



Meet the 2025 presenters
Hear from these experts on federal, state, and local public policy innovation.

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Tesfa Alexander, PhD, MA
Biography coming soon.
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Eric Friedenwald-Fishman, BA
Eric is a social impact pioneer. He designs large narrative change initiatives and public will building campaigns to drive changes in policy, practice and expectations that advance a more just, healthy, and sustainable world.

Lamar Hardwick, D.Min.
Lamar Hardwick also known as “the autism pastor” is a pastor, cancer survivor, PhD student and award winning author focused on the intersection of disability, race, and religion.

Don Hoppert
Don Hoppert is the director of government relations at the American Public Health Association where he leads the association's federal government relations and grassroots advocacy activities.

Shelley Hearne, DrPH, MPH
Shelley Hearne has spent over three decades driving change in public health, safety, and environmental sustainability. She works with policymakers, foundations, businesses, and nonprofits to address critical health challenges, from pandemic response to reducing preventable risks.
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Charlotte Hughes Huntley, PhD, MPH
Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley, PhD, MPH, is an accomplished epidemiologist and public health leader with over 25 years of experience in healthcare and public health.
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Jennifer Mandelbaum, PhD, MPH
Jennifer Mandelbaum, PhD, MPH, is a social and behavioral scientist dedicated to using data-driven insights to tackle pressing public health challenges and improve patient care.

Susan Polan, PhD
Susan L. Polan is associate executive director for public affairs and advocacy with the American Public Health Association.

Anne Morris Reid, MPH
Anne Morris Reid, MPH, Policy Director of the Funders Forum on Accountable Health project, is also Lecturer in the Health Policy and Management Department at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University (GWU).

Robyn M. Powell, PhD, JD
Robyn M. Powell, PhD, JD, is an Assistant Professor at Stetson University College of Law and a Senior Research Associate at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy.
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Kumba Sennaar, MS, MA (PhD Candidate)
Kumba Sennaar is a health researcher, consultant, and former director of the National Medical Association’s HIV/AIDS prevention initiative, a collaboration with the CDC.