Dr. Natasha Crooks is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. Her community-engaged research program centers on addressing sexual health disparities among Black girls and women. Her current research focuses on the development and testing of IMAGE (IMARA for Black Male Caregivers and Girls Empowerment), a family-based HIV prevention intervention designed to increase the protection of Black girls' sexual and reproductive health in Chicago.
Kimberly Sanker-Panchal, Ed.D is a Masters in Public Health (MPH) candidate in Global Health within the Community Health Sciences (CHS) division at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). She will be actively involved in data management for this research project.
Jessica Ogwumike, MPH, is a public health researcher and trained labor doula. She is experienced in adapting evidence-based programming to improve outcomes for marginalized birthing and parenting communities, especially serving Black and queer families. As Project Director, Ogwumike oversees IMAGE research procedures and curriculum implementation.
Jackie Silva, MPH, is a public health researcher at the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science at UIC College of Medicine, experienced in community-based participatory research and adapting evidence-based programming. She is currently assisting in the adaptation and implementation of two evidence-based community-engaged sexual and reproductive heath programs aimed at addressing sexual health disparities. She serves as the Assistant Project Director for IMAGE.
Ms. Juquita “Jay” Johnson is a Chicago native that has been a part of UIC’s research team since 2012. Ms. Jay has a very strong connection to the city’s culture, socioeconomics and social needs and has committed to improving communities for decades. Ms. Jay is a mother to an adult daughter and mentor to many others, so she understands how important it is for children to have safe spaces, unconditional love and support and stern guidance so that that can become the best versions of themselves.
Alexis Strong is a Chicago native who is dedicated to the field of human services. Alexis is commissioned to combat the challenges and disparities of underserved communities, to help improve the livelihood of a Greater Chicago through UIC's IMAGE team.