ABOUT THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH LEADERS

Kenneshia Cohen chose Tulane University for its Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program, one of the few MPH programs offering this specialized focus. She was also drawn to New Orleans after visiting a few years before applying and felt it was the right place to further her education.

Her public health interests center on pregnancy-associated homicide among Black women in the South, a critical issue she hopes to address through her research and future medical career. After completing her MPH, she plans to attend medical school to continue advocating for maternal health and safety.

Outside of academics, Kenneshia enjoys shopping and crafting. One of her favorite things about living in New Orleans is the vibrant food scene—she loves exploring the city’s diverse cuisines and discovering new culinary experiences.

Genesis Grinston is a first-year Master’s of Public Health student with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. 

Khadedra Harrison ia a second year MPH student with a concentration in maternal and child health at Tulane University. Her interests lie in Black maternal and infant mortality.

Grace Hoegler is a second-year Master of Public Health student at Tulane University, concentrating on reproductive health research, with a focus on reproductive justice and qualitative research. She currently works as a research assistant on projects related to self-managed abortion in restrictive contexts and contraceptive access for Medicaid recipients in Louisiana.

Madison Jones, BA, chose Tulane University because it was the first institution in the U.S. to establish a dedicated School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She was drawn to New Orleans and this program as a foundation for understanding how to care for people as a whole, particularly in a city rich with history and culture. Being near the former Charity Hospital serves as a constant reminder of the growth needed in public health.

Madison’s career goals center around maternal and child health (MCH), with a strong desire to work with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Ultimately, her dream is to open MCH clinics in maternity care deserts across the United States, ensuring that all women have access to proper prenatal, postnatal, and family support.

Outside of her studies, Madison enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and shopping. She is also learning to appreciate the process of assembling furniture and creating her own safe space. She finds joy in running in the mornings, exploring new foods, and immersing herself in the rich culture and history that New Orleans has to offer.

Morgan Lindsey, BA, is a second-year MPH student concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate in May 2025. She is also an elementary school teacher at a local French immersion school. Her interests include the intersection of Maternal and Child health with education, the prison industrial complex, and nutrition. She loves exploring the New Orleans restaurant scene and visiting the city’s beautiful green spaces.

Kennedy is a first-year MPH student with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate with her MPH in May of 2026 and attend medical school that upcoming fall. Kennedy is passionate about Black maternal and fetal health, Black maternal and fetal mortality, health equity, and health advocacy. She loves music, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying nature.

Annie Pasterz is a second year MPH student at Tulane University specializing in maternal and child health. She is a graduate research assistant in nutrition, and policy coordinator for the National Diaper Bank Network. With a background in clinical medicine and neurobiology, she is particularly interested in the intersection of mental health and maternal well-being. Other passions include basic needs access education, epidemiologic methods and the intersection of science and business.

Brina Salazar chose to pursue her MPH at Tulane’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine because of her deep connection to both Tulane and New Orleans. In May 2024, she earned a BSPH and a BS from Tulane University and realized she wasn’t ready to leave. After four years in the city, she saw staying for her graduate studies as the perfect opportunity to continue exploring its rich culture while furthering her dedication to public health.

Her passion for maternal and child health (MCH) centers on maternal mortality. She has been actively involved with SHERO NOLA, a local nonprofit working to combat the Black maternal mortality crisis in New Orleans. With her MPH, Brina hopes to continue working with the NOLA community to make a meaningful impact on MCH outcomes.

Outside of school, Brina is a dancer, photographer, and proud cat mom. With over a decade of dance experience—including pointe, jazz, and tap—she now helps lead Tulane’s K-pop dance crew, MeeT U, where she and her crew learn and perform K-pop dance covers. She also runs her own photography business, specializing in headshots, graduation photos, and family portraits, finding joy in capturing special moments through her lens. Her cats, Cookie Dough and Jupiter, have been her steady companions throughout her studies.

Rachael Tessema, has a BA in Biology from the University of Virginia, is a second-year MPH student at Tulane SPHTM concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. Rachael has always been passionate about health, though she initially explored different contexts before finding her path in public health. Tulane’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (SPHTM) stood out to her, particularly because of the unique public health landscape in New Orleans, which she saw as an ideal place to begin her learning.

Her interests lie at the intersection of public health, business, and technology. She believes public health touches every aspect of life and that integrating its principles into other fields can lead to innovative solutions that improve lives in ways yet to be explored.

Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Rachel is passionate about movement. She enjoys weightlifting, running, and yoga, always eager to try new ways to stay active.

Nyla Wansley is a first year Masters student at the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health concentrating on Maternal and Child Health. Her areas of interest are maternal and infant mortality and nutrition.

Jenna Write graduated with her Masters in Public Health in December 2024. Jenna pursued an MPH through the Tulane undergrad combined degree program to gain more experience in the field of public health. She plans to attend nursing school and eventually go on to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. She enjoys working out, going for walks, reading going for walking in Audubon and trying new restaurants.