Our Staff
SHAWNA HEDLUND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I am honored to serve as the first Executive Director of the MN School Based Health Alliance. Twenty-five years in community health, education innovation, and public policy has taught me to effectively lead student health initiatives that ensure access to meaningful healthcare and equitable educational opportunities.
To create change for young people and communities, healthcare delivery needs to be dynamic and adaptive, recognizing that it is in our homes, schools, and communities that we heal. School-based care is responsive to communities, creates ease, cares for the whole person, and incorporates the entire ecosystem in which children live.
Advancing this work has been a labor of love for decades in Minnesota; we stand on the shoulders of visionary youth advocates. The growth we are experiencing now speaks to the intentionality of the board and staff at MNSBHA as well as and the passion of educators and healthcare leaders in Minnesota to extend care to all children.
CONNIE SHEENAN, PROGRAM MANAGER
I am the Program Director and work hard to support communities who would like to implement a new school-based health center or improve their existing school-based health center. My background includes managing complex client relationships in a corporate setting for over 25 years. I am known for speaking and acting with the highest integrity, seeking to understand and connect with people across every human dimension, and being skilled at communicating clear and unifying visions and goals.
My key strengths include ethical, credible, and trustworthy leadership; clear and effective communication in written and verbal presentations; and an energetic drive to build and create positive change. I have expertise in the fields of wellness, training, and education.
My passion is working with students and adults in the BIPOC community to find joyful ways to move their bodies.
SARAH HORST, SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER
For over 20 years, I have supported health care organizations in improving performance, building change capability, and designing systems that achieve meaningful results. As a consultant, coach, and practice facilitator, I have worked with leaders across the country to bring together both the science and art of improvement.
I believe successful improvement happens when we marry the technical aspects of change, including processes, methods, and metrics, with the people side of change, including relationships and mental models. I am passionate about meeting people where they are and empowering them to safely explore new ideas, embrace mistakes, and become more nimble and resilient problem solvers.
I am a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and a Prosci-certified change management professional and trainer.
Additional Support Staff
FAITH ADEOLA, YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Faith's dedicated career has revolved around shaping the health landscape for communities, exemplifying her unwavering commitment to the field of public health. Her work in program development underscores her talent for innovative solutions, while her advocacy efforts highlight her passion for driving positive policy changes. Throughout her journey, Faith has continuously centered the voices of those she serves, prioritizing inclusivity and equity in all her endeavors. Faith earned her Masters in Public Health from George Washington University.
MIKA NABWERA, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Mika serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Minnesota School-Based Health Alliance, providing administrative, communications, and operational support to help keep the organization’s work moving forward. With a background in communications, social media management, and nonprofit support, she brings a creative and organized approach to her role.
Mika is passionate about supporting mission-driven organizations and the people behind them. She enjoys creating systems, solving problems, and helping teams stay connected and focused on the work that matters most.
CAROL AEGERTER, ACCOUNTANT AND CFO CONSULTANT
Carol serves as the Accountant and CFO Consultant for the Minnesota School-Based Health Alliance, providing financial management and tracking services.
Our Board
Paul Danicic
Board Co-Chair
Paul has supported around Park Nicollet’s network of school-based health centers in Metro schools for nearly 10 years. He is a knowledgeable advisor on the attributes of successful and sustainable school-based healthcare.
Paul has led advisory committees for SBHCs in multiple communities and supported the development of new, emerging efforts. His work toward sustaining Health Partner’s impactful partnerships with schools is appreciated across many communities.
Sarah Ogilvie, DNP APRN FNP-C PHN CPHQ
Board Co-Chair
Sarah is the Clinical Coordinator at Health Commons at Pond, the school-based health center in Bloomington Schools. She presents locally and nationally on practices to support the care of diabetes and asthma as well as suicide prevention.
Sarah is also an Assistant Professor of Nursing at MSU Mankato, the sponsoring healthcare organization for Pond. Sarah continues to care for patients at Pond, and Burnett Medical Center.
Suzanne Burke, RN, LSN, PHN
Board Secretary
Suzanne is a School Nurse in ISD 196 and provides direct nursing services and care coordination to students and families in early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school and transition age programs.
“The board’s work is supporting and expanding school-based health clinics and understanding how these services can uniquely impact the social determinants of health and overall wellbeing for local communities.”
Juliana Tillema, MPA
Policy Committee Chair
Program Manager, Primary Care Access & Innovation, Fairview Health Services.
Juliana is a project leader with broad experience in care delivery, health plan programs, public health and research who values relationships, transparency, and courage.
Jess Miehe, DNP MSN PHN
Founder and Director, Rise Up Health Clinics and founding member of MNSBHA.
Jess is a Health Provider and Clinic Manager for Bear Care School-Based Clinic in White Bear Lake Schools.
She is also an Associate Professor, St Catherine University and Program Director, College for Women, School of Nursing.
Windlan Hall II
Speaker, Motivator, Facilitator, Coach at Win Hall Consulting. Owner, Head Personal Trainer & Boxing Trainer at Win AT Life Training, LLC.
Win is a Football Coach for Eden Prairie High School as well as a former secondary math teacher.
Babi Nabeta-Keise, MS, RN
Development Committee Chair
Clinical Quality Coordinator at Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
Babi brings experience from nursing in specialty care and Maternal Fetal Medicine at Health Partners. Babi is a proud first-generation Ugandan-Minnesotan deeply passionate about maternal/child/perinatal health.
Sandy Naughton
Supervisor of School-Based Health Education at Health Start School-Based Health Centers through Minnesota Community Care.
Sandy has over 40 years’ experience in providing health education in a school-based setting, from healthy relationships to sexual safety, and stress management.
Linda Dick-Olson, LICSW
Therapist and Associate Director of Pediatric Mental Health at MN Community Care.
Linda has provided mental health therapy, supervised behavioral health teams, and advised on school-based mental health support strategies in St. Paul Public Schools since 2011. Her experience and success working with young people have created tremendous impact in communities.
Liz Corey, MPH
Experienced program evaluator that has worked with the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Health, and non-profits focused on health and human services. She has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota.
Darcy Rodriguez, MPH M.Ed
Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair
Darcy is an Educational Consultant with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families supporting the Early Childhood Family Education Program.
Darcy holds both a master's in public health and education with a focus on family education, health and wellbeing.
Michelle Snyder, MA, LPCC
Strategic Healthcare System Leader for Mental Health and Addiction Services, Fairview Health Systems.
Michelle is the team leader in Mental Health Crisis Care with a focus on connecting strategy to operations to ensure timely access, safe transitions, and sustainable crisis pathways.
Emmanuel Donaby, M.Ed.
Emmanuel is the Family Navigational Director with the Department of Children Youth and Families.
Emmanuel holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and PreK–12 administrative licensure from the University of Minnesota. Emmanuel brings experience designing school-based health centers in Full-Service Community Schools.
Coming Soon
We are so excited to announce our new members (bios and photos coming soon). Thank you for joining our advocacy for school-based health centers!
Poornima Kavathekar
Pa Lee Yang
Rebekah Forrest
Advisors
Pat Beierwaltes, DNP BSN
Founding member of the MNSBHA and Health Commons at Pond; MNSU Mankato’s School-Based Health Center.
Mike Luker, MHSA
Operations Manager at Mayo Clinics. Manager of clinical care at the Area Learning Center Health Resource Center, and additional programs addressing social determinants of health.
Coral Garner
Public Health Consultant and member of the Race Equity Advisory Committee with Radias Health. 21 years - Public Health Director, City of Minneapolis Health Department.
Abbe Penziner-Bokde, MD
Founding member and policy advisory for MNSBHA. General Pediatrician, Allina Health. Former Pediatrician for the NYC Office of School Health
Barbara Kyle, MPH, PHN, RN
Founding member, MN School-Based Health Alliance. Former Minneapolis School-Based Clinic Program Manager and career-long advocate of teen health and SBHCs.
Mary Jordan, MS, APRN, CNP
Retired Nurse Practitioner at NorthPoint Health and Wellness and former coordinator of North High School’s School-Based Health Center and the Community Teen Clinic at PYC school.
We are grateful for endorsement from:
We are grateful to our sponsors:
