The Center for Wellness and Nutrition is a leader in promoting global wellness through strategic partnerships and innovative programs. Our Global Nutrition and Partnerships Program aims to enhance the health of women, children, and communities worldwide by building capacity, facilitating partnerships, and working collaboratively across sectors.
Mission
To improve household resilience and address malnutrition’s root causes through sustainable, community-owned strategies, and cross-sector partnerships.
Vision
A world where families and communities can access nutritious, local, affordable, and climate-smart foods year-round, promoting health and resilience for all.
Strategy
- Cross-Sectoral Partnerships: Collaborate with diverse sectors to improve access, affordability, and consumption of nutritious foods.
- Focus on Vulnerable Populations: Implement climate-sensitive, sustainable, and scalable frameworks, including community gardens, nutrition education, financial literacy, and gender equity.
- Project Implementation: Design, monitor, and evaluate projects and policies to create impactful change and generate knowledge.
Approach
Effective nutrition interventions must consider the interconnectedness of health, agriculture, food security, and gender. We promote nutrition and resilience by connecting with local partners, including women’s solidary groups, to create sustainable platforms that integrate multi-sector solutions.
Core Sectors
- Food Security and Market Linkages: Support and develop climate-sensitive homes, schools, and community gardens, as well as pantries, to improve nutrition and food security, while linking households to local markets.
- Health Access and Education: Enhance health, dietary habits, and feeding practices by increasing knowledge and improving access to local food and health services among households.
- Financial Inclusion: Improve financial literacy and connect households to financial services.
- Gender Equity and Empowerment: Facilitate gender dialogue and support female entrepreneurs.
Model
We collaborate with local institutions to build community resilience by addressing climate, economic, and health shocks. Our scalable approach is customizable and rooted in partnerships, leveraging expertise across sectors for significant impact. Our strategy includes:
- Engaging Partnerships: Collaborate with community-based organizations, government ministries, and international institutions.
- Human-Centered Design: Integrate human-centered design throughout the project lifecycle.
- Multi-Sectoral Approaches: Partner across health, agriculture, and financial sectors.
- Sustainability and Scale: Design initiatives that continue after the program ends and are replicable.
- Building Local Capacity: Empower organizations and individuals to sustain programs long-term.
Meet the Team
Our Global Nutrition and Partnerships team brings decades of experience across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We are dedicated to collaborating with local partners and communities to sustainably improve nutrition, health, and resilience globally and in the United States.
Leadership
Director of Global Health, Nutrition, and Partnerships
Dr. Raissa Sorgho, MScIH, PhD, is the Director of Global Health, Nutrition, and Partnerships at the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN). She is a global health specialist with over a fifteen year of experience in development, consultancy, and research. Her expertise spans from health (poverty-related diseases, maternal/child health, and nutrition) to climate change (adaptation, sustainability and resilience) and policy (review and implementation), with an emphasis on evidence-based decision making using mixed methods and participatory approaches. At PHI CWN, Raissa leads the design, development, and execution of global health, food and climate programs, while also leading client development and managing a growing network of partners and clients.
Raissa has worked extensively on the alignment of leadership strategies with health equity principles, on health systems strengthening, agro-biodiversification and nutrition trials, behavior change communication programs, and community and systems resilience building.
Raissa has authored 20+ peer-reviewed publications and drafted national legislations. She has presented her research and chaired prestigious conferences such as the World Health Summit and the Conference of Parties. She maintains her affiliation as a researcher at Johns Hopkins University and Center for Development Research while also serving as an expert consultant for the U.S. Agency for International Development and the World Health Organization.
Raissa earned her undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and holds a Master of Public Health and a Doctorate in Global Health from Heidelberg University in Germany. She is fluent in 3+ languages and enjoys traveling.
Assistant Director of Global Health, Nutrition, and Partnerships
Cassie Chandler, MPH, serves as the Assistant Director of Global Health, Nutrition, and Partnerships at the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN). In this capacity, Cassie co-leads the organization’s global efforts, playing a central role in program design and strategy, leveraging her extensive experience to increase household and community resilience, improve nutrition, and facilitate access to health services in collaboration with partners around the world. Cassie also provides leadership and support for several of PHI CWN’s local and national projects.
Cassie has worked in the global health sector for over 20 years, learning from diverse roles including technical advisor, trainer, curriculum designer, and program director. Much of her career and experience has been dedicated to working and collaborating across sectors to sustainably improve household resilience and mitigate health shocks among marginalized, rural populations in low- and middle-income countries. Cassie has lived and worked in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and collaborated with a variety of local partners in the health, nutrition, and financial inclusion sectors to drive demand for health services and address food insecurity.
Cassie’s passion for global health began in the Peace Corps as a maternal and child health volunteer in Honduras. Cassie holds a Master of Public Health from Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. Outside of work, Cassie enjoys outdoor activities and traveling with her husband and two young daughters.
Roots of Change, Executive Director
Michael Dimock holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. His international development work includes supporting subsistence farmers and fishers in Nepal. He has also organized citizen diplomacy and developed film and television content in the former USSR. Additionally, Michael has extensive experience in agricultural research and commodities marketing across Central America, Spain, and The Netherlands.
Staff
Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation
Jamie Frederick, MSW, MPH, is the Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation at the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN). With around 15 years of experience in evaluation and research, Jamie specializes in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems for health and nutrition organizations. Her expertise in evaluation design, data collection, and analysis contributes significantly to supporting regional and statewide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) projects and other initiatives focused on wellness and nutrition at the organization.
Jamie holds a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Health from Boston University, complemented by a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Dayton. Jamie is committed to public health and social work, reaching communities, and working to eliminate obstacles, so everyone can receive the services and care they deserve. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys spending time with her family and enjoying the outdoors.
Research Scientist
Emilie McClintic, MPH, serves as a Research Scientist at the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN). Emilie specializes in evaluating behavior change interventions, nutrition education, and food access programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) initiatives. She provides comprehensive evaluation coverage for projects with the California Department of Social Services, California Department of Public Health, Colorado Department of Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emilie previously served as a Public Health Program Associate and Evaluation Manager at the Rollins School of Public Health (Emory University) where she led monitoring and evaluation activities for community-based nutrition programs across Georgia. Emilie also served as a Research Associate in the Department of Environmental Health where she worked on research and development of an integrated sanitation hygiene and nutrition behavior change program based in Kenya and Tanzania. Emilie specializes in community-engaged food security and nutrition education programs rooted in critical pedagogy as well as behavior change theory.
Emilie earned her Master of Public Health in Global Health and Public Nutrition from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in 2016. She is deeply passionate about food and nutrition security and thrives at the intersection of food systems and health.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Emilie enjoys biking, hiking, singing, dancing, gardening, and artmaking, reflecting her holistic approach to health and wellness.
Research Scientist
Dominic Bassah, MSc, is a Research Scientist at the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN), where he contributes to the evaluation of Statewide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) initiatives and various wellness and nutrition projects. With extensive expertise in Program Evaluation and Reporting Systems, Dominic provides technical assistance and guidance to PHI CWN clients.
Prior to joining the team, Dominic served as the SNAP-Ed Program Evaluator at the Georgia Department of Public Health. His background includes valuable experience in nutritional counseling, risk assessment, and the implementation and evaluation of HIV/AIDS programs. Dominic has cultivated his professional expertise in both Ghana and the U.K., bringing an international perspective to his work and incorporating collaborative efforts and best practices from outside the U.S.
Dominic holds a Master’s in Public and Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and a Bachelor of Science in Community Nutrition from the University for Development Studies, Ghana. Hailing from a farming community, his passion revolves around food and nutrition security, obesity prevention, and addressing health disparities, with a special emphasis on participatory approaches.
Program Administrator
Carol Mills serves as a Program Administrator at the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN), where she provides crucial fiscal and administrative support to projects within PHI CWN’s diverse portfolio.
Prior to joining the team, Carol served as the Program and Operations Manager at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, where she oversaw various programs and operations. Her extensive background includes valuable experience in grants management and administration, gained from her tenure in the medical research and higher education sectors. Carol holds a Bachelor of Science in Business.
Originally from the Caribbean Island of Barbados, Carol has also lived in New York, Southern California, and most recently Florida before settling in Georgia with her husband of 24 years. Beyond her professional commitments, Carol is an avid reader with a passion for music and dancing. She enjoys listening to her favorite band, Pentatonix, and shares this musical interest with her daughter.
Global Health Fellow
Abena Asiamah serves as the Global Health Fellow at the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN) through the GenNext Fellowship Program, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development. In her role, Abena primarily supports the Global Nutrition and Partnerships Program, gaining valuable experience in the humanitarian and global health fields.
Abena brings a diverse background with experience in healthcare, including roles in pharmaceutical and clinical settings, and she is enthusiastic about expanding her focus into public health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Neuroscience from Virginia Tech, where she gained practical, clinical, and theoretical knowledge of the brain and nervous system.
During her undergraduate years, Abena held leadership positions in Habitat for Humanity, Black Student Alliance, and Student Alumni Associates, demonstrating her commitment to community service and leadership. She is deeply passionate about health equity and community outreach initiatives.
Born in New York and primarily raised in Northern Virginia, Abena proudly embraces her Ghanaian heritage, which influences her dedication to global health and humanitarian efforts. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, traveling, and spending time with friends.
