Jamila K. Stockman, PhD, MPH
Dr. Stockman is a Vice Chief and Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. She is also Director of the Disparities Core at UC San Diego’s Center for AIDS Research. Dr. Stockman received her PhD in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an MPH degree from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the Women SHINE study.
Cassandra L. Cyr
Casey is a Clinical Research Coordinator for Women SHINE. She earned her BS in Physiology and Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut, where her studies focused on synaptic transmission and neurological pathology. Casey was a Research Assistant in the Emergency Department at Hartford Hospital, before acting as Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator at UConn Health Center in Farmington, CT in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Casey then worked as an Andrologist in the clinical lab at the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services in Farmington, CT until 2017, when she moved to San Diego, CA.
Myiesha Phelps
Myiesha is a Community Engagement Research Coordinator with Women SHINE. She is passionate about helping women develop valuable tools to thrive, working in HIV/AIDS Research to examine the social determinants of the vulnerabilities and pathways to susceptibility, while advocating for women living with HIV/AIDS to increase equitable access to quality healthcare and social support services. Myiesha graduated from Columbia University, with a Master of Science in Enterprise Risk Management and UC Berkeley with a certification in Project Management.
Emily Cowan
Emily is a Research Associate in the Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health at the University of California San Diego, currently serving as a Research Associate for Women SHINE. A San Diego native, she graduated from the Honors Program at St. Joseph’s University New York (Brooklyn) with a B.S. in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Psychology. Previously, Emily has studied the effects of prenatal stressors on anxiety and depression in Drosophila melanogaster. Outside of work, Emily enjoys tending to her vegetable garden and coaching softball.
Kristin Dahlgren
Kristin is a Bilingual Research Associate for Women SHINE. She received her Master of Science degree in Biology with a specialization in human toxicology from the University of Oslo. She has a decade of experience working with cancer research groups at different institutions within the U.S. as well as abroad. From a young age, Kristin was inspired by many female role models in her family who devoted their careers in public health to the service of others. She is most passionate about working with underserved and historically marginalized communities to achieve health equity.
Elisha Tapangan
Elisha is an undergraduate Research Assistant Intern on the Women SHINE Study. She is a third-year student from Sacramento, CA, pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Anthropology at UCSD. Elisha is committed and passionate about improving resource accessibility for underserved communities and volunteers at the UCSD Food Cooperative. In the future, she hopes to further her health education and care through a career in medicine.
Becca Blanchard
Becca (she/her) is a volunteer research assistant in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, UCSD. She is currently a third-year student at UC Berkeley studying Psychology and minoring in Public Health. She is a volunteer research assistant for Women SHINE under PI Dr. Jamila K. Stockman. Becca is passionate about improving the health outcomes that affect women living with HIV, given the unique disparities and stigma they experience. In the future, she hopes to further her education in public health. In her free time, Becca likes running, journaling, playing tennis, and cooking with friends.
Ana Y. Mentado, MPH
Ana (she/her/ella) is a Bilingual (Spanish & English) Research Associate in the Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. With a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology from Cal State University San Marcos and a Master’s of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from San Diego State University, Ana is a dedicated advocate and leader in public health equity. She has extensive experience championing health equity in critical areas, including HIV/MPOX and cancer prevention, consistently working at the intersection of science and social justice. Ana is a vibrant individual who loves staying active through dancing, hiking, and running, exploring coffee shops, and immersing herself in diverse cultures from around the world.
Jaqueline Nagi
Jaqueline is a bilingual Peer Navigator (Spanish and English) with a strong background in marketing and social media management across multiple industries. Jaqueline holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Diploma in Social Marketing from State University, Bogotá, Colombia. She brings valuable experience in community engagement, outreach, and client support. Jaqueline is passionate about empowering individuals, building connections, and supporting communities through meaningful engagement and resources.
Carolina Oviedo-Muñoz
Carolina is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Study Interventionist with the UCSD Women SHINE program. Raised in both Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, she is passionate about serving diverse communities through culturally sensitive care. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University and a master’s degree in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and loved ones, cycling, and weightlifting.
Sherri Lewis
Sherri Lewis is a Co-Facilitator with the Women SHINE Study at UC San Diego’s Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health. A former Top 40 recording artist (1981) living with HIV since 1987, she has devoted her life to advocacy, education, and empowerment. Trained through the Harvard AIDS Institute, she has counseled individuals with substance use disorders, led support groups, and founded the UCLA AIDS Ambassadors program. As a writer for POZ Magazine, Arts & Understanding, and TheBody.com, Sherri continues to share stories of resilience and hope.
Marie Niles
Marie Niles, a Peer Navigator with Women SHINE, has over two decades of experience in healthcare, advocacy, and community engagement. After beginning her career in 1995 and founding her own surgical practice in 2012, she shifted her focus to HIV awareness following her diagnosis in 2024. She later founded the Bee HIV+ Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing stigma and empowering those affected by HIV. An author, blogger for The Well Project: A Girl Like Me, advocate, and Gold Star Mother, Marie uses her journey to inspire resilience and hope.