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, MSW
Social Wellness Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Takyah is a passionate public health and social work professional with extensive experience in health education and promotion, with a focus on marginalized populations. Her work has centered on community outreach, youth empowerment, health policy, alcohol and other substances, tobacco cessation, and the promotion of overall wellness. Takyah holds a BS in Health Sciences and Psychology from the University of Central Florida, a Master’s in Public Health from the University of South Florida, and a Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University. 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. Takyah is a proud native of Miami, FL and enjoys traveling in her spare time.
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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Andrew Davis MPH, MPA ‘25
Research Assistant
Pronouns: He/Him, They/Them
Andrew is an MPH and MPA student at Brown concentrating in Black Feminist//Queer//Crip Health Science Studies. Previously, they received a BA and Graduate Certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Miami University of Ohio. A committed advocate and activist-scholar, Andrew is deeply engaged in survivor and eating disorder justice initiatives. Currently, he serves as the Implementation Lead for The Every Voice Coalition and as an organizer with Know Your IX. His prior experience includes internships at Public Health Dayton-Montgomery County and Visible and Resilient where he worked on LGBTQ+ health initiatives. When not at work, Andrew enjoys relaxing with his cats, Circe and Calypso, reading theory, and thinking about anything and everything related to Percy Jackson.
Peyton Luiz, MPH ‘26
Research Assistant
Pronouns: she/her
Peyton is working towards her MPH in Causal Inference Epidemiology. She previously earned her BS in Global Health at Georgetown University. As an undergraduate, Peyton served with AmeriCorps’ Jumpstart program, conducted quality of care research on reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) in Jordan through a Global Health Institute Fellowship, and supported Family Service of Rhode Island’s COVID-19 response efforts. Her recent work with the Mobility Analysis for Pandemic Prevention Strategies (MAPPS) project at Brown focuses on the use of spatial data for outbreak decision-making. She is interested in applying similar techniques to study climate-related displacement. Outside of school and work, Peyton enjoys rock climbing, swimming, trying new crafts, and reading in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
Ambree Robinson, MPH ‘26
Research Assistant
Pronouns: she/her
Ambree is an MPH student at Brown in the Interdisciplinary concentration focusing on reproductive health. With a B.S. in Health Science from Spelman College in Atlanta, she is deeply passionate about advancing women’s health and reproductive health through an intersectional health equity lens. She holds another position at the Pembroke Center as the Reproductive Justice Collaborative Graduate Assistant, where she is in conversation with others who are dedicated to advancing reproductive justice through research, advocacy, and community work. Before Brown, Ambree completed internships at Harvard Chan School of Public Health and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In her free time, she finds inspiration and relaxation in watching video essays on YouTube, reading, and playing video games.
