Administration
Workforce Development Team Lead
AHEC Director
I came into public health by failing organic chemistry as an undergraduate at Providence College. My goal was to be a physician but soon realized that my skill and passion belonged elsewhere. Luckily my college has a public health major, and the rest is history. My background includes being a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, working with the state of Maine health department as an infectious disease epidemiologist, providing technical assistance to Caribbean countries on HIV surveillance, and even owning an organic farm. I live... Read More
Expertise
Epidemiology
Maternal and Child Health
Global and Community Health
Community and Public Health
Interprofessional Curriculum Design & Implementation
Maine LEND Program Coordinator
Mr. Soma is the Interim Director of the Center for Excellence in Health Innovation (CEHI). He also works on program evaluation and quality improvement for various CEHI projects, including Primary Care Training and Enhancement, Chronic Disease Prevention Evaluation, and Statewide Substance Use Prevention Services.
He was previously the Director of Public Health for the City of Portland, which allowed him to collaborate with health care providers, universities, and community-based organizations to improve the health status of local residents, with... Read More
Expertise
Health Program Evaluation and Planning
Health Disparities
Community and Public Health
Substance Use
Lu'Ann Thibeau
B.S.
Manager of Finance and Administration
Lu’Ann provides finance support on pre- and post-award functions for various federal, state and private grants/contracts . Administratively, she coordinates and oversees the department operations.
She joined UNE in 2006 bringing with her 15 years of extensive state and federal tax knowledge in all aspects of the accounting functions for individuals and small corporations. She started her career with a local CPA firm before establishing her own accounting company focusing on assisting individuals and small business owners. Lu’Ann earned her Bachelor... Read More
Expertise
Accounting principles
financial reporting and analysis
budgeting
federal and state compliance
analytical and problem-solving
Professional Staff
As a member of UNE's Center for Excellence in Health Innovation’s professional research and consulting staff, Ms. Rodriguez has worked on program evaluation projects and population health needs assessments for regional and state governments as well as health workforce programs, health care providers and health systems. This includes responsibility for the design, implementation and analysis of evaluation research; responding to internal and external reporting needs and evaluation project management. During her tenure at UNE, major projects have included managing a... Read More
Expertise
Biostatistics
Shay K. Ayres
A.A.S, LMT
Contract Assistant, Maine Substance Use Prevention Services
Shay coordinates the processing of contracts, budgets, and invoices and manages the overall administrative functions for Maine Substance Use Prevention Services, a Maine Prevention Services program funded by the Maine DHHS Center for Disease Control.
Before coming to the University of New England, she spent many years working as an account executive in the insurance industry. A licensed massage therapist, she also owned and operated a private therapeutic massage practice for 7 years.Read More
Expertise
Contract Administration
Andrea Aufdencamp is an administrative assistant at the University of New England. Grants and initiatives she supports include both the Center for Excellence in Health Innovation and also the School of Nursing and Population Health. They are: Maine Advanced Nursing Education Sexual Asssault Nurse Examiner Program, The Primary Care Training and Enhancement Grant, the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Grant,... Read More
Nicholas Beverage
MS.Ed
Program Coordinator, Maine Substance Use Prevention Services
Nick Beverage is a Program Coordinator for Maine Substance Use Prevention Services, a Maine Prevention Services program funded by the Maine DHHS Center for Disease Control. The Maine Substance Use Prevention Services program provides youth and young adult primary prevention services using evidence-based interventions through a network of sub-recipients across Maine. Prior to coming to UNE Nick was the Program Manager for a non-profit specializing in Trauma-Informed Care working to bring Trauma-Informed practice... Read More
Expertise
Substance use prevention
Training & Technical Assistance
Trauma-Informed Education
Pamela Bruno, MPH, is an evaluator for the Maine SNAP-Ed program. Prior to coming to UNE, Pamela was the principal of her public health consulting business for 12 years, providing evaluation and strategic planning consultation for numerous public health agencies. Pamela has worked as lead evaluator for several Maine public health programs, including the former Maine Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Healthy Weight Program where she lead evaluation efforts for the... Read More
Expertise
Evaluation
Research and Analysis
Strategic Planning
Obesity prevention
Melanie Caldwell
M.S.
Primary Care Training and Enhancement Project Manager
Melanie Caldwell is the Project Manager for UNE's Primary Care Training and Enhancement (PCTE) Bangor and Northern New England Clinical Champions Program grants. Both grants are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The purpose of the HRSA PCTE programs is to strengthen the primary care workforce by supporting enhanced training for future primary care clinicians, teachers, and researchers and promoting primary care practice, particularly in rural and underserved areas.Read More
Cera Catron
B.A.
Administrative Assistant, Maine SNAP-Ed
Cera graduated from UNE in 2009 with Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology and Sociology. Her career since graduation has focused on work with children and adults with developmental disorders. Between 2012-2016 she held a variety of roles for an organization that provided education and behavioral support for children with autism in York County, Maine.
Cera returned to UNE in December of 2016 as the Administrative Assistant for Maine SNAP-Ed. She is proud to support a program that provides education and support for vulnerable populations within the state.... Read More
Heather Doran, MS, is a Research Associate I for the Center of Excellence in Health Innovation. As part of her role, she is the evaluator for the Drug-Free Communities program facilitated by the Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition in York County and completes QA/QI data management for the Maine Prevention Services: Domain 1 grant. Prior to coming to UNE, Heather served as an Outreach and Communications Coordinator, where she coordinated outreach efforts, volunteers, community partnerships, and reporting. Heather graduated with her Masters... Read More
Expertise
qualitative research
Community Outreach
volunteer coordination
QA/QI
basic data analysis
data entry and reporting
Data Management
Ruth Dufresne is the Evaluator for Clinical Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice where she:
- Designs and implements an evaluation of the UNE Clinical Interprofessional Education Curriculum and its impact on health professions students, preceptors, the healthcare system, and patient outcomes
- Evaluates the impact of interprofessional education in clinical settings as part of UNE’s participation in the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education’s Nexus Innovations Network
Ruth has over 20 years of public... Read More
Expertise
Evaluation
Epidemiology
grant writing
chronic disease prevention
strategic planning.
Doreen Fournier
MSW
Program Manager, Maine Substance Use Prevention Services
Doreen Fournier is the Program Manager of the Maine Substance Use Prevention Services, a Maine Prevention Services program funded by the Maine DHHS Center for Disease Control. The Maine Substance Use Prevention Services program provides youth and young adult primary prevention services using evidence-based interventions through a network of sub-recipients across Maine. Ms. Fournier has held grant management roles in non-profits including the Vermont Network against Domestic and Sexual Violence and Coastal Counties Workforce, Inc., and program management roles at... Read More
Expertise
Program and grant management
Healthcare workforce development
Domestic and sexual violence intervention and education
Substance use prevention
Colleen Fuller
MPH
Contract Coordinator, Maine SNAP-Ed
Colleen Fuller is the Contract Coordinator for the Maine SNAP-Ed Program, providing finance support to the SNAP-Ed district community health coalitions.
Prior to joining to UNE in 2017, Colleen received her MPH from UNE and then spent five years with Mid Coast Hospital as an Obesity Prevention Coordinator. During her time with Mid Coast Hospital, Colleen implemented a variety of healthy eating and active living initiatives. Her favorite projects were those focused around increasing access to local foods for vulnerable... Read More
Mae Gagnon is a Research Assistant for the Center of Excellence in Health Innovation. She supports UNE's evaluators who are working on Maine CDC's grant Improving the Health of Americans Through Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Heart Disease and Stroke as well as evaluators involved with UNE's grant from HRSA for Sexual... Read More
Tasha Gerken-Nelson
MS, RD
Nutrition Program Coordinator, Maine SNAP-Ed
Tasha studied art history and nutrition and finds ways to creatively combine both interests in her daily life. Tasha works as a Nutrition Program Coordinator with Maine SNAP-Ed coaching Nutrition Educators and serving as the training lead for the SNAP-Ed grant program statewide. She is a member of the Maine Local Foods Access Network Steering Committee, and serves on the Steering Committee for the Merrymeeting Food Council. These days you will find Tasha imagining new ways to make delicious dinners,... Read More
Expertise
Clinical Nutrition
Public Health Nutrition
training
LGBT Awareness
Policy
Systems
and Environmental Change
Community Nutrition Education
Safe Space Certified
Zoe Hull is the Program Manager for the Maine Area Health Education Center Network (Maine AHEC Network), working with academic and community partners across the state to provide rural, community-based clinical training experiences for medical and other health professions students, encourage Maine youth and mid-career professionals to explore health careers, and support practicing health professionals with continuing education and distance learning opportunities. Zoe also coordinates Maine AHEC Network's HPV Vaccination Project, which is aimed at... Read More
Expertise
Public Health Research
Community Outreach
Minority Health
Comprehensive Program Evaluation
Ian Imbert
MPH
Clinical Interprofessional Education (IPE) Project Coordinator
AHEC CHR Clinical Coordinator
Ian is a two time alumnus from the University of New England, having received his BS in Biochemistry and Medical Biology 2012 and his Masters of Public Health in 2015. In 2016 he accepted a position in UNE's Center for Excellence in Health Innovation on the UNE Portland Campus working to improve clinical interprofessional education among UNE's graduate and professional healthcare students as a part of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation grant. His responsibilities include developing and coordinating clinical IPE opportunities for... Read More
Expertise
Community and Public Health
Interprofessional Education
research
chronic pain
Health informatics
Healthcare Quality
Project coordination
Elizabeth Mann
RN, M.S.N., PHNA
Clinical Educator for Interprofessional Practice
Liz joined the UNE community in November 2017 as the Clinical Educator for Interprofessional Practice within the Center for Excellence in Health Innovation. In this role, she works with Center staff, UNE clinical & community-based affiliates, and UNE health professions leadership, faculty, staff and students to implement interprofessional practice (clinical) learning experiences for UNE health professions students and other related innovative health learning activities. Specific responsibilities include educating & training clinical preceptors to implement interprofessional practice learning activities; further development... Read More
Expertise
Public health nursing
Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice
Health Education
Care Management
TeamSTEPPS
population health
Micaela Maynard
M.Ed
Primary Care Training and Enhancement Project Assistant
Micaela Maynard joined the Center for Excellence in Health Innovation staff in November 2018. She serves as the Primary Care Training and Enhancement (PCTE) Project Assistant supporting UNE awarded HRSA grants in Maine and Northern New England.
Before joining the staff at UNE, she lived in Chicago and worked at DePaul University where she developed community-based service learning courses and civic engagement experiences for college students throughout Chicago's rich and diverse neighborhoods.
... Read More
Shaunda Neptune
MS, RD
Senior Nutrition Program Coordinator
Shaunda is the Senior Nutrition Program Coordinator for the Maine SNAP-Ed program, providing training and technical assistance to Nutrition Educators across the state. Shaunda is a Registered Dietitian with a Master's degree from University of Maine and a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Read More
Elizabeth is the Program Manager for Maine SNAP-Ed. The program goal is to provide low-income Mainers with the skills and knowledge needed to make healthier food choices within a limited budget. There are 44 trained Nutrition Educators in all 16 counties of Maine.Read More
Expertise
Public Health Management
Hannah Ruhl
MPH
Hannah studied nutrition, sustainable food systems and public health systems in school. To furher pursue her love of food, Hannah also spent several years as a professional cook. Now she is happlily the Obesity Prevention Coordinator for the Maine SNAP Ed Program. Read More
Expertise
public health
Community Health and Nutrition
Community Health Education and Promotion
Obesity prevention