Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference

Molly Magarik

Molly Magarik was sworn in as secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) in July 2020. As secretary, she leads the principal agency charged with keeping Delawareans healthy, ensuring they get the health care they need in a fast-changing world, and providing children, families, and seniors with essential social services, including food benefits, disability-related services, and mental health and addiction treatment. She oversees one of the largest departments in Delaware’s government, with an annual budget of more than $2 billion.

As secretary, Molly chairs the Health Fund Advisory Council and is a member of the Delaware Health Care Commission, the State Employee Benefits Committee, and the Governor’s Family Services Cabinet Council. As part of her portfolio, Molly is leading strategic planning efforts, including realigning the organization with greater accountability, reimagining service delivery to improve the public’s experience, and recruiting the workforce for the future. Additionally, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Molly, along with the Division of Public Health, will continue to advise the governor’s office on the pandemic response, while ensuring that the department’s critical services continue to meet the needs of the public.

Following her nomination by Governor John Carney, Molly was unanimously confirmed in June 2020 by the Delaware State Senate to be the state’s 14th secretary of DHSS.

Previously, Molly served as the deputy secretary for DHSS from February 2017 to July 2020, directing and managing key priorities for DHSS, including health care financing, payment and delivery system reform; budget administration and management; early childhood education; and the state’s COVID-19 response. She also served as the department’s chief strategy officer and developed and maintained critical partnerships with Delaware cabinet agency leaders, the legislature, the federal delegation, advocates, and health care system leadership throughout the state.

Before joining DHSS, Molly served as state director for then-Congressman John Carney and political director for Beau Biden’s campaign for attorney general. She also worked as a strategic advisor across nonprofits and government, including as executive director of the Delaware Democratic Party. She earned her bachelor’s in political science and women’s studies from the University of Delaware, and her master’s in health care delivery science from Dartmouth College. She and her husband, Josh, have two daughters and live in Middletown.

The Honorable Bethany Hall-Long, PhD, RN

Dr. Bethany Hall-Long has served as Delaware’s 26th lieutenant governor since 2017. As a member of the Democratic Party, she served in the Delaware House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008 and in the Delaware Senate from 2008 to 2017.

Bethany was born and raised in Sussex County on her family farm with her two older brothers. She graduated from Indian River High School, where she met her husband, Dana, who served in the U.S. Navy for nine years. Later, she earned a BSN from Thomas Jefferson University, an MSN from the Medical University of South Carolina, and a PhD in health policy and nursing administration from George Mason University.

A lifelong nurse and research scientist, Bethany has dedicated her medical career to addressing health inequities and expanding treatment options and access for mental health care in Delaware. She has been nationally recognized for her research and community service record with at-risk groups such as pregnant teens, diabetics, the homeless, and people facing mental health challenges and substance use disorder.

Bethany also serves as the principal investigator of the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps (DMRC), where she helps lead the state’s response to public health emergencies. In the fall of 2020, Governor Carney appointed Bethany to co-chair the Pandemic Resurgence Advisory Committee (PRAC). Comprising over 50 Delaware leaders in both the private and public sectors, the PRAC was tasked with preparing a pandemic playbook that included a strategy focused on health, business, and equity to combat a potential resurgence of COVID-19 in Delaware.

As lieutenant governor, Bethany led the effort to create the Behavioral Health Consortium to address the opioid epidemic and the substance use disorder and mental health challenges facing Delawareans. As chair, she convenes parents, teachers, law enforcement, health care professionals, lawmakers, and community members who have been impacted by mental health and addiction, to expand access to treatment and care. She believes that no one’s access to health care should be determined by their ZIP code. Her efforts have helped bring substantive and effective change in stemming the opioid crisis and creating a behavioral health system that works for everyone in Delaware.

In 2018, Governor Carney tapped Bethany to chair the Governor’s Complete Count Commission. She convened leaders from all over Delaware to make sure everyone was included in the census, including those hardest to count. Bethany believes that community engagement is the key to successful leadership. That is why, at the onset of the pandemic, she started monthly calls with community leaders from across the state to ensure equity and awareness in state services.

Bethany is currently a professor of nursing and joint faculty in urban affairs at the University of Delaware. Her unique blend of experience in academic research and public service has allowed her to be the leading voice in ensuring that we create a stronger, healthier Delaware. Committed to training and teaching the next generation, Bethany is the national co-chair of Million Women Mentors. Her work, research, and accomplishments focus on finding real solutions to vexing social problems. She uses her skills and unmatched experience to bring people together, build consensus, and help find common-sense solutions to issues facing Delaware families and communities.

Governor John Carney

Born in Wilmington and raised in Claymont, Governor John Carney has been working for the people of Delaware for more than 30 years. He took office as Delaware’s 74th governor in January 2017, focused on making Delaware’s economy more competitive, preparing Delaware’s children to succeed, and building a long-term sustainable financial plan for the state of Delaware. Working with Delawareans across the state and with members of the General Assembly, he has made progress on each of those priorities. Governor Carney has directed new resources to high-needs schools; partnered with the private sector to drive new job creation; and taken steps to lower health care costs for Delaware families, businesses, and taxpayers.

Governor Carney began his second term as governor in January 2021. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, he has attempted to balance the need for a healthy community with the need for a strong economy. Working with Delawareans, our communities, and members of the General Assembly, Governor Carney remains focused on beating COVID-19, rebuilding our economy, making sure all Delaware children have an opportunity to succeed, and recommitting to a long-term sustainable financial plan for the state of Delaware.

From 2011 to 2017, John served as Delaware’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives. During his three terms in Congress, John worked with members of both parties to find solutions to the most important challenges facing the nation. He supported the revitalization of American manufacturing through the “Make It in America” agenda. He was a lead sponsor of the centerpiece of the Jumpstart Our Businesses (JOBS) Act, which made it easier for small- and medium-sized businesses to grow and create jobs. John also introduced legislation that was signed into law to prevent critical prescription drug shortages, and he was the lead sponsor on a successful bill to help veterans more easily enter the job market.

Prior to his time in Congress, John served two terms as Delaware’s lieutenant governor. Between 2001 and 2009, he developed the Lt. Governor’s Challenge to encourage Delawareans to live active, healthier lifestyles. He also created and implemented the Models of Excellence in Education program that allowed schools throughout the state to share best practices. In addition, John was a strong supporter of the Delaware smoking ban, and he led the fight for the Cancer Right to Know law, ultimately passed in 2008. John also served as the chairman of the Delaware Health Care Commission, the Criminal Justice Council, and the Delaware Science and Technology Council.

Under then-Governor Tom Carper, John served as Delaware’s secretary of finance and deputy chief of staff. Before that, he was deputy chief administrative officer for New Castle County, and on the staff of then-Senator Joe Biden. In these roles, he helped Delaware earn its first-ever AAA bond rating, played a key role in the state’s purchase of the Port of Wilmington, and worked to cut taxes nine times.

The second of nine children, John was born in Wilmington and raised in Claymont by his parents, Jack and Ann Carney, who were both educators. He attended St. Mark’s High School and led the school’s football team to its first state championship in 1973. After graduating high school, John attended Dartmouth College, where he continued his football career and earned All-Ivy League and Most Valuable Player honors. When John returned to Delaware, he coached freshmen football on the staff of UD Head Coach Tubby Raymond while earning a master’s in public administration at the University of Delaware.

John lives in Wilmington with his wife, Tracey. They have two sons, Sam and Jimmy.

Raina Harper Allen, MA

Raina Allen is the director of the Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative powered by the United Way of Delaware. She began her career as former USA Today syndicated columnist DeWayne Wickham’s chief researcher and worked on issues related to race and social justice. She was also chief of staff for Wickham’s Woodholme Foundation, which helped underachieving inner-city high school seniors gain acceptance to college and paid all their first-year expenses. Over the past 15 years, Raina has focused her efforts on nonprofit management, community engagement, race, and social justice. Most recently, she served as legislative and communications director for Wilmington City Council. Raina has a BA in government and politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MA in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.

Gwendoline B. Angalet, PhD

Dr. Gwendoline B. “Gwen” Angalet is the owner and CEO of GBA Consulting, a management consulting firm that provides professional services to clients in the public and not-for-profit sectors to help them lead and manage change and achieve improved results and lasting impact using the “collective impact” framework. Current projects focus on promoting community resilience related to the social determinants of health and racial equity, fostering positive youth development, and preventing youth violence. Gwen’s career in public service spans over three decades, mostly in leadership and management roles in the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families and Nemours Children’s Health System. Additionally, she serves on the boards of community nonprofit organizations, including the Wilmington Hope Commission and the 21st Century Fund for Delaware’s Children.

Melanie Daniels

Melanie Daniels is the four-term president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Delaware Chapter. She is a former financial advisor for FOX 29 Philadelphia television, where she appeared on-air live on the Good Day Philadelphia morning show. Melanie is a Series 7 investment advisor and spent several years as an executive vice president with Sanders Investment Advisors, Philadelphia. Prior to that, she served as information technology and operations accountant with Johnson & Johnson Company, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. Currently, Melanie partners with her husband, Dr. Vincent J. Daniels, in their dental practice, Blue Diamond Dental, in Wilmington, Delaware, where she serves as business, accounting, and human resources manager. Melanie holds a BS in accounting from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University as well as two master’s degrees from the University of Delaware, in business administration and economics. She is currently completing her doctorate in business administration. Melanie serves as the graduate advisor to the Lambda Gamma chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at the University of Delaware and is a board member of the African American Economic Empowerment Fund.

Aniekan Ebitu, MPH

Aniekan Ebitu currently serves as the national senior director of public health for the National Hypertension Control Initiative project. This project is supported by cooperative agreements with the Office of Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration. In her role, Aniekan is responsible for developing work plans that strengthen communities through health center linkages, improving health care organizational practices through training and technical assistance, and increasing public awareness of the importance of self-measuring blood pressure in populations disproportionately impacted with hypertension/high blood pressure—with priority focused on African American, Latinx, and Alaskan and Native American populations in federally funded community health centers. Aniekan received her BS in biology from Towson University, and she obtained her MPH from Morgan State University.

Peggy Geisler

Peggy Geisler is the owner and senior consultant of PMG Consulting LLC, a firm that works with not-for-profits and businesses on infrastructure, strategic planning, and collective impact, as well as conducts community-based planning in both Maryland and Delaware. She is a licensed consultant for the Standards for Excellence Institute for the Maryland Association of Nonprofits and the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA). She has 25 years of experience in the not-for-profit field and has received numerous awards for her community-based work. Peggy holds a BA in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland and an MA in clinical psychology from Salisbury University. Peggy oversees the project management of the Sussex County Health Coalition, a well-established nonprofit consisting of a 175-organization membership whose mission is to strategically improve the health and well-being of children, youth, and families in Sussex County, Delaware.

Kim Graham

Kim Graham serves as the coordinator of the newly formed Trauma Academy of Delaware State University and develops courses and training tracks that assists practitioners and students to be responsive to trauma and needs of specific communities. Prior to this role, she served Christina Cultural Arts Center, a community school of the arts providing access to the arts and arts education, for over 20 years. Kim leads Trauma Matters Delaware’s Community Based Healing Subcommittee, and serves as a member of the Higher Education Subcommittee. She is a member of the Delaware Department of Education’s Thrive Advisory Board, which supports the advancement of Delaware Schools on the continuum to becoming trauma informed. Ms. Graham holds a Master of Arts in clinical psychology from West Chester University, with a concentration in psychodrama.

Shebra K. Hall, MPA

Shebra K. Hall is the Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention (PANO) program administrator in the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Public Health. Shebra has held other positions at DHSS, including Birth to Three Early Intervention training administrator, and at the Delaware Health Care Commission. Prior to her work at DHSS, Shebra was the community initiatives coordinator for Nemours BrightStart!, a national initiative of the Nemours Children’s Health System, helping community members, health care professionals, educators, and stakeholders understand key concepts and actions needed to promote health and wellness for all Delawareans. Shebra has a BA from Hamilton College and an MPA from Shippensburg University. She was the recipient of the 2015 iEducate Delaware Award from the Rodel Foundation, which recognizes educators and community members who show innovation, creativity, and strong collaboration with others in the community.

Colonel Debbie Harrington, EdD

Colonel Debbie Harrington is an experienced leader and community and social justice advocate. She has a doctorate in education, with an emphasis in innovation and organizational leadership. She is a retired U.S. Army colonel with 25 years of executive leadership in multinational strategic planning, transformational change, organizational culture and structure, and congressional budget programming and execution. She was inducted into the Norfolk State University ROTC Hall of Fame, having been its first female graduate to achieve the high rank of colonel and the first to command a battalion unit. Colonel Harrington is an advocate for women, children, people with disabilities, and veterans. She now serves on the Governor’ Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families. She is the second vice chair of Delaware Democratic Party and serves on the Delaware State University (DSU) Board of Trustees, the Delaware Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Early College School Board of Directors, and the Middletown Police Advisory Board.

Frank Hawkins, MS

Frank Hawkins has been with AIDS Delaware for 23 years, where he serves as the director of advocacy and community engagement. Frank is an internationally certified gambling counselor. He has implemented numerous programs to reach various populations in the city of Wilmington and has received many commendations and awards for his work with HIV. He has been featured in various publications for the work that he is doing to halt the spread of HIV. One of his more notable programs is the Do the Right Thing 4LIFE program, which targets barbershops and beauty salons in the city of Wilmington to reach the African American community.

Suchi Hiraesave, PhD

Dr. Suchi Hiraesave is the vice president of grants development at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware (BGCDE). With over three decades of experience in youth development and prevention, Suchi has contributed significantly to the field by raising millions of dollars over the years and actively participating in local and state-level committees to effect positive change in the communities that BGCDE serves. She has presented at various national conferences. Recently, Suchi was recognized as one of the 17 most influential people in health care in Delaware for her role in advocating for funding to support more mental health professionals and training for BGCDE staff across the state. She earned her master’s in sociology from Bangalore University, India; an MSW from Delaware State University; and a doctoral degree in social work from Widener University, Center for Social Work Education, Chester, Pennsylvania.

Emily Kauffman

Emily Kauffman is a program manager for the Equity Counts Data Center and Partnership Initiative at the United Way of Delaware. She is currently completing her Master of Public Health degree at George Washington University. After growing up in Delaware and forging a career in health promotion and wellness, Emily is now enthusiastic about using evidence-based programs to address health inequities at the local level.

Rita Landgraf

Rita Landgraf joined AARP in February of this year, serving as director, government affairs lead family caregiving. Rita remains an affiliated faculty member with the University of Delaware’s (UD) College of Health Sciences, as Professor of Practice and Distinguished Health and Social Services Administrator in Residence, providing leadership support to the UD Partnership for Healthy Communities and Healthy Communities Delaware. Prior to joining the faculty at UD, she served as cabinet secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services from 2009 to 2017, under Gov. Jack Markell’s administration. Rita currently serves as a member of the board of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, chairs the BluePrints Community Advisory Council, and serves as board chair of ChristianaCare Home Health. Rita is also on the executive advisory boards of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Delaware and atTAcK Addiction.

Teri Lawler, EdD, LPCMH

Dr. Teri Lawler is an education associate, Trauma-Informed Practices and Social and Emotional Learning, for the Delaware Department of Education. Teri is an innovative psychologist who is enthusiastic about creating equitable educational opportunities for all children and youth, regardless of ZIP code. She is determined to reduce barriers to learning by increasing awareness of the impact of trauma and toxic stress, and creating trauma-responsive assessment and intervention frameworks. She is committed to translating research to practice, ensuring the highest-quality findings inform daily school practices. Teri is a founding member, trainer, and curriculum architect at Delaware Compassionate Schools Learning Collaborative. She also serves as an expert advisor for the Pathways to Resilience initiative, a national effort to raise awareness of the impact of adversity and trauma on individuals and communities and to advance trauma-responsive policies and programs across sectors.

Nicholas Moriello

Nick Moriello is the president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, assuming the role in August 2018. Before that, Nick ran his own agency, Health Insurance Associates (HIA). Under his leadership, HIA grew to be one of the largest independent health insurance agencies in the tristate area of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, serving the regional community for over 40 years. In January 2016, HIA merged with Savoy, a regional general agency and wholesaler headquartered in northern New Jersey, and Ascela, a regional retail insurance agency. Nick is a 14-time recipient of the NAHU Leading Producers Round Table’s highest award, the Lifetime & Qualifying Soaring Eagle, and he received the NAIFA 2013 Carl Hill Memorial Award for dedication to the industry and community. Nick completed the Wharton School’s “Leading to a Higher Mark” program, is a LUMA Institute–certified practitioner of human-centered design, and is a registered health underwriter from the American College of Financial Services. He earned his BA in Management from DeSales University.

Keisha Morris, MALM

Keisha Morris has recently joined Bayhealth as the director of talent management and workforce development. Prior to that, she was the workforce planning program manager with the Nemours Children’s Health System. Keisha has over 20 years of experience in curriculum design, instructional content creation, in-person and virtual facilitation, change management, strategic planning, and workforce planning and coaching. Keisha is enthusiastic about the growth and development of others and seeks out opportunities to assist them in their lifelong journey of becoming their best selves. Keisha is a graduate of Howard University (Washington, D.C.), where she obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business, with a focus in management. Keisha also has a Master of Leadership Ministry from Faith International University & Seminary and is currently preparing to complete her PhD in organizational leadership at Regent University.

Dalton Paxman, PhD

Dr. Dalton Paxman is the regional health administrator (RHA) for the mid-Atlantic region, where he oversees public health initiatives for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. From 1996 to 2000, Dalton served as the senior environmental health advisor in the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, providing advice to the assistant secretary for health and the surgeon general on environmental health issues. He was the senior staff member on key multiagency environmental health and science policy initiatives, including both the President’s Food Safety Initiative and the Task Force on Children’s Environmental Health and Safety. He also served as the Department’s liaison to the National Science and Technology Council for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. As a senior policy analyst in the Environment Program at the Office of Technology Assessment in the U.S. Congress, Dalton directed congressional studies in the areas of health risk assessment research, comparative risk assessment, and environmental regulations. He received his PhD in environmental health sciences from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, where he received the Kruze Award for Excellence in Environmental Health Research.

Knolan Rawlins, PhD, CAPE

Dr. Knolan Rawlins is an assistant professor and the kinesiology program coordinator at Delaware State University, where the diverse and vibrant student body includes students from 41 states and 15 countries. As a proud member of this institution, he developed new service-learning opportunities for undergraduate students, which offer an inclusive place for all students and members of the community, with all abilities, to develop gross-motor, sports-related, and water-safety skills. Knolan’s central research interest is empowering underrepresented communities, with a focus on addressing education and health disparities, and the cornerstone of his research agenda is building community programming. Most importantly, he believes that community programming must have representation in leadership positions that match the intended population. Children from the community as well as students at Delaware State University must be able to see the possibility of not only being included but also being valued leaders in movement-based community programming.

Marlene A. Saunders, DSW, MSW, LMSW

Marlene Saunders is a social worker with over 50 years of experiences providing services to individuals, families, groups, and organizations in the fields of social work education, child welfare, aging, professional development, and community organization. Positions held include chairperson in the Department of Social Work at Delaware State University; executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, Delaware Chapter; founder and managing editor of Let The Truth Be Told; and commissioner, Town of Bridgeville, Fifth District. She retired from Delaware State University in 2014 after 29 years. In 2019, she was recognized as a Social Work Pioneer® by the National Association of Social Workers. She has contributed articles to the Delaware Journal of Public Health, focusing primarily on social justice for African Americans and other groups. Currently, Marlene serves on the boards of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, Blacks in Government, and the Village Tree, and she is chairperson for the DE CTR ACCEL Advisory Council.

Scott D. Siegel, PhD, MHCDS

Dr. Scott Siegel is the director of Cancer Control & Population Sciences within the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at ChristianaCare in Newark, Delaware. In this role, he develops, implements, and evaluates health care programs designed to improve cancer prevention and close health disparities. A behavioral scientist and clinical psychologist, Scott completed doctoral training at the University of Miami and his clinical internship at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Washington. More recently, he completed a master’s in health care delivery science at Dartmouth. Scott is an author of over 50 peer-reviewed research articles and holds appointments at the University of Delaware, the Wistar Institute, and Thomas Jefferson University.

Gwendolyn Scott-Jones, PsyD, MSW, CAADC

Dr. Gwendolyn Scott-Jones currently serves as the new founding dean for Delaware State University’s Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. Prior to that, she served as chair and associate professor in the Department of Psychology for 12 years. Gwendolyn received her BS in psychology and MSW degrees from Delaware State University. She also attended Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and obtained a master’s in clinical psychology and a doctorate in clinical psychology, with a certification in cognitive behavioral therapy. Trained as a clinical psychologist, Gwendolyn specializes in forensic psychology, adult psychopathology, trauma-related disorders, organizational trauma, sports psychology, and substance abuse treatment. Her research interests are adult pathology, suicide prevention, trauma, and program development and implementation. Gwendolyn is a member of Delta Sigma Theta and was selected by the sorority as the national Distinguished Professor Endowed Chair. She was appointed by the governor of Delaware to serve on Delaware’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Board. She is also a member of Delaware’s Health Care Commission Workforce Subcommittee and serves as board president for Slaughter Neck Community Action.

Kate Smith, MD, MPH

Dr. Kate Smith is the executive-director-elect, program manager, and clinical liaison for the Delaware Academy of Medicine / Delaware Public Health Association (DPHA). She has led research projects on foreign and domestic immunization practices, the role of women and sexism in American society, and the use of advance directives in Delaware. Her degrees in medicine and public health allow her a unique perspective on issues in the health care system, and her dual citizenship adds an international perspective, allowing her to act in ways that truly benefit citizens and society. Kate oversees the Immunization Coalition of Delaware and the Delaware Chronic Disease Collaborative, as well as other Academy/DPHA programs and projects. She coordinates the Academy/DPHA’s student internship program and is the copy editor for the Delaware Journal of Public Health.

Devona E.G. Williams, PhD

Dr. Devona Williams founded Goeins-Williams Associates (GWA) in 1986 to help organizations achieve greater productivity in strategic work environments. As president/CEO of GWA, Devona has contributed her talents to helping nearly 60,000 individuals in hundreds of organizations across all industries increase their performance and effectiveness. She is an expert in strategic planning, organizational performance assessment and development, focus groups, and meeting/retreat facilitation. Her consulting focuses on cultural diversity/inclusion, leadership, and business success. An active public servant, Devona is chair of the board of trustees for Delaware State University. She holds a doctorate in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware’s Biden School of Public Policy. A distinguished alum, Devona received the Kathleen Siegfried Leadership Award from the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship Program. In October 2020, she was inducted into the Delaware Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

Molly Yoo

Molly Yoo is the director of grants development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware. Her key responsibilities include writing and researching grants, data management, program evaluation support, and providing technical assistance to sites to ensure grant deliverables are met. Molly has worked in various positions within the organization, starting as an education and site director and eventually becoming the Statewide STEAM director, where she expanded STEAM offerings, provided professional development to staff, and managed various grants and funding sources. As the assistant regional director for New Castle County School sites as well as an assistant in statewide compliance, she became familiar with the state’s childcare licensing standards. In her most recent role within the Grants Department, Molly worked on developing data collection and evaluation tools to measure the impacts of various programs in healthy lifestyles, mental wellness, and social-emotional learning. Molly holds a BA in English from Wesley College and an MA in teaching from Wilmington University.