2018 Special Recognition Awards
Ricardo Garay – Outstanding Civic Participation
Joanna Saucedo – Creative Collaborator
Alumni Association Officers
Joanna Saucedo – President
Sarah Prager – Events and Programs Chair
Jen Richardson – Communications Chair – Jen is excited to have the continued opportunity to engage with current and former Community Health Champions (CHC), by serving as Chair of the Alumni Communications Committee for 2019. She currently works part-time for WW and cares for her two young daughters. Jen also co-founded the Austin Ukulele Society and is very engaged in keeping the Austin ukulele community alive and well. Her passions include making good health and healthcare, nutrition, wellness and fitness accessible to EVERYONE as well as being a lifelong learner and educator. Jen is a natural connector and knows that communication is one of her strongest points, so she is delighted to work with other CHC Alumni to share healthcare and wellness resources with the underserved and uninsured in Travis County.
Genevee Varela – Engagement and Outreach Chair
Communications Committee
Anita Knight-With a degree in biochemistry and graduate work in both health administration and environmental science, I have a lifelong interest in science and medicine. Retired and transplanted to Austin, I am a dedicated volunteer in environmental education, women’s advocacy, and recently healthcare.
Lea Isgur– Lea Isgur is native to Houston, but has been in her adopted town of Austin for over 30 years. Currently, she is retired, but spent most of her career in budget and statistical analysis of public policy, primarily in health and human services, and labor. She is married, with many cats (no children), and enjoys gardening, bicycle riding, and volunteering her time with several non-profits in Austin.
Sarita Null – I spend my days as a financial advisor preparing public-sector employees for retirement. My heart still resides in community health and wellness initiatives with specific experience in mental health counseling, hospice, critical incident stress management and advocating for the disenfranchised and the underserved.
Beth Reese
Events and Programs Committee
Mary Carmen Aviles –
Mary Carmen is a Solutions Development Analyst at Ascension Information Services. She is passionate about finding ways to optimize healthcare quality and healthcare access through technology and data and excited to collaborate with others and learn from each other on how to best make a difference in our population.
Marian Trattner – Marian Trattner is the Bystander Intervention Specialist for The University of Texas at Austin. Her passions include travel, springing time with her family and friends, philanthropy, and running. She’s excited about the program to meet other community health champion and contribute more to community conversations regarding health and wellbeing.
Elizabeth Miller – I am passionate about helping children and families reach their personal health goals. In my current position I not only get closer to this goal, daily, but I also evaluate the programs used to help communities to reach these goals and provide evidence of statistically significant improvement within underserved communities. I am most excited about the invitation to become part of a cohort that shares my common interests and goals and to learn from each other through this program.
Tonna Marcyes – I am a native Austinite and retired from a successful state of Texas career. I have extensive knowledge and skill in the safety net health systems which has allowed me the opportunity to assist in providing health care to diverse populations in Texas.
Kelsey Mumford
Engagement and Outreach Committee
Angelia Carey – I’m a chef and nutrition educator and am looking forward to sharing what I learn in the program with my current clients and the community at large. I think food and cooking are the most important building blocks in a healthy lifestyle.
Jose Diaz – I work for Project Access Austin/Travis County Medical Society and we provide medical services to low-income uninsured residents of Travis County. I like to travel and explore new places, countries and people. I enjoy watching and playing all kinds of sports. Most of all I have a passion to help people in any way that I can. I’m excited about this program because of the opportunity to meet like-minded people and the opportunity to build new relationships and help each other.
Ricardo Garay
Rodrigo Leal – Rodrigo Leal is a Senior Consultant in Navigant’s Energy Practice, where he helps cities, companies, and large organizations tackle the issues of climate change, public health, rapid development, and social equity. Rodrigo has also been involved in local community-based efforts to improve engagement and awareness around the issues facing low-income communities of color, including health inequities, access to parks and open spaces, flood mitigation, and displacement. He is eager to develop a deeper understanding of the health challenges facing the Austin community and is excited to be part of the Community Health Champions Alumni Family.
Stephanie Trevino – I am Austin born and raised! I graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health & Fitness. I am a certified child passenger safety technician and community health worker. I currently serve on the board for Safe Kids Austin and employed with Austin Public Health in the Health Equity and Community Engagement Unit. My goal for joining the community health champions program is to learn how to better serve the community, especially our most vulnerable populations in Travis County