An official website of the United States government
MMWR Staff
Charlotte K. Kent, PhD, MPH
Editor-in-Chief, MMWR
Associate Director for Scientific Communication
ckent@cdc.gov
Charlotte K. Kent, PhD, MPH, has 34 years of experience directing the development, implementation, and evaluation of surveillance, epidemiologic, and health services research, and in managing public health programs at the local and federal level, including internationally. Her broad-based public health experience includes both infectious disease and chronic disease prevention and control. Dr. Kent received her PhD in Epidemiology and MPH in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley, and her BA in Anthropology from Amherst College. She has authored more than 115 published papers. The average citation per published paper is 77, with a high impact as measured by an h-index of 51. Teams she has led have received numerous awards, including the HHS Secretary’s Award for Meritorious Service; the CDC Director’s Award for Public Health Impact; the CDC & ATSDR Honor Award for Excellence in Quantitative Sciences; the CDC & ATSDR Kaafee Billah Memorial Award, Honoring Excellence in Economic Research; and the CDC & ATSDR Charles C. Shepard Science Award. Since 2014, she has applied her skills and experience in leadership roles for the “voice of CDC,” the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series, and CDC Vital Signs. Over this period, MMWR’s influence has grown. To increase public health impact, MMWR focuses on publication of science designed to inform policy and guide clinical and public health practice, and effectively communicating it for action.
Christine G. Casey, MD
Editor, MMWR Serials
ccasey@cdc.gov
Christine Casey, MD, joined the MMWR as its inaugural Deputy Editor in May 2009. She previously served as Senior Medical Advisor to CDC’s Chief Science Officer and Associate Director for Science. She initially joined CDC in 2001 and also served as a staff medical officer in the Immunization Safety Office and Office of Public Health Research. Dr. Casey served as the U.S. Public Health Service (alternate) delegate to the American Medical Association and was a past contributor to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Red Book. Dr. Casey has been an invited peer reviewer for the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Lancet, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and Vaccine. She is active in the Council of Science Editors by serving as the co-chair Program Committee of the 2014 Annual Meeting.
Dr. Casey received her medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and completed her residency training at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. She is board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. Following a clinical billet with the U.S. Coast Guard, Dr. Casey held leadership roles during disaster responses to the World Trade Center terrorist attack and to Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Casey earned a bachelor of science degree in economics and psychology from American University, Washington, D.C., and began her scientific career at the National Institutes of Health and the California Institute of Technology by participating in laboratory research of visual pathways and neuronal growth cone differentiation.
Dr. Casey cherishes spending time with her husband and two teenagers. She loves to cook, has completed seven half-marathons and two sprint triathlons, and enjoys reading historical fiction.
Mary Dott, MD, MPH
Online Editor, MMWR
mdott@cdc.gov
Mary Dott, MD, MPH (CAPT, USPHS) joined MMWR as its inaugural online Editor in November 2017. She began her CDC career in 2001 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer. She has worked in the areas of birth defects, maternal and child health, workforce development, and emergency response and served in federal, state, and international assignments. She has a strong interest in professional education and brings more than seven years of professional education experience serving in various staff roles within the EIS program. She has contributed to many emergency responses, including CDC’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa during which she helped to establish the safety-training course “Preparing Healthcare Workers to Work in Ebola Treatment Centers in Africa.” Most recently, she has served as the Division of Public Health Information Dissemination’s Deputy Director of Science.
Dr. Dott received her bachelor of arts degree from the Plan II Honors Program of the University of Texas at Austin, medical doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and master in public health degree from Rollins School of Public Health. She completed pediatrics residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and CDC’s general preventive medicine residency assigned to the Georgia Department of Public Health. She is board certified in pediatrics and general preventive medicine.
Dr. Dott enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. They particularly enjoy live music and all sorts of water sports.
Jacqueline Gindler, MD
Editor, MMWR Weekly
jgindler@cdc.gov
Jacqueline Gindler, MD, joined the MMWR as the Editor for the weekly in September 2015. She began her CDC career in 1989 as an EIS Officer in the Division of Immunization and later held several positions in the National Immunization Program, working with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians on the first harmonization of the U.S. routine childhood immunization schedule. She has had extensive international experience as a consultant to the World Health Organization on national polio vaccination days, surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis, and establishing and strengthening National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups. During 1998–2006, Dr. Gindler served as the U.S. director of the U.S.-China Collaborative Project on Birth Defects and Disabilities Prevention in Beijing, China, and during 2006–2008 as the Southeast Asia Regional Advisor for Immigrant and Refugee Health in Bangkok, Thailand. She has worked on the pandemic influenza emergency response, and for six months in 2014–15 she served as the Epidemiology Team’s Associate Director for Science for the CDC Ebola response. Most recently, she has been the Science, Policy, and Research Coordinator for the Immunization Systems Branch in the Global Immunization Division. She was selected to participate in the Advanced Course in Vaccinology, sponsored by the Fondation Mérieux, in Annecy, France in 2011.
Dr. Gindler received her bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in microbiology and her medical doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. She completed a pediatrics residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Gindler enjoys spending time with her three wonderful daughters. She is also an amateur metalsmith and designs and fabricates contemporary art jewelry in her home studio.
Rachel Gorwitz, MD, MPH
Editor, CDC Vital Signs
rxg9@cdc.gov
Rachel Gorwitz, MD, MPH, joined the MMWR and Vital Signs Office in August 2022 as Editor of CDC Vital Signs. She also serves as Acting Executive Editor, MMWR Series. Dr. Gorwitz began her CDC career in 1991 as an Association of Schools of Public Health intern in the National AIDS Information and Education Program, and has since held several different positions in multiple CDC centers, interrupted by medical school and residency training. Since completing post-graduate training, she has held scientific positions in CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion from 2004-2011, where she served as a subject matter expert in community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), leading the development and dissemination of high-impact guidance for clinicians and public health policy makers and representing CDC as the spokesperson for an MRSA public information campaign, and in the Division of STD Prevention from 2011-2016, where she led complex epidemiologic studies on chlamydia and its reproductive sequelae. In 2016, Dr. Gorwitz joined the Division of Bacterial Diseases in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases as Associate Director for Epidemiologic Science, and led the division’s work on cross-cutting scientific initiatives, including data modernization and health equity science. She has served in leadership roles in multiple CDC emergency response efforts, including Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19 responses.
Dr. Gorwitz received a bachelor of music in viola performance from the University of Miami School of Music, a bachelor of science degree in medical microbiology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, a master of public health degree in epidemiology from the University of Michigan, and a medical doctorate degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed a pediatrics residency at Emory University and CDC’s general preventive medicine residency assigned to the Georgia Division of Public Health. She is board certified in pediatrics.
As a teenager and young adult, Dr. Gorwitz trained seriously as a classical violist, and she still enjoys playing in a local community orchestra and attending summer chamber music workshops for amateur musicians.
Paul Z. Siegel, MD, MPH
Associate Editor, MMWR Weekly
pzsiegel@cdc.gov
Paul Z. Siegel, MD, MPH, joined MMWR in 2020 as Associate Editor for the weekly. Prior to joining MMWR, Dr. Siegel was Deputy Associate Director for Science at CDC’s Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (CSELS). His principal responsibility is to ensure the quality of manuscripts authored by CSELS scientists. From 1995–2015, he was an epidemiologist at CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, where he directed the Field Epidemiology Activity for 15 years. Board Certified in General Preventive Medicine, Dr. Siegel has conducted training in scientific writing for public health practitioners and epidemiologists at the national and international levels for over 30 years, including as a Fulbright Teaching Fellow to the Russian Federation in 1999.
Dr. Siegel received his bachelor of arts degree in modern languages (French and German), his medical doctorate from Albany Medical College, and master’s in public health degree from Tulane University in New Orleans.
Dr. Siegel enjoys gardening and keeps up with his French. He lives in constant amazement that not only his two adult children, but also one of his cats, are smarter than he is.
Terisa F. Rutledge
Managing Editor, MMWR
trutledge@cdc.gov
Terisa Rutledge has served as managing editor of MMWR, since March 2008. She is responsible for overseeing content, format, and daily operations of the highly publicized, well-respected epidemiologic bulletin. Terisa joined CDC and MMWR in 1991 and has remained with MMWR for more than 20 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Georgia State University.
Terisa’s original major in college was accounting, but she discovered her passion for journalism and writing during her early days at MMWR as a work-study student. She quickly changed her major to journalism, and the rest is history. Terisa is the longest tenured staff member at MMWR.
Terisa enjoys reading romance and suspense novels, traveling, and spending time with friends and family, especially her son and daughter.
Jean Davis
Management and Program Analyst
jdavis@cdc.gov
Jean Davis joined MMWR in February 2020 as a Management and Program Analyst. Prior to joining MMWR, she worked in the Business Management Office, Office of the Director, CSELS. She has a vast amount of administrative experience, including overseeing inter-agency agreements, contracts, personnel actions, and much more.
Jean loves traveling and spending time with her daughter and son-in-law.
Connie Nevels
Management Analyst
cnevels@cdc.gov
Connie Nevels recently joined MMWR as a Management Analyst. She works with the MMWR Proposals Tracking System and performs other duties in support of the MMWR. A dedicated public servant, Connie has been supporting CDC’s Mission of Healthier, Safer People in several positions at the CDC over the years. She also performs community service with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and her church, Friendship Baptist Church.
Connie graduated from the European Division of the University of Maryland in Heidelberg, Germany, with degrees in Psychology and Business Management. She has been working, learning, and teaching in positions in Germany and the southeastern United States, thanks to permanent change-of-station moves by the U.S. Army. Connie has taught many students of various ages in subjects ranging from ESL/Adult Education at Gwinnett Technical College to Kindergarten for Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Wuerzurg, Germany.
Connie enjoys spending time with her son, daughter, and granddaughter. Traveling, sightseeing, shopping and dining are some of her favorite pastimes. She is excited about working with MMWR.
Teresa M. Hood
Technical Writer-Editor (Weekly Publication Team Lead)
tmhood@cdc.gov
Teresa Hood is a writer-editor for the MMWR weekly publication. Before joining the MMWR in March 2015, Teresa was a writer-editor for the Air Force for 12 years, working as the editor and chief writer for the Air Force Civil Engineer magazine, a quarterly publication supporting the Air Force Civil Engineer at the Pentagon and the 60,000-person civil engineer workforce. Teresa’s position with the MMWR marks her return to CDC, where she was a writer-editor for the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal during 1997–2003, and helped take the EID journal from a quarterly to a monthly publication of more than 150 pages with colorful cover art.
After graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from the University of Georgia, where her research was on plant elemental uptake by growth stage and temperature, Teresa began her career as an editor for two peer-reviewed journals on plant nutrition and soil science published by Marcel Dekker. Not surprisingly, two of her favorite hobbies are reading and gardening.
Glenn T. Damon
Writer-Editor
gdamon@cdc.gov
Glenn Damon joined MMWR as technical writer-editor in 2017. Glenn’s background includes experience as a copywriter, technical writer, editor, and owner of a marketing communication firm. Glenn retired from the Army Reserve after a career as an enlisted medic and a commissioned Medical Service Corps officer.
Glenn earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Georgia Southern University.
He and his wife, Lynn, have a dog and two cats.
Jacqueline Farley
Technical Writer-Editor (Contractor)
jfarley@cdc.gov
Jacqueline (Jackie) Farley, MS, joined MMWR in February 2023 as a technical writer-editor (contractor with Karna, LLC.) for the Weekly Team
Prior to joining MMWR, Jackie worked as a scientific writer and editor within CSELS’ Division of Laboratory Systems. Before joining CDC, she worked as a scientific writer, editor, and document quality control specialist. She has more than five years’ experience in scientific writing and editing and was recently awarded certification by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS).
Jackie holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Boston University and a master’s degree in veterinary medical science from the University of Florida. In her master’s research, she studied infectious diseases in wild birds. Originally from Evansville, Indiana, she now lives in Conyers, Georgia. She enjoys backpacking, cooking, and volunteering.
Tiana Garrett-Cherry
Technical Writer-Editor (Contractor)
tgarrett-cherry@cdc.gov
Tiana Garrett-Cherry, PhD, is a technical writer-editor for MMWR. She began working with MMWR in 2021 as a contractor with Tanaq Government Services. Her position with MMWR marks a return to CDC, where she was an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer during 2011–2013, and a two-time epidemiology field assignee with the CDC’s National Center of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2013–2015) and the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (2016–2017).
Prior to joining MMWR, Dr. Garrett-Cherry worked as a freelance copyeditor, proofreader, and owner of a public health consulting agency. She received her PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology and master’s in public health in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she also completed her postdoctoral work in genetic epidemiology.
Dr. Garrett-Cherry enjoys volunteering, traveling, roller skating, spending time with family and friends, and trying new cuisines.
John Morgan Thompson
Technical Writer-Editor (Contractor)
Jthompson7@cdc.gov
John Morgan Thompson is a technical writer-editor for MMWR. Morgan began working at CDC in 2021 as a contractor for Karna, LLC. Before joining MMWR, Morgan worked as a freelance writer and technical editor.
Morgan earned a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College, where he studied English Literature. He enjoys tending to his garden, going for long hikes in the Rocky Mountains, and spending as much time with his cat.
Stacy Simon
Technical Writer-Editor
ssimon@cdc.gov
Stacy Simon joined MMWR in 2020 as a technical writer editor, working as a contractor for Karna, LLC. She is currently a Technical Writer-Editor with CDC/MMWR. Stacy’s background in medical journalism includes 9 years as Senior Editor with the American Cancer Society, where she wrote and edited news and feature stories to communicate cancer information to the general public.
Stacy has a master’s degree in communications from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Northwestern University.
Stacy and her husband live in Atlanta and have two children, Emily and Jeffrey. They enjoy spending time with family, taking long walks, and eating good food.
Suzanne Webb
Technical Writer-Editor (Contractor)
swebb4@cdc.gov
Suzanne (Sue) Webb joined MMWR in November 2022 as a technical writer-editor (contractor with Tanaq Government Services, LLC.) for the Weekly team. Prior to joining MMWR, Sue worked as an Associate Professor of English/First-Year Writing for Southwestern College (Winfield, KS). She has more than a decade of experience in writing and editing.
Sue holds a PhD in Rhetoric & Writing and an MA in Digital Rhetoric & Professional Writing from Michigan State University, and a BA in Creative Writing and BA in Psychology from Wichita State University.
Sue enjoys writing stories, listening to music, canning salsa, jellies, and relishes, the great outdoors, and every minute she gets with her new granddaughter (Rory Rae, 5 mo).
David C. Johnson
Technical Writer-Editor (Serial Publications Team Lead)
dcjohnson@cdc.gov
David Johnson is team lead for MMWR‘s serial publications (i.e., Recommendations and Reports, Surveillance Summaries, and Summary of Notifiable Diseases). In addition, he selects the content, writes the scripts, and arranges the guests for MMWR‘s weekly podcasts.
David has been with MMWR since January 1992 and has served as a technical writer and team lead for both the weekly and serial publications.
David earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. Before coming to CDC, he was a reporter and editor with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and a public relations manager with the Atlanta Market Center.
David enjoys hiking with his son.
Marella Meadows
Technical Writer-Editor
mmeadows1@cdc.gov
Marella Meadows is a technical writer-editor for MMWR serial publications. She joined MMWR as a contractor with Karna, LLC, in 2016. Marella has worked with CDC as a writer-editor and health communications specialist since 2006. Previously, she was at the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services Office of the Director, the Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, the Global AIDS Program, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Marella has more than three decades of experience as a communicator. Before CDC, she owned MS Editorial Services, worked in book publishing, and was a newspaper reporter and copy editor. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Marella and her husband, Don, have two children, Duncan and Nicole. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, cooking, and listening to all types of music.
Quang M. Doan
Web Manager (Contractor)
qdoan@cdc.gov
Quang Doan is a Web Manager working for MMWR as a contractor with Karna, LLC. He came to CDC in October 2001. His duties include web development, programming, and MMWR Continuing Education database development. Before joining MMWR, he worked with such firms as IMS Health, Security First Network Bank, Webtone Technologies, Atlanta Property and Casualty Insurance, Anthem Blue cross and Blue shield of CT and Policy Management System Corporation.
Quang earned a bachelor’s degree in information systems at Georgia State University and a master’s degree in finance from Kennesaw State University.
When not working, Quang enjoys taking photographs and plays with his three children.
Alexander (Alex) Gottardy
Visual Information Specialist (Contractor)
agottardy@cdc.gov
Alex Gottardy, Visual Information Specialist (contractor with Tanaq Government Services, LLC), to the MMWR office. Alex has worked as a freelance designer on a wide array of projects in disciplines including web design, motion graphics, and book design. Alex holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia, where he studied animation, computer science, and design. In his free time, Alex enjoys drawing, coding, and spending time with his lifelong friends in Atlanta.
Phyllis H. King
Information Technology Specialist
pking2@cdc.gov
Phyllis King joined the MMWR staff in 2008 as a contractor. She is currently an Information Technology Specialist with CDC/MMWR. Phyllis has worked in the IT field for 20+ years as a Programmer/Analyst and Web Developer as a contractor for various agencies within the federal government.
Phyllis earned a BBA in Business Information Systems from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, sports, and baking.
Maureen A. Leahy
Visual Information Specialist (Contractor)
mleahy@cdc.gov
In 2011, Maureen joined CDC’s MMWR as a contractor for Karna, LLC. Before joining MMWR, she was self-employed for 20+ years. Operating her business as Leahy Design, Maureen’s partial client list included a broad spectrum of Corporate, Non-profit, and Creative entities such as: The High Museum of Art, The Atlanta Opera, The Carter Center, Emory University, Emory Healthcare, Georgia Tech, Delta, and Coca Cola. Her professional career started with Heery International Architects & Engineers in the graphics group.
Maureen is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications Design, with extensive studies in Marketing Management. She has been honored with both national and regional design awards. These awards were submitted by her clients in their own competitive arenas.
As the daughter of an Irish immigrant, she has dual citizenship. She loves music and art, and in her spare time, she has explored painterly photography, knitting, painting, and letterpress printing. Her most recent letterpress printing was done on a turn of the century letterpress. During the weather window of not too hot–not too cold, she loves to imagine her back garden reaching its potential and digging in the dirt. Above all, she is most thankful for her two amazing children and tolerant (engineer) husband.
Stephen R. Spriggs
Visual Information Specialist
sspriggs@cdc.gov
Steve Spriggs joined the MMWR staff in February 2012 as a Visual Information Specialist (desktop publisher). Before joining CDC, Steve was Director of Communications for FourSquare Research, a market research company serving non-profits. Steve spent 13 years with Unisys Corporation as Group Leader Graphics in their Presentation Services department. He has nearly 30 years of experience in graphic design and desktop publishing.
Steve has coached girls’ fast-pitch softball for 12 years. He also enjoys music, movies, and reading.
Terraye M. Starr
Information Technology Specialist
tstarr@cdc.gov
Terraye Starr joined the MMWR staff in May 2009 as an Information Technology Specialist (desktop publisher). After several years of working on the MMWR desktop publishing team, Terraye transitioned to the MMWR web team. Prior to joining CDC, she worked for First Army and Army Research Laboratory. She has over thirty-five years of federal government service.
Terraye earned her first bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland, where she majored in computers and information sciences. Because she always had a love for graphic design, she decided to obtain a second bachelor’s in visual communications from American InterContinental University.
Terraye and her husband, Russell live in McDonough and have one child, Morgan. When not working, Terraye enjoys spending time with her family, reading, sports and shopping.
Armina Velarde
Visual Information Specialist (Contractor)
avelarde@cdc.gov
In 2023, Armina (Armi) joined MMWR as a contractor for Karna, LLC. with the DTP/Web Team. Born and raised in the Philippines, Armina attended the University of the Philippines and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Because of her longstanding interest and aptitude in visual arts, Armina transitioned seamlessly from communications to design. She has extensive experience in desktop publishing.
Armina is a member of the Atlanta Women’s Barbell Club. She is also an avid cook; her lumpia has been called legendary.
Moua Yang
Web Developer (Contractor)
myang2@cdc.gov
Moua Yang joined the MMWR staff in August 2015, as a Visual Information Specialist (desktop publisher) and has since joined the MMWR Web Developer team. Before joining CDC, Moua worked as a Desktop Publisher and Offshore Coordinator for RR Donnelley & Sons, Inc., where his projects included work for the New York Times, Toys R Us, TV Guide, Advanced Research, Merck, and Bank of America. He has been a freelance graphic designer since 2005.
When he’s not working, Moua enjoys spending time with his family, attending events at New City Church, watching sports, reading, binge watching TV shows, and drawing.
Tong Yang
Visual Information Specialist
tyang@cdc.gov
Tong Yang joined the MMWR staff in November 2015 as a desktop publisher contractor. He is now a Visual Information Specialist with the Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Division of Creative Services, and assigned to support MMWR.
Tong’s career as a graphic designer extends over a decade of print design and digital media. Before moving to Atlanta from Milwaukee, he worked as a senior technician for a printing and advertising agency and as a graphic designer for a weekly newspaper.
Tong continues to do freelance work to feed his creative soul and plans to complete his education in front end web development. He enjoys Mixed Martial Arts, sketching, traveling, and spending time with wife and son.
Kiana Cohen
Health Communication Specialist (Contractor)
KCohen@cdc.gov
Kiana Cohen joined MMWR as a Health Communication Specialist in August 2022. She previously worked as a contractor in CDC’s National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities providing grants management support.
Kiana holds a Master of Public Health degree in Health Promotion and Behavior from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Business Management degree from the University of Georgia. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends, family, and dog, Bella.
Leslie Hamlin
Health Communications Specialist
lhamlin@cdc.gov
Leslie Hamlin joined MMWR as a Health Communication Specialist in August 2021. Prior to joining MMWR, she worked as a contractor for the COVID-19 Response as communications lead for the Modeling Team, Epidemiology Task Force, where she managed and updated three high-visibility webpages, provided weekly updates for Dr. Walensky’s press briefings, produced one of CDC’s top-performing tweets each week, and edited and shepherded through clearance more than a dozen manuscripts. Before joining the Response, she served as center writer/editor for the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (3 years), senior editor/project manager for the National Center for Health Statistics (1 year), and division editor for the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases (2 years), and currently sits on the Working Group for the next iteration of the CDC Style Guide. Before joining CDC, she served as managing editor for 11 years for an Atlanta firm that produced monthly medical journals. She is driven by the desire to educate and empower the public, and is thrilled to be joining the MMWR Team!
She proudly hails from Kansas City, MO, and is a proud mother to her 5-year-old son Lou.
Lowery Johnson
Health Communication Specialist
ljohnson14@cdc.gov
Lowery Johnson joined MMWR as a Health Communication Specialist contractor with Tanaq, LLC, in July 2020. She is currently a Health Communication Specialist with CDC/MMWR. She previously worked as a contractor in CDC’s National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, where she provided digital and social media support. She has 8 years of experience in marketing and communication in the corporate sector and made the switch to public health in 2018, when she moved from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Atlanta. Lowery has a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Utah. In her spare time, she enjoys writing and creating, watching Utah Jazz basketball, and playing with her dog Cole.
Jaylin Mann
Health Communication Specialist (Contractor)
jmann3@cdc.gov
Jaylin Mann joined MMWR in December 2022 as a Health Communication Specialist (contractor with Tanaq Government Services, LLC). Jaylin first began his CDC career in 2017 as an ORISE Fellow in the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and later worked with several teams apart of the COVID-19 response as a Public Health Analyst (contractor). Jaylin has a strong background in developing and maintaining program operational procedures, creating opportunities that further establish efficient organizational goals, and focusing on improvement in strategic direction.
Jaylin received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree with an area of focus in Health Education and Promotion from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Public Health degree with an area of focus in Health Promotion and Behavior from Morehouse School of Medicine. Jaylin is passionate about serving vulnerable populations, promoting access to sustainable resources, and advocating for health equity.
Jaylin is an Atlanta native and enjoys finding new restaurants and activities to explore around the city. He also enjoys spending time with family and friends, long nature walks, and rewatching old episodes of shows he has seen a million times already.
Will Yang
Desktop Publisher (Contractor)
wyang@cdc.gov
Will Yang joined MMWR in July 2019 as a desktop publisher. He is a graphics designer with over 10 years of professional experience and has a background in leadership and communication work in the nonprofit sector. He earned a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology and specializes in youth cultures and issues and communication methods to adolescent teenagers.
Will enjoys fishing and making lifelong memories with his family.