Leah Pylate is the Director of Health Promotion and Wellness for University Health Services. She holds a master's degree in both Health Promotion and Business Administration and has experience working in a number of health education settings including schools, worksites, community and university settings. She also has experience working with grant funded projects and is currently a Certified Health Education Specialist. She enjoys educating students on the importance of practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Santee Ezell-Johnson is from Calhoun City, Mississippi. She serves as a Coordinator within the Division of Student Affairs at Mississippi State University. In her role, she manages a grant through the Department of Mental Health that focus on Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Alcohol & Drug Prevention, and supports Collegiate Recovery. Her position also coordinates the MS Coalition of Partners in Prevention that consists of community colleges and universities across the state to reduce negative and risky behaviors on college campuses throughout Mississippi.

Santee earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and two minors: Nonprofit Management & Community Health Sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi. Later, she received a Master of Science in Community Development with an emphasis from Delta State University. Since college, she has done extensive community outreach and grant writing for over eight years in Community & Economic Development, Environmental Justice, Health Promotion, Diabetes, Juvenile Delinquency, Social Justice, Alcohol & Drug Education, Tobacco Cessation, STD/HIV/AIDS prevention throughout the state. She is a Certified Prevention Specialist, Certified TIPPS Alcohol Intervention Trainer, and a Certified Health Education Specialist. Through her work, Santee has worked to developed health equity strategies and community development projects for communities in Mississippi to improve the overall quality of life for all. Her goals is to use her knowledge and resources to enhance the prevention efforts and help improve the health of students at MSU.

JuLeigh Baker is a Health and Wellness Educator for University Health Services. Over the years she gained experiences in the fields of Alcohol and Drug Education, Tobacco Cessation, Cardiac Rehabilitation and General Health and Wellness. JuLeigh is a trained Tobacco Treatment Specialist and a Certified TIPPS Alcohol Intervention Trainer. She enjoys developing new and exciting programs, campaigns and programs for Mississippi State University’s students to become more knowledgeable about their health.

Kim Kavalsky is the coordinator of mental health outreach. She received her master's degree in Counselor Education with an emphasis in Community Counseling in 2003. Her past experience includes residential treatment facilities addressing chemical dependence and community mental health focusing on a vast array of mental health concerns. She received her professional licensure in 2005 and became a board qualified supervisor in 2008. Her goal is to bring awareness to issues of mental health and promote effective services to students.

Blake Schneider is the Coordinator of the Collegiate Recovery Community. He received his master's in Communication Studies from the University of Alabama, with an emphasis in organizational communication. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant of public speaking he learned how to foster a collaborative environment among college students, and the qualities required to be an effective public speaker. He has experience working in recovery settings including recovery residences, inpatient programs, and the CRC at the University of Alabama. His goals include providing a true college experience to students of the CRC and recruiting new members from all walks of life.

Taylor VanDyk is a Registered Dietitian with the Department of Health Promotion & Wellness. She completed both her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics & Nutrition, and her dietetic internship at Central Michigan University. Her professional experience includes corporate wellness and fitness center management. She first became interested in nutrition when she worked in the fitness world as a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor. Her goal is to help students gain access to reliable nutrition information, and empower them to be able to make healthy choices..

Working in the Department of Health Education and Wellness allows me the opportunity to interact and assist the most important group at MSU, the students. I have a passion for working with people in the spirit of excellence with warmth and kindness. When I am not assisting students, faculty and staff, I enjoy being very active in my church, singing, reading, taking in movies and most of all administering love and compassion to all.

Jonah Neville is from Mebane, North Carolina, and is pursuing a Master's Degree in Health Promotion, and currently working as a GA with the Health Service Volunteers. He obtained his Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Jonah enjoys being a positive influence in the health and wellness community, and hopes to tackle a number of health issues during his career. In his spare time, Jonah enjoys playing tennis and spending time with friends and family.

Lisa Ziegler is a Graduate Assistant working with Health Promotion and Wellness primarily in the area of alcohol and drug prevention. She grew up in south Germany and came to the US to run Track and Cross Country at Mississippi State. In May 2018 she earned her Bachelor's degree in Economics and is pursuing a career in the health education/ health promotion field. Her interest in health and the health promotion field developed during her undergraduate studies at Mississippi State. She is looking forward to acquire important knowledge and skills through her classwork and work as a Graduate Assistant which she ultimately hopes to use to help people, particularly children and young adults, increase their overall health and well-being and prevent disease. As of right now Lisa is especially interested in the areas global health and mental health.

She is from Hyderabad (India). She completed her under graduation in Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology in 2017 and started her Grad school in January 2018 majoring in Food science. She plans to graduate in December 2019 and have always dreamed to study in the United States. Mississippi State is home away from home. She enjoys travelling with her family, meeting new people and learning more. She has always had an interest in health and helping people. In her free time, she loves spening quality time with friends and family, and going on long walks and dancing. Her dream job would be working for a big FMCG company related to food and health and maybe someday open a restaurant.

My name is Kameron Jade Talley, and I am from the small town of Iuka, MS. I graduated from Mississippi State University in May of 2018 with my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. I am currently studying to obtain my Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Upon graduating with my master's degree, I plan to obtain my Ph.D. I work closely with mental health outreach with health promotion and wellness. Through outreach, it is my hope that we will help to eliminate the negative stigma associated with mental health, as well as provide available resources to students in need of counseling. In the future, I see myself working with veterans and their families as well as working as a professor.

Kazzie Ellenburg is a Graduate Assistant working in Health Promotion and Wellness with the Collegiate Recovery Community. She is from Westville, Florida a small town north of Destin. Kazzie obtained her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Mississippi State. She is currently working on her Master's Degree in Health Promotion and Wellness and plans to receive her wellness coaching certification. Kazzie dreams to help individuals make better lifestyle choices to improve their overall quality of life. She wants to be a resource to others to help them reach their goals while she is also working on her own personal goals. Kazzie loves to exercise, spend time with the ones close to her, and make a trip home to the beach when possible.

Cierra McCaleb is from Jackson, MS. In 2014, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Mississippi State University. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and hopes to receive her licensure for professional counselors. As a graduate assistant for Health Promotion and Wellness, she works primarily with sexual assault and healthy relationships programming. She hopes to positively influence conversation among the college population as it relates to healthy relationships and sexual assault. In addition to this she enjoys music, traveling and reading in her free time.

Jazmine D. Kelley is a Graduate Assistant in Health Promotion and Wellness working primarily with grants. She is from Memphis, TN. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Mississippi State University. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion. Her goals include encouraging others to make better lifestyle choices to improve their overall health as well as bringing awareness to numerous health issues throughout her career. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, jogging, and spending time with loved ones.

Libby Fields is a Graduate Assistant for Health Promotion and Wellness, working primarily with alcohol and other drug prevention and education. Libby is originally from Durham, North Carolina, and attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In 2018, she received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from UNCW. Libby is currently working to earn a Master of Science in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education and Student Affairs. She is passionate about working with the college population and helping students advocate for their personal well-being. In her spare time, Libby enjoys running, traveling, and spending as much time as possible at the beach.

Thomas Nazary is from the small town of Carthage, Mississippi. He is a graduate assistant with Health Promotion and Wellness working primarily under nutrition. He is am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Health Promotion and wellness and plan to receive my wellness coaching certification. Thomas, graduated undergrad here at Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s in kinesiology. He developed a vested interest in physical health and proper nutrition at a young age and led him into this field. His plan to use the knowledge he gains to help others increase their health status and their overall quality of life. In his spare time he enjoy exercising and spending time with family and friends.

Gillian Goodloe, of Canton, MS, is a Graduate Assistant working with Health Promotion and Wellness working primarily with the sexual health and cancer topics programming. Gillian obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mississippi State University in May of 2019. Currently, she is working on her master’s degree in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion with an emphasis in Health Promotion. Gillian has hopes of one day going to Physician Assistant school and using her skills acquired in the Health Promotion program to work in Preventative Medicine. In her spare time, Gillian enjoys creating mood boards on Pinterest, discovering new music, and spending quality time with family and friends.