LYZBETH BEST
Hollis,NH
Summary
Strategic leader with 10+ years of experience in training, curriculum development, coalition building, and capacity-strengthening programs. Adept at advancing racial, gender, and economic justice through learning, popular education, research, and systems change. Skilled in leading cross-sector collaborations and delivering culturally responsive trainings. Proficient in conducting needs assessments, developing and evaluating programs, and facilitating inclusive engagement.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager of Technical Assistance & Network Engagement
National Council of Urban Indian Health
07.2022 - Current
- Facilitated 15+ national workshops annually on topics cultural humility, capacity building and behavioral health advocacy.
- Supported capacity-building for public health and equity initiatives serving diverse Indigenous populations.
- Consulted on 988 training/curriculum for call center operations.
- Led development of culturally relevant training programs and leadership resources for health care stakeholders.
- Led and mentored team of associate public health professionals
Community Manager
Au Pair in America
01.2018 - 08.2025
- Mentored 40+ au pairs and host families annually, facilitating intercultural communication and conflict resolution.
- Designed and delivered monthly training workshops on child care safety, adaptation, and cross-cultural understanding.
- Led regional support efforts focused on community-building and wellness.
- Grew cluster size by 250%
Health Communications Specialist
CDC Foundation / Southern Plains Tribal Health Board
07.2021 - 07.2022
- Collaborated with 15+ tribal health departments to increase mental health literacy through culturally grounded strategies.
- Implemented a community-centered public health communications campaign tailored to Indigenous communities.
- Co-developed national educational initiatives to support equitable access to behavioral health resources.
Co-Branch Director, Contact Tracing & Patient Monitoring
CDC Foundation / NH Division of Public Health Services
08.2020 - 07.2021
- Directed staffing and operations for a high volume call center(76 staff members) providing contact tracing and patient monitoring ensuring 120 hour coverage, 7 days a week, while optimizing efficiency, staff well-being and service delivery.
- Implemented real-time data tracking systems to improve responsiveness and inter-agency coordination.
- Provided leadership development and coaching to diverse team members in high-stress environments.
- Developed public health training and developed pandemic response curriculum.
Instructor & Course Developer
Berkeley College
09.1997 - 01.2017
- Designed curriculum integrating cultural humility, social equity, and global perspectives.
- Taught intercultural communication, public health, and social justice courses to diverse student cohorts.
- Led international immersion programs and cultural field experiences.
Education
Master of Public Health -
George Washington University
Master of Arts - Medical Anthropology
University of Colorado at Boulder
Bachelor of Arts - Cultural Anthropology & Psychology
Colby College
Skills
- Project execution management
- Coalition Building & Stakeholder Engagement
- Curriculum Development & Training Delivery
- Needs Assessment & Evaluation (Formative to Summative)
- Popular Education & Culturally Responsive Teaching
- CRM Systems (Salesforce)
- Proficient in Google Suite
- Leadership Development & Coaching
- Data Management & Public Health Communication
- Publications & Community Leadership
Organizing And Coalition Experience
- Coordinated cross-organizational planning groups with Indigenous and community advocacy partners.
- Participated in national racial equity coalitions focused on healthcare access and culturally responsive training.
- Developed toolkits and strategic resources advancing racial and gender justice in care systems.
Publications And Community Leadership
- Author, Your Father’s Voice, St. Martin’s Press
- Contributor, Runner’s World, The New Yorker
- Speaker, National conferences on grief, trauma, and resilience
- Board Member, Jeremy’s Heroes (Youth Access & Sports Equity)
- Grief Mentor, ACCESS, Soaring Spirits
Consulting Experience
- Circles (formerly 7Chairs), Developed training content for online peer support groups.
- Indian Health Services (IHS), Created culturally responsive toolkits for healthcare delivery.
- New Hampshire Public Health Association (NHPHA), Conducted feasibility studies on social determinants of health.
- Amaka Consulting, Supported monitoring and evaluation research for equity-focused programs.
- Socratic Arts (McKinsey & Deloitte clients), Led curriculum development projects aligning training to organizational goals.
Timeline
Manager of Technical Assistance & Network Engagement
National Council of Urban Indian Health
07.2022 - Current
Health Communications Specialist
CDC Foundation / Southern Plains Tribal Health Board
07.2021 - 07.2022
Co-Branch Director, Contact Tracing & Patient Monitoring
CDC Foundation / NH Division of Public Health Services
08.2020 - 07.2021
Community Manager
Au Pair in America
01.2018 - 08.2025
Instructor & Course Developer
Berkeley College
09.1997 - 01.2017
Master of Arts - Medical Anthropology
University of Colorado at Boulder
Master of Public Health -
George Washington University
Bachelor of Arts - Cultural Anthropology & Psychology
Colby College
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