Meet the Public Health Leaders of the 2026 Workforce Advisory Council

The council includes experts in workforce development, policy, training, and advocacy from state and local health departments and nonprofit organizations nationwide. Their insights will inform de Beaumont’s work identifying and developing practical strategies that support public health professionals and strengthen the systems communities rely on. 

Members of the 2025 Workforce Advisory Council were instrumental in developing Insights to Action, a suite of resources grounded in findings from the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS). Case studies, guides, and toolkits from Insights to Action address key workforce topics including supervision, workplace flexibility and benefits, organizational culture, recruitment, and career pathways in public health. 

The council’s latest resource details how public health leaders can use career ladders to help professionals map clear pathways for employee advancement. The guide includes a worksheet for supervisors to facilitate meaningful conversations with staff about professional growth and career development.  

To highlight this work, de Beaumont is hosting an informational webinar on Wednesday, March 25 at 2:00 pm ET. The webinar, moderated by de Beaumont Program Officer Elizabeth Gould, will feature Workforce Advisory Council members Autumn Watson Jamie Means, along with Omar Khalid of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and de Beaumont 40 Under 40 Honoree Julie Chaya of Richland Public Health. They will react to insights from PH WINS 2024 and discuss how organizations can use the career ladder guide to support workforce development. 

Register today to learn how to turn PH WINS findings into actionable strategies that strengthen and support your workforce. 

2026 Workforce Advisory Council Members: 

• Megan Avallone* is the Director of the Westfield Regional Health Department in New Jersey — the first woman to hold the position when she was appointed in 2008 — where she leads public health services for eight communities. 

• Glen Biggs is the Director of Culture and Workforce Development with the Tennessee Department of Health’s Division of Strategic Initiatives. 

• Karla Black, PhD, is the Deputy Administrative Health Officer at the Kent County Health Department in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

• LaShonda Freeman is the Workforce Development Director at the South Carolina Department of Public Health, where she leads strategic initiatives to strengthen workforce well-being, professional development, and organizational culture. 

• Alyssa Harris, MPH, is the Public Health Director for Rowan County, North Carolina, where she leads initiatives to prevent disease, promote health, and protect community well-being. 

• Kristi James*, DrPH(c), MPH, CHES, has worked as a public health practitioner for over 10 years, with experience in local and state government agencies. 

• Kelly Keenan*, MPH, is the Director of Prevention Services at the Gallatin City-County Health Department in Montana, where she oversees chronic disease prevention, maternal-child health, and health equity programs. 

• Dipika Khushalani*, MBBS, MPH, is the Manager of Public Health Programs at the Stamford Department of Health and Human Services in Connecticut. 

• Jamie Means*, DBA, MPH, SHRM-CP, CSBI, is the founder/CEO of JMM Consulting Agency, a public health consultancy providing workforce development and grant management support for health-based organizations. 

• Colleen M. Nguyen is the Executive Director of Asian Women for Health, a Boston-based nonprofit advancing health equity through workforce development and community-partnered public health initiatives. 

• Jill Parker* is the Executive Director of the Utah Association of Local Health Departments and the Utah Association of Local Boards of Health, where she supports Utah’s 13 local health departments and advocates for the essential role of public health. 

• Usha Ranganathan* is a public health professional with extensive experience in workforce development and quality improvement. 

• Erin Sorensen* is the Human Resource Coordinator at Panhandle Public Health District in Nebraska, with over 10 years of experience in workforce development, employee engagement, and policy implementation. 

• Erica Thomas is the Regional Director of Workforce Development for Region 5 in North Carolina, where she supports nine local health departments and advocates for public health workers across the state. 

• Kaila Thompson*, MPH, MEP, CPH, CHWI, is the Director of Communications, Education and Engagement at Fort Bend County Health and Human Services in Texas, with 15 years of experience in communications, emergency preparedness, workforce development, and community engagement. 

• Iulia Vann, MD, MPH, Public Health Director, Allegheny County Health Department, is a distinguished public health leader dedicated to advancing health equity, innovative policy development, and systemic change. 

• Joshua Woods, MPH, is a Public Health Workforce Specialist with the Tennessee Department of Health. 

*Served on 2025 Workforce Advisory Council