Dr. Alaina Hansom is HPRC’s Social Fitness Scientist. She is responsible for the development and delivery of educational materials in the area of social fitness. Dr. Hansom is a subject-matter expert for interpersonal relationships, family communication, relational health, and military families. Dr. Hansom translates research to create evidence-based educational resources on topics that relate to relationships and the workplace.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Arizona State University
• Master of Arts (MA), San Diego State University
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Miami University

Published Articles Include:

• Nonsupport versus varying levels of person-centered emotional support: A study of women with breast cancer
• Face threats and additional reasons for perceiving support as unwanted: A study of recently diagnosed cancer patients
• Complementary support from facilitators and peers for promoting mHealth engagement and weight loss
• Netflix and chill?: Exploring and refining differing motivations in friends with benefits relationships

Andrea Lindsey is the Director of Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) and Director of Performance Nutrition for CHAMP. Ms. Lindsey oversees all dietary supplement and Nutrition content for CHAMP. A Nutrition Information Specialist, she has extensive experience in the fields of dietary supplements and nutrition. She has considerable knowledge regarding the content, safety, labeling, and marketing of dietary supplement products. Her vast experience in evidence-based content for educational products highlights the Nutrition element of Total Force Fitness.

Education:

• Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition, University of Maryland
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Simmons University

Relevant accomplishments:

• Presented at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic’s annual conference, FNCE, 2021 for “Issues and Concerns Surrounding Dietary Supplements”
• Member, Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Association
• Member, American Society for Nutrition

Published articles include:

• Essential features of third-party certification programs for dietary supplements: A consensus statement
• The 10 Commandments of nutrition: 2014

Ayanna Shivers is the CHAMP Director of Strategic Communications. Ms. Shivers develops strategic-communication plans and supports internal and external engagement efforts for CHAMP. She has an extensive academic background in health behavior and social psychology. She is experienced in social-media management and strategy, e-mail and event marketing, multimedia production and coordination, user feedback, and digital analytics. A certified focus group moderator, she has conducted focus groups on topics ranging from dietary supplements to sleep.

Education:

• Master of Public Health (MPH), University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Bachelor of Science (BS), Jackson State University

Relevant accomplishments:

• Focus Group Moderator Certificate, RIVA Institute
• Social Media Management for Government Certificate, TH!nk Big
• Federal Communicators Network
• Social Marketing Association of North America

Brooks Ford is a Performance Dietitian and HPRC’s Nutrition content lead. She analyzes and evaluates nutrition research to create practical educational materials within her domain. Ms. Ford is a Registered Dietitian, a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Her tactical nutrition expertise draws on her experience as an active-duty Army dietitian, as well as her work with Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Aircrew within Air Force Special Operations. 

Education:

• Master of Science (MS), Florida State University
• Bachelor of Science (BS), Purdue University

Relevant accomplishments:

• Member, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Member, Sports and Human Performance Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group
• Member, Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association
• Licensed Dietitian, State of Alabama

Dr. Camila Almeida is a Scientist with HPRC. She has worked with neuroscience research and published many articles on traumatic brain injury, neuroprotection, and behavioral alterations. Dr. Almeida is passionate about science communication and education. She believes that scientific information should be accessible and takes every opportunity to share her knowledge with the public. She translates evidence-based information related to brain health into human performance optimization and Total Force Fitness educational materials.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University
• Master of Science (MS) in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biomedicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Relevant accomplishments:

• Certificate of appreciation from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the Food and Drug Administration for the pursuit of quality teaching in higher education.

Published articles include:

• The ketone ester, 3-hydroxybutyl-3-hydroxybutyrate, attenuates neurobehavioral deficits and improves neuropathology following controlled cortical impact in male rats 
• Behavioral changes in male mice fed a high-fat diet are associated with IL-1β expression in specific brain regions
• Alpha-linolenic acid treatment reduces the contusion and prevents the development of anxiety-like behavior induced by a mild traumatic brain injury in rats 

Carol Stockton is Managing Editor for CHAMP, as well as the supervisor for the CHAMP Education editorial team. She has 35 years of experience as editor, technical editor, copyeditor, and author for professional journals, books, monographs, and other publications. Ms. Stockton’s editing skills are supported by her professional experience in the fields of anthropology, archeology, architecture, and gemology. She also writes and edits educational materials, performs literature research, and helps compile databases for CHAMP’s Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS).

Education:

• Master of Architecture (MArch), California State Polytechnic Institute, Pomona
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles

Relevant accomplishments:

• Technical Editor, Gems & Gemology (professional international and gemological journal)
• Editorial Assistant, Journal of Gemology (professional international and gemological journal)
• Copyeditor, American Book Publishing
• Gold Circle Awards (5 years) in editing for Gems & Gemology

Christiane Minnick is the Senior Graphic Designer for CHAMP. She is a communication arts professional with more than 25 years of experience in print and digital graphic design, corporate identity, marketing, and advertising. Ms. Minnick has been responsible for the visual identity and impact of HPRC and OPSS since their beginnings. She also ensures that all graphic materials comply with 508 requirements for accessibility.

Education:

• Master of Acupuncture (MAc), Maryland University of Integrative Health
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Virginia Commonwealth University

Chris Niewinski is HPRC’s Multimedia Specialist. He brings more than 20 years of experience in creating promotional content using 3D animation, motion graphics, visual effects, and photography. Previously, he worked with augmented reality and smart glasses, produced interactive training materials for Special Operations Forces, developed TV commercials, and provided animation support for a theme-park virtual-reality ride.

Education:

• Associate of Arts (AA), Art Institute of Philadelphia
• Graduate, Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art

Dr. Gabriel Paoletti is the Mental Fitness Scientist for CHAMP. Dr. Paoletti is a subject-matter expert in mental skills, positive and performance psychology, resilience, and leadership. He translates basic and clinical research to create culturally appropriate, evidence-based, impactful educational resources and training programs, specializing in positive and performance psychology curriculum development and leadership training. For the past 15 years, Dr. Paoletti has created and led more than 300 distinct positive-psychology and leadership-development programs for audiences worldwide.

Education:

• Doctor of Educational Leadership (EdD), Creighton University
• Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP), University of Pennsylvania
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics and Philosophy, Saint Joseph University

Relevant accomplishments:

• New Investigator Research Presentation Award at the International Positive Psychology Association's 5th World Congress.
• Worked for the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center on the U.S. Army Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness’s Master Resilience Training Program. Trained leaders to teach mental and social fitness skills to Service Members.
• Worked with Wharton’s Executive Education program to conduct a Happiness & Positivity Program for the Private Sector in Dubai for the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Happiness.
• Awarded General Cornum’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Coin for outstanding performance and dedication to our country, 2011. 

Gia Torpey is a Senior Editor for CHAMP Education. She edits, rewrites, and proofreads articles, graphics, social media and blog posts, and other multimedia content for the HPRC and HPRC Blog websites. Ms. Torpey also provides editorial support for evidence-based articles, technical program documents, marketing materials, newsletters, reports, and multimedia content for HPRC campaigns and other CHAMP projects. She collaborates with scientists, education specialists, and subject-matter experts to develop educational content that delivers evidence-based information in plain language for Service Members.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Maryland

Hannah-Laura Henderson is the Health Communications Social Media Specialist in support of CHAMP. Ms. Henderson manages CHAMP’s social media content and implements social media health campaigns across CHAMP initiatives. She also tracks social media trends and topics to engage audience members with motivational and educational content related to human performance optimization and Total Force Fitness.

Education:

• Master of Science (MS) in Media Management, Arkansas State University
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism, University of Montana

Relevant accomplishments:

• Health communication campaigns: Social Media: Reducing Stigma and Secrecy around Suicide: Workshop: 2018. Survivor of Suicide Tattoo Special: Events: 2019–2022
• Print magazine graphic design: Montana Journalism Review (MJR) 2016: Issue 45. Legacy: Capstone Wealth Management 2016–2020: Issues 6–10
• Notable social media partnerships: Hyland’s, Life is Good, Movember, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls

Josh Kazman is a research statistician who has worked on military-specific analyses covering health behaviors, heat illness, health disparities, psychometrics, and measurement. Mr. Kazman contributes to study planning and design, data collection and quality, manuscripts, and research proposals. His background is in statistics and psychology, and he is studying for a PhD in Public Health. Recent projects include retrospective analysis of Army-wide readiness records and surveys and a prospective study of return to duty following exertion-related injuries.

Education:

• Master of Arts (MA) in Measurement, Statistics and Evaluation, University of Maryland
• Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychology, Loyola College in Maryland
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Liberal Arts, St. John’s College