CHET Staff
Jaime Brown, BA, LYL
Research Program Manager
Jaime Brown, BA, LYL, works with Dr. Carolyn Lauckner as a research program manager in the Center for Health Equity Transformation to support high quality research. She manages the day-to-day operations at every step of the research process. From the beginnings of a project—grant development and pulling together resources—to its mid-stages—IRB protocol submission and maintenance, recruiting participants, and overseeing data collection—to the final phases of a project—manuscript and presentation preparation. Jaime has over 20 years of experience in NIAAA funded behavioral and health-focused research.
Angela Brumley-Shelton, MA, MPH, CTTS
Research Program Manager
Angela Brumley-Shelton works as a research program manager with Dr. Shyanika Rose. She worked at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department in Lexington, Ky. for 15 years. She worked as a disease intervention specialist working in STI and HIV case tracking for five years, then became the coordinator of the Community Health Equity, Education, and Tobacco programs for 10 years which included work in health education, addiction, tobacco control and treatment, and community partnerships. She was one of the first tobacco treatment specialists in Kentucky, and specialized in treatment for pregnant women and individuals with critical need to stop using tobacco. In 2020 she left over 20 years of frontline practice to teach full-time at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, and in 2022 returned to tobacco control as a research program manager at the Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
Angela holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Health Communication from New Mexico State University and an MPH from the University of Kentucky. She is a master trainer for the smoking cessation and reduction in pregnancy treatment (SCRIPT) program, a tobacco treatment intervention administered by the Society of Public Health Education.
Vilma Bursac, MS
Senior Research Associate
Vilma Bursac works primarily with Dr. Laurie McLouth in managing cancer care delivery and cancer survivorship research from inception to completion, including clinical trial protocol development, study personnel management, patient recruitment, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. She earned her MS in Kinesiology and Health Promotion at UK. She is currently seeking a PhD in health services research at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health with a concentration in health outcomes. Her interests lie in advancing health equity, closing gaps in health disparities, and utilizing evidence-based interventions to promote behavior change.
Kimberly Haney, MLS
Research Program Manager
Kim Haney, MLS, works with Dr. Carolyn Lauckner and Dr. Laurie McLouth as a research program manager in the Center for Health Equity Transformation to support high quality, patient-focused research. She manages the day-to-day operations of multiple research protocols at every step of the research process. From the beginnings of a project—grant development and pulling together resources—to its mid-stages—IRB protocol submission and maintenance, recruiting participants and overseeing data collection—to the final phases of a project—manuscript and presentation preparation, etc. Kim has a background in libraries and experience in medical and health-focused research.
Sydney P. Howard, DrPH
Research Program Manager
Sydney P. Howard, DrPH, works with Dr. Justin Moore as a research program manager in the Center for Health Equity Transformation on cancer health outcomes. She has over 15 years of experience working with rural populations, including her extensive research in rural healthcare workforce capacity. Dr. Howard’s prior research has been used on the national and state legislative floors to support the expansion of student loan repayment programming in Kentucky. A native of eastern Kentucky, located in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, she continues to be invested in her hometown. She is active in local civic initiatives and serves as an elected member of the local school board, where she hopes to inspire bright young minds to live and work in rural Kentucky. Dr. Howard holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Experimental Psychology from Morehead State University, and completed her Doctorate in Public Health at Capella University.
Jennifer Malan
Project Manager - Faith Moves Mountains
Jennifer Malan has worked with with Dr. Nancy Schoenberg on the Faith Moves Mountains: Appalachians in Control project since 2017. She is a graduate of the University of Pikeville with a BA in Human Services. Jennifer is a Letcher County native and has worked and volunteered in a variety of community-based positions that allowed her to focus on making positive contributions to the area while working to create opportunities for the betterment of the region. With over two decades of experience in community programming, Jennifer brings a passion for helping others to overcome and eliminate barriers for themselves and others in the region. She currently serves as the project manager of Clinic to Community Navigation to Improve Diabetes Outcomes, whose mission is to reduce adverse outcomes by educating people with type-2 diabetes about self-management and training community-based facilitators to help coordinate health care services.
Lexandra Overby, OTR/L
Study Coordinator
Lexandra originally joined CHET as a lung cancer research interventionist with Dr. Laurie McLouth, and now works as a study coordinator. She looks forward to exploring her research career as well as improving quality of life for those impacted by her work. Lexandra has a background in Occupational Therapy with a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and works part-time with young adults with autism.
Celeste Roberts, MS, OTR/L
Research Assistant
Mrs. Roberts works as a research assistant with Dr. Elizabeth Rhodus, and has a passion for working with elders in their communities through the activities they enjoy. She has a clinical background as an occupational therapist with seven years of experience working with older adults in long-term care. Celeste graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelors in Psychology, minor in Sociology and Social Deviance, and Masters in Occupational Therapy. She is also currently seeking a PhD in Occupational Therapy through Nova Southeastern University with a focus on occupational justice for all.
Gabrielle Romines, BS
Graduate Research Assistant - REACT
Gabrielle Romines works with Dr. Shyanika Rose as a graduate research assistant on the REACT project. She is a school psychology PhD student in the College of Education and graduated from Centre College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and Education. Gabrielle is passionate about promoting equity in education and youth health—both psychological and physical. Her past research experiences have focused on childhood behavioral disorders, implicit racial biases, and the development of belonging for students across diverse backgrounds. She is excited to join CHET and the REACT team investigating youth tobacco exposure.
Deanna Lee Sherman
Project Manager - Make Better Choices 2
Deanna works with Dr. Nancy Schoenberg as the project manager for the Make Better Choices 2 health study located in Benham, KY. She is an alumnus of Morehead State University, where she studied communications, as well as Murray State University, where she focused on human development and leadership. Deanna is passionate about supporting health equity initiatives in rural communities. She lives in Cumberland, KY, with her husband, Scott, and three children: Alyssa, Hutton, and Tate.
Judy van de Venne, PhD
Program Manager
Judy van de Venne, PhD is a research program manager working with Dr. Shyanika Rose. Her work has involved managing various aspects of several research protocols including: the Advancing Science & Practice in Retail Environments (ASPIRE) study, the Feasibility of Smoking Cessation Among Cancer Patient Relatives Who Smoke: Relative Smokers, Outreach Providers, and System Determinants (CARE-R) study, the Tobacco 21 study, and the Researching Equity-Advancing Counter Tobacco Policies on Flavors (REACT) study. She holds an MS and PhD degrees in family studies from the University of Kentucky where she has previously served in cooperative extension specialist, lecturer, program evaluator and adjunct professor roles for the College of Human Environmental Science and College of Social Work. Alongside of her full time roles, she has also served as adjunct professor / guest lecturer for Eastern Kentucky, Asbury, and McNeese universities. Prior to coming to CHET she successfully managed the EKU Suicide Awareness and Focus on Education (EKU SAFE) grant at Eastern Kentucky University. Her pivot to tobacco policy research is a meaningful way to build on her research interests which lie in tobacco / substance addiction and mental health arenas.