Meet Our Team

Jason Rao, PhD

Jason is the Executive Director and Advisory Chair of HSP, as well as adjunct faculty at the Cornell University, teaching global health, national security and diplomacy. He is a recognized thought leader of global health security policy and programs. Jason previously served as Senior Policy Advisor to President Obama, in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where he contributed to the President’s Global Science Engagement, Global Health Initiative, and Biological Threat Reduction policy and program efforts. He is the founder of the U.S. Department of State’s Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP), launched in 2006 during his tenure with the State Department, Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (2002-2009). Jason was a Brookings Legis Fellow, serving in the 111th Congress, working on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. In 2011, Jason left government to pursue work in the non-profit sector as the Senior Director for Innovation and International Affairs at the American Society for Microbiology. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular biology from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and has 20 years’ experience in public health, foreign affairs, national security, biological threat reduction and science policy. Jason has worked extensively in, and maintains active collaboration with South and Southeast Asia, all regions of Africa, Middle East North Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America.

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Prasad Kuduvalli, PhD

For over ten years, Prasad has advanced health systems strengthening, health security and science diplomacy efforts worldwide. He is focused on expanding life sciences collaboration, particularly with isolated communities, for sustainable development. He holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University.

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Brenda Williams

As the Director of Human Resources and Talent Development, Brenda oversees all HSP operations related to human resources policies and practices. Specifically, she provides leadership, guidance and recommendations on the organization’s human resources policies and practices, developing policy change implementation regarding human resources, as well as developing and promoting employee professional development. She works with a variety of national and global partners. Prior to joining the HSP team, she worked at the American Society for Microbiology as the Human Resources Senior Manager overseeing all human resources functions and operations. She brings over 20 years of human resources experience.

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Jessica McLean

Jessica works in collaboration with scientific partners in South Asia and the Middle East to implement HSP’s education, training, and capacity building programs. Prior to joining the HSP team, she worked at the American Society for Microbiology to advance education, laboratory strengthening, health security, and science diplomacy efforts around the globe, with a specific focus on Yemen and Malaysia. She brings experience working in partnership with local sister societies, academic institutions, and national laboratories to implement public health and biosafety capacity building programs through developing in-service training and mentoring activities.

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Javed Khan

Javed Khan serves as Program Director for HSP’s OneHealth work in Pakistan, and supports various health security projects in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan. Previously, Javed worked at Relief International where he pioneered the organization’s bio-engagement and One Health programs and led these programs in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Somalia. Javed has 22+ years of professional experience in various disciplines including agriculture, livestock management, One Health, biorisk management, and wildlife conservation worked with various NGOs, environmental agencies, academia, and government bodies in Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and the United Kingdom. Javed also worked for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), where he was responsible for managing a program for large carnivores and snow leopard conservation. He has the distinction being part of scientific mission that put a first ever GPS collar on a snow leopard in 2006. Javed has a post-graduate degree in veterinary sciences and animal husbandry and studied dairy sciences in the Netherlands. He is fellow of the U.S. Montana-based Property and Environment Research Council and member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature cats specialist group. He is fluent in Pashto and Urdu.

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Alle Taylor

Alle Taylor came to Health Security Partners after four years with the American Society for Microbiology, where she developed and managed programming in science diplomacy and public health capacity building in more than 50 countries. Prior to that, Alle supported emergency operations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she gained an appreciation for the far-reaching consequences of animal disease outbreaks on health, trade, and the environment. Alle received a master’s degree in public health microbiology and emerging infectious diseases from George Washington University and holds certifications in public procurement. Alle is responsible for HSP’s work supporting the Global Health Security Agenda, specifically efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and the spread of zoonotic disease in South Asia and East Africa. She is based in Seattle, Washington.

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Libby Cha

As a Program Manager, Libby supports Health Security Partners’ work throughout the world, with a focus on program support and project development in South East Asia and the Middle East. In addition, she is also responsible for the design and management of virtual curriculum on the principles and practices of global health security for HSP’s fellowship programs. Libby came to Health Security Partners in 2019, following a semester internship in 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Global and Public Health Sciences, with a minor in Policy Analysis and Management with a concentration in Health Policy.

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Jacob May

Jacob joined Health Security Partners in January of 2020. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Cornell University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government, as well as minors in Public Policy and Law & Society. As a Program Manager, he has supported the development, management, and execution of HSP’s country-specific biological, chemical, and cybersecurity programs in the Middle East and South--Southeast Asia. He is based in Dallas, Texas.

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Samreen Sarwar

Samreen is the technical advisor for Health Security Partners’ programs in Pakistan, which are being executed in collaboration with different national and international organizations to strengthen health security in Pakistan. Samreen is also a reviewer for different grant applications and fellowship programs. She has received two gold medals, several distinctions and the “Best B. Sc Medical Technology Student Award” in her academic career. Samreen is also a qualified ISO 15189 assessor of Pakistan National Accreditation Council and has worked as a coach and master trainer with the Pakistan Biological Safety Association. Additionally, she has worked in clinical microbiology diagnostic laboratories for more than four years, and is former ASM Young Ambassador to Pakistan (2013 – 2016) and Young Leader of ASM Young Leader Circle. Samreen has also published a chapter on tuberculosis with a well-known publisher in the USA, has organized more than fifty workshops, and is a 2015 health security futures fellow!

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Cecelia Madsen

Cecelia serves as a Program Manager at Health Security Partners. Prior to joining the team, Cecelia worked at Cornell University in a number of capacities including as One Health Fellow with the Cornell Master of Public Health program, Nutrition Educator with Cooperative Extension, Assistant Coach of Women’s Rowing, and Project Manager for Cornell’s COVID-19 Behavioral Risk Assessment and Community Health Education Program. She served as U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Mbour, Senegal from 2013-2015 where she worked to increase the food and health security of her community. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts and Master of Public Health degrees from Cornell University. As a Program Manager, Cecelia supports the development, management, and execution of HSP programs.

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Renee Travis

As Program Coordinator, Renee supports the administration and financial aspects of Health Security Partners grant programs. Renee graduated from Arcadia University in 2020 with a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Global Public Health. During her time at Arcadia, she interned with multiple nonprofits in the U.S. and abroad which solidified her interest in working with nonprofits and traveling.

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Diandra Coleman

Diandra received her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Liberty University in 2015 and is in her second year of George Mason University's Master of Science in Biodefense. Before joining HSP, she worked with the Virginia Small Business Development Center. She has also worked as a freelance writer, and spent time working in healthcare as a surgical coordinator, medical scribe, and healthcare administrative assistant. She currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and three dogs.

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Kate Taylor

Kate Taylor came to Health Security Partners after two years at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center where she worked for their Cancer Surveillance System, and was responsible for coordinating clinical and epidemiologic cancer data in the state of Washington. Prior to her work at Fred Hutchinson, Kate worked as a clinical research associate for two biotechnology companies, Dyne Therapeutics Inc. and Disarm Therapeutics, informing their therapeutic drug trials for rare disease. Kate received a master’s degree in public health at the University of Washington and a B.S. in Spanish Language and Linguistics at University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a program manager, Kate supports the development, management, and execution of HSP’s projects.

Rebecca Sherrod

Rebecca is a program manager with Health Security Partners. Before this, she worked as a research manager with the VA Boston Healthcare System. Rebecca received her B.S. from James Madison University in Health Sciences, and her M.P.H. from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine focusing on infectious diseases, and an M.A. in political science from Virginia Tech concentrating on global health security.

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Harimala Filate

As the senior accountant Harimala oversees HSP finances. Before joining Health Security Partners, she worked as a senior accountant manager at neighborhood health association overseeing all aspects of the company finances. She brings extended experience in healthcare finances, nonprofits and grants. Harimala received her master’s degree in accounting and finances at Ashland University and B.S. in Accounting as well as a minor in economics at University of Buffalo. She is based in Toledo, Ohio.

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Stephanie Mattoon

Stephanie Mattoon comes to Health Security Partners from Cornell University, where she was the Associate Biosafety Officer and Alternative Responsible Official for their Select Agent Program. While working at Cornell, she received her Master of Public Health in 2021, with a concentration in infectious disease epidemiology. While pursing her MPH, she worked on several interesting projects including working with the USDA-APHIS to analyze data obtained through the National Tuberculosis Eradication Program and she developed tick-borne disease prevention and education materials for campgrounds and doctors throughout New York State. Prior to working in biosafety, She worked as a scientist for a molecular diagnostics company, Rheonix Inc., where she was part of their research & development team for over five years. Stephanie received her Bachelor of Science from SUNY Cortland in 2014.

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Gina Gohl

Gina graduated from University of South Florida in 2013 with an MPH in Global Health Practice. Prior to joining HSP, Gina served in Peace Corps and has worked in the non profit sector for much of her career.

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Soukayna Iraqi

Soukayna Iraqi graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Public Health with a concentration in Biology from the University of Colorado. She is wrapping up a Masters in Healthcare Administration with a focus in Health Policy and Regulatory Leadership from the University of Denver and hopes to pursue a Doctoral degree in Public Health in the near future. Prior to joining HSP, Soukayna worked in both FQHCs and local government focusing on infrastructure development and programmatic implementation prioritizing health equity in vulnerable populations. In her free time, Soukayna volunteers as an advocacy leader for Hunger Free Colorado, a nonprofit organization that works to eliminate hunger through policy reform.

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India Bowman

India Bowman is a Senior Program Specialist with Health Security Partners. She comes to HSP with several years of infectious disease epidemiology training. Prior to joining HSP, India worked as an Infection Control Coordinator with HCA Houston Healthcare. She previously served as program analyst for CSTE managing and improving infrastructure for state and local enteric disease, HIV/STD,and Hepatitis programs. Additionally, she has served as a CDC PHAP and has provided epidemiology support in multiple state and local health departments. India completed her Bachelor's of Science in psychology at the University of Florida and her Master of Public Health at Emory University.

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Rebecca Johnson

Rebecca serves as a Program Manager at Health Security Partners. Prior to joining HSP, Rebecca worked at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation where she supported the foundation's new business development efforts. She holds a Bachelor's of Science from Ithaca College, and received a Master's of Science in Global Health from Georgetown University in 2019. Rebecca has spent significant time abroad in Bangladesh, completing her graduate thesis research at the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research in Dhaka. As a Program Manager, Rebecca supports the development, management, and execution of HSP programs.

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Natalie Grande

Natalie works as a Program Coordinator with HSP. Prior to joining the team, Natalie served as a Community Agribusiness Coordinator with Peace Corps Uganda and attended graduate school in the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus NOHA program - the Network of Humanitarian Action. With experience spanning government and nonprofits in the US, Uganda, Thailand, and remotely for Afghanistan, she is now based in the NYC metro area.

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Taylor Puhl

Taylor is a Program Manager with Health Security Partners. Prior to joining HSP, Taylor worked as a Project Manager in the Health Policy and Clinical Evidence practice of Economist Impact. In this role she designed programs and led teams to develop policy research and insights across a range of health topic areas, including neglected tropical diseases, mental health, and health system resilience. She holds a Master of Science in Global Health from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia. As a Program Manager, Taylor supports the development, management, and execution of HSP programs.

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