CPH Student Association Officers

Jackie Heras

President

jacqueline-leung@uiowa.edu

Jackie is studying to obtain her MS in Community and Behavioral Health. She is originally from California and has a BA in English Literature. She has affiliations with many groups and organizations. She is the Communications Chair for the Latino Graduate Student Association, a Bridge participant, a Mobile Clinic Sites Committee Chair (until fall 2007), and a Project Export Scholar.

Londa VanderWal

Vice President

londa-vanderwal@uiowa.edu

Londa is originally from Bruce, South Dakota. She is working towards her PhD in Occupational Epidemiology. She earned an MS degree in Food Science/Animal Science from Kansas State University and then was based in Rome, Italy from 2002-2006 to work for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the field of Food Safety. She traveled to many developing countries and realized her interest in addressing broader public health issues, especially related to agricultural workers and agriculture practices. Londa also volunteered in community development in Malawi, East Africa for 4 months prior to moving to Iowa City.

Laura Lee

Treasurer

laura-lee@uiowa.edu

Laura is originally from South Korea. She now calls Cedar Rapids home where she has been living for the past ten years with her family. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is currently seeking a MPH degree in Epidemiology. Her research interests are infectious diseases and international health. In the past, she had many interesting job opportunities. She worked as an intern at a local public health office bleeding chickens for West Nile Surveillance during the summer of 2006. Last year, she was a smoke-free ambassador for the UIHC where she was responsible for informing hospital guests and patients about the new smoking policy. During the summer of 2007, she traveled to Thailand to help out with a study involving surveillance of Avian Influenza in Asia. After graduation, she hopes to work at an international level in one of the countries in Asia doing a research and a surveillance of emerging infectious diseases. This is her first position as a treasurer so she hopes to learn a lot from this experience. 

Trisha Schiltz

Administrative Affairs Chair

trisha-schiltz@uiowa.edu

Trisha is originally from Denison, Iowa. She is pursuing an MPH degree and is in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health. In 2006, Trisha received her BA in Health and Sport Studies and Psychology. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist. During the school year, she is a graduate assistant at Health Iowa/Student Health Service and a graduate research assistant working with a study on injury in college athletes. Trisha is interested in chronic disease prevention particularly with respect to nutrition, physical activity, and smoking prevention/cessation.

Lena Hann

Social Co-Chair

lena-hann@uiowa.edu

Lena is from Somonauk, Illinois. She is pursuing her MPH in Community and Behavioral Health. She has her B.A. in Women's Studies and Sociology. She has a graduate assistantship under the Office of Student Life at The University of Iowa. She is the Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (LGBTRC). Her practicum project involves research on the impact of Bacterial Vaginosis on post-abortion infection and development of communication materials for clients at the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City. Her future plans are to work in women’s reproductive health.

Thomas Hutchinson

Social Co-Chair

thomas-hutchinson@uiowa.edu 

Thomas is a second year MPH candidate. He is in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health. He attained his B.S. in Exercise Science and Applied Physics from the University of Iowa and currently works as a Research Assistant in UIHC Asthma Center. He is a fun-loving Virgo seeking to promote a sense of community among all students in the College of Public Health through social events, intramural athletics, and interdepartmental competitions.

Kim Lamon

Student Mentor Mentee Program Coordinator

kimberley-lamon@uiowa.edu

Kim is from a little bit of all over- having been born in the UK, living in California and spending many of her formative years in Albia, Iowa.  It is thus without much surprise that Kim loves to travel. Kim earned a BA from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.  She earned her MSW from the University of Iowa in 2006 and is pursuing an MPH in Community and Behavioral Health with an interest in aging and mental health. During the school year, Kim is a teaching assistant for the sociology department as well as actively involved with the Graduate Student Senate, as this year’s vice president, and as service committee chair. She is involved with the 10,000 hours show, and enjoys volunteering in the Iowa City area. She looks forward to working with students this year in many capacities.

Emma Gelman

Director of Student Concerns

emma-gelman@uiowa.edu

Emma is originally from Iowa City, Iowa. She attained her BA in Biology from Boston University. She is currently working on getting her MPH with Community and Behavioral Health being her focus area. She is a graduate research assistant at the Prevention Research Center. Emma is not yet sure what she would like to do after getting her MPH. She would eventually like to be the director of a county department of public health. She would also like to do some international work after she graduates.

Xuxuan Wan

International Student Representative

xuxuan-wan@uiowa.edu

Xuxuan is originally from China and has his Bachelor degree in Basic Medicine from Peking University Health Science Center. In 2007, he obtained his MS degree in Biology from the Univerisity of Iowa. Now he is pursuing his study in the MHA program in the Department of Health Management and Policy. His current interest is learning how to improve health care outcomes and quality by using a limited budget. He would eventually like to go back to China and help different vulnerable groups to access better health care.

Amy Engelmann

Staff Advisor

amy-engelmann@uiowa.edu

Amy has worked in student services in the College of Public Health since June of 2001, first in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, and currently in the Office of Education and Student Affairs. In addition to advising the CPHSA, Amy works with all the academic departments to facilitate College wide student activities, such as the College of Public Health Information Fair, Collegiate Orientation, and development of collegiate student recruitment publications. She is an ex-officio member of the College's Curriculum Committee, and a member of the ASPH Student Services Council, and the SOPHAS Advisory Board. Amy also oversees admission and advising for the Public Health Certificate Program. A Davenport, Iowa native, Amy resides in Coralville, with her husband Eric and two children, Mallory and Kepler, and dog Cosmo.