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Promising Practices Conference on Community Health
Mitzi LaSalle
Regional Manager with the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living
Mitzi LaSalle currently serves as the Regional Manager with the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL), is funded by the LA Cancer Research Center and is a program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute and the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. Mitzi is a graduate of Grambling State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. Mitzi has over 10 years of work experience with various non-profits. Mitzi works in Region 6, the central Louisiana area and St Landry Parish, to educate communities and stakeholders on initiatives that help reduce and prevent tobacco use.
Kristie Bardwell
Executive Director of Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana
Kristie Bardell, Executive Director of Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana, has 20 years of experience serving as a trailblazer developing and implementing health improvement initiatives statewide. Over the course of her career, she has worked to reduce disparities within underserved communities from a structural and social determinants of health lens. She has extensive experience in building capacity around clinical services, community engagement, and policy change to create thriving communities. She holds a Masters in Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and a Bachelors from Xavier University of Louisiana.
Dr. Michael Celestin
Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences,
Director of the Louisiana Tobacco Control Initiative
Dr. Michael David Celestin is an assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences and director of the Louisiana Tobacco Control Initiative in the LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health. Dr. Celestin obtained his doctorate in public (health) policy at Southern University in Baton Rouge. He is a certified Health Education Specialist and Tobacco Treatment Specialist with more than 20 years of experience in tobacco control program development, implementation, and evaluation in community and healthcare settings. His work aims to prevent cancer by promoting smoking cessation through health services research using implementation science and optimize health behavior change interventions for high-prevalence smokers at greater risk of smoking-related diseases.
Michelle Ozah
Social & Health Disparities Senior Coordinator for The Louisiana Campaign For Tobacco-Free Living
Michelle Ozah is currently the Social & Health Disparities Senior Coordinator for The Louisiana Campaign For Tobacco-Free Living (TFL), a program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) and a funded program of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC). Michelle graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences and is currently obtaining her Master of Social Work from Southern University at New Orleans. Michelle has published research on the Investigation of Antidiabetic Activity of Vaccinium corybosum (Blueberry) and has co-authored poster presentations, such as the African American Male Cessation Initiative and Quit With Us, Louisiana Smoke- Free housing.
Jennifer Haneline
Regional Manager with the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living
Since 2011, Jennifer Haneline has served as a Regional Manager with the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living and works with individuals, of all walks of life, to advocate for healthier communities. In 2015 Jennifer began her first term as an elected member of the Monroe City School Board and was re-elected, without opposition, in 2018 and again in 2022. Jennifer has 30 years of micro and macro Social Work experience that includes national speaking/educating about Alzheimer’s disease and crisis intervention. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Aurora University, a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Fellowship in Infant Mental Health from Tulane University. One of Jennifer's career highlights is leading the advocacy effort to a smoke-free Monroe, West Monroe, and Ouachita Parish. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her two children and getting outside to enjoy nature.
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Dr. Donna Williams
Professor and Associate Dean of Practice and Community Engagement at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health,
Director of Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control
Dr. Williams is a professor and the Associate Dean of Practice and Community Engagement at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health and is Director of Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control. She received a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Louisiana Tech University and master’s and doctoral degrees in public health from Tulane University. She has 30 years of experience in cancer research, prevention and control in Louisiana with an emphasis on cancers that can be prevented or detected early and cured.
Alice Prophit
President/CEO of Living Well Foundation
Alice is President/CEO of Living Well Foundation, a funder for programs and services improving the health and well-being of northeast Louisiana populations.
As a healthcare consultant and hospital administrator, Alice worked with healthcare professionals and other leaders to develop and grow successful businesses. She was awarded CEO of the Year and Hospital of the Year honors at a major healthcare corporation.
Alice continues to work for outcomes and results through effective services and program design. Focusing on development, education, collaboration, and networking, she helps develop and expand services, while leveraging resources of money, time, and intellectual capacity.
Dr. Amanda Norris
Director of Behavioral Health at Go Care
Dr. Amanda Norris is a psychologist in Ruston/West Monroe, Louisiana. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Miami University of Ohio in 2003 and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Louisiana Tech University in 2009. She has experience providing therapy/psychological assessment to people across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings. She served on the Northeast Delta Human Services Authority as secretary from 2011 to 2013. She is currently the Director of Behavioral Health at Go Care where she has been volunteering/working since 2010. She is a member of the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.
Dr. Erica Spears
Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning at Louisiana Public Health Institute
Dr. Erica Spears is a health equity leader with over 15 years of professional public health experience in non-profit, governmental, and academic spaces. Dr. Spears joined Louisiana Public Health in June 2021 and serves as the organization’s Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. In this role, Dr. Spears supports the evaluation and research efforts Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. Dr. Spears earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Education from Texas A&M University. She completed her Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Auburn University’s Center for Health Ecology and Equity Research.
Denise Breard
Representative for Well-Ahead Louisiana
I am Denise Breard and I am the Representative for the Northeast Region with the Louisiana Department of Health/Office of Public Health program Well-Ahead Louisiana. Well-Ahead Louisiana focuses on encouraging small changes in our lives that can improve the health and wellness of the citizens of our State. I am also a member of the executive board for the Children’s Coalition for NELA and volunteer with the Center for Children as a CASA representative for children in the foster/adoption system. I am married and reside in Monroe and my husband and I are the proud parents of two grown children.
Lindsey Crawford
​Founder and Director of Freedom13
Lindsey is the Founder and Director of Freedom13 in Ruston – a ministry on mission to rebuild dignity in the lives of the women it serves. Lindsey has a bachelor of science in journalism/public relations and a master of arts in secondary English education. Her work experience includes teaching junior high and high school, nonprofit work, and raising three teenage kids along with her husband, Brent.
Toshia Laing
Region 8 Health Disparities Strategist of the Office of Public Health
Toshia Laing was born & raised in West Monroe, and she graduated from West Monroe High School. She attended college at ULM where she earned 2 degrees: BA in Psychology in 2008 and MS General Experimental Psychology in 2012. She has a passion for helping people and serving her community and Northeast Louisiana. For the past decade, she has developed her career in public service, working for Ascent as a Wraparound Facilitator, for Louisiana Easterseals as the Regional EarlySteps SPOE Program Director, and now for the Office of Public Health as the Region 8 Health Disparities Strategist.
Dr. Jamie Newman
Associate Professor of Biology in the School of Biological Sciences,
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences,
Co-Director of VISTA Center at Louisiana Tech University
Dr. Newman is an Associate Professor of Biology in the School of Biological Sciences and the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. At Louisiana Tech Dr. Newman directs a research lab comprised of undergraduates from Biology, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering, Master’s Degree students from Biology and Molecular Science in Nanotechnology (MSNT), and PhD Candidates from the MSNT program. The goal of her lab is to understand how environment, signaling pathways, and transcription factors control cell state and determine cell fate. This research aims to help make stem cells more clinically relevant for the treatment of a number of degenerative and injury related health concerns. During the pandemic, Dr. Newman’s research interests grew to include community education, wastewater surveillance, and viral genome sequencing. In addition to her research interests, Dr. Newman serves as Co-Director of Louisiana Tech’s VISTA Center, where she works closely with Professor of Studio Art, Nicholas Bustamante, to provide unique interdisciplinary experiential learning opportunities to students. To learn more about Dr. Newman and her research program visit: https://latechnewmanlab.weebly.com/. To learn more about the VISTA Center, visit: https://www.latechvista.com/
Jana Blaylock
Quality Manager for AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana
I am Jana Blaylock, the Quality Manager for AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, a Medicaid Managed-Care Organization. I am an accomplished Registered Nurse and business professional, with a background in emergency nursing and over ten years’ experience in health plan quality improvement. I enjoy using my skills to contribute to the exciting work that impacts the health outcomes and improves quality of life for our members and their communities! My educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, an associate degree in nursing from Louisiana Tech University, and both a bachelor’s degree in nursing and an MBA through the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Dr. Paul Kim
Ernest Everett Just Endowed Professor in Biology at Grambling State University
Paul Kim is the Ernest Everett Just Endowed Professor in Biology at Grambling State University in Grambling, LA. He earned his doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. His recent research during the pandemic focused on genomic surveillance and wastewater-based epidemiology as tools for public health.
Erica Ledet
Senior Program Coordinator for the Louisiana Public Health Institute’s Policy & Equity Team
Erica Ledet currently serves as the Senior Program Coordinator at the Louisiana Public Health Institute’s Policy & Equity Team. Erica graduated from Northwestern State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Grambling State University with a Masters in Social Work. As the program coordinator on the Project ASIRT (Addressing Systematic Inequities To Reduce Tobacco Use) team, Erica works closely with rural communities across the state to identify inequities to introduce policy. Her professional background is deeply rooted in behavioral health. She has over a decade of experience working with children and adolescents who have been in and out of the juvenile justice system and placed into a residential treatment facility. She has a passion for community and building capacity in rural settings.
Mary Barrios
Community Outreach Director for the Town of Farmerville, Board Member of D’Arbonne Woods Charter School, Teach 1 to Lead 1 Mentoring Program, Arnett Smith Ball Park, Union Museum of History and Art, and more
Mary Barrios is the Community Outreach Director for the Town of Farmerville.
Through her work, Mary serves as a community advocate for families, rural parishes and the growing Latino community in Northeast Louisiana. In 2010, she founded Dia de la Familia: Family Fun Day that has grown to an annual event celebrating, advocating and providing resources for the Latino Community in Union parish. She is also a founding member of Latinas Unidas, a group of Latinas supporting other Latinas and their families in Union Parish.
Mary serves as a board member of D’Arbonne Woods Charter School, Teach 1 to Lead 1 Mentoring Program, Arnett Smith Ball Park, Union Museum of History and Art and as a member of various other organizations and committees.
Mary is a graduate of Baylor University and currently resides in Farmerville, LA.
James Husband
Health Equity Coordinator for The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living
James Husband (he/him) works as a Health Equity Coordinator for The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Louisiana (TFL), a program of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC). In his role, he collaborates with TFL team members to ensure that equity is applied to all programs across Louisiana. Before coming to LPHI, he worked in the areas of HIV prevention, sexual health education, and harm reduction practices. He is invested and dedicated to finding and supporting structures that serve all people, especially transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) communities. Lastly, he is passionate about addressing social determinants of health, systematic healthcare inequities, and utilizing the built environment approach to create healthier people and communities.
Feamula R. Bradley
Region 7 Manager for The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living
Feamula has been on staff at the Louisiana Public Health Institute since 2004, where she serves as the Region 7 Manager for The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL), a program of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC). She has over 35 years of experience serving adult and youth populations in non-profit settings, promoting community outreach and mobilization through health-related community change, policy/advocacy initiatives, capacity-building programs, and coalition building. For the past 18 years she has been an advocate and change agent in rural communities, identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities, promoting cessation, and addressing the affects of the social determinants of health, while assisting communities with resources that provide solutions and sustainability.
Feamula is a lifelong resident of Shreveport and enjoys traveling and volunteering with several service organizations.
Norman L. Hanes
President and CEO of Crossmark Management Group,
CEO for Lincoln Health Foundation
Norman Hanes is President and CEO of Crossmark Management Group, a financial and
accounting outsourcing and business consulting firm. He has over 42 years experience
in healthcare business and non-profit management. Since 2010, Norman has served as
the CEO for Lincoln Health Foundation, a private, non-operating Foundation whose
primary mission is to improve health care, outcomes, and access to health care services
for residents of Lincoln Parish, LA.
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Norman graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in Health
Information Management. In 2003, following a 23-year career in investor owned and
non-profit health care management, he moved back to Ruston, LA from Anchorage, AK
where he established his management consulting firm, Crossmark Management Group.
In 2013, Crossmark Management Group merged with Jack S. Rome, Jr. of Jack Rome &
Associates. Crossmark Management Group provides financial, accounting and business
management services to over 200 businesses in 22 states.
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As CEO for Lincoln Health Foundation, Norman has had the opportunity to work
closely with Louisiana Tech University in the development and deployment of
numerous funding initiatives whose purpose is to address identified health challenges
in Lincoln Parish. The collaboration between Lincoln Health Foundation and Louisiana
Tech faculty and students has resulted in the significant improvement of childhood
nutrition, literacy, food insecurity, and adult health education involving underserved
residents in Lincoln Parish.