Transtria

STAFF

Laura K. Brennan, PhD, MPH is President and Chief Executive Officer of Transtria and an assistant professor of Behavioral Science and Health Education in the Department of Community Health at Saint Louis University School of Public Health. For the past ten years, she has participated in designing and evaluating community-based initiatives, conducting community-based participatory approaches to intervention and research, developing and communicating health messages, creating evidence-based intervention strategies, and performing needs assessment through surveys, interviews and focus groups. She has participated in multiple projects nationally and in the state of Missouri to facilitate discussions among practitioners (health, transportation, urban planning, parks and recreation, community planning), researchers, providers, community members and advocacy groups to assist them in planning efforts to address social, economic and environmental influences on health. Dr. Brennan has published 16 peer reviewed articles studying behaviors and health and she is a co-author on Tailoring health messages: Customizing communication with computer technology. She participates on the Board of the Alliance for the Status of Missouri Women, Citizens for Modern Transit and the Missouri Family Health Council. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, jogging and playing volleyball.

Julie M. Claus, MPH (née Bender) is Chief Operating Officer of Transtria. She received a BS in Health Science with a focus on Community Health and a minor in Psychology from Truman State University. She continued her studies of community and public health by completing her Master of Public Health degree at Saint Louis University School of Public Health with a focus on Behavioral Science and Health Education. She has had many years of experience managing large-scale community-based projects, including database development, data entry and management, development of intervention and evaluation materials, qualitative and quantitative analysis and dissemination of findings. Julie has published 4 peer-reviewed journal articles and has presented her work to local, state and national audiences. She is currently responsible for company, staff and project oversight and management along with development of reports, manuscripts and presentations, grant writing and external communications with partners, clients and funders. Julie volunteers at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Missouri as Secretary of the Health Committee, as a member of the Bread Ministry and as an instrumentalist and accompanist of the Music Ministry. She also participates as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Send Me St. Louis, a non-profit organization with a mission of increasing volunteerism within the local community. Julie enjoys eating out, playing the piano and spending time with her husband, Matthew, and daughter, Liliana.

Sarah Castro, MPH (née Betsworth) is a Project Director at Transtria. She completed her Master of Public Health degree at Saint Louis University School of Public Health with concentrations in Behavioral Science/Health Education and Epidemiology in May 2008. She graduated from Truman State University with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentration in Marketing, and a minor in Equine Science. While at the Saint Louis University, Sarah was the project manager for a health communications grant that partnered with the National Cancer Institute to increase calls to their Cancer Information Service. In addition, she worked on a project focused on increasing cancer coverage in Black newspapers. Prior to graduate school, Sarah was an Income Development Manager for the American Cancer Society. Sarah currently works on a project at Transtria that is identifying and accelerating the translation of replicable, evidence-based environmental and policy change interventions that address childhood obesity. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and Cubs baseball!

Peter Holtgrave, MA MPH is a Project Director at Transtria. He manages the day-to-day operations of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Previously, he served as the Director of the Subdivision of Child and Adolescent Health Education with the Boston Public Health Commission and as the Director of the Boston Area Health Education Center (BAHEC). His recent responsibilities have included: program design and evaluation, including active living programs; managing medical interpreter training programs for adult learners; and co-chairing the development of The ‘Unnatural Causes’ Youth Companion Guide, an activity and discussion guide for young people to learn about health equity, the social determinants of health, based upon the PBS documentary series.

Tammy Behlmann, MPH (née Grimm) is a Project Manager at Transtria. Tammy received her MPH from Saint Louis University with concentrations in epidemiology and behavioral science. She completed her undergraduate degree at Truman State University with a Bachelor’s in Health Science. Tammy did her undergraduate internship at St. John’s Mercy in the NICU and volunteered at St. Anthony’s in the ER. Tammy’s public health interests are physical activity, infectious diseases, and cancer prevention. In her spare time she enjoys shopping and spending time with her husband and nephew.

Laura Runnels, MPH, CPH is a Project Manager at Transtria. She received a BA in American Studies with a concentration in History from Yale University. During her undergraduate years, she managed a community center for homeless citizens of New Haven and chaired an organization placing volunteer teaching assistants in a public elementary school. Laura obtained an MPH with a concentration in Behavioral Science and Health Education at Saint Louis University. Her previous work experiences include an internship with the Kansas City Chronic Disease Coalition, substance abuse outreach and case management on Skid Row in Los Angeles, chronic disease self-management research at The L.A. Free Clinic, and a stint as a substitute teacher at her high school alma mater in Mississippi. At Transtria, Laura’s manages Feed My People’s W.E.L.L. program, Intervention MICA, and AJPM. Laura enjoys browsing at antique malls, doing crossword puzzles, and beating her boyfriend in Wii golf.

Courtney Jones, MPH is a Project Coordinator at Transtria. She completed her Master of Public Health degree at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health with a concentration in Behavioral Science and Health Education. She graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, with a BA in Anthropology and Sociology. As an Eliminating Health Disparities Fellow, she previously worked at the Health Communication Research Laboratory on a project examining the effectiveness of narrative communication in promotion of mammography among African American women in North St. Louis City. In her spare time, Courtney also enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and traveling.

Allison Kemner, MPH (née Sweet) is a Project Coordinator at Transtria. She completed her Master of Public Health degree at Saint Louis University School of Public Health with concentrations in Behavioral Science/Health Education and Epidemiology in May 2008. She graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a BS in Community Health Education. While at Saint Louis University , Allison was a Research Assistant at the Health Communications Research Laboratory working on increasing cancer coverage in Black newspapers. After graduate school, Allison worked as an Income Development Representative for the American Cancer Society. In her spare time, Allison enjoys playing with her puppy Cooper, completing projects around her new home, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband.

Ivy Cleveland is a Project Assistant at Transtria.

Ivy is a graduate student at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health and is pursing a Master of Public Health degree with a joint concentration in Behavioral Science/Health Education and Epidemiology. She has a BS in Health Management with a concentration on Exercise Science from Southeast Missouri State University. During her time in undergrad, she held several leadership positions in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., which has been affiliated with the March of Dimes for many years. Her interests are maternal and child health and reproductive health. In her free time, she enjoys shopping and spending time with her new husband Drew, and her one-year-old daughter, Milan.

Ashley Crain is a Project Assistant at Transtria. She is currently completing her Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Policy at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health. She received her BS degree in Biology from the University of Missouri, Columbia. At the University of Missouri, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi, a national sorority affiliated with Links to Literacy. She has performed laboratory research on a muscular dystrophy research project and performed clinical triaging in the rural villages of Tanzania, East Africa. Some of her most atypical accomplishments include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, going on an African safari, skydiving over the Swiss Alps and backpacking across Europe by herself. In the future, she hopes to travel to many more countries and experience many cultures. In St. Louis, she enjoys going to concerts, spending time with her friends and going out on the weekends.

Kate Donaldson, MPH is a Project Assistant at Transtria. She received a BS in Health Science with a focus on Community Health and a minor in Psychology from Truman State University . While working at the City of Independence Health Department, she continued her studies by completing a Master of Public Health degree at University of Kansas Medical School in 2007. While at the Independence Health Department, Kate worked as a Health Educator and an Epidemiology Specialist. Past projects and focus areas have included emergency preparedness, communicable disease prevention and education, community programs to address chronic disease and worksite wellness. In Kansas City , Kate volunteered with Good Samaritan Project, providing HIV/AIDS education and client support in the metropolitan area. Currently she volunteers with Gateway Homeless Shelter in St. Louis . In her free time, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband, Ross, and daughter, Cora, attending Cardinals games and backpacking.

Hester Fass, MSW is a Project Assistant at Transtria. She is in the final stages of completing her PhD dissertation in social work for the Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Her PhD topic is the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in civilians that were wounded in terrorist attacks. Although born in Holland , she grew up in Israel and moved to St. Louis in 2007. Her work experience as a social worker includes working with families and children at risk and working as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with disabled adults. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children and in her free time likes to swim and read.

Whitney Henley is a Project Assistant at Transtria. She received a BS degree in Psychology from Kansas State University. After graduating, Whitney worked for an organization by providing advocacy and counseling services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Whitney is currently studying at Saint Louis University and pursuing an MPH degree with concentrations in Epidemiology and Behavioral Science/Health Education. Whitney enjoys traveling, cooking, trying new hobbies and quickly abandoning them, and spending time with her fabulous husband and family.

Hien Lam is a Project Assistant at Transtria. He is currently completing his Master of Health Administration degree at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health. He received his BA degree in History and minors in Ethno-Musicology and Buddhist Studies from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He has performed laboratory research involving mice tail vertebral ossification and diabetes classification. Some of his most recent accomplishments include climbing to Everest Basecamp, touring Japan and China with a symphonic orchestra, and having been to 5 of the 7 continents. In the future, he hopes to be fluent in 10 languages (he currently knows 4) and to live somewhere that would allow him to surf every single day. He enjoys going to concerts, playing his guitar, reading a good book, and traveling.

Andrea Lemke is a Project Assistant at Transtria. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a BA in applied anthropology. Currently she is writing her thesis to complete her MS in biological anthropology with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her academic focus has been in behavioral endocrinology and evolutionary biology. Through UWM she had the opportunity to work abroad in Malaysia studying effects of ecotourism and disease transmission on endangered orangutan populations. Additionally Andrea spent a year working for the Casey Cares Foundation, a non-profit in Baltimore, as an event coordinator planning and promoting events. Andrea enjoys traveling, cooking, and camping.

Amy Krieg is a Project Assistant at Transtria. She is pursuing a B.S. in Health Informatics and Information Management with a concentration in Pre-Physician Assistant studies. She a member of SLU's Pep Band, playing for men and women basketball games. In her free time, she enjoys small road trips, sewing, and summer boating trips with her family.

Kristen Massey, MPH is a Project Assistant at Transtria for the Review of Environment and Policy Strategies to Reduce Childhood Obesity project (EPNP). She received her Bachelors degree from Illinois State University in Community Health Education. While working full-time as a Prevention Health Educator, she completed a Master of Public Health in Health Education and Promotion from Benedictine University. Previously, she worked in the Chicagoland area for a nonprofit agency called Teen Parent Connection, providing prevention-focused presentations to adolescents on the topics of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS. She recently completed an internship with the University of Illinois – Chicago’s Student Wellness Center, where she created a health resource guide for transgender students. In her free time, she likes to volunteer with the St. Louis Effort for AIDS, participate in her sorority’s alumni club, explore the city and long-distance run.

Tim McNeil, MPH is a Project Assistant at Transtria. Originally from Chicago, he completed his MPH degree with a concentration in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at Saint Louis University. Tim received his BS degree in Psychology from Illinois StateUniversity and soon began working for the University of Illinois at Chicago conducting research studies in the areas of smoking cessation and weight management. Tim’s public health interests lie in affective disorders and how they can lead to substance abuse, while also looking at the mechanisms that can lead to changing that behavior. In his free time, Tim enjoys spending time with his wife Angie, mountain biking, playing football and hockey, as well as playing his guitar.

Lisa Meng is a Project Assistant at Transtria. She is a recent graduate of Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in Theology. She plans to attend graduate school to receive a Master of Public Health degree with concentrations in Environmental Health and Epidemiology from Saint Louis University . As an undergrad, Lisa was a part of Alpha Delta Pi, a national sorority associated with the Ronald McDonald House Charities. She also served as a Cardinal Glennon volunteer, teaching assistant and mentor for underclassmen. If she had unlimited funds and time, she would love to travel the world, but in the meantime she enjoys reading a good book, running outside on a nice day and cuddling with her dog, Abby.

Gauri Wadhwa is a Project Assistant at Transtria for the Ten Toe Express, Health Kids Health Communities, and Obesity Evidence-Based Intervention Planning System projects. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at Saint Louis University with a concentration in Behavioral Science/Health Education, and a Certificate in Biosecurity/Disaster Preparedness. Gauri is a recent graduate of Ohio University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Community Health Services with minors in Environmental Health and Dance. At OU, Gauri was active in her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, president of the student organization, Colleges Against Cancer, and very involved in the university's wellness program, WellWorks. In her free time, Gauri enjoys playing with her dog, Cocoa, baking for her friends and cheering for her hometown Cincinnati's sports teams.

Sarah Weiner is a Project Assistant at Transtria.

Sarah is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health degree at the Saint Louis University of Public Health with concentrations in Behavioral Science/Health Education and Epidemiology. Sarah is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. She received a BA from Ohio State University where she majored in International Studies and completed all pre-med course work. Immediately after graduation Sarah joined Teach For America and was placed in Memphis, Tennessee where she taught at the lower elementary level for two years. In her free time, Sarah enjoys being outside, running, playing rugby, eating, reading, traveling and being with friends and family!

Rob Holtzmann is the Director of Information Technology providing Transtria with the technical edge needed to ensure, security, integrity, collection and reporting of research data. Rob has over 18 years of experience in the technology industry dating back to his time in the United States Air Force. After leaving the Armed Forces, he focused his attention on the corporate world, developing Intranet, Extranet, and Client-Server applications for eleven different Fortune 500 companies including, Peabody Coal, Anheuser-Busch, Hewlett-Packard, Ford Motor Company, Warner Brothers, A.G. Edwards, General American, and NASCAR. In the academic arena, Rob developed tracking and reporting systems for Washington University's Department of Surgery and Department of Orthopedic Surgery. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Rob brings a combination of education and real-world experience complemented with a strong work ethic and focus to all Transtria projects. Away from Transtria, Rob devotes his time to his wife, Tracy, sons, Hunter and Brooks and a houseload of cats and dogs.

Daedra Lohr is the Financial Coordinator at Transtria. Daedra has her Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. Her previous employment includes Motorola and 8 years of financial experience at St. Louis Workout. In her spare time, Daedra enjoys working out and spending time with her husband, Jerry, and three children Alex, Andersen, and Lindsey.