Advisory Boards

Eli Chavez

Program Director, Indiana Department of Health, Office of Minority Health, Appointed Commissioner at Indiana Commission on Hispanic & Latino Affairs

Elias moved from Jalisco, Mexico to Indianapolis in 2012, where he began his career in Public Health at HealthNet Community Health Centers. This experience provided him with a firsthand understanding of the difficulties that Latinos and other minority communities face in accessing healthcare. Throughout his outstanding career in Public Health, he remained fully committed to health promotion and creating environments for health healthcare access, and health literacy. His journey has led him to enhance health equity and become an active advocate for underserved communities in Indiana.
Currently, Elias is the Program Director at the Indiana Department of Health, Office of Minority Health. In his Program Director role, Eli serves as primary agency liaison with associated federal, state, and local agencies and partners. He evaluates the effectiveness of public health programs and partnerships. He contributes to the development of ongoing initiatives, program plans, and policies to ensure that OMH’s objectives, goals, and internal procedures comply with those of our department.
In February 2023, Elias was one of ten public health professionals from across the United States accepted into NASTAD’s Minority Leadership Program. His involvement in the program has allowed him to collaborate with other Latino public health professionals nationwide in envisioning and embracing their personal and professional leadership roles in addressing health disparities through culturally appropriate public health practices and professional partnerships.
Additionally, Elias is appointed Commissioner of Health for the Civil Rights Commission of Hispanic & Latino Affairs and a Board Member of HealthNet Community Health Centers. Elias’s work and specialized knowledge of public health, health equality, and quality management are highly valued, and he is frequently consulted and encouraged to provide helpful advice on matters impacting Latinos and other minority populations in Indiana.
His outstanding career in public health, leadership, community service, and personal mission is strongly linked to his own experience and his family values, in his words: “A profound sense of the moral responsibility and commitment that we all have to serve one another, and advocate for one another.” https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliaschavezmx/

Esmeralda Cruz

Hispanic Community Engagement Director, Purdue University Extension

Esmeralda Cruz, M.S., received her master’s degree from Purdue University in Youth Development and Education. She was the Health and Human Sciences Educator for Purdue Extension in Clinton County from 2014-2023. During this time, she was a part of establishing the Emergency Fund for Immigrant Families, organizing the annual Frankfort Hispanic Heritage Festival, Padres Estrellas, Clinton County Medical Emergency Fund, Bi-Literacy Program, Education after High School, and Grassroots Leadership Development Program. In 2024 she transitioned to a new position within Purdue Extension as the Hispanic/Latino Community Engagement Specialist. Her primary objectives are to spearhead engagement initiatives across the state tailored to the Hispanic/Latino community and collaborate closely with state and local partners to coordinate events and efforts that raise awareness and respond to the distinct challenges and interests of this demographic. She has been invited to present her work at various local and national conferences, such as the Tri State Diversity Conference, the NACDEP Conference, and Cambio de Colores Conference.
cruze@purdue.edu

Perry Gay

CEO, Lutheran Downtown Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN

BS, Finance, University of Florida
MBA, St. Leo University, Florida

Perry has served as hospital CEO, COO, and CFO in rural hospitals in Indiana, Washington, and Florida, respectively. He has also served on; the board of directors for the Indiana Rural Health Association; member of the CEO council with the Indiana Statewide Rural Health Network; Board member of the Indiana Hospital Association. Perry has also received an honorary Associate of Science from Ivy Tech in College and Community Service for the work our rural facility has done with educating healthcare students and managing through the pandemic.
www.linkedin.com/in/perry-gay-6ab00511

Lisa Graves

Interim Health and Human Sciences Program Leader and Assistant Director for Purdue Extension

BS, Dietetics and Nutrition, Fitness and Health, Purdue University
MS, Family and Consumer Sciences, Eastern Illinois University

Lisa Graves currently serves as the Interim Health and Human Sciences Program Leader and Assistant Director for Purdue Extension. In this role she builds relationships and forms partnerships between county and campus stakeholders, participates in strategic planning, and provides leadership to HHS Extension. Prior to her current role, Lisa has served as an Assistant Program Leader for Purdue Extension and a Foods and Nutrition Extension Specialist in the Department of Nutrition Science, where she provided training to new HHS Extension Educators, and worked closely with faculty to translate their scientific findings to practical application for consumers. As a Limited-Term Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition Science, Lisa co-taught the undergraduate nutrition communications course. Prior to her career with Purdue University, Lisa served as a School and Community Nutrition Specialist at the Indiana Department of Education.
https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension

Melinda Grismer

Community and Regional Development Specialist with Purdue Center for Regional Development

BA, Education and Journalism, Ball State University
MS, Extension/Adulty Education, Purdue University
PhD, Literacy and Language, Purdue University

Melinda Grismer, a Community and Regional Development Specialist with the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD), has expertise in grant-writing, facilitation, strategic planning, board governance and diversity/inclusion issues. Currently, she is the Managing Director for the Wabash Heartland College & Community Collaboration Initiative, Master Trainer with Ivy Tech Community College for the Reality Spanish/English language program, Executive Board Member of the Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC), MHS Serves, and the Indiana Literacy Association, as well as Co-Manager of the Remote Work Certificate Program.
https://pcrd.purdue.edu/about-us/our-team/

Jamie Jenny Guzman

Director of Program Operations, East Coast Migrant Head Start Project |AL, IN, OK

BS Rehabilitation Services, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
MS Organizational Effects in Leadership, Charter Oak State College
Doctoral Candidate in Organizational Leadership, Indiana Wesleyan University
Jenny Guzman serves our organization as the Director of Program Operations in Service Delivery Area Three. She plays a crucial role in achieving our funded enrollment and non-federal share objectives. Jenny oversees the Head Start Administrators in the Alabama and Indiana regions, encompassing 11 educational campuses in five states — Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, and Oklahoma.  Her work extends to collaborative efforts with facilities and transportation to ensure the seamless provision of services to children. She also leads the region’s daily program operations, aiming to achieve funded enrollment and enhance continuous services in partnership with our community collaborators, state representatives, and state licensing agencies. 
 
Jenny’s extensive educational background and professional experience make her a credible leader at ECMHSP. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services with a Connection in Addition Studies from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a Master of Science in Organizational Effects in Leadership with a Connection in Nonprofit from Charter Oak State College and is a Doctorate Candidate in Organizational Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University. Jenny’s diverse experience, including various positions within our organization and other nonprofit Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs, ensures that we continue to deliver essential services to our families while fostering collaborative partnerships that benefit the children and families we support. She is an invaluable asset to our team, contributing significantly to our organization’s mission and vision.
Jenny Guzman – Secretary – AgriSafe Network

Leonel Lopez

Worker Rights and Protection Project, Indiana Legal Services, Inc.

Leonel Lopez Macias Paredes
Associate’s Degree – Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
https://www.indianalegalservices.org/ilrc/

Kathy Martin

Director of Operations, Healthy Communities of Clinton County

BS, Criminal Justice, St. Joseph’s College

Working at Healthy Communities of Clinton County, Kathy has been combatting the risk factors contributing to chronic disease, including health disparities, by decreasing stigma and encouraging policy, system, and environmental changes. Kathy is a Certified Prevention Specialist and her passion is helping people, especially surrounding mental health and those in rural communities, and making health services available and equitable to all.
www.healthyclintoncounty.org

Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez

MESA Director and the Farm Worker Outreach Coordinator for National AgrAbility Project

Kimber J. Nicoletti-Martinez, LCSW, serves as the Latinx Farm Worker Outreach Coordinator for both the National and Indiana AgrAbility projects and is the Founder/Director of Multicultural Efforts to end Sexual Assault (MESA) at Purdue University. Ms. Nicoletti-Martinez’s social work practice has included being an advocate for Latinx immigrant and farm worker communities for more than 30 years. Ms. Nicoletti-Martinez was named National Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers in 2018. She was awarded the 2017 Indiana Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers-Indiana Chapter for her work with Farm Worker and Low-wage Latina immigrant communities. She received the 2021 National Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service by the Multiplying Good Foundation.
knicolet@purdue.edu

Sheila Paul

Indiana Department Of Health – Northern Regional Director (HFI)

BA, Health Promotion, urdue University

Sheila Paul currently assists and supports local health departments in rural communities, specifically the northern Indiana Region 4. She has served in Tippecanoe and Porter counties in various roles after receiving her Bachelor’s of Arts in Health Promotion from Purdue University.
https://www.in.gov/healthfirstindiana/

Jill Stowers

Director, IU Health Positive Link

BS, Social Work, Saint Mary’s College
MSW, Indiana University

A long advocate in addressing issues related to rural social work, Jill has worked in the field of HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis for over 20 years. She has developed community partnerships across the state to ensure leveraged, coordinated, and accessible services for those in rural areas. Serving on the Indiana HIV/STI/Hepatitis Advisory Council, Ryan White Planning Council, Healthcare Charitable Service Award Board, and Indiana State Community Action Group among others, she has a long history of working to ensure equity for those in rural areas.
https://iuhealth.org/find-medical-services/positive-link-hiv-services

Angie Abbott

Interim Extension Director, Assistant Dean College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University

EdD, Educational Leadership, Creighton University
MS, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ball State University
BS, Dietetics, Ball State University

Dr. Angie Abbott is the Assistant Dean for Outreach and Engagement in the College of Health & Human Sciences and Associate Director for Purdue Extension. She is a registered dietitian and Extension Specialist in the area of nutrition education programs that target limited resource audiences. In her leadership role she works in the area of employee engagement and leadership styles. Dr. Abbott provides statewide leadership for Purdue Extension programs that focus on food, family, money, and health. She serves as the Principal Investigator of the Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program (Indiana’s SNAP-Education and EFNEP Program), which works to make the healthy choice the easy choice where limited-resource Hoosiers live, eat, work, play and shop. https://hhs.purdue.edu/directory/angela-abbott/

Jerome Adams

Presidential Fellow, Executive Director of Purdue’s Health Equity Initiatives, Distinguished Professor of Practice, Purdue University

BS, Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County
BA, Biopsychology, University of Maryland Baltimore County
MPH, University of California, Berkeley
MD, Indiana University School of Medicine Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, FASA

Dr. Jerome Adams was appointed as a Presidential Fellow and the Executive Director of Purdue’s Health
Equity Initiatives on October 1, 2021. He is also a Distinguished Professor of Practice in the departments of Pharmacy Practice and Public Health.
As the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a prior member of the President’s Coronavirus task force, Dr. Adams has been at the forefront of America’s most pressing health challenges. A regular communicator
via tv, radio, and in print, Dr. Adams is an expert not just in the science, but also in communicating the science to the lay public and making it relevant to various audiences.
Dr. Adams is a licensed anesthesiologist with a master’s degree in public health, and ran the Indiana State Department of Health prior to becoming Surgeon General. In the State Health Commissioner role he managed a $350 million dollar budget and over 1000 employees, and led Indiana’s response to Ebola, Zika, and HIV crises. Notably, Dr. Adams helped convince the Governor and State Legislature to legalize
syringe service programs in the state, and to prioritize $13 million in funding to combat infant mortality.
As Surgeon General, Dr. Adams was the operational head of the 6000 person Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and oversaw responses to 3 back-to-back category 5 hurricanes, and to a once in a
century pandemic.
In addition to his recent COVID19 work, Dr. Adams has partnered with and assisted organizations as they navigate the opioid epidemic, maternal health, rising rates of chronic disease, the impacts of rising
suicide rates in our Nation, and how businesses can become better stewards and stakeholders in promoting community health https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/chep-sgr-business-leadersdigest.pdf
https://www.purdue.edu/provost/health/adams.html

Julie A. Baldwin

Executive Director, Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University

BA, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado
PhD, Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health

Dr. Julie Baldwin earned her doctorate in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education in 1991 from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. From 1994-2004, she served as a tenured faculty member at Northern Arizona University, with a joint appointment in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health.
She joined the faculty at the University of South Florida College of Public Health in the Department of Community and Family Health in 2005. She returned to Northern Arizona University in August 2015 to direct the Center for Health Equity Research.
Dr. Baldwin’s research over the years has focused on both infectious and chronic disease prevention.
Cross-cutting themes which have characterized her work include: utilizing community-based participatory research approaches, working with underserved and/or marginalized populations, and addressing health disparities by developing and implementing culturally centered public health interventions.
As a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, she has made a life-long commitment to serving diverse communities and to advocating for health promotion programs for children, adolescents and families.
In 2022, Dr. Baldwin was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine.
Dr. Baldwin has had a consistent program of applied research addressing HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention in youth, with a special emphasis on working with American Indian adolescents and their families. She continues to contribute significantly to this field of research today, as the Co-Director of a NIDA Research Education grant, entitled the “Institute for Translational Research Education in Drug Abuse” and a recently completed project, the “Intertribal Talking Circle for the Prevention of Substance Abuse in Native Youth.”
She also currently directs a 5-year NIDCR-funded clinical study to reduce early childhood caries among American Indian children in two communities. She is the Principal Investigator of the Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC), a U54 NIMHD-funded research center for minority institutions.
Finally, she is currently a member of the Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice and the Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
https://nau.edu/health-sciences/julie-baldwin/

Eric Barker

Vice President for Health Affairs and Jeannie and Jim Chaney Dean of Pharmacy Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University Interim Vice President Purdue Health One

BS, Pharmacy, St. Louis College of Pharmacy
PhD, Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University

Eric L. Barker is the Vice President for Health Affairs, Jeannie and Jim Chaney Dean of Pharmacy, and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Purdue University. Prior to his appointment as dean, he previously held the appointment of Associate Dean for Research in Purdue’s College of Pharmacy from 2010-2017. He joined the Purdue faculty in 1998. He received his BS in pharmacy at St. Louis College of Pharmacy and PhD in pharmacology from Vanderbilt University and completed postdoctoral research at Vanderbilt and Emory University.
Dr. Barker is a noted neuropharmacologist, award-winning teacher, skilled academic leader, and pharmacist. He is a member of several professional associations, including the American Pharmacists Association, Society for Neuroscience, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, where he has served in leadership positions for the Neuropharmacology Division. From 2016-2021, he served as editor-in-chief for Pharmacological Reviews, a quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Dr. Barker’s research interests are in the area of molecular actions of drugs of abuse and other drugs that affect the brain. He has received grant support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Mental Health, National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, Lilly Research Laboratories, and DARPA. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, he has been recognized for his efforts in teaching medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, having received the Purdue College of Pharmacy Dr. Aziz Outstanding Teaching Award as well as the Purdue University Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award and selection to the Purdue Teaching Academy and the Purdue Book of Great Teachers. Dr. Barker was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from StLCOP in 2018. https://www.mcmp.purdue.edu/directory/barkerel

Carrie Cochran-McClain

Chief Policy Officer, National Rural Health Association

BA, Sociology Willamette University
MPA, Maxwell School, Syracuse University
DPH, UNC Gillings School

Dr. Carrie Cochran-McClain serves as the Chief Policy Officer at the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). Carrie joined NRHA staff in 2020 where she is the head lobbyist for the association and is responsible driving the policy agenda for rural health for the 21,000 member organization. Carrie has more than 20 years of experience working in federal health policy development, including leadership roles at Health Management Associates, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. In her previous positions she has focused on improving health care outcomes, promoting health equity for vulnerable populations, and advising on health care policy issues. Carrie earned a BA in sociology from Willamette University and an MPA with a concentration in health policy and management from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. She completed a doctor of public health at the UNC Gillings School with a focus on access to obstetrical care in rural areas. https://www.ruralhealth.us/about-us/staff-directory/carrie-cochran-mcclain,-drph

Randall Collins

Regional Director, Proteus, Inc.

BS, Sociology, Indiana Wesleyan University
MSM, Indiana Wesleyan University

Randall Collins is the Indiana Regional Director for Proteus, Inc. Proteus, Inc. provides agricultural workers and their families with affordable health care, education assistance, and job training. Randall is a native Hoosier and has served as Regional Director for 10 years. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Business & Leadership at Taylor University. Randall’s prior leadership experience is 20+ years of serving in administration and field operations for social service and healthcare organizations. Randall and his team at Proteus are dedicated to serving all 92 counties of Indiana with equitable services to Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers through funding from local, state, and national sources. The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) is one of those programs.

Randall’s education includes a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with honors. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) in Sociology, Psychology, and Athletic Training. Randall graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with honors earning a Dual Master of Science Degree in Business Management, MSM & Counseling. Business Administration/Management master’s degree focused on strategic planning and development, human resource development, organizational leadership, and business management/ administration. Master’s in counseling focused on community mental health. Randall has a professional certification as a Certified Mental Health Professional, CMHP, and a Certified Community Health Worker, CCHW. Randall is a Doctoral candidate at Indiana Wesleyan University in the Doctor of Organizational Leadership (Ph.D.) program.

Randall has one son, Brandon, and three grandchildren: Liam, Crew, and Denver https://www.proteusinc.net/about/proteus-team/program-staff/

Diane Hall

Director, Office of Rural Health, Center for Disease Control and Prevention

BA, Psychology, Hollins University
MSEd, Psychological Services, University of Pennsylvania
PhD, School, Community, and Child Clinical Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Hall leads CDC’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of rural communities by advancing its rural public health strategy and integrating rural health approaches into its programs at the outset. Under her direction, the Office of Rural Health works with CDC staff and external partners to build the science and evidence base to understand and address rural public health challenges. Dr. Hall also helps develop and share best practices for addressing rural public health needs and strengthening rural public health infrastructure through partnerships with federal, national, and state agencies, and rural-serving organizations. 
 
Prior to joining the Public Health Infrastructure Center, Dr. Hall was a senior health scientist in CDC’s Office of the Associate Director for Policy and Strategy (OADPS), where she led the office’s strategic engagement and capacity building work. She served as CDC’s rural health lead, led the agency’s public-private partnerships work, and oversaw training activities focused on using policy to improve the population’s health. As a recognized expert in knowledge synthesis and translation, Dr. Hall led the development of the office’s policy portal, POLARIS (Policy Analysis and Research Information System). Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Hall held several leaderships positions within CDC’s response.
 
Previously, Dr. Hall held several positions in CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention, where she worked on research related to the prevention of teen dating violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and youth violence. She also served as lead of several translation products on Veto Violence.
Prior to coming to CDC, Dr. Hall held an academic appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, serving as the lead coordinator for a master’s program in psychology. She taught courses on theories of psychotherapy and counseling, psychology of women, and adolescent development. https://www.cdc.gov/infrastructure/leadership/diane-hall.html

Michael Meit

Director, Center for Rural Health Research East Tennessee State University

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Master of Public Health in Health Management and Administration, 1994 
INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA 
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, 1992 
BRADLEY UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Science, 1990 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
NORC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Co-Director, Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, 2006 to 2020 
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Director, Center for Rural Health Practice, 2002 to 2006 
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY AND CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS
Acting Deputy Executive Director; Director, Community Health Office, 1997 to 2002 
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Policy Analyst, Bureau of HIV/AIDS, 1994 to 1997
Michael Meit (etsu.edu)

Adam Pitt

Director of English Learners and Migrant Education, Indiana Department of Education

BS, Indiana University
Master’s, Teaching, Marian University
apitt@doe.in.gov

Tim Putnam

CEO, Rural Health Consulting

AS, EMT, Vincennes University
BS, Oakland City University
MBA, University Southern Indiana
Dr.PH, Marion University
DHA, Medical University South Carolina


Tim Putnam has spent 40+ years in healthcare, 20 years as a hospital CEO, 10 years in outpatient and ancillary leadership, 10 years in minimally invasive surgery/laser surgery research and development.
He is past-president of the National Rural Health Association, as well as the Indiana Rural Health Association. Author of “Healthcare Leadership and Rural Communities.” He is a member of the White House Taskforce on COVID-19 Health Equity and Chair of Healthcare Quality and Access Subcommittee. He is currently the CEO of Rural Health Consulting and an adjunct faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina.
putnam.timlee@gmail.com

Cara Veale

Chief Executive Officer, Indiana Rural Health Association

BS, Psychology, Masters Occupational Therapy, Doctorate Health Sciences
University of Indianapolis

Cara Veale, DHS, FACHE, joined IRHA in July 2020 as the Chief Executive Officer. Cara began her professional career as an Occupational Therapist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana in 2006. The following year, she moved to Daviess Community Hospital in Washington, Indiana to work as an Occupational Therapist on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. Cara was promoted to the Director of Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapies in 2011, overseeing Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology services. In 2015, Cara transitioned to executive level leadership as Daviess Community Hospital’s first Chief Patient Experience Officer. During the last three years at Daviess Community Hospital, Cara served as the Vice President of Provider Services providing administrative oversight for the medical practice division.
Cara received her Bachelor’s in Psychology, Master’s in Occupational Therapy and Doctorate in Health Sciences from the University of Indianapolis and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. https://www.indianaruralhealth.org/staff-board/staff/