Community and Collaborator Engagement Research and Education Community Advisory Board (RECAB) Members | UC Davis CTSC

Rodney Black is the dedicated coordinator and instructor of the Valley High School Health TECH Academy Community Health Worker Training Program. A proud veteran of the United States Air Force and a former community health education extensionist with the Peace Corps, Rodney draws upon his rich experiences to empower academy students with the essential skills needed to uplift medically underserved populations.
The Health TECH program, a transformative three-year program, enables students to deliver Medi-Cal reimbursable Community Health Worker (CHW) services to health plan members in Sacramento. In addition, Health TECH provides vital CHW services, health education, screenings, and personalized counseling to community members at health fairs and other events. Rodney thrives on collaborating with UC Davis Health and community partners, offering students invaluable hands-on learning opportunities. He is also the proud author of "Community Health Work: A Community Health Worker's Guide for Improving Healthcare Access, Quality, and Outcomes." As a prolific writer, he is currently immersed in his latest book, titled "CTE," inspiring the next generation to create positive change in healthcare.

Luann Carrillo retired from the State of California after a 20-year career in administrative and analytical positions providing outreach, research, and tools to improve assistance for the needs of the public. She currently serves on the Leadership Team at Generations Church Sacramento, providing support to many women living in the Sacramento Arden-Arcade region. Before joining Generations Church, Mrs. Carrillo and her husband started a new congregation in Natomas, Sacramento, to equip and resource people through educational training while traveling as presenters to share hope with families.

Mrs. Carrillo graduated from Christian Life College in Stockton, California, with a degree in Communications. She has continued her education with the State of California and Los Rios District College, focusing on business courses.

As a UC Davis Health patient for 25 years, Mrs. Carrillo is committed to sharing her knowledge, experience, and resources with her community. She is a dedicated steward and is committed to lifelong learning while promoting and increasing the overall well- being of her community.

Sharon Chandler is the Founder and Executive Director of Yes2Kollege Education Resources, Inc., a Sacramento nonprofit dedicated to the early preparation of minority families raising college-bound students and family health and wellness. She is the mother of two college graduates, a son who is a deputy district attorney and a daughter who is a human resources training professional with her Master’s degrees in Sociology and in Education.
Chandler is a past executive director of community centers, affordable housing programs, and an entrepreneur. She is also a former social marketing project coordinator of the California Black Health Networks campaign against second-hand smoke and community blogger keeping the Bay Area abreast of minority health news in South Sacramento and through San Francisco Public Radio, KQED. She also has extensive experience as an advocate and writer of numerous newspaper and magazine articles on health, education, and diversity for the Sacramento Observer Newspaper and Media Group. She is the proud author of the book, Say Yes to College: A Practical and Inspirational Guide to Raising College-Bound Kids. She is also a commissioned artist.

Wendy Herrera is a bilingual licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with a strong commitment to providing mental health services that meet the needs of underrepresented communities. Born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles to immigrant parents, she draws deeply from her lived experience navigating systemic barriers as a first-generation college graduate. Herrera brings over a decade of clinical experience providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive care in both English and Spanish. She specializes in psychological assessment, EMDR therapy, and treatment for complex trauma. Her passion lies in bridging research, education, and community engagement to ensure equitable access to mental health resources for marginalized communities.

Noureddine brings over 33 years of teaching experience in the U.S. and abroad. She is the Co-Founder, Department Chair, and Director of the Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) program at the University of the Pacific. She also co- founded the California Interprofessional Education Research Academy (CA-IPERA) and the CSUS Interprofessional Education Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning— the first center of its kind across the 23 campuses of the CSU system. In addition, Noureddine is the Founder and Director of SAHA Health Center, a free community clinic serving uninsured populations and providing interprofessional education (IPE) community experiences for students. Her scholarship focuses on curriculum development, simulation, interprofessional education, cultural competence, educational equity, health equity, and refugee health.

Noureddine has received numerous awards, including the Western Academy of Nursing Award for Excellence in Education, the CSUS Outstanding Teaching Award, the Outstanding Community Service Award, the Woman of Influence Award, and multiple recognitions from the CSUS DEGREES Project (Dedicated to Educating, Graduating, and Retaining Educational Equity Students) for her contributions to closing the achievement gap.

Debra Oto-Kent is founder and executive director of the Health Education Council (HEC), a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating health and well-being in underserved communities by leveraging the power of collaboration.

Ms. Oto-Kent has served on a variety of boards and committees of local and statewide health and research organizations, with current board service on the West Sacramento Housing Development Corporation, as well as for the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Community Advisory Board and the Communities, Adolescents, Nutrition and Fitness Program. Ms. Oto-Kent was recognized in 2017 for her contribution to community health through the Placer County Putting Kids First Award and in 2010 by the Sacramento Region Martin Luther King Day Organizing Committee for her outstanding service and advocacy promoting health and wellness to the region’s diverse community.

Ms. Oto-Kent received her undergraduate degree in health science from San Diego State University and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Alexanderia Russell (White Mountain Apache) has worked for 34years with the County of Sacramento Departments of Public Health and Human Assistance. Alexanderia has been active in the Sacramento Region her whole life, participating in local Indian Education Programs, Native American Caucus and volunteering with local Native American organizations/tribes.

A seasoned educator, Spanish judiciary and medical interpreter, and policy consultant, Nancy Zarenda brings experience from California’s education, public safety, government, nonprofit, and business sectors. She was a Spanish instructor in public schools and colleges, and trainer in law enforcement academies and government agencies.

Nancy’s contributions have informed state, national, and international policy initiatives. She was a gubernatorial appointee to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and served as a school safety consultant at the CA Department of Education and as subject matter expert in language access at the CA Public Utilities Commission.

A co-founder and vice-president of the nonprofit Hispanics In Energy, Nancy was named one of America’s Top 100 Latinos in Energy by Latino Leaders. She was twice distinguished by the US Congressional Record as Outstanding Hispanic American Educator and Community Partner and currently volunteers in community organizations.

Projects in Spanish-speaking countries with educational and cultural institutions, have enhanced the Nancy’s appreciation of the breadth and nuances of the Spanish language. Her happy place is playing Brazilian drums with a Samba drum and dance ensemble.

Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola is the director of the CTSC Community Engagement Program. He also directs the Center for Reducing Health Disparities and is a professor of clinical internal medicine. He serves as Co-director of the Latino Aging Research Resource Center and the Community Outreach and Engagement Core of the UC Davis Environmental Health Science Center. He is an internationally renowned expert on mental health in ethnic populations and is the recipient of multiple national awards for his work. He is principal investigator of the Mexican American Prevalence and Services survey, the largest mental health study conducted in the United States on Mexican Americans, and is the coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health survey. In this capacity, he coordinates the work of the National Mental Health Institute surveys in Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica and Portugal. Aguilar-Gaxiola is co-chair of the CTSA Collaboration/Engagement Domain Task Force Lead Team. He is an author of the “Principles of Community Engagement” book and member of the External Advisory Boards of 7 CTSAs.