Staff

Joe Alberts has worked with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2012. He has experience with developing websites using WordPress, creating web-based applications, managing GIS data collection operations, and improving data management systems or processes. His areas of interest include communication and dissemination of research, learning programming languages, and exploring applications for new technologies.

Maliha Anwar has been with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2023, when she joined the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center (MI-YVPC) as an intern supporting the TRIGGER Project in Washington, DC. She has since transitioned to a full-time role within the team. Before joining the PRC, Maliha worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, assisting with global health initiatives, including COVID-19 response efforts. She holds an MPH from George Washington University. Outside work, Maliha enjoys exploring different cultures, discovering new restaurants and cafés, and reading.

Julia Bell has worked with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2022. She has experience with research coordination. Her areas of interest include student mental health, firearm violence prevention, and opioid overdose prevention. Julia holds a Master of Public Health from Wayne State University.

Sosha Barnett has worked with the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center (MI-YVPC) and the Prevention Research Center of Michigan (PRC-MI) since 2015. Sosha specializes in data collection, and supervising data collectors. She has experience with interviews, parcel assessments, focus groups, and study management. She has led numerous data collection training sessions and written study protocols. Sosha holds a BS in Health Care Administration from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Melika Belhaj (she/her) is a Research Associate and Program Manager for Housing Solutions for Health Equity (HSHE) at the School of Public Health. She received her Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) from Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development and Indigenous Nations Studies from Portland State University. She has a rich professional background in community-based work that weaves together the values of public health and equitable places.

Emma Ehrenzeller has worked with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2024. She has experience managing multifaceted projects, working with K-8 students, and conducting qualitative data analysis. Her areas of interest also include developmental psychology, implementation science, and the neuroscience of adversity. Before joining the PRC, Emma was a Research Coordinator studying the impacts of gun violence exposure on attention at Teachers College, Columbia University. Emma holds a Master of Science in Neuroscience & Education from Teachers College, Columbia University

Elizabeth Gonzalez is a Research Area Specialist at the Prevention Research Collaborative. She manages the Indianapolis Vacant Lot Reuse & Community Violence Prevention Study (IVLR). She also works with the Detroit Vacant Lot Reuse & Firearms Violence Prevention Study (DVLR) and various opioid overdose prevention projects. Her areas of interest include urban health, the built environment, greening initiatives as a method of improving health outcomes, and ending health inequities. Prior to joining the PRC, Elizabeth served as an AmeriCorps member at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park leading environmental education workshops. She also worked at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Public Health for the Fetal Age Machine Learning Initiative (FAMLI). She holds a Master of Public Health degree in Health Behavior and Health Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from the University of Michigan.

Juliana is a two-time graduate of the University of Michigan, where she majored in Women’s Studies as an undergraduate and received her Master’s in Public Health in Epidemiology. She spent her college years working in research, as well as volunteering for the University’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC). She has been passionate about student mental health since her own time as an undergraduate and graduate student and is particularly interested in the mental health of LGBTQ+ students. In her free time, Juliana enjoys crocheting, rock climbing, and spending time with her wife and their three pets.

Alison Grodzinski is the Managing Director for the Prevention Research Center of Michigan. She has worked with the PRC since 2007 and has participated as an active member of the research team for several projects including Partners In Research, Speak to Your Health! Community Survey, the Virtual Networks Study, and Michigan YVPC and HOPE. Prior to joining the PRC, Ms. Grodzinski was a health sciences librarian, working in academic research centers to support faculty and student research through training, collections management and dissemination. Ms. Grodzinski holds a Master’s in Library and Information Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health.

Teresa Hartwig has worked with the Prevention Research Collaborative since January 2023. She has experience processing, reviewing, negotiating, and accepting sponsored projects and research contracts. She ensures proper management of awarded funds with sponsor, federal, state, and University regulations. Teresa also assists the department with all administrative aspects of proposal development. Her areas of interest also include adolescent and young adult mental health along with suicide prevention. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and a Minor in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University.

Kai Le has worked with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2020. She has experience with preparing data for analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Her areas of interest also include social equity, public health, and transportation. Prior to joining the PRC, Kai was a Graduate Teaching Associate at The Ohio State University (OSU). She also holds a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from OSU.

Kevin Michaels has worked with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2018. He has experience with community and school program development and evaluation, implementation science, and study coordination. Kevin has previously worked as a Study Coordinator for the Healthy Minds Network and as a Forensic Psychology Research Assistant at the University of Michigan – Flint. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Research Psychology.

Shawna Monty is a Senior Research Administrator at the School of Public Health. She has been working with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2003. She is responsible for managing all pre- and post-award requirements, ensuring compliance with all university and sponsor policies and guidelines. This includes but is not limited to proposal submissions, budget preparation, establishing and maintaining awards, subawards and subcontracts, financial reporting, monitoring and approving expenditures, and monitoring faculty and staff FTEs across projects.

Rosaline Ruiz has worked with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2024. She has experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation using both qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as in building trust with community partners and engaging youth. Her areas of interest include positive youth development, mixed-methods research, evaluation and data storytelling, and operations and process innovation. Prior to joining the PRC, Rosaline transitioned from a corporate career in business development and operations to working on evaluation efforts in food security and youth education programs. She also supported research on communication preferences and behaviors related to cancer prevention. She holds a Master of Public Health from The George Washington University.

Laney Rupp provides project management support to evaluations of school and community-based interventions for violence and substance use. She is interested in community-engaged greening and revitalization as a tool for community empowerment and violence prevention. She specializes in qualitative methods to examine the implementation and outcomes of interventions to promote health and reduce violence, including sexual violence and firearm violence. Prior to her work with PRC, she served as an AmeriCorps member and managed volunteer engagement programs in Santa Cruz County, California. She holds her MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies from Scripps College.

Ardele Stewart is the Administrative Assistant Senior for the PRC Collaborative, and her role within the Collaborative involves managing daily operations. She has been with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2010. Ardele is responsible for providing administrative support to the directors, staff, and student interns. Her primary responsibility is working in collaboration with U-M Procurement Services to establish Purchase of Service contracts for the Collaborative’s community partners and consultants, and processing payments for these contracts. Ardele provides professional and caring support to her team and always makes our team members and partners feel welcome. Over the course of her career, Ardele has also had the opportunity to provide administrative support for programs that focus on educational opportunities for youth and community service learning for undergraduates.

Kate Taelman is the YES Program Coordinator at the Prevention Research Collaborative. Before joining the PRC, she worked at the Injury Prevention Center doing clinical research. Prior to this, Kate worked in K-12 education for more than ten years, including seven years of teaching middle/high school social studies. Her areas of interest include child & adolescent health, school health, and injury prevention. She holds a Master of Public Health from Central Michigan University and a Master in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College.

Erin Voichoski has worked with the Prevention Research Collaborative since 2022. She has experience with data collection, management, and analysis. Her areas of interest also include suicide prevention, program evaluation, and urban environmental health. Erin holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan.