GCPI Staff

New York Office

David Abramson PhD MPH – Principal Investigator
Lori Peek, PhD – Co-Investigator
Jaishree Beedasy, PhD – Program Manager
Jonathan Sury MPH CPH – Senior Project Coordinator

Gulf Coast Office

Jyaphia Christos-Rodgers, MA, lives in New Orleans where she is a research consultant, program evaluator, adult educator, and community organizer. She completed her master’s degree in Sociology and her doctoral coursework in Urban Studies at the University of New Orleans. For over 25 years, she has served in the fields of workforce development, environmental health, youth development, anti-oppression initiatives, HIV prevention, and disaster recovery. She is assisting with the focus groups and key informant interviews in the GCPI target communities.

Amber Burtt Goff, MBA, is a lifelong Gulf Coast resident. She received her B.A. in International Studies from the University of South Alabama and her Masters from the University of Southern Mississippi. Amber serves as deputy field coordinator for the GCPI project, utilizing her years of business and project management experience. She is assisting with the focus groups and key informant interviews in the GCPI target communities.

Frank Wesley, EdS, MEd, joined The Children’s Health Fund (CHF) in June 2007 as the Regional Director of Operation Assist which was launched in the days following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He has worked with families and children in the Gulf impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita 2005, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike 2008, The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill 2010 and more recently, Hurricane Isaac 2012. He continues to provide technical assistance in the strategic involvement of CHF in the event of future disasters. Frank is assisting with the focus groups and key informant interviews in the GCPI target communities.

Interview Team

Jonell Rhodes lives in Slidell, Louisiana and has experience in the educational field. With the GCPI project she served as a field interviewer.

Terrance Johnson, BS, resides in New Orleans and earned his bachelor’s from Southern University at New Orleans in Criminal Justice. He served in the United States Army and currently works Northrop Grumman in their Workman’s Compensation Investigations Division. He worked as a field interviewer for the GCPI project.

Michael Radcliff, MSW, resides in New Orleans and earned a Masters and Bachelors in Social Work from Southern University at New Orleans. He is a writer and columnist with the Louisiana Weekly Newspaper and is an author. With the GCPI project he served as a field interviewer.