Our people:

The CHAMP team is led by Dr. Cheryl L. Holt, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health and Co-Director of the Center for Health Behavior Research, in the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Dr. Holt is a member of the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center. Her research involves community-based health promotion, and looking at the role of religion/spirituality in health outcomes.

Our project team consists of the following:

		Dr. Nancy L. Atkinson, PhD, supports the CHAMP team as a technical consultant on evaluation issues, particularly the process evaluation. Dr. Atkinson is a program consultant to the National Cancer Institute's Office of Market Research and Evaluation. Her research includes user-centered research and design and outcome evaluation of interactive health communication interventions.
		Dr. Janice Bowie, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society (HBS) and the Center for Health Disparities Solutions. Her research includes minority and women's health, community-based participatory research, chronic disease control and spirituality. She recently completed a community-based participatory research study on breast health practices with African-American faith-based institutions.
		Dr. Eddie M. Clark, PhD is a professor of psychology at Saint Louis University. He is a social psychologist with interests in (1) heath attitudes/persuasion and (2) close relationships.
		Dr. Muhiuddin Haider, PhD, has assisted multi-sector initiatives to advance the delivery of quality health care services in the areas of Avian Influenza, HIV/AIDS, TB, RH/FP, and Malaria. Dr. Haider has developed expertise in the areas of health communications, health promotion, health education, and social marketing.
		Dr. Cheryl L. Holt, PhD is Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health and Co-Director of the Center for Health Behavior Research, in the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Her health disparities research involves community-based health communication studies, and the role of culture in health cognitions and behaviors. Dr. Holt’s research program has generated over $11.5 million in extramural support as Principal Investigator, from sources such as the NIH, CDC, and ACS. The program has resulted in over 50 peer-reviewed publications, most including student co-authors. Specifically, Dr. Holt’s research examines religious involvement and health among African Americans, and using religion/spirituality to frame breast, prostate, and colon cancer early detection messages for this population. More recently her intervention work has added a behavioral translational research focus.
		Erin Kelly, MPH, completed her Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology at The University of Arizona and her Master in Public Health in Social and Behavioral Theory at West Virginia University. Her research interests include cancer screening, dietary intake, chronic disease prevention, and social determinants of health. As part of her MPH practicum experience, Erin recently completed research identifying perceived barriers and facilitators to fruit and vegetable intake in parents and guardians of children participating in a school-based health education program in Tucson, Arizona. She has been a TA for HTLH 140, HTLH 230, and HLTH 285. Currently, Erin is working as a graduate research assistant in CHAMP.
		Daisy Le, MS, earned her dual Master degrees in Asian American Studies (MA) and Public Health (MPH) from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her MPH concentration was in Community Health Sciences with specializations in Global Health and Health Promotion and Health Education. Daisy is currently a graduate assistant working on research under the guidance of Dr. Cheryl Holt, assisting with CHAMP (Community Health Awareness, Messages, & Prevention) in the areas of cancer, health disparities, and health communication among others. She currently assists with research grants centered on community-based and culturally appropriate interventions (with an emphasis on spirituality/religiosity).
		Rev. Bettye Leggette Muwwakkil, PhD, is the founder and president of Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Institute Inc. She has over ten years of experience as Executive Director of non-profit organizations. Bettye has a long history of bringing community leaders, organizations, political representatives and residents together on public health issues and policies.
		Dr. Michael Naslund graduated from Davidson College and received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Naslund has interests in prostate cancer and healthcare finance and management. He is Past-President of the American Association of Clinical Urologists and the Mid-Atlantic Section of the American Urological Association.
		Dr. David L. Roth, PhD, is the Director of the Center on Aging and Health and a Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Roth has methodological expertise in the application of statistical models for evaluating multivariate causal models, and has substantive interests in family caregiving and the social, interpersonal, and economic impact of chronic health conditions among older adult populations.
		Sherie Lou Z. Santos, MPH, is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) who earned her dual MPH at the Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California with concentrations in both Health Education and Maternal and Child Health. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from The George Washington University while following a Pre-med path and minoring in both Biology and Sociocultural Anthropology. Outside academia, Ms. Santos has gained extensive experience in program management, event and conference management, leadership development, and logistical support across multiple disciplines.
		Dr. Darlene R. Saunders, PhD, is a master certified health education specialist (MCHES) with extensive experience in program development and management, research and evaluation, and administering school and community health programs. She has served as the program director on several federally funded projects that addressed health disparities. Her career interest has focused on designing and implementing scientific and sustainable culturally competent health promotion programs. Dr. Saunders received her Bachelor of Science degree in school and community health from Old Dominion University, her master of public health degree in community health from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and her doctorate degree in Public and Community Health from the University of Maryland.
		Dr. Mary Ann Scheirer is an independent consultant working with numerous projects on evaluating the implementation and sustainability of health promotion programs, after a 40-year career in program evaluation. Her publications have appeared in the American Journal of Public Health, American Journal of Evaluation, and other locations. Dr. Scheirer holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Cornell University.
		Colonel Jimmie L. Slade served his country for decades as a US Army officer and now continues to serve his community as Executive Director, Community Ministry of Prince George's County, a 38 year old Faith-based non-profit organization. He earned a BS degree from NC A&T State University, MA from Boston University, and is a graduate of the US Army War College.
		Dr. Min Qi Wang, PhD, MS, is a Professor at the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health (SPH), University of Maryland at College Park (UMD). Dr. Wang's current focus is in applying information technology (IT) and data modeling to public health which has been his focus for the past 10 years. He has developed a number of projects utilizing multimedia, mobile device (iPhone), Web database, Surveillance System, query, and geospatial analysis tools.
		Dr. Tony Whitehead, PhD, MS.Hyg., is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP). He is also the founding Director of the Department's "Cultural Systems Analysis Group" (CuSAG). The CuSAG website (http://www.cusag.umd.edu) provides a detailed account of Dr. Whitehead’s current and recent past research and other professional activities.
		Dr. Beverly Rosa Williams, PhD is a Medical Sociologist and Gerontologist with expertise in qualitative research and life review with underserved populations. Her research interests include death, dying, bereavement, religiosity/spirituality and palliative care.