Ana Abad-Jorge, Ed.D., MS, RDN

Originally from Cuba, Ana Abad-Jorge earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Rollins College and her master’s degree in human nutrition from the University of Florida. She worked at the University of Virginia Medical Center for 27 years as a pediatric registered dietitian/nutritionist in acute pediatrics, pediatric clinics, and the Newborn and Pediatric Intensive Care units. She also served as the program director for UVA’s Dietetic Internship Program for 20 years. After earning her education doctorate in 2013, Ana served as faculty and program director for the online bachelor’s program in healthcare management at UVA until 2020. She now serves as an assistant professor of clinical nutrition within the Department of Health Professions at James Madison University.  Ana is married with four children and enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling.

Allie Bryan

Allie Bryan moved to Charlottesville from New York City, where she worked for nearly a decade in the nonprofit sector providing social and educational services for at-risk children and families. Now raising two young children with her husband, she is excited to be a part of an organization that builds strong communities by coming alongside children and their parents. She currently works for Books Behind Bars, an educational program in which UVA students meet with incarcerated youth and adults to explore questions of meaning, value, and social justice through life-changing conversations about Russian literature. Allie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish from Colgate University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a specialization in nonprofit management from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at NYU.

Elizabeth Carpenter, BSN, RN

Elizabeth Carpenter is the RN Care Coordinator at the International Family Medicine Clinic at UVA, working with the refugee and Special Immigrant Visa holders who are resettled to the Charlottesville area by the International Rescue Committee. Elizabeth previously worked as a Community Health Nurse with Child Health Partnership and as a labor and delivery nurse in Charlottesville and Seattle. Prior to nursing school, Elizabeth earned a degree in technical theater and built props at the Seattle Repertory Theater. Elizabeth is the parent of two teens with her husband Dan and enjoys hiking and volunteering with PACEM and as a COVID vaccinator.

Shane Cook, Secretary

Shane Cook is a Director at CFA Institute, a nonprofit member association headquartered in Charlottesville, whose mission is to lead the investment management profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. Prior to joining CFA Institute, Shane spent three years working in retail and commercial banking in the Charlottesville area. Shane earned his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University with concentrations in Finance and Management. He earned his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College. He is a 2016 graduate of the Board Development Academy through the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

Mary E. Gibson, PhD, RN

After teaching obstetric and public health nursing at the University of Virginia School of Nursing for more than 20 years, Mary retired in 2019. Early in her career, she worked as a Public Health Nurse in Charlottesville and Albemarle and that experience profoundly influenced her subsequent practice as an obstetrics nurse and professor. Mary was a member of the board of Child Health Partnership from 2011-2020, and chaired the board from 2014-2016. Following a year off from her first nine years on the board, Mary has returned and currently serves on the Program and Diversity and Equity Committees.

Claudette Grant, Chair

Claudette Grant is originally from Hartford, CT. She completed her undergraduate work in Urban Studies at the University of Connecticut and has a master’s degree from the University of Virginia in Urban and Environmental Planning. Claudette has worked as a planner for the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Her work in the housing field includes community organizing for Piedmont Housing Alliance, housing counselor for Housing Opportunities Made Equal, and loan assistant for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Claudette currently works as Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist at the University of Virginia, School of Medicine Cancer Center. She enjoys spending time with her family and being involved in the community through her work at church.

Farah Ibrahim

Farah was born and raised in Iraq, where she later graduated with a civil engineering degree. After losing family members to sectarian violence, Farah fled with her daughter to Jordan. She was granted refugee status by the UNHCR who decided she would resettle in the United States. Since arriving in 2008 as a single mother with a toddler, Farah has found it most rewarding to work in a sector where she has the opportunity to offer support, share experiences, and encourage people in similar situations. She enjoys empowering others with resources, knowledge, and guidance. Farah worked at the IRC (refugee settlement agency) for almost 10 years before having an opportunity to be a part of the family support team at Child Health Partnership. She then transitioned to work at the Piedmont Housing Alliance, assisting first time homebuyers with financial literacy and education. Farah currently works at the IRC as a casework supervisor. Charlottesville, Virginia, has been Farah’s home for the last 15 years; this is where she and her daughter now call home.

John Jertson

John Jertson has lived in many places including Connecticut, Uruguay, Brazil, Florida and most recently Austin, but has called Charlottesville his favorite home for the last 3 years. John has been in the tech space for over 10 years and is currently working at TradeCentric, a Charlottesville based tech company. His better half, Casey, is a neonatal nurse practitioner at the University of Virginia Medical Center. On John’s downtime, he enjoys trail running and triathlons.

Ann Lhospital

Since graduating from UVA with her clinical psychology degree in 2011, Ann Lhospital has worked at UVA’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (UVA-CASTL). She focuses on early childhood coaching and mental health consultation programs that support children, teachers, and families. Ann is excited to join the Child Health Partnership Board to be of service to children and families in our community!

Ashley Palmer

Former Imagine Award winner (2011) Ashley Jurney is an enthusiastic member of her community as well as a passionate and market-savvy real estate agent. She is originally from Buffalo, NY and currently resides in the heart of Charlottesville with her son Noah and fiancé, Gary. She studied Biology and Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated with a BS degree in 2015. After college she worked as a Clinical Applications Analyst at the University of Virginia. She has been awarded the Accredited Buyers Representation (ABR®) designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Counsel (REBAC) of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) Rising Star of the year 2018, and voted Best of C-Ville Weekly, Best REALTOR® in Charlottesville 2019. As a graduate from the Child Health Partnership program, she is very excited to serve as a new board member and chair of the fundraising committee, giving back to her community in a greater capacity and helping to bridge the gap between our families and board members.

Cara Pates, Treasurer

Cara Pates is a Virginia native and graduate of The College of William and Mary (BBA in Accounting) and UVa’s McIntire School of Commerce (MS of Accounting). Cara has 7+ years of experience in public accounting and is a Tax Manager for KPMG, LLP. She and her husband Seth, a Charlottesville native, moved back to town 4 years ago. Cara enjoys reading, cooking, and chasing after her two kids.

Susan Payne

Susan Payne began her marketing career in Hartford, CT, where she served as Director of Commercial Development for a large insurance company. Previously she worked with all the clients of Payne, Ross overseeing their marketing plans. She draws on her research experience to examine the spectrum of marketing vehicles available to develop advertising that not only is creative, but outperforms the competition. Today, she is excited to head her own agency, Blue Ridge Group. Her dedication to promoting tourism for the region is evidenced by 14 years of board service to Virginia Tourism Corporation. Susan has been appointed to the VTC by Virginia’s last four governors.

Dana Rexrode, MA, LPC, NCC

Dana Rexrode is the National Director of Clinical Operations for Rite of Passage, a multi-state agency dedicated to child and adolescent mental and behavioral health services. She obtained her bachelors in psychology and masters degree in professional counseling from Liberty University and is a licensed professional counselor in Virginia and North Carolina. Dana is currently pursuing her doctorate in Leadership with a focus on Organizational Management from Carolina University. She and her husband, Nathaniel, enjoy spending time with their three young adult children in the outdoors, whether that be in their native Albemarle County or on the sand at the beach.

Kathy Rhyne

Katherine L. Rhyne, a UVA graduate, retired to the Charlottesville area after a career practicing law in Washington.  She was a senior partner at King & Spalding LLP, a global law firm, where her practice focused on defense of mass tort and class action litigation, environmental regulatory issues, and crisis management for large corporate clients.  Kathy was also known for her work with scientific and medical experts.  She and her husband have been Child Health supporters since moving to Charlottesville.

Nareen Scott

Nareen Scott, originally from Maryland, is the Director of People Operations for Legal Aid Justice Center. Prior to joining LAJC she spent eight years as the Administrator for the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. Transferring from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, she earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Old Dominion University. While spending time with family, traveling, music and running a business as an Independent Beauty Consultant are things she loves, she also enjoys volunteering and mentoring with nonprofits in the Charlottesville and surrounding areas that focus on youth, young adults and women.

Vickie Southall, MSN, RN, Vice Chair

Vickie Southall is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia, where she has taught pediatric and community/public health nursing for 37+ years. She began working with Child Health Partnership in 1997 supervising nursing students, recognizing the impact of the organization on the lives of children and families. She served on the first Board of Directors in 2008 until 2018, was off for a year and has been on the board since then. She is involved in many volunteer activities in her hometown of Louisa, and her collaboration of teaching with community service garnered her UVA’s first Excellence in Public Service Award in 2019, an all-University award from the Provost. She lives with her husband, Al, who is a family practice physician in Louisa. They have two adult sons and one granddaughter.

Toya Trager

Toya Trager is the Director of Marketing and Administration for family-owned and operated Trager Brothers Coffee. For 12 years she has worked alongside her husband William in growing the family’s organic coffee brand and promoting the local food movement. As the mother of a special needs child who required intensive home health care, she understands the importance of the role Child Health Partnership plays with support and outreach to families in the Charlottesville area community.

Autumn Wade