Health Education Staff

Amanda (she/her/hers) is responsible for developing the comprehensive health promotion strategy for the campus; and the research, development, implementation and evaluation of health education initiatives, trainings, programming and outreach.

Amanda has over 25 years of experience in higher education.  She has served as a Health Educator at several institutions of Higher Education specializing in comprehensive sexual health education, violence prevention and student leadership.  She started her career as a peer educator at her undergraduate institution and still believes in the power of peers to influence and educate their community.  She is particularly interested in exploring, confronting and building skills in the community to change and navigate the ways in which identity impacts the health and wellbeing of our students.  In previous positions Amanda has supervised numerous peer education programs, including an award-winning sex education theatre troupe, directed an anonymous HIV antibody testing site and trained athletic teams through the CHOICES program.  As an adjunct lecturer in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amanda taught large introductory lecture classes, small seminars and oversaw independent study students.   A presenter at both regional and national conferences, and a consultant and trainer for various museums, educational institutions and private businesses Amanda believes in the power of education to transform lives. 

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of Education degree in Health Education from The Pennsylvania State University where her thesis focused on Sexual Violence Prevention Programs for Women.  Amanda is a certified Doula.   She has served on the Board of Directors for various non-profits including the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition and the Western Massachusetts Abortion Rights Fund.  She served on the Advisory Board for Planned Parenthood Springfield and as the State Coordinator for BACCHUS Area 10. Amanda is a former member of The Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence for the Patrick Administration and a current elected Town Meeting Member.

When Amanda isn't at work loves to be with her family and their puppy Daisy. She enjoys reading, cooking, baking, gardening and spending time outside.

Lauren (she/her/hers) joined the Amherst College community in 2019 and serves as the Sexual Respect Educator in the Department of Health Education.  In her role, she coordinates a range of campus-wide initiatives focused on violence prevention, bystander intervention, consent education, and sexual respect promotion.

Specifically, Lauren supervises the Peer Advocates for Sexual Respect; chairs the Amherst College Sexual Respect Task Force; serves on campus and community committees related to sexual respect; and provides education through training, programming, and consultation to all members of the Amherst College community.   

Lauren has a MEd from Bridgewater State University in Student Affairs Counseling, along with a BA from Providence College in Public & Community Service Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies.  Her professional background has consisted of working in both higher education and the non-profit sector, centering her work around sexual violence prevention, student leadership development, and community engagement. Lauren roots her work in empowering students to be leaders of social change and promoting equitable wellbeing so that all members of our campus community can thrive.

Devyn (she/her) hails from central Texas. She brings several years of experience in the field of higher education. Devyn holds a M.Ed. in Counselor Education from The University of Texas at Austin. She is passionate about students and hopes to create a welcoming environment. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing terrible stand-up jokes, and traveling. 

Community Development Coordinator for West Campus

Morris Pratt, Garman, Lipton, Porter, Hitch, Seelye, Mayo, Newport,  and Seligman

Alyssa (she/they) is a Connecticut native, Bay Path University and UMass Amherst alum, and a Cancer sun. Their academic background is in Neuroscience & Behavior and Education and was serving with AmeriCorps VISTA at EqualityMaine in Portland, ME for two years before coming to Amherst College in August 2020. 

Community Development Coordinator for First Year Quad East

James, Stearns, Charles Pratt

Community Development Coordinator for the First Year Quad West 

Appleton, North, South, and Williston

David (he/him/his) is originally from Revere, MA and is an alum of UMass Amherst. Prior to working at Amherst College, he taught 9th grade world history at the Academy of the Pacific Rim. David is a proud son of Cambodian refugees and has a dog named Potato. His goals on campus are to support students on campus throughout their journey here at Amherst College. David also hopes to continue to support students of color feel welcomed and represented in his advocacy for student success. 

Community Development Coordinator for the North Campus

Drew, Cohan, Marsh, Plimpton, Tyler, Morrow, Val, Moore, Res Hall A, Jenkins

Doug (he/him) is originally from Pennsylvania, and prior to arriving in Amherst completed a MS in College Student Affairs from Eastern Illinois University. He is the CDC for North Campus and also works with the Russian Language House, German Language House, Marsh Arts House, and the Charles Drew Memorial Cultural House. Doug is the proud father of two dogs Hope and Ranger. When he’s not working Doug enjoys hiking, photography, and reading. Doug’s goal as a CDC is to collaborate with the CAs to create a welcoming and healthy living environment for the residents.

Claire earned her Master's degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut. Claire attended Kenyon College for undergrad where she majored in psychology.  Her professional experience in student affairs includes sexual violence prevention, bystander intervention, mental health promotion, orientation, advising, survivor support, and assessment. At UConn, her graduate assistantship in the Dean of Students Office focused on victim support services and bystander initiatives.

Prior to working in higher education, Claire worked in the mental health field. After graduating from college, she was a mental health worker at a residential eating disorder treatment center outside of Boston, where she worked with clients who were recovering from eating disorders. Then, Claire was promoted to the program coordinator at the Monte Nido Eating Disorder Center of Boston, where she had both a clinical and administrative role. After her time in Boston, Claire lived in Los Angeles where she was the project manager for a mental health and wellness retreat company. During her free time, Claire enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, camping, sewing, and spending time with her dog and partner.

Taya Westfield (she/her) grew up in Champaign, Illinois. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of Iowa before earning a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Taya’s passion for equity-centered wellbeing education began during her time at the University of Iowa. As an undergraduate student, Taya served as a Certified Peer Educator at the university’s Women’s Resource and Action Center. It was during this time that Taya also developed an interest in qualitative research methods, with a specific interest in understanding how qualitative data can be used to create public health programming and policies that center the needs of people who hold marginalized identities.  Taya continued her wellbeing education work in North Carolina through her role as a Graduate Assistant at Duke University’s Student Wellness Center and a Graduate Teaching Assistant for two courses at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. These experiences solidified Taya’s desire to pursue a career at the intersection of health education, applied qualitative research, and social justice.

In her free time, Taya can usually be found thrifting, watching horror movies, or spending time with her two catkids, Sam and Olivia. A Halloween lover and self-proclaimed “spooky public health professional”, Taya is excited to experience the beautiful foliage and cozy activities that come with New England autumns. 

Hannah (she/her/hers) joined the Amherst College community in 2023 as the Program Manager for Wellbeing Initiatives. In this role, she guides the implementation of health and wellbeing strategies developed in partnership with The Jed Foundation (JED), aligns the JED Initiative with the work of the College's Wellbeing Steering Committee, and provides assessment support for Residential Engagement & Wellbeing programs. Hannah also manages the Wellbeing Makerspace on campus.