Team Members
Tony Banks joined the Center for Hope in 2022 as a research data manager. He has an MS in Information from the University of Arizona and a BS in environmental geology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Tony is proficient in R and Python programming. He enjoys working on complex datasets, implementing automation for reproducibility, and collaborating with the team to make improvements for everyone. He previously worked as an environmental geologist, where he planned and implemented remediation projects and analyzed soil, groundwater, and soil vapor data. His favorite things to do are disc golfing, snowboarding, rock climbing, and camping.
Sophia is an undergraduate at the University of Utah majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. She is on the pre-med track with interests in pediatrics, neurology, and psychiatry. In her free time, she enjoys baking, crocheting, and being outdoors.
Kane graduated from Westminster College with a BS in psychology with an emphasis in cognitive science and a minor in applied mathematics. He plans to pursue a career in the field of health psychology or cognitive sciences. Kane spends most of his free time rock climbing, mountain biking, and running.
Heather Haley has lived too many places to have a single “home”. She has worked mostly for nonprofits in various roles since 1998, moving to Utah in 2007. When not at HCI, Heather loves being outside with her dog, cooking with her two kids, traveling, and reading books
Dr. Hall holds a PhD in educational leadership and policy and a master of public administration degree from the University of Utah. She leads the community engagement efforts for the Center for HOPE. Her teaching and research focus on community engagement, asset mapping, program evaluation, policy analysis, and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Hall has an extensive background working with projects and programs centered on social impact. Her career includes stints at nonprofits, higher education institutions, and private media companies. Away from the office, Dr. Hall enjoys watching sports and theatrical productions and enjoys spending as much time in the mountains as she can.
Dr. Jones, PhD, MS, is a Research Scientist at the Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity (HOPE) at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Her research examines the processes by which positive emotions may protect against the development of chronic diseases. Critically, all theorized mechanistic pathways by which positive emotions are thought to lead to resilience against chronic disease (e.g., stress-buffering, engagement in adaptive health behaviors, resources building) occurs in moments and build over time, yet few studies examine these processes in natural contexts (e.g., via ecological momentary assessment/ daily diary studies/ mobile sensing). Dr. Jones' work addresses this gab by examining momentary processes in everyday life, focusing on two primary pathways: health behaviors (e.g., smoking, alcohol use, sleep) and physiological stress-processes via biomarkers (e.g., inflammation, cortisol). Through this focus on momentary processes in everyday life, her research advances the field by elucidating when, under what conditions, and what types/patterns of positive emotions are most likely to facilitate long-term resilience against chronic health conditions. Given her focus on understanding biopsychosocial processes in natural contexts, Dr. Jones has developed expertise in the use of innovative methodical and statistical techniques. Her contributions in this area inform how we can better assess intensive longitudinal data and how advanced multilevel statistical techniques can be used to examine mechanistic processes in everyday life.
Prior to joining the Center for HOPE, she earned a PhD in biobehavioral health from Penn State University and a master's degree in experimental psychology from Western Washington University. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Western Washington University. Dr. Jones was raised in California and spends her free time laughing at the antics of her husband, three children, and three cats.
Dr. Kikuchi earned a Naturopathic Doctorate from Bastyr University and Bachelor of Sciences degrees in Biology and Anthropology from the University of Utah. Prior to joining the Center for HOPE in 2021, she had extensive experience developing and leading provider engagement and health systems change programs across several states. With over a decade of work in tobacco control and nicotine addiction treatment, Dr. Kikuchi came to prioritize health equity and health care quality improvement initiatives. She plans to draw from her experience both with community partnerships and as a primary care physician to develop relationships and create connections as the Community Practice Programs Manager.
Chandler is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah, studying kinesiology. He is on the pre-med track with the goal of a career in emergency medicine. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, fly fishing, hiking, and watching sports.
Ray Meads holds a PhD in social foundation of education and writing studies from the University of Utah. As a researcher, educator, administrator, and organizer whose work seeks to support equity and inclusion in higher education institutions. They support the implementation of evidence-based HPV vaccination intervention in health systems in five Mountain West states: Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Outside the office, Ray enjoys trail running, climbing, community organizing, gardening, being a street medic, and adoring a very large Muppet of a dog–Rothko.
Jennyffer joined the Center for HOPE in 2019 as a health educator. She supports the implementation of evidence-based tobacco cessation intervention in community health centers throughout Utah. Jennyffer’s career includes working with youth in community-based settings, teaching in higher education institutions, and implementing cancer prevention interventions. Outside the office, Jennyffer maintains a small business, enjoys reading comic books, climbing and outdoor activities, and, most importantly, spending quality time with her partner and their two sons.
Brian Orleans comes to the Center for HOPE as a data manager by way of being a biostatistician and survey statistician with a wide range of interests. In his previous position as a consulting biostatistician for the in the University of Utah's Division of Epidemiology, he played a leading role in designing, managing data, and performing analysis for a range of COVID-19 epidemiological studies across the state of Utah. Data-wise, some of his interests include R programming, survey methodology, reproducible research, and most importantly, taking a customer-centered approach to data management and statistical consulting. He is very excited to be on a team of impassioned researchers that is so focused on reducing health inequalities, especially through a behavioral and socioeconomic lens. He has an MS in biostatistics from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a BA from the University of Vermont. Outside of work, Brian enjoys a long list of outdoor activities, reading, and hosting dinner parties.
Leanne Peters earned both a BS in psychology and an MPA at the University of Utah. She has a background in both private sector and nonprofit organizations, with a strong interest in community health and research. She has lived on both coasts of the United States and a couple of places in between, but she has called the beautiful state of Utah home for quite some time. She loves to travel with her family and enjoys good food, drink, and conversation and is also a dog-mom to the most snuggly pibble puppy in the entire world.
Tracey Siaperas is the clinical support coordinator for the Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH) and serves as the Community Health Center liaison for HCI’s Center for HOPE and the Utah Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. In 2016, she moved to Salt Lake City to join the Association for Utah Community Health’s team. At AUCH, she works closely with Utah’s 13 health center organizations to offer trainings and technical assistance focused on tobacco cessation, emergency preparedness, immunizations, and other performance improvement initiatives. Prior to joining AUCH, Tracey gained valuable experience working at a rural Utah Community Health Center. In her spare time, she loves to camp, lounge in the pool, and spend time with her family and border collie, Finnegan.
Sabrina graduated from the University of Utah in 2020 with a BS in psychology and is excited to be part of the mHealth research program that applies innovative mobile health technologies to examine smoking cessation among underserved populations. She hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology as well as develop her skills in research. She is a Utah-native, born and raised in West Valley City, Utah. She spends most of her free time drawing, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
Languages Spoken: English and Spanish