate harm began while she was serving as a peer educator at the Women’s Center and as a representative to Day One’s RI Student Collaborative. Connor has experience as a staff counselor at the Rhode Island School of Design counseling center as well as case management experience at the University of Hartford counseling center, where she supported students in accessing resources on and off campus. When she’s not at work, you can find Connor looking for the best iced latte in Rhode Island or sitting on a porch with her dog and cat.
Naomi Ninneman, MPH
Associate Director for Empowerment and Prevention Services
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Naomi has been promoting health and wellness, with a focus on sexual health, for more than twenty years. She was the director of education departments for Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando and Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and ran a peer education program for Planned Parenthood in Rhode Island. At Brown, Naomi has launched and managed multiple campus wide initiatives including the founding of the Sexual Health Awareness Group (SHAG) and the ongoing stewardship of BWell's Culture of Consent and Community Care Orientation programming. When not at work, Naomi can most often be found running (5ks and 10ks), or at her kids’ baseball games. Naomi holds a BA in Literature from Bennington College and a Masters in Public Health from UMASS Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences.
Alana Sacks, MSW, LICSW
Associate Director for Response Services
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Alana is a licensed independent clinical social worker who has worked with survivors of sexual and relationship violence for over a decade. Before coming to Brown, she served as the Assistant Director of Programs and Services at RESPOND, Inc., New England's first domestic violence survivor support organization. She has worked as a therapist for clients with diverse needs across the lifespan, practicing in myriad settings, from outpatient mental health to inpatient psychiatric care. Alana trained at the award-winning Victims of Violence Program, which holds a national and international reputation and has made major contributions to the field of psychological trauma. A fierce feminist and advocate, she is passionately committed to fostering safe, fulfilling, and equitable relationships and to supporting those who have experienced harm in their unique journeys towards healing and recovery. In her free time she loves to cook and eat, spend time with loved ones and her cats, and to engage in different forms of art and expression. Alana holds a BA in Philosophy from Boston College and a Masters in Social Work with a certificate of specialization in trauma from the Boston University School of Social Work.
Allison Seeley, MPH
Relationship Empowerment Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Allison is a public health professional with experience working in clinical, non-profit, and higher education settings. She began her public health career working as a Medical Assistant at Planned Parenthood of Maryland while volunteering at a local Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center. Through that work she became dedicated to pursuing a career promoting healthcare accessibility, health equity, individual autonomy, and interpersonal violence prevention. Allison moved to Rhode Island after spending several years at Towson University designing, implementing, and evaluating trauma-informed programming to build a campus culture of consent. Allison holds a BS in Neuroscience from Christopher Newport University and a Masters in Public Health from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In her spare time, you can find Allison playing volleyball, kayaking, or consuming every book in sight.
Takyah Smith, MPH
Social Wellness Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Takyah is a passionate public health professional experienced in health education and promotion. In her past positions she has focused on marginalized populations, youth and young adults, community health education and outreach, health policies, and tobacco cessation. Takyah’s academic background includes a BS in Health Sciences Pre-Clinical and Psychology from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of South Florida. Combining her academic and professional background, Takyah is determined to support equitable services for youth and young adults that address social determinants of health and empower others to live in wellness while optimizing their quality of life. To note, Takyah is a proud native of Miami, FL.
Jonell Thibault, BA
Operations Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Jonell comes to Brown with a background in operations and case management. Originally from Southern California, Jonell graduated with her BA in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University. She is particularly passionate about criminal justice reform, and the destigmatization of those who have been justice-system involved as well as those with mental health and substance use issues. Most recently, Jonell was an operations coordinator at an outpatient treatment facility for patients with mental health and substance use disorders. When she's not working, Jonell is always up for an adventure (near or far). She loves traveling, dining out at the myriad of local eateries Providence has to offer, and dancing to just about whatever kind of music is playing.
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Jessica Spencer MPH '24
Research Assistant
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Jessica is an MPH student at Brown concentrating in Health Behavior. Before attending Brown, Jessica received her BA in Psychology from Spelman College. Jessica’s interests include health disparities, health equity, social justice, and health promotion. Previously, Jessica interned with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture. She enjoys reading, writing, and trying new restaurants in her free time.
Cheyenne Thompson, MPH ‘24
Research Assistant
Pronouns: They/Them, She/Her
Cheyenne is an MPH Student at Brown concentrating in Health Services. They currently work full-time for Rhode Island’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services as a Medicaid Data Analyst, specializing in Long Term Care and Support Services (LTSS). Before attending Brown, they received a B.S. in Health Sciences at Johnson & Wales University, concentrating in Health Promotion. Cheyenne has interned as a Research Assistant writing a manuscript on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through Brown School of Public Health and also interned with Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island in their Data & Analytics department. In their personal time, they love weight training, trying new coffee shops, playing through their D&D campaign, and attempting perfection on Stardew Valley with their partner.
