Staff
Executive Director: Jasmine J. Opusunju, DrPH, MSEd, CHES, CPH
Dr. Opusunju received her DrPH in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Texas School of Public Health (Houston) with a minor in Management, Policy, and Community Health and a concentration in Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR). She has extensive experience in grassroots community engagement, capacity building, coalition development, and leadership and advocacy training to promote environmental changes essential for facilitating the adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyles. Dr. Opusunju has spent over 12 years working in health promotion research in various capacities with a particular focus on social justice, health equity, the built environment and childhood obesity, and CBPR. She has also been engaged in research related to body image, patient navigation, and colorectal cancer screening. Her background experience extends from the corporate sector in the international food industry for over 15 years. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), serves in various leadership positions (eg. Board Member for the African American Health Coalition; Treasurer, Past President, and Advocacy Committee Chair for the Texas Society for Public Health Education, and is Certified in Public Health (CPH). Dr. Opusunju has been in academia for over 13 years. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health at Baylor University and also serves as the Director for the MPH@Baylor Online Program. Dr. Opusunju’s personal mission is to leverage resources to reach the communities in need while empowering communities to be engaged in the creation of effective policies and sustainable systems that will promote health equity.
Coordinator,Community Driven Initiatives: Jessica Benitez
Jessica Benitez is a University of Houston graduate with a degree in a Public Health and a minor in Mathematics. She was born and raised in Magnolia Park, Houston. She completed an internship with CAN DO Houston in Spring 2020. During her internship, she led various components of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative and engaged with community advocates working across issues, such as walkability and poor performing schools. Jessica is passionate about addressing health disparities in underserved communities, especially those with people of color. She looks forward to continuing to advance her skills and experience as the Coordinator for Community Driven Initiatives. During her spare time, she enjoys going to the gym and traveling.