Contact us
Looking for more information or to speak with a member of the COE team? Contact us at engagemassey@vcu.edu or (804) 628-0896.
Associate director for community outreach and engagement
vanessa.sheppard@vcuhealth.org
A professor and chair of the Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Dr. Sheppard is a population scientist, health services researcher and expert in health disparities, community engagement and culturally tailored interventions. In her role as associate director for community outreach and engagement (COE), she oversees the strategic direction of COE activities and the implementation of strategies developed with community stakeholders. Key initiatives include leading the cancer burden assessments, developing and monitoring strategies to maximize community engagement, particularly with medically underserved or underrepresented populations, and leading clinical care navigation and evidenced-based education. Dr. Sheppard works closely with leaders from each of Massey’s research programs to promote catchment area-focused, cancer disparities, and community-engaged research. She also works closely with the Offices of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to align activities across the Center.
Executive director for COE operations
Debbie.Bryant@vcuhealth.org
Dr. Bryant joined VCU in 2021 as the COE Operations Director. A nationally recognized nurse leader in cancer navigation for screening and cancer care services, Dr. Bryant operationalizes the COE vision. She has extensive experience in cancer control, working both at the administrative and grassroots community-based levels. Over the past decade, she has expanded cancer control outreach programming in terms of geographic reach, scope of services, and number of individuals served. She is recognized for her perseverance and innovation in executing strategies that respect and engage diverse communities as active participants in realistic and practical steps to improve health and health outcomes.
Faculty lead for community outreach and engagement
abrahamal@vcu.edu
Arnethea L. Sutton, PhD is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University. In her role with COE, Dr. Sutton co-leads the strategic direction of Facts and Faith Friday (FFF) and execution of its activities in partnership with the FFF community-based planning committee.
Director for community engagement in research
maria.thomson@vcuhealth.org
Dr. Thomson is a social and behavioral scientist whose work, research and teaching are grounded in health equity, and focuses on promoting informed and shared decision making through effective communication and measuring and evaluating sociocultural and health disparities that influence patient information needs, knowledge, attitudes, access and behaviors. As director for Community Engagement in Research, Dr. Thomson provides strategic and administrative direction in the development, and oversees the Community and Faculty Champions program.
Director for catchment area data access and alignment (CADA)
katherine.tossas@vcuhealth.org
Dr. Tossas is an assistant professor and Harrison Endowed Scholar in the Department of Health Behavior and Policy. In her role as director of CADA, Dr. Tossa provides cancer-relevant, catchment-focused data to support Massey cancer research and Community Outreach and Engagement initiatives. CADA leverages external, publicly available datasets such as sociodemographic, cancer and other health behavior and services-related data from local, state and national sources to promote a better understanding of the catchment area.
Rachel Hunley, M.A. is the assistant director for CADA. Rachel is responsible for assisting the director in providing cancer-relevant and catchment-focused data to support Massey members’ cancer research, and promote collaboration, innovation and excellence in catchment-focused cancer research and engagement with internal Massey members and external Massey stakeholders. Rachel is trained in public health, as well as social and behavioral psychology. She has worked in cancer prevention and control since 2012, having previously worked for the Virginia Department of Health and VCU's Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research.
Jinlei Zhao, B.S., Ph.D. is a research analyst for CADA. Dr. Zhao is responsible for analyzing, packaging and disseminating catchment area data through CADA, contributing to annual updates for health profiles, and responding to requests from VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center members. He has rich experience in data analysis using SAS, R, Python, Excel and ArcGIS.
Tiffani Collins, B.S., M.P.H. is the senior program manager for care coordination and navigation. She joined Massey in January of 2022 to support navigation services to address social determinants of health across Massey’s catchment area, from screening to continuum of care services.
Travis Dieffenderfer B.S., serves as a local engagement coordinator for Richmond and the Petersburg areas. He is responsible for community education and information on cancer prevention, risk reduction, screening and early detection.
Tina Fonteneau, builds collaborative relationships with external organizations focused on cancer education, prevention, early detection and navigation to community screening resources throughout the Commonwealth. Tina also spearheads multiple community-based partnerships in an effort to grow Massey's impact across the catchment area.
Adanari Soria Flores, B.B. A., BMktg is a bilingual navigator working to address social determinants of health across Massey’s catchment area, from screening to continuum of care services. She is also a tobacco treatment specialist targeting individuals at risk for developing tobacco-related cancers.
Charlotte Garrett, B.S., R.N. is nurse education and training coordinator for community outreach and engagement and a social determinants of health navigator, working with individuals throughout Massey's catchment area to assure access to care along the entire cancer continuum, from risk reduction, to screening, treatment and support services. Charlotte works with partners in and around the Danville area to focus efforts on reducing barriers to care.
Michael Gesme, B.A., M.P.A. is the senior program manager for community outreach and engagement. In his role, Michael is responsible for expanding Massey’s reach by building and maintaining necessary external relationships to better serve communities throughout the Center’s catchment area. Additionally, he oversees a variety of community-based programs and partnerships focused on developing long-term strategic outreach efforts, coalition building, public policy needs and advocacy work.
Dominique Graves, B.S. is the senior program administrator for community outreach and engagement. Dominique is responsible for strengthening and growing external partnerships, as well as focusing on tobacco cessation work throughout the region. Dominique serves as a tobacco treatment specialist and program coordinator for Massey's We CAN Quit program.
Jarell Hines, B.S. serves as a program coordinator for key programs, such as cancer prevention screening projects and navigation to assist individuals in reducing barriers to care, along with organizing activities with our community partners. Jarell is also a COE community tobacco treatment specialist.
Neusolia Valmond, M.P.H. is a cancer support care patient navigator. She became a member of the COE team in June 2023. She is working to address social drivers of health across Massey’s catchment area, from screening to the full continuum of care services. She is also a tobacco treatment specialist targeting individuals at risk for developing tobacco-related cancers.
Teya Whitehead, B.A., M.A. serves as a local engagement coordinator for the Lawrenceville Resource Center. She is responsible for community education and information on cancer prevention, risk reduction, screening and early detection. Teya is also a COE community tobacco treatment specialist.
Katelyn Schifano M.S., C.H.E.S. is the CEnR coordinator, working closely with Dr. Thomson in her role as Director of CEnR. Katelyn is a VCU graduate and a certified community health education specialist (C.H.E.S.). She has been working with VCU since 2011 on various social and behavioral health research projects. In her role, she serves as a conduit between community members and researchers to ensure that research is relevant to the communities served by Massey.
Rev. Rachel Pierce, M.A. serves as faith liaison and engagement coordinator for Facts & Faith Friday (FFF). She curates conversations and opportunities to connect around science and religion to enhance the lives of people in our communities.
Jessica Young Brown, PhD, LCP is assistant professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. She teaches in the area of applied psychology and has research interests in intersections of faith and mental health as well as racism and intergenerational trauma. Dr. Brown curates conversations on mental health and the connection between physical and mental health in faith communities.