"Plug Into..." Conference

Dr. Paul Elam

Chief Strategy Officer, Michigan Public Health Institute

Dr. Elam is responsible for diversifying the MPHI’s portfolio to address cutting edge issues that affect the health and well-being of our society. His deep understanding of youth violence and prevention, crime and justice, and child maltreatment is nationally recognized. Dr. Elam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience measuring racial and ethnic disproportionality and believes that sound public policy analysis should include an examination of whether all people are being treated fairly and equitably. His current leadership efforts include mentoring and training professionals from historically underrepresented groups in culturally responsive and equitable engagement to ensure that the people who are most impacted are at the center of conversations which seek to find solutions to problems affecting them. Dr. Elam works closely with governmental, philanthropic, university, and nonprofit clients, providing strategic consultation to advance decisions in ways that improve lives, advance social justice and produce equitable outcomes. Dr. Elam earned a PhD in Family and Child Ecology, a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Urban Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, all from Michigan State University.

Keynote topic: "Utilizing Culturally Responsive and Racially Equitable Engagement"

Presentation(PDF, 5MB)

Susan Kirtz

Assistant Director or Program at The University of Texas at Austin Center for Health Communication

Susan Kirtz is the Assistant Director of Programs at The University of Texas at Austin Center for Health Communication. She has more than eight years of experience in planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based health promotion and health communication initiatives and 13 years of experience in the social services and public health fields. Susan is driven by a dedication to improving the health outcomes of all Texans by addressing our state’s most critical public health issues. In her current role, Susan manages three statewide Texas Health and Human Services health communication campaigns aimed at preventing substance use disorder and promoting behavioral health.

Session topic: "Designing and Testing Health Messages to Support Public Health"

Presentation(PDF, 2MB)

Sol Bautista

Director of Professional Development and Outreach, Creative Waco

Sol Bautista has forty years of experience as a very vulnerable human, that’s where her strength comes from. Raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México , she grew up surrounded by storytellers, art, food, laughter that could turn into tears and most of all, love for others. She has a very close relationship to nature that she learned from the several indigenous communities where she served. Her lived experiences combined with her degree in psychology have allowed her a very unique view of how diversity is not only important but necessary. Sol believes that any system will benefit from the growth mindset and curiosity that drives her passion as a citizen of the world.

Session topic: "Empowering Minds: Cultivating Mental Health Equity and Well-Being"

Presentation(PDF, 711KB)

Keri Fisher

Senior Lecturer and the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Garland School of Social Work, Baylor University

Kerri Fisher is a Senior Lecturer and the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. She is a regularly invited speaker on topics including Fostering Cultural Humility, Combating Supremacy, and Creating Antioppressive Practices. She is the co-host of On-Ramp:Two Christians Talk about Race and So Far So Good: Engaging Diversity One Story at a Time. Kerri is also a creative writer, often writing about the intersections of race, gender, and spirituality. You can find her creative work at www.kerrifisher.com.

Session topic: "Embedding Equality: Developing a Process for Lasting Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Your Organization or Community"

Presentation(PDF, 3MB)

Dr. Jason Rosenfeld

Director for Global Health Education, Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics at UT Health San Antonio

Dr. Jason Rosenfeld is a public health professional with almost 20 years of experience designing, implementing and evaluating international and domestic community health education and behavior change programs. Jason obtained his Masters in Public Health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and completed an Executive DrPH in Public Health Leadership through the University of North Carolina’s Gilling’s School of Global Public Health. At UT Health San Antonio, Dr. Rosenfeld is the Assistant Director for Global Health at the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics and is Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, and is the Principal Investigator of Implementation for Bexar County’s Health Confianza health literacy project funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and the South Texas Community Health Worker Workforce Preparedness Collaborative funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Session topic: "Closing the Health Equity Gap: Strategies for Addressing Health Disparities in Rural Communities"

Presentation(PDF, 8MB)

Eric Terrazas

Community Advocate & Small Business Enthusiast

Eric Terrazas is a devoted advocate for community welfare, small businesses, and the power of meaningful relationships. His diverse background encompasses sales, real estate, economic development, and small business support, giving him a unique perspective on fostering growth and prosperity.

A graduate of Abilene Christian University, Eric holds a Bachelor's Degree in Integrated Studies, specializing in Business Management and Journalism.

During his recent tenure at the Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Eric conceptualized and launched a small business support initiative in Spanish called Escalando. Presently, he devotes his time and expertise to the Waco Community, serving as a board member for La Puerta Waco and Ispiracion Waco. He also actively contributes to committees for the Hispanic Leaders Network and plays a pivotal role in local programs such as AIR Collaborative and the LeadershipPlenty Institute. Eric's motivation is deeply rooted in fostering a more interwoven and thriving community in Waco. His ultimate aspiration is to leave behind a legacy for future generations to flourish and relish.

He is married to a native Wacoan, Caelie and they have two Humane Society rescue dogs, Pongo and Yoda. In their spare time, you can find Eric and Caelie enjoying community events, spending time with their pups, and enjoying the Waco food scene.

Jaja Chen

Co-Owner & Chief of Strategic Initiatives & Business Partnerships, Waco Cha

Jaja Chen (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Supervisor (LCSW-S) specializing in trauma, burnout, racial trauma, and perinatal mental health through her private practice. Alongside her husband Devin Li, Jaja is co-owner and Chief of Strategic Initiatives and Business Partnerships of Cha Community - a boba tea cafe small business located in downtown Waco and Temple, Texas. Prior to work as a trauma therapist and boba tea entrepreneur, Jaja worked in the field of domestic violence and anti-human trafficking through local nonprofit organizations. Most recently, Jaja co-founded Asian Leaders Network - a Waco-based non-profit organization - alongside five fellow Asian American leaders and is the current Chair of the City of Waco Sustainable Resource Practices Advisory Board. Jaja received both her Bachelor and Master of Social Work through the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. In her free time, Jaja enjoys traveling, swimming, spending time with her English Bulldogs Momo and Mimi, and thrift store shopping.

Dr. Alex Jones Adesina

Medical Doctor and Clinical Lead of Health Equity, Waco Family Medicine

Dr. Jones Adesina is a Waco native who returned to practice family medicine in the fall of 2019. Inspired by her parents’ desire to care for the community by caring for children experiencing the foster care system, she taught with Teach For America to achieve transformational educational achievement in Chicago. While Dr. Jones Adesina greatly enjoyed teaching, she felt called to health care and found that a medical and public health training provide the necessary skills to care for and advocate with communities that have been systemically underserved. Dr. Jones Adesina enjoys caring for people throughout their lives, and so family medicine was a perfect fit. Shortly after returning to Waco, Dr. Jones Adesina joined Waco Family Medicine where she cares for patients at the Martin Luther King, Jr clinic. In the summer of 2023, Dr. Jones Adesina accepted the inaugural role of Chief Equity Officer at Waco Family Medicine where she leverages her insights in providing patient care to inform the work to achieve equity within the organization as well as health equity.

Galen Price

Housing & Community Development Director, City of Waco

Galen Price, Housing & Community Development Director with the City of Waco, has over 24 years of municipal government experience. Mr. Price has been with the City of Waco for over 6 years, serving a few different roles in his tenure, primarily in Housing. Prior to Waco, he worked in Irving for 10 years managing a team of people providing direct client assistance in housing programs, infrastructure, public facility projects, and has worked extensively in the HOME program and with CHDOs. Prior to Irving, Galen worked with CDBG in Fort Worth for 8 years in contract compliance and managing a team of people handling public service contracts, economic development projects, and affordable housing projects. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Texas in Business Administration. A native of Fort Worth, he is also a HUD Certified HOME Specialist on Regulations and Administration and an instructor teaching the HOME Basics class and HOME Advanced/Underwriting for NCDA.

Chief Sheryl Victorian, Ph.D.

Police Chief, Waco Police Department

Sheryl Victorian is a native Texan and a 30-year law enforcement professional. After serving nearly 28 years with the Houston Police Department, Sheryl was sworn in as the City of Waco’s first female and first African American Chief of Police on March 15, 2021.

Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Texas Southern University (1992), a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston – Downtown (2003), and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Administration of Justice from Texas Southern University (2013). Sheryl has earned many awards and commendations for her service and dedication as a leader and police professional.

Sheryl is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) session #81, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy (FBINA) session #267, Discover Leadership Master Graduate of class #252, a current fellow of American Leadership Forum’s class XLVII (47), Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) Leadership Inventory for Female Executives (LIFE) class #17, and a graduate of the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s (IACP) Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI). She is also the creator and co-designer of “Building Trust From Trauma,” a course designed in the Summer of 2020 to educate and inspire officers to learn about the trust-eroding events that negatively impact trust between communities of color and the police and to reduce harm, learn from the past, and build meaningful cooperative relationships between the police, the community, and community stakeholders.

In her spare time, Sheryl is a playwright and enjoys traveling, mentoring, public speaking, teaching, and spending time with her family and canine babies, Shelby, and Roxy.

Dr. Jasmine J. Opusunju, Panel Moderator

Clinical Assistant Professor & Director of MPH@Baylor, Baylor University

Dr. Jasmine Opusunju is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the MPH@Baylor online program in the Department of Public Health at Baylor University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education (2005) and a Master of Science in Education (2007) from Baylor University. She earned her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in Health Promotion and Health Education from the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston with additional training in public health management, policy, and community-based participatory research (CBPR). She is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES), and she is Certified in Public Health (CPH).

Dr. Opusunju has worked across the intersections of community health practice, research, academia, and business for almost 20 years. She has extensive experience in authentic community engagement and capacity building, program planning and implementation, and cross-sector collaboration around community-driven solutions to advance health and quality of life. Her health promotion practice and research has focused on health promotion behavior, obesity, the built environment, social determinants of health, food systems, and health equity.

The Health District partnered with Urban Reap to offer composting and recycling of conference waste. 74% of the waste generated was compostable, and 83% was diverted from the landfill.

Total waste generated: 116.55 lbs

• Trash: 25 lbs
• Recycling: 6.05 lbs
• Compost: 85.5 lbs

For more information about how you can compost or recycle, visit Mission Waco's Urban Reap or the City of Waco's Solid Waste & Recycling Services.

Vendors for the Plug into Equity Conference:

• Impact Research
• Advocacy Center for Crime Victims & Children
• United Way of Waco-McLennan County
• Community Healthcare of Texas
• Foster Village Waco
• Healthy Women's & Children's Coalition
• Live Well Waco Coalition
• Waco-McLennan County Public Health District
• Family Abuse Center

Adia Gooden, PhD

Founder and CEO, Unconditionally Worthy, Co.

Adia Gooden, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist; she received her BA in Psychology from Stanford University and her PhD in Clinical Community Psychology from DePaul University. Dr. Adia served as a Staff Psychologist and the Coordinator for Multicultural Outreach and Support for the Student Counseling Service at The University of Chicago and the Director of the Clinic and Community Programs at The Family Institute at Northwestern before starting her own business.

Dr. Adia is a sought-after, dynamic speaker who gives talks and workshops on unconditional self-worth, self-compassion, imposter syndrome, and Black women’s mental health. Dr. Adia co-authored the book Promoting Black Women’s Mental Health, published by Cambridge University Press. Dr. Adia gave a TEDx talk called “Cultivating Unconditional Self-Worth” which has over 1.5 million views. Dr. Adia hosts the "Unconditionally Worthy" podcast and coaches high achieving professional women to embrace their unconditional self-worth.

Keynote topic: "Practicing Compassion for Resilience and Mental Wellness"

Michael Mackert, PhD

Provost's Teaching Fellow
Director, Center for Health Communication
John P. McGovern Regents Professorship
The University of Texas at Austin

Michael Mackert, PhD., is the Director of The University of Texas at Austin Center for Health Communication and Professor in the School of Advertising & Public Relations and Department of Population Health. His research focuses primarily on the strategies that can be used in traditional and new digital media to provide effective health communication to audiences with low health literacy. He leads projects on a variety of public health issues – including tobacco cessation, opioid overdose prevention, and men's role in prenatal health – that generate evidence-based health communication strategies and contribute to health communication scholarship.

Session topic: "Designing & Testing Messages to Support Public Health"

Kyrah Brown, PhD

Associate Professor, Public Health
Founding Director, Maternal and Reproductive Health Equity Research Lab
The University of Texas at Arlington

Kyrah K. Brown is an associate professor of public health and founding director of the Maternal and Reproductive Health Equity Research (MRHE) Lab in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a proud alumna of Spelman College, earned her doctorate at Wichita State University in Community Psychology, and completed an academic-public health postdoctoral fellowship at Sedgwick County Health Department and KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

She is passionate about partnering with community and leveraging research and evaluation to aid in dismantling systems that create gendered racial inequities. Her work is grounded in Ubuntu (I am because we are) — a belief in collective responsibility to assure optimal health and quality of life for everyone.

Session Topic: "The Social and Structural Determinants of Black Maternal and Cardiovascular Heath: Provoking Conversation and Action"

Eduardo Sanchez, MD

Chief Medical Officer for Prevention
American Heart Association

Dr. Eduardo Sanchez serves as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Prevention for the American Heart Association (AHA). He is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI), a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). He is the AHA clinical lead on Target:BP (a joint blood pressure control initiative with the American Medical Association) and KnowDiabetesbyHeart^TM (a joint cardiovascular risk factor control initiative with the American Diabetes Association). He is one of the authors of the 2020 AHA Presidential Advisory on Structural Racism and its health effects. Before joining AHA, he served as Vice President and CMO for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and before that, he served as director of the Institute for Health Policy at the University of Texas School of Public Health. Dr. Sanchez served as Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services from 2004 to 2006 and Commissioner of the Texas Department of Health from 2001 to 2004. He serves and has served on numerous local, state, and national health-related boards and advisory committees. Dr. Sanchez obtained his MD from the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, an MPH from the UT Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, and an MS in biomedical engineering from Duke University. He holds a BS in biomedical engineering and a BA in chemistry from Boston University.

Session Topic: "Possibilities: Create the Future"

Jeananne Elkins, PT, DPT, MPH, PhD

Director, Physical Therapy
Clinical Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
Texas A&M University Texarkana

Dr. Jeananne Elkins was born in San Augustine County Texas – rated recently as the toughest place to grow up in Texas. Her journey to be a physical therapist was driven by her parents' unwavering commitment to education – neither of whom had a college education. Through trials and tribulations and without much guidance through the public school system, Jeananne with her parents support initially graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a BS in Biology and a Certificate in PT. She practiced in Tennessee then moved to the Appalachian area of Virginia before moving back to Texas to practice in Lampasas where she initially worked for the local hospital. Just before the hospital closed, she opened an outpatient clinic. She served her community for many years with this practice, through home health care, working with local nursing homes in their rehab departments and engaging in community activities.

In 2006 she returned to Texas A&M University and graduated in 2009 with a MPH and the Dean’s Honor for Excellence in Public Health. She was accepted into the PhD program at Texas A&M and graduated in 2013. And if this wasn’t enough, she completed the Transitional DPT from Northeastern University in 2014. From 2013-2017 she served as an Advanced Fellow in Geriatrics with the Birmingham/Atlanta VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Care Center as well as fulfilling her dual Assistant Professor appointments in General Medicine and Geriatrics and the School of Physical Therapy at Emory University. After completing the Fellowship, she accepted an appointment as an Associate Professor at the Department of Physical Therapy at Brenau University. In 2023 she began her current role - the Founding Director and Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas A&M University Texarkana. The TAMUT DPT program proudly will admit students in Spring 2026 to become the first DPT program in the Texas A&M University System.

Session topic: "Addressing Healthcare Provider Disparities in Rural and Urban Places"

Jasmine J. Opusunju, DrPH, MSEd, MCHES^® , CPH, Panel Moderator

Clinical Assistant Professor & Director of the MPH Online Program, Baylor University

Dr. Opusunju is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at Baylor University and serves as the Director of the MPH Online Program. She is an accomplished public health professional with approximately 20 years of experience in community-based practice focused on advancing health equity. The scope of her practice and community-engaged research includes the built environment, health behavior, social determinants of health, food systems, and health equity through community-driven solutions among underserved and minority populations. She serves as the Executive Director of CAN DO Houston, a community-based organization that advances healthy living by addressing systemic barriers to good health through community-driven solutions in Houston/Harris County. Her work in this capacity has facilitated grassroots approaches to innovative and evidence-based interventions to the built and physical environments while informing equitable policy to promote access to opportunities for active living and healthy eating in low-resourced communities. She has extensive experience in community engagement, capacity building, and leadership and advocacy training to promote changes to root causes that are necessary to facilitate the opportunity to achieve health and quality of life for all.

Telwana Kirbie, LCSW-S

Owner, Nurturing Connections Counseling

Telawna Kirbie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and board approved Supervisor. She currently has her own private counseling practice, Nurturing Connections Counseling.  Telawna provides clinical supervision to those seeking clinical licensure and is an adjunct professor at Baylor University’s Garland School of Social Work. She has spent the bulk of her career working in community mental health. She has experience in a wide variety of areas that spans over 19 years here in Waco. She is heavily involved in the community and believes that working together is the best way to care for those around us in need.

Overall, Telawna is passionate about and energized by helping others. She finds joy in providing counseling and support, teaching, and providing leadership in the fields of social work and mental health. Her core values include an emphasis on promoting equity, mental health awareness, trauma informed care, cultural sensitivity and acceptance for all.

Alecia Williams, MS, MA

Associate Director of Central Career Services, Year Up, Inc.

Alecia Williams is an accomplished higher education professional with extensive experience in communication, leadership, and career development. Holding advanced degrees in Higher Education Administration and Communication and Leadership from the University of Kansas and Park University, respectively, Alecia currently serves as the Associate Director of Central Career Services at Year Up, Inc. in Dallas, TX. In this role, she supports young adults nationally in an effort to close the opportunity divide. More specifically, she coaches program graduates through their job search, establishes talent pipelines, leads cross-functional initiatives, and enhances career readiness and employment opportunities for workforce development graduates.

Alecia also serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Texas at Dallas, where she teaches an introductory communication course that meets the state core communication requirement. Certified as a Gallup Strengths Coach and holding credentials from McKinsey Management Accelerator and the University of South Florida's DEI program, Alecia excels in training, career coaching, program management, and curriculum design.

Alecia continues to make significant contributions to higher education and career and workforce development, fostering growth and readiness for students and young professionals alike.

Clinical and Compliance Coordinator, Methodist Children’s Home

Thomas Chandler is a Licensed Master Social Worker. He currently serves as the Clinical and Compliance Coordinator at the Methodist Children’s Home in Waco, helping to empower children and youth to live life to the fullest. Thomas has experience in group work, community outreach and engagement, grant management, and most recently, non-profit compliance.

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Louisiana Christian University and a Master of Social Work from Tarleton State University, specializing in Administration and Leadership. He leverages his skills in the macro realm to advocate for equity, social justice, and provide a voice for the voiceless. In his free time Thomas enjoys cooking and spending time with his mini-Aussie, Lainee.

Tonee Shelton, LMSW

Owner, Bettawatchyatone, L.L.C.

Tonee B. Shelton, LMSW is a licensed master social worker and the owner of Bettawatchyatone, L.L.C. A conversationalist, Tonee loves talking and connecting people to one another. A survivor of bullying at an early age, Tonee values centering the needs of others and spends her free time writing books and reading poetry. She fancies herself a spoken word artist and has authored five books, three of which are volumes of poetry. She has also facilitated a community space at her friend’s barber shop in Waco since 2022, called “Safe Space Sunday," an attempt to connect young professionals in Waco through predetermined dialogue.

The Health District partnered with Urban Reap to offer composting and recycling of conference waste. According to Urban Reap, they were not able to track the trash because the Convention Center staff was so attentive to it, but most of the waste ended up being composted. Attendees did great at minimizing food waste, hardly any food was wasted. Most of the composted items were the paper goods such as the plates, soup cups, and the compostable plasticware. 

• Recycling: 5 lbs
• Compost: 45 lbs

For more information about how you can compost or recycle, visit Mission Waco's Urban Reap or the City of Waco's Solid Waste & Recycling Services.

Vendors for the Plug into Community Conversations Conference:

• Advocacy Center for Crime Victims & Children
• Cedar Crest Hospital & RTC
• Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
• Healthy Women & Children Coalition
• Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network
• Live Well Waco Coalition
• Medical Reserve Corps
• The Relationship Clinic
• United Way of McLennan County
• Velocity Clinical Research
• Waco-McLennan County Public Health District