Answer Staff
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ELIZABETH SCHROEDER, Ed.D., M.S.W. Executive Director Elizabeth Schroeder, Ed.D., M.S.W., is an internationally recognized expert in the field of sexuality education and youth development who has trained thousands of youth-serving professionals, adolescents and parents around the world. She is frequently asked to comment on national sexuality education issues in the media and is one of the most sought-after keynote presenters at national and international conferences on sexuality education. Among Dr. Schroeder’s awards are the William R. Stayton Award in recognition of outstanding leadership in the field of human sexuality and the first-ever Carol Mendez Cassell Award for excellence in sexuality education. She is a co-founding editor of the American Journal of Sexuality Education and has written extensively about sexuality and relationship issues. Her most recent publication is the four-volume book series, Sexuality Education: Past, Present, and Future. For more information, read her complete biography. |
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THOMAS COLUCCIO Administrative Associate Thomas Coluccio provides administrative support for Answer staff members, processes invoices and hosts webinars. Mr. Coluccio uses his years of experience working in retail to provide excellent customer service and intake training registrations and Answer store orders. He is proud and excited to be doing work that educates young people about sexual health and identity. Mr. Coluccio has a bachelor’s degree in English from Rutgers University. |
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NIKITA CORREA Trainer Nikita M. Correa has 10 years of experience training educators and developing and implementing sexuality education programs for teens. She specializes in training adult professionals to effectively use new technologies in sexuality education. Ms. Correa has been a community health educator for Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey, a faculty advisor and coordinator for HiTOPS Teen Council in Princeton as well as a sexual health advocate for Rutgers University, where she provided outreach education for college students to prevent STDs and unintended pregnancy. Ms. Correa has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the Douglass College at Rutgers University. |
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MARYHELEN DZUBAN Office Manager Maryhelen Dzuban manages all aspects of daily office operations and procedures and has provided finance and administrative support to Answer for over 12 years. Ms. Dzuban also monitors grants, creates and analyzes budget reports, and implements and tracks all purchases. She brings strong professional and administrative skills to the position from her years of experience as a senior administrative assistant at AT&T Bell Labs/Bellcore and a medical records assistant to the executive vice president at Health/ROI. |
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NORA GELPERIN, M.Ed. Director of Training Nora Gelperin, M.Ed., one of the most well-respected sexuality educators and trainers in the U.S., has 18 years of experience developing and conducting workshops for education professionals nationwide. She oversees Answer’s Sexuality Education Training Initiative, including the annual Training Institute in Sexual Health Education (TISHE) and Answer’s three dynamic online workshops: “Sexuality ABCs (Abstinence, Birth Control and Condoms),” “STD Basics” and most recently “LGBTQ Issues in School.” Ms. Gelperin has been recognized for her expertise in the field with a Mary Lee Tatum Award from the Association of Planned Parenthood Leaders in Education and a Health Teacher of the Year award by New Jersey AHPERD. She has taught at Temple University, Montclair State University and St. Peter’s College and serves on the executive council for the Society of State Leaders in Health and Physical Education. |
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LUCINDA HOLT, M.A. Director of Communications Lucinda Holt oversees Answer’s media relationships and external communications, including all aspects of Sex, Etc., our national, award-winning print and online resource produced by the organization’s teen editorial staff. In addition to overseeing the editing and design of Sex, Etc., Ms. Holt ensures that teen voices are kept in the forefront of our national work by providing the teen staff with writing and media training. She has worked for Condé Nast Publications and youth organizations such as Prep for Prep and the Columbia University Liberty Partnership Program. Ms. Holt holds a Master of Arts in anthropology from Columbia University. |
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JANINE MARTIN Development Associate Janine Martin brings years of experience in fundraising and community involvement to her role as development associate. Her duties at Answer include assisting in individual donor cultivation, processing donations, overseeing development correspondence, maintaining Answer’s donor records and foundation research. Ms. Martin also plays a pivotal role in organizing Answer’s annual fundraisers. She earned her degree in French and economics from Rutgers University. |
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AMBER MCNEIL Marketing and Administration Coordinator Amber McNeil provides marketing and administrative support for Answer’s training department, coordinates training logistics for conferences and in-service trainings and hosts webinars. She has a strong commitment to supporting young people, having mentored students through Committed Intelligent and Talented Youth (CITY); Big Brothers, Big Sisters; and the Reach Out and Read (ROAR) program at the Eric B. Chandler Health Center. Ms. McNeil also works as a behavioral assistant at ASAPP Healthcare, an organization that offers community-based, in-home behavioral health services. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and communication from Rutgers University. |
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ALEX MEDINA Coordinator of Web Content and Social Networking Alex Medina coordinates all aspects of Answer’s organizational Web site and its award-winning teen website, Sexetc.org, including managing content, testing usability and tracking analytics. He also engages Answer’s and Sex, Etc.’s diverse online communities through social media networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube. Mr. Medina’s expertise in using technology, social networking and smartphones has contributed significantly to Answer’s ability to provide technical assistance that supports organizations and school districts in effectively using technology in sexuality education for young people. He worked as a peer-to-peer counselor on sexuality and LGBTQ issues before graduating from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology. |
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ALLYSON SANDAK, M.A. Training and Technical Assistance Manager Allyson Sandak, M.A., manages Answer’s technical assistance projects and contracts. Ms. Sandak has over 12 years of experience in the sexuality education field, developing and implementing sexuality education and training workshops for teens, parents and professionals. Prior to joining Answer, she worked at the Center for Family Life Education at Planned Parenthood of Greater Northern New Jersey and at Community Health Action of Staten Island where she managed the adolescent HIV prevention program and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Wellness. Ms. Sandak is the co-author of Older, Wiser, Sexually Smarter: 30 Sex-Ed Lessons for Adults Only and has contributed sexuality education lessons to several teaching manuals. She also served as the editor-in-chief of Contemporary Sexuality, the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists’ (AASECT) publication and as an adjunct faculty member at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Ms. Sandak is an AASECT-certified sexuality educator and holds a Master of Arts degree in health education from Montclair State University. |
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MICHELLE SCARPULLA, M.P.H. Trainer Michelle Scarpulla, M.P.H., provides trainings for schools and community-based organizations across the country. She has more than 20 years of experience in the sexuality education field as a classroom teacher and a trainer of professional educators and parents on how to talk with young people about sexuality. Ms. Scarpulla has created two adolescent pregnancy prevention curricula and serves as an adjunct faculty member at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia where she teaches graduate courses in the Health Education department. She is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist and holds a Master in Public Health from Temple University. |
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TODD SLAWSKY, M.B.A., M.Ed. Director of Marketing and Administration Todd Slawsky, M.B.A., M.Ed., has been instrumental in expanding the reach of Answer’s two national programs: the Sexuality Education Training Initiative, which trains more than 5,000 professionals per year, and the award-winning Teen-to-Teen Sexuality Education Project, Sex, Etc. Mr. Slawsky has spearheaded the use of new professional development methods, which has allowed Answer to reach more educators and youth-serving professionals across the country. He has also implemented innovative marketing techniques that have drastically increased the circulation of Sex, Etc. magazine and the number of trainings offered nationwide. Mr. Slawsky holds a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University’s School of Business and a Master of Education in learning and teaching from Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education. |
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MARIA D. SORENSEN Director of Development Maria Sorensen is a highly effective fundraiser with over 10 years’ experience in donor development, special events and grant writing for government, foundation and corporate support. As Answer’s director of development, she oversees all aspects of individual and institutional fundraising, including our annual fundraising breakfast. Ms. Sorensen has used her skills across multiple sectors, including The Jewish Museum, The New Museum of Contemporary Art and the Rutgers University Foundation. Most recently, she served as the Development and Communications Director of Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey where she managed all aspects of their fundraising, grant writing, special events and communications. Ms. Sorensen earned a degree in art history from Douglass College at Rutgers University. |
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KAITLYN WOJTOWICZ Education and Communications Coordinator Kaitlyn Wojtowicz coordinates the provision of timely, medically accurate, compelling content for Answer’s award-winning Sex, Etc. Web site and supports the director of communications in managing Answer’s media relationships. Ms. Wojtowicz works with Answer’s staff and Sexual Health Review Board to maintain content. She also edits content written by Sex, Etc.’s teen editorial staff as well as develops and provides sexual health training for the teen editorial staff. Before joining Answer, she interned for the Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area as well as NJ Assemblywoman Linda Stender to restore funding for family planning services. Ms. Wojtowicz earned a B.A. in English and women’s and gender studies and is pursuing a Master of Arts in women’s and gender studies at Rutgers University. |
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Answer, Rutgers University © 2013. All Rights Reserved.
Developed by MSSG, Office of Information Technology