Health Promotion
Faculty and Staff
Hillary Barry, Peer Health Education Coordinator
Hillary Barry joined the Office of Health Promotion in 2011 as the Peer Health Education (PHE) Coordinator. Hillary earned a BA in Economics and American Studies from UVA and a MS in Social Work from the University of Tennessee. She spent two years in Nashville, TN doing community outreach and education for non-profit organizations. A former UVA Peer Health Educator herself, Hillary trains and advises our 40+ PHEs and assures the collaboration and integration of all three peer education programs within the Office of Health Promotion. Hillary loves baking, playing tennis, skiing and supporting local restaurants and businesses.
Melanie Brede, RD, CSSD, Nutritionist
Melanie is a registered dietitian in the Office of Health Promotion. She came to UVa in 2006 after working in a similar capacity at the University of Florida. UF is also her alma mater, where she earned undergraduate degrees in psychology and dietetics and a master’s degree in Health Education. She is also a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. Melanie follows the Health At Every Size philosophy in her nutrition counseling and outreach efforts at UVa. She enjoys working with students on a variety of nutrition and health related topics, including cholesterol management, eating disorders, sports nutrition, and general health & wellness. Melanie loves watching the Gators rack up national championships, swimming, and all the sights and seasons in Charlottesville.
Jamie Leonard, MPH, CHES, Director
Jamie has worked in the Office of Health Promotion since 2008 after working in research for the University of Washington in Seattle. Jamie earned her undergraduate degree in Social Sciences from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (including one year in Aix-en-Provence, France) and her Masters in Public Health at San Diego State University. She also lived in Hawai'i for five years, developing health programs for marginalized populations, advocating through the Legislature, and working with various student groups, including the PHEs at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa. Jamie loves to run on the Rivanna Trails with her Golden Retriever, enjoy good coffee, wine, and flavorful foods (particularly coffee ice cream), and travel anywhere she hasn't visited yet.
Jay Nottingham, Administrative Assistant
Jay began working in the Office of Health Promotion in September of 2005. He graduated from UVa in 2000 and worked for five years at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library. He is pursuing his M.Ed. in Higher Education. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, eating, and playing guitar.
Jason Shaffer, Social Norms Marketing Coordinator
Jason has oversight for a variety of social norms marketing programs at U.Va. including the Stall Seat Journal and the Grounds-wide Campaign. While Jason joined the Health Promotion staff in 2009, he worked for U.Va. in Residence Life from 2001 until 2009. In addition to his role in Student Health, Jason is the Assistant Director for the Center for Alcohol and Substance Education (CASE). Jason has a BA in Sociology from Penn State University and a Master of Education degree from James Madison University. Jason enjoys spending time with his wife Karen, trying out new vegetarian recipes and working on his home.
Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Susan Bruce, M.Ed., Director, Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Susie has served as director of the Gordie Center since 2000. She has 20 years of experience in collegiate health promotion and has developed nationally recognized substance abuse and sexual assault education and prevention programs. She has expertise in the social norms approach and directs the NCAA-funded APPLE conferences, the leading national training symposiums dedicated to substance abuse prevention and health promotion for student-athletes and athletics department administrators. She is a member of the STEP UP! bystander intervention Advisory Board.
Holly Deering, M.Ed., Health Educator, Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Holly returned to the Gordie Center in 2011 after serving as the APPLE Conference Graduate Assistant in 2008. In her new role as the Health Educator, her primary responsibilities include co-coordinating the NCAA-funded APPLE conferences and co-advising the Student Athlete Mentors. Prior to returning to UVA, Holly worked as a Residential Community Director at Southern Methodist University. Holly has a BS in Speech Communication from James Madison University and M.Ed. in Student Affairs from the University of Virginia.
Holly Foster, M.Ed., Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Education Coordinator
Holly worked at the Gordie Center as a doctoral intern for three years prior to her role as ATOD Education Coordinator. Holly earned a BA and MA in English at George Mason University, a M.Ed. in Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education at UVA, and she is completing her doctorate in Higher Education Administration through the Curry School. She will continue her work advising the ADAPT peer educators, coordinating activities to address celebratory drinking events through curriculum infusion, and managing the development and marketing of ATOD prevention materials. Holly also teaches composition at PVCC and enjoys spending time with her daughter, Kaylee, and their two dogs Chico & Finn.
Debra Reed serves as both an Administrative Assistant and Program Coordinator for the University of Virginia's Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Debra has served the University of Virginia for thirty years; twenty-three of which have been dedicated to the Center. For twenty-one years, Debra has been co-coordinator of the NCAA-funded APPLE conferences. Her daily responsibilities include fiscal management, coordination of student community service hours and maintaining day to day operations in the office.
National Social Norms Institute
Jennifer Bauerle, Ph.D., Director, National Social Norms Institute
Jennifer is the Director of the newly established National Social Norms Institute. She grew up in Charlottesville but moved west to southern California to attend California State University at Long Beach, where she received her undergraduate degree. Her heart called her back here, and she received her doctorate in Program Evaluation at UVa. Jennifer has developed and implemented health programs utilizing social marketing concepts in substance abuse prevention. She is on the University Alcohol Advisory Committee and is the Chair for the Charlottesville Albemarle Prevention Coalition.