Lori Garrett-Bumba
garrettbumba@marshall.edu
C-SPF-PFS Project Director
Lori Garrett-Bumba is the project director of the Collegiate Strategic Prevention Framework Partnership for Success program. The C-SPF-PFS seeks to enhance prevention infrastructure and build capacity among higher education institutes to prevent the onset and reduce the progression of alcohol, tobacco & vaping, marijuana & prescription drug misuse and its related problems among higher education students. She is a graduate of Ohio University and has received a West Virginia Social Work License. She is also a West Virginia Certified Prevention Specialist II. Garrett-Bumba serves on the WV Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals where she serves as an officer. She has over 15 years of experience in substance use prevention and has assisted on several local, regional and statewide committees and initiatives as a subject matter expert. She has extensive experience with strategic planning, coalition development, public relations, grants management and leadership skills. She has developed and provided numerous trainings on a variety of topics relating to substance use issues for professionals, key stakeholders and community members on a local, regional, state and national level. Garrett-Bumba has overseen numerous federal and state grants and implemented multiple prevention based initiatives throughout local communities and the state. She also has previous experience in the realm of behavioral health and mentoring.
Ethan Lambert, MPH
C-SPF-PFS Lead Epidemiologist
Ethan Lambert, MPH, is the Lead Epidemiologist for the Collegiate Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success. Ethan received both his Bachelor of Science in Public Health Epidemiology degree and his Master of Public Health degree from Indiana University Bloomington. He has previously worked on developing methods and protocols for assessing public health worker training needs, as well as developing and evaluating short-term programs geared towards engaging and empowering collegiate students and communities with public health.
Amy Saunders, M.A.
saunde22@marshall.edu
Managing Director
Marshall Center of Excellence for Recovery, MURC
Amy Saunders, M.A., is the managing director of the MU Center of Excellence for Recovery at Marshall University, where she oversees multiple behavioral health initiatives on campus and in the community. She received a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Marshall University and has over 20 years of experience working in the fields of behavioral health and public health. Saunders served as the director of Marshall’s Wellness Center for over fifteen years where she implemented multiple health and wellness initiatives on campus. She has served as the director of a school-based mental health program overseeing services to students in five middle schools. She has authored and received over 25 public and mental health-related grants where she has served as a Principal Investigator (PI) or as an Evaluator. Saunders has assisted with strategic planning and coalition development on campus and within the local community and state. She is a founding member of the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership and the West Virginia Collegiate Initiative to Address High-Risk Drinking and Substance Use, coalitions working to provide substance use education and prevention in West Virginia. She serves as an advisory member on the Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment.
Tammy L. Collins, Ph.D., CPS, OCPC
collins@marshall.edu
Lead Evaluator & Family Scientist
Marshall Center of Excellence for Recovery, MURC
Tammy L. Collins, Ph.D., IC&RC certified prevention specialist and Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant, has more than 25 years of experience in translating research into practice and policy in the fields of substance use disorders, mental health, justice, and education. She currently conducts applied research as Lead Evaluator for Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery, is the Family Scientist for WV Kids Count, and an evaluation consultant for projects in Union and Montgomery Counties in Ohio. Her doctorate of philosophy in human development and family science with a cognate area of adolescent behavioral health risk and protective factors was earned from The Ohio State University. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism/public relations from Marshall University. Dr. Collins has led administrative and applied research teams at Ohio and WV state agencies including being Deputy Director at the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Senior Research Analyst at the WV Supreme Court of Appeals, and Policy and Planning Coordinator at WV Division of Criminal Justice Services; as well as leading research and evaluation teams at The Ohio State University and Marshall University. Dr. Collins has served as a subject matter expert for national, state, and local prevention, youth and community development, and applied research projects.
Alyssa Milbee
milbee@marshall.edu
C-SPF-PFS Student Leader: Marshall University
Alyssa Milbee graduated with honors from Marshall University in December 2021, earning bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences and Health Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Pre-Professional Healthcare Studies. Alyssa is a current MS-1 at Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, and she has worked as the university’s C-SPF student leader since March 2021. Alyssa has conducted research on substance use and its implications on the health outcomes of minority and vulnerable populations, in addition to general health disparities, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, hypertension, and COVID-19 at the West Virginia Minority Health Institute within Marshall University’s Department of Public Health. Alyssa’s previous research projects have included collaboration with the Men’s Health Equity Institute, the Putnam County Health Department, and the Department of Health Sciences at Marshall, where Alyssa assisted with a National Public Health Week campaign for climate justice and environmental equity funded by the American Public Health Association’s Center for Climate, Health, and Equity. Alyssa served as a Senator for the College of Health Professions as a member of Marshall’s Student Government Association throughout her time as an undergraduate student, and she now serves as the SGA Executive Cabinet’s Graduate Student Liaison. Citing passions for clinical healthcare, policy, health communication, and public health, Alyssa enjoys utilizing our project’s resources to promote prevention science infrastructure and research.
Megan Dennis
mdennis@my.bridgevalley.edu
C-SPF-PFS Student Leader: BridgeValley Community & Technical College
Hey everyone! My name is Megan Dennis and I’m 18 years old. I was born in Kentucky but moved to WV when I was 7! I am currently attending BridgeValley Community & Technical College on the South Charleston campus. I am majoring in Nursing because it’s always been a part of me from growing up with sick family members to taking care of some of them at the time. I think it’s always been something I’ve been interested in since I was little. This program is really great especially going into the medical field, and I’m so excited to start my journey here! I am so thankful that I was chosen for this position, and I hope to be a big part of this program for our communities!
Carley Knuckles
cak0048@mix.wvu.edu
C-SPF-PFS Student Leader: WVU Institute of Technology
Carley Knuckles is a junior nursing student at WVUSON-Beckley Division obtaining her BSN on WVU Tech’s campus. Her passions include advocating for mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and substance use prevention and awareness. She is the president of an Active Minds chapter at WVU Tech and initially brought the chapter to her campus her freshman year after noticing the need for increased mental health awareness. Carley has obtained the awards in 2020 of Outstanding Student Organization for Active Minds and Outstanding Student Service for herself. She plans to obtain a master’s degree in nursing and either work in public health prevention nursing, pediatric nurse psychotherapy, or medicated assisted recovery nursing. She began working for C-SPF in August of 2021 and is merging her passion for mental health awareness and substance prevention by being a student leader. She states that her C-SPF experience has allowed her to gain more social awareness for many populations that will allow her to be a culturally competent nurse who uses a preventive approach to patient teaching.
Devin Towne
dtowne@osteo.wvsom.edu
C-SPF-PFS Student Leader: WV School of Osteopathic Medicine
Devin Towne, one of our student leaders, is in his second year of medical school at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Originally from NY, he completed his undergraduate coursework in CT. After receiving his Bachelor of Science from Sacred Heart University, he spent two gap years working in an emergency department prior to beginning medical studies in WV. As an osteopathic medical student, he feels it is his responsibility to delve deeply into the realm of prevention throughout his studies. Through his work with Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery, he has been afforded the opportunity to assess prevention through a unique lens and work toward sustainable outcomes within his community based on a targeted needs assessment. As he intends to utilize a humanistic, prevention-centered approach throughout his practice of medicine, Devin is grateful that the C-SPF project has allowed him to get his feet wet and to begin to acquire tools that he feels are pertinent to providing competent, person-centered care within his respective community.
Maurice Porter
C-SPF-PFS Student Leader: West Virginia State University
Maurice Porter is our project’s student leader at West Virginia State University. Maurice moved to West Virginia in 2020 and is a nursing student at West Virginia State University. Maurice states, “My goal is to help prevent the spread of substances throughout West Virginia.” Maurice is already hard at work starting some incredible initiatives.
Taylor Brown
C-SPF-PFS Student Leader: Concord University
Taylor Brown is a junior at Concord University double majoring in Psychology and Business Administration with an emphasis in Management. Taylor is the President of Concord University’s Honors Student Advisory Council and is an active member of several clubs on campus. As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, she’s traveled to Atlanta, Kansas City, and Anaheim to present her research and plans to apply to PhD programs after graduating from Concord University to become a professor. Her interests mainly focus on the mental health of teens and young adults and prevention. She is passionate about advocacy and works with elementary-aged students who have family members who struggle with Substance Use Disorder through Camp Mariposa and Community Connections. Recently, she expanded her demographic for her prevention work by joining the Prevention and Recovery Organization at Concord and being the Student Leader for C-SPF.
Urian “Benny” Benicker
C-SPF-PFS Student Leader: Mountwest Community & Technical College
Urian “Benny” Benicker is a Freshman at Mountwest Community and Technical College in Huntington, WV. He attended Ohio University-Southern from 2004-2006 in their Computer Science program and is now pursuing an AAS in Information Technology with a concentration in Animation and Game Development. He is the newest addition to our Student Leader program and is a positive, motivated individual. His passion for alcohol and substance misuse prevention make him a valuable member of our team!
Ben Greear
C-SPF-PFS Student Leader: Concord University
Ben Greear is currently a senior at Concord University majoring in Business Administration. Ben is from South Charleston, WV, and has lived there all his life. Ben was a 4-year member of the Concord University Men’s Soccer team and is preparing to graduate from Concord in May. After graduation, he plans to pursue his J.D. Ben is passionate about assisting with the current substance use disorder epidemic that West Virginia is going through.