SOPHE MIDWEST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Movers and Shakers
Coming together from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, this skilled and energized team is the backbone of SOPHE Midwest. Their ideas help shape the direction and mission of our organization as it continues to develop. Read on to learn more about our incredible Executive Committee.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Is this you?
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Student Officer
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Evaluation and Learning Chair
Ethan Greenblatt
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Ethan Greenblatt is a Health Education Supervisor
at the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health, where he leads a team of health educators that respond to COVID, MPOX and STIs in the community. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri and holds a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification.
He is passionate about public health, specifically with interests in public health leadership, health education and health equity. When Ethan isn’t working, he enjoys fitness, playing golf, reading and traveling.
TREASURER
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President- Elect
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Evaluation and Learning Chair
Kelsey Gardiner
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Kelsey Gardiner is an Assistant Professor in the Bachelors of Health Studies program in the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Missouri Kansas City. She received both her Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Kansas (KU) studying Health Education and Exercise Psychology with a focus on nutrition and physical activity. She has previous experience working at the community level to enhance community health through coalition leadership and community health improvement planning. Her research has been focused mostly on community and public health nutrition. This encompasses food systems, healthy eating behaviors, food insecurity and access to healthy foods, and food as a social determinant of health. Currently she is focused on community and clinical linkages for healthy food access through a food is medicine approach.
PRESIDENT
Merissa Larson
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Merissa is currently an evaluation coordinator at St. Louis Integrated Health Network. She received her Master of Public Health from the University of Missouri, Columbia and holds a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential. Merissa has a drive for educating others about public health practices and the impacts they have to our world. Outside of SOPHE Midwest and work, Merissa enjoys hiking, gardening, getting creative via home decorating, reading, and videogames.
She is thrilled to be President for 2024/2025 term and can not wait to meet you all soon!
PAST-PRESIDENT
Jeni Starr
Jeni Starr has been a health educator for over 20 years and currently serves as the Health & Wellness Specialist for the Kansas City Public Library where she leads the delivery of wellness resources and initiatives and builds strategic partnerships. She is passionate about health equity and weight inclusive wellness. She holds a Master of Education in Health Education from the University of Texas at Austin, a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from Mount Holyoke College, and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist. When she isn’t working she enjoys gardening, traveling, sewing, and spending time with her husband, stepkids, two cats, and a retired racing greyhound.
ADVOCACY OFFICER
Monica Miller
Monica is a Support Specialist with the CDC Foundation where she works with state and local health departments across the country providing them with assistance in outreach, education, and research. Monica holds a BA in Geography from the University of Missouri Kansas City and anticipates completing her Master’s degree in public health at the University of Missouri in summer 2022. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, tending to indoor plants, cooking, kayaking, and going to the movies with her husband.
HOUSE of DELEGATES REPRESENTATIVE
Michele Bildner
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Michele is an adaptive leader in public health education and promotion using principles of equity, anti-racism, and social justice for policy and systems change. She teaches Health Education and Promotion undergraduates at Fontbonne University in St. Louis. Michele is a Project Manager at the CDC Foundation where she works to establish public-private partnerships for health. Michele is busy with her DrPH in Leadership at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, where she is exploring what it means to be a leader in public health policy advocacy and development. She is an experienced consultant, practicing yogi, and aspires to be a more spontaneous traveler.
MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
Jenna Wintemberg
Jenna Wintemberg is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Health Science and Public Health at the University of Missouri. Jenna holds her PhD in Health Promotion, MPH, and CHES. She is also a certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and is a long-time advocate for tobacco control policies and increased access to cessation services. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new playgrounds with her daughter, walking her dog, and reading fiction/sci-fi/fantasy.