Protecting your information is a responsibility we take seriously. Learn about our data protection practices.
Our Team
VOICES of Black Women Study Leadership Team
The VOICES of Black Women study leadership team includes the study’s Principal Investigators and study management leaders.
Alpa V. Patel, PhD, MPH
Dr. Patel is the co-Principal Investigator for VOICES of Black Women. She studies cancer prevention, focusing on how physical activity, sedentary behavior, and obesity affect the risk of developing or dying from cancer. She also serves as the principal investigator of the ACS Cancer Prevention Studies (CPS), CPS-II and CPS-3, which are among the country’s largest population cohort studies. She provides strategic and operational oversight for the studies, including their biospecimen and data management.
Lauren E. McCullough, PhD, MSPH
Personal loss and longstanding inequities in cancer outcomes shaped my commitment to improving prevention and care for Black women. I am motivated by the need for research that is rooted in trust, representation, and lived experience to meaningfully close these gaps.
Dr. McCullough is the co-Principal Investigator for VOICES of Black Women. Her role at ACS is to contribute to the growth and diversity of ACS cohorts and lead scientific efforts in breast and GYN cancers, social epidemiology, and outcomes research. Her primary research interests are in cancer outcome disparities. Her research goals are to improve cancer prognosis in marginalized populations using a multi-level approach to identify targets for pharmacologic, behavioral, and policy intervention.
Lauren R. Teras, PhD, MPH
A world where we can end cancer as we know it, for everyone, is only possible when research reflects the voices and experiences of those long left out. This study allows us to generate the evidence needed to help ensure Black women have the opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer—moving us closer to a more equitable future.
Dr. Teras is a member of the Scientific Leadership team for VOICES of Black Women. She leads the breast and hematologic cancer research portfolios for the Department of Population Science. Her work focuses on the causes and prevention of these cancers, particularly aggressive subtypes like triple negative breast cancers and multiple myeloma. She is also interested in understanding the ways in which the screening, diagnosis, and risk of these cancers disproportionately impact men and women of color and how to correct these health inequities.
Elizabeth G. Kirkland, MPH
As a Black woman, a Spelman graduate, and an epidemiologist who has spent my career in population research, working on VOICES of Black Women is deeply personal to me. With cancer touching my own family, contributing to a study that centers, protects, and uplifts the health of Black women feels like both a responsibility and an honor.
Elizabeth leads quantitative data collection for the VOICES of Black Women cohort and brings extensive experience in population‑based research to the American Cancer Society. As a Senior Scientist, she manages a team of three—two supporting survey design, data collection, and processing for CPS‑3 and VOICES, and one leading qualitative development and analysis for VOICES—while overseeing key study management and statistical activities across the American Cancer Society’s cohort studies.
Jeuneviette E. Bontemps-Jones, MPH
Working on VOICES is important to me because it’s my opportunity to contribute to research that will have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of Black women, including myself. VOICES is so much more than just a study; it’s now a part of our story.
Jeuneviette leads efforts around qualitative data collection in the VOICES of Black Women. She began her career at ACS in the Behavioral Research Center managing studies and conducting study evaluations in the areas of tobacco control, social support, and health equity.
Dannelle Charles, MPH
As a researcher, I know the impacts of health disparities among Black women, and as a Black woman, I’ve experienced those disparities. It is important that longitudinal studies on Black women’s health are being done by a team of majority Black women.
Dannelle supports both quantitative and qualitative data collection for the VOICES of Black Women study. This involves updating, creating, and managing datasets from the VOICES surveys, assisting in the data processes, and analyzing open ended survey questions. She has done previous research centered around understanding and bridging the gaps of care among Black women in both maternal/reproductive health and cancer.
Eunice Larbi, MPH
Getting to work on something that could change the lives of generations of women who look like me is a dream come true. Working on VOICES makes me feel like I’m doing my part to fight for the lives of my community.
Eunice leads community-based research engagement for the VOICES of Black Women. This involves working with the research and outreach teams on equity-minded study design, marketing, and participant recruitment. She has done previous research in behavioral health and health equity, and her current research interests include cancer disparities, implementation science, and behavioral health.
Jessica Gerald, MPH
Working on VOICES is important to me because Black women need to be heard and seen. Our voices and experiences matter.
Jessica leads study coordination efforts for the VOICES of Black Women Study. This involves working with volunteers and Ambassadors to support recruitment efforts. She has previous experience supporting community-based research focused on health equity in Atlanta, GA. She also has experience building mutually beneficial relationships between public health organizations.
Kaela Jolibois, MPH
I want to see myself and my community reflected in health research and recommendations. Supporting this work gives me hope that as Black women, our stories and experiences will finally drive the changes we deserve for cancer outcomes and beyond.
Kaela leads outreach and partnership development for the VOICES of Black Women Study. This includes building relationships with partner organizations, supporting the implementation of recruitment activities, and coordinating grant-related programming. She has previous experience in strategic health communications and has conducted research focused on improving Black women’s maternal health outcomes.
Jeshondria McCrary, BS
Working with VOICES is important to me because it allows me the chance to impact the health of the next generation of Black women. I’m thankful for the opportunity to help join together a community of like-minded Black women who seek change and understanding.
Jeshondria provides operational and communication support for the VOICES of Black Women study. Jeshondria began her career at ACS leading work to resolve of discrepant National Death Index records for the Cancer Prevention Study-II. She then led daily operations for the Cancer Prevention Study-3 Accelerometry substudy including enrollment, protocol updates, and logistics. She now focuses on leading the Operations team within Population Science to support department work such as the Blood Substudy for CPS-3 and VOICES.
Maria Moore, BS
When I think about the importance of VOICES of Black Women, I see my mom, my three older sisters, my aunts, cousins, friends, and the generations to come. I know this study will have a meaningful impact on all of us, and I feel incredibly grateful to be part of this collective movement to understand and improve the health of our community.
Maria manages the participant portal for the VOICES of Black Women Study. This includes supporting survey development by building and testing surveys, coordinating portal operations for substudies and other study initiatives, and working to ensure the platform is user-friendly and accessible. She has previous experience supporting health equity-focused projects.
Holly Vins, MPH
As a cancer survivor, I know how frightening a diagnosis can be and how important research‑guided treatment was in my own recovery. I’m grateful to use my skills and experiences to support the VOICES of Black Women study so that if a Black woman also hears the words “you have cancer,” she has the same opportunity to survive and thrive that I did.
Holly Vins leads biospecimen management for the VOICES of Black Women study. Her primary focus is overseeing the collection, storage, and analysis of biological samples from American Cancer Society cohort study participants. Serving as a key connection point among internal investigators, external collaborators, laboratories, and the biorepository, Holly ensures that every specimen is handled appropriately and with the highest scientific and operational rigor.
Maddison Hall, MPH
I’ve dedicated my career to health equity, and I am honored that my role at the American Cancer Society allows me to contribute to this historic effort to improve the health of Black women.
Maddison leads program management for the Population Science department, including project management for the VOICES of Black Women study. In this role, she helps manage study planning efforts and the team leading study recruitment. She also liaises with external partner organizations who support VOICES recruitment and with the many different departments across the American Cancer Society involved in VOICES, including marketing and communications and information technology.
VOICES of Black Women Scientific Advisory Board
The VOICES of Black Women Scientific Advisory Board, or SAB, is a team of cross-disciplinary experts in Black women’s health that provides insights and guidance to strengthen our study.
Study Communications Team
The VOICES of Black Women study is led within the ACS Population Science Department. Members of the Population Science team support study enrollment and help answer participants’ questions.
