Staff

Jessica Collins has over twenty years of experience in domestic and international community health leading communities to create and sustain programmatic, policy and infrastructure change that supports quality of life.  Ms. Collins is the Executive Director at Partners for a Healthier Community, the public health institute of Western MA leading initiatives that address public health issues that stem from unjust systems and policies such as Live Well Springfield, Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition, YEAH! Network and the BEST Oral Health program recognized as a national best practice.  Partners for a Healthier Community leads work addressing the racial hierarchy in our society and released the first Springfield Health Equity Report highlighting alarming health disparities in our region. Ms. Collins’ main focus and passion are the issues of nutrition, physical activity, and environmental change improvements.  Ms. Collins has been a leader in childhood obesity prevention through community based participatory research.   She was the Project Manager at Tufts University’s “Shape Up Somerville: Eat Smart. Play Hard.” study, nationally recognized for the successful results of effectively reducing BMI-z score in high risk 1st-3rd grade students in the Somerville Public Schools.  She was also the Project Manager at the Institute for Community Health, overseeing a pilot study that sent health report cards with height, weight and fitness data home to parents in the Cambridge Public Schools, which has now become a nationally recommended obesity prevention strategy.  She currently serves as the Board Chair for the Massachusetts Public Health Association and was appointed earlier this year to Governor Baker's Special Commission on Behavioral Health Promotion and Upstream Prevention.   Ms. Collins has a Master’s Degree in Applied Nutrition and Food Policy from Tufts University. Jessica is passionate about walking, enjoying locally grown food and spending time with her family. 

Kathleen Szegda, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S. is the Director of Community Research and Evaluation.  Dr. Szegda oversees research and evaluation activities at PHIWM and was the lead author on PHIWM's Western Massachusetts Casino Health Impact Assessment Report and Springfield Health Equity Report.  Dr. Szegda is an epidemiologist with over 15 years of public health/research experience working at the national, state and local level at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Emory University, Baystate Children’s Hospital, and University of Massachusetts.  Dr. Szegda holds a Ph.D. in Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts, an M.P.H. from Emory University, and an M.S. in Counseling from Georgia State University.  Her research focuses on health disparities and the intersection between mental and physical health.  Dr. Szegda's most recent publication includes a study of underweight women and early menopause.    

Jessie Gleckel is the Senior Research Associate at Partners for a Healthier Community. She has more than 17 years of experience in local, state, national, and international public health practice, research, and evaluation.  Her work has included sexual and intimate partner violence education, prevention, and community-organizing; sexual and reproductive health and rights education and advocacy; correctional health quality improvement; and HIV/AIDS prevention. Prior to coming to PHC, Jessie was a Health Scientist and Gender Advisor in the Division of Global HIV and TB at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this position she focused on reducing gender inequities in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, globally. Jessie completed her MPH in the University of Washington's Community-Oriented Public Health Practice Program.

As Director of Programs and Development, Sarita Hudson's responsibilities include resource development, planning, and program development as well as leading PHC's communications efforts. Sarita brings over 25 years of experience managing programs, developing coalitions, and building community capacity on issues including sexual violence prevention, women's rights and social justice.  Prior to this position, she led the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition from 2013-2017.  Currently she leads the asthma workgroup for the Healthy Holyoke Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund collaborative and PHC's work in developing a Pay for Success social impact bond financed asthma home education and repair intervention.  She is a member of the Steering and Healthy Housing Committees of the Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership, the American Lung Association's Asthma in Adults Leadership Team and the Board of Safe Passage. Sarita holds a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School.

Jamie has been affiliated with Partners for a Healthier Community since 2012.  Jamie currently manages the Efforts to Outcomes data software. Her previous roles with PHC include working with the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition and contributing to the Western Massachusetts Casino Health Impact Assessment.  Jamie holds a Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) as well as a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst and is a Registered Dietitian. Jamie is a member of the American Public Health Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and serves on the board for the Western Area Massachusetts Dietetic Association. She enjoys spending time outside, reading, and traveling.  

Kelvin Molina brings extensive experience in project and program management, developing cross-sector partnerships, and coalition building.  He also has experience in community engagement, resident leadership development, non-profit management, grant writing, and strategic planning.  Kelvin’s responsibilities include oversight of the Springfield Healthy Homes Collaborative and the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition.  In addition, he is also a Veteran and continues to serve in the Army National Guard with over 19 years of service as a commissioned officer with the rank of Major.  Kelvin holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration on Community Planning as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Regional Planning and Environmental Science from Westfield State University.

Shirley Rodríguez provides administrative support for the office and a few grant projects. She majored in Leadership and Organizational Studies with a Bachelor of Arts from Bay Path University and has 20 years of providing administrative and leadership support.  She is a recent graduate of the 2016 Class of Leadership Pioneer Valley and recently was elected to the Board for Gardening the Community. Shirley lives in Springfield with her handsome sons, Richie and Ryan, and a seriously adorable beagle named Luke. 

Keleigh Waldner, M.A. is a Research Associate for the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts.  Keleigh coordinates and conducts evaluation and assessment activities for a variety of PHIWM’s research and evaluation projects, and she is the research coordinator for the R.O.A.D.S. study (Research on Active Design in Springfield).  She has coordinated the administration of population-based youth health surveys in Springfield, MA (Youth Health Survey, Youth Risk Behavior Survey) in 2015 and 2017, aspects of the community health needs assessments for the Coalition of Western MA Hospitals in 2016, and evaluation activities for the Live Well Springfield Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI) and Healthy Hill Initiative (HHI).  Keleigh has worked in both the private and public sector—most recently working as Senior Program Manager for the City of Springfield’s Office of Housing.  Keleigh holds a Master’s degree in Community Development and Planning as well as a Bachelor’s degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University.  

Rose Westbrook, Finance & Operations Director, brings over 25 years of nonprofit management and Board experience to the organization.  She is an alumni from American International College holding a Masters in Human Resource Development and Bachelors in Human Services Administration.  Rose has completed leadership programs - Church Finance & Administration from Emory University Candler School of Theology and the Strategic Leadership for Women from Simons College.  She is a Fellow alumni from The Partnership Inc.  Rose is a member of the Baystate Toastmasters and has served as Club President, Treasurer and Vice President of Education in addition to F62 Area Director for Toastmasters District 53.  Rose serves on the Board of Leadership Pioneer Valley as Treasurer.

Kathy Wicks provides oversight to the Live Well Springfield coalition initiatives that include food justice, improving health outcomes around healthy eating and physical activity, riverfront revitalization, and planning for safe walking and biking around Springfield. Kathy earned her BA from Smith College, focusing on cultural competency in health care and an MPH in Community Health Education from University of Amherst, focusing on group development, appreciative inquiry, and collective impact.  She has 15 years of experience in coalition development, community engagement, and program management.  She is interested in technology integration to support community health initiatives and farm to table partnerships.   Kathy moved with her three children to the Pioneer Valley in 1997 and now calls it home.  In her free time she enjoys writing poetry, cooking with family and friends, gardening, and supporting local music.