Ashley Connors, B.S.

Ashley Connors is a Graduate Assistant with the DMHAS Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics (CPES). She is a Master of Public Health Student at the UConn Health’s Graduate School and holds a Bachelor of Molecular and Cellular Biology from UConn. Ashley secured an internship at the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services, where she supported the department’s COVID-19 vaccine data documentation process, developed social media infographics for important public health campaigns, and involved herself in various other tasks to help the department. Most recently, Ashley served as a Tutor/Counselor for a diverse group of high school students in Stamford, CT during UConn’s ConnCAP program, which is a program that gives first generation college and low-income students the resources to achieve academic and personal success. With her experience, Ashley is helping to increase CPES’ visibility to partners and stakeholders, expand CPES’ social media presence, and assist on other projects.

Email: aconnors@uchc.edu

Steffany Gomes, B.S.

Steffany Gomes is a graduate assistant at the DMHAS Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics (CPES). She is a second-year MPH student and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health Science from UConn. In the past, Steffany worked as a Community Health Worker where she managed a pilot program for diabetic patients and connected patients with resources to address their needs. Steffany also worked as a research assistant at the UConn Center for Advancement in Managing Pain where she co-authored a journal publication and conducted patient assessments. Steffany has five years of experience working as a nursing assistant and, as an undergraduate student, Steffany assisted in developing and managing a pilot program in collaboration with UConn Dining Services that incorporated the US Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate into UConn dining halls. Steffany speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. Furthermore, as an immigrant, she is especially passionate about programs that address health inequities in underserved populations.

Email: stgomes@uchc.edu

Yang Liu, M.P.H.

Yang Liu is a graduate assistant at the DMHAS Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics (CPES). He is a second-year PhD student who specializes in mental health. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health Science from UConn. He earned his MPH from New York University and did a year of research assistant work at NYU before coming back to UConn to continue his education. Yang speaks both Chinese and English. He utilized his language skills to assist the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) back in 2018. Yang hopes to conduct more research to address the mental health disparities in vulnerable populations.

Email: yanliu@uchc.edu

Adekemi Suleiman, M.P.H.

Adekemi (Kemi) Suleiman is a graduate assistant and project coordinator on the second round of State Opioid Response (SOR-2) Grant Evaluation at the DMHAS Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics (CPES) at UConn Health. She has also worked closely with Principal Investigators at UConn Health and Northwell Health, as a graduate assistant and visiting scholar respectively, on several research projects utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods. She is a PhD candidate in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Her research interests are in racial and socioeconomic disparities in adolescent mental health, substance use, and adverse childhood experiences. Kemi obtained an MBBS degree from the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and she is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians in Family Medicine. She holds an MPH and a Certificate in Addiction Science from the University of Connecticut. Kemi has over ten years experience working as a Family Physician in Nigeria.

Email: asuleiman@uchc.edu

Antoinette Thuillier, B.S.

Antoinette is a second-year MPH student and Graduate Assistant at the DMHAS Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics (CPES). She has a B.S in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health from Eastern CT State University. Antoinette has a background in case management within the Ryan White Program at Windham Regional Community Council (WRCC), a program funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for adults living with HIV. She was also a Student Youth Outreach Specialist with UConn’s Husky Sport & Nutrition, working with various age groups on a project geared towards improving physical, nutritional, and overall health literacy to SNAP eligible participants within CT. At CPES, Antoinette is part of a team focused on CPES’ social media initiatives and participates as support staff in the 2022 SAPT COVID Block Grant Supplemental Focus Group Initiative.

Email: thuillier@uchc.edu