Melissa A. Fahrenbruch
924 Figwood Loop, The Villages,Florida
Summary
Passionate public health advisor with experience in developing and implementing comprehensive health education programs. Skilled in creating engaging curriculum materials, conducting community health assessments, and facilitating trainings on various health topics.
Strengths include strong communication, leadership, and project management skills. Contributed to improved community health outcomes through effective educational strategies hands on technical assistance, and advocacy efforts.
Known for high productivity and efficient task completion. Possess specialized skills in epidemiology, health policy analysis, and community health education. Excel in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, ensuring success in diverse public health initiatives.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead Public Health Advisor- Program Development and Services Branch, Professional Development Team, Division of Adolescent and School Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, GA
09.2008 - Current
- Performs expert analysis of programmatic progress in the areas of project infrastructure, reach to targeted participants, implementation of evidence-based interventions, anticipated health outcomes and projected cost savings to a portfolio of high-profile, high-impact, federally sponsored cooperative agreements
- Provides comprehensive technical direction to funded awardees in the areas of public health content, programmatic implementation, programmatic monitoring and evaluation, and monitoring and approval of budgetary expenditures
- Prepares written materials and utilizes database record keeping systems to develop monthly reports, official records and segmented reports, and other required documentation reflecting both budgetary expenditures and programmatic progress
- Provides guidance and technical assistance to awardees in the development and review of contracts and Memoranda of Agreements
- Led all meeting logistics for over 50+ Grantee meetings and trainings
- Developed standard operating procedures for conducting state calls and site visits, documenting performance ratings and technical assistance plans, and establishing listservs and communicating information to state grantees
- Formulates national program and project goals, objectives, operating policies, strategic programs plans, guidelines, standards, and priorities specific to chronic disease management, and school health services
- Develops and implements strategies and plans for meeting national program objectives specific to reducing the burden of chronic conditions in school aged youth
- Provides expert guidance to funded partners and colleagues in coordinating overall administrative and programmatic activities to ensure successful program execution and judicious use of financial resources
- Collaborates with others to establish processes and protocols for conducting and designing webinars and trainings for CDC staff and various state grantees
- Established and forged relationships with other state, local, and national organizations to collaborate and facilitate the development and integration of operating public health program initiatives and activities related to school health issues, as well as across broader and more cross cutting topic areas
- Developed and maintained priority partnerships both internal and external to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that address priority health topics
- Delivers presentations at national professional conferences, local and state seminars, and workshops
- Develops and maintains priority partnerships both internal and external to the Division, Center, and CDC by serving as the CDC/ National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion subject matter expert and agency representative on various national work groups
- Provide guidance and oversight on provision and documentation of specific grantee technical assistance requests
- Supervise a team of five project officers
- Member of various Center-wide workgroups, specifically co-lead for Center training workgroup
- Oversee and manage two cooperative agreements totaling 10 million dollars and one professional development contract for $350,000 annually
- Develop, produce, and disseminate professional development materials as it relates to school and adolescent health topics, such as asthma management, sexual risk behaviors (HIV, STD, and teen pregnancy prevention), nutrition, obesity, physical activity, managing chronic conditions and tobacco
- Provide comprehensive technical assistance to clients to strengthen their capacity for PD and chronic related issues
- Coordinated and provided support for overall administrative and program activities for approximately 16 years to ensure successful program and related budget execution, as required under the terms of the Memo Of Understanding specific to school-based asthma management initiatives
- Serve as a member of the DASH Senior Management Team, providing strategic input and guidance on communication issues
- Team is responsible for several cross-cutting initiatives that affect the programs of our funded partners and the Division at large
Health Education Specialist (Project Officer), GS-13
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
09.2006 - 09.2008
- Serve as a primary consultant for one or more of the following critical program components: School health and adolescent health policies, including policies related to HIV prevention, the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating, tobacco-use prevention, and the management of asthma; school health services; comprehensive school education programs, materials, and curricula, including HIV education, the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating, tobacco-use prevention, and the management of asthma; HIV education for students and faculty in colleges and universities; in-service and pre-service training in coordinated school health, including HIV education for teachers; comprehensive health education, including HIV education for minority youth, Out-of-School youth, and youth at increased risk of HIV infection; and, national media programs and campaigns to educate parents and youth about HIV prevention and other relevant health risks
- Serve as Project Officer on procurement, including cooperative agreements, contracts, grants, and purchase orders involving the establishment and support of coordinated school health that focus on HIV prevention, the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating, tobacco-use prevention, and the management of asthma
- Provide technical and administrative assistance to assigned national, state, and local organizations in planning, implementing, and coordinating new programs, methods, and policies related to school health and adolescent health, health education for youth who do not attend school, and HIV education
- Independently handled responses to programmatic issues and controversies related to coordinated school health programs, comprehensive health education, and other educational issues such as HIV education, the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating, tobacco-use prevention, and the management of asthma
- Assist in developing, implementing, and monitoring guidelines, program standards, procurement, workshops, and other activities to increase the effectiveness of national, state, and local coordinated school health and comprehensive school heath education to prevent the spread of HIV, the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating, tobacco-use prevention, and the management of asthma
- Represent DASH at selected conferences, meetings, and workshops; and, as requested, makes presentations relevant to DASH program activities
Director, Coordinated School Health Program
Kansas State Department of Education
Topeka, KS
08.2004 - 09.2006
- Plan, organize, and coordinate the Coordinated School Health Program (CSH) in compliance with local and state requirements/guidelines in the following eight areas: Health Education, Physical Education, Health Services, Nutrition Services, Counseling, Psychological, & Social Services, Healthy School Environment, Health Promotion for Staff and Family/Community Engagement
- Establish partnerships with community organizations and agencies as it relates to CSH mission/vision
- Seek alternative funding sources for the CSH Program
- Conduct appropriate health related staff development and trainings for the system and/or individual school districts, groups, or state employees
- Use the School Health Index to determine school health priorities
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Child Nutrition and Wellness Director
- Organize and support the work of CSH Program Advisory Council, the CSH Program Staff Council, and individual school district Healthy School Teams
- Collaborate with school, and community leaders to implement and maintain school health policies and initiatives at the State, District and Local School District level
- Plan, prepare for, and conduct appropriate meetings with a variety of types and sizes of groups
- Maintain budget for CSH program, ensure compliance and submit annual paperwork to CDC/DASH
Dean of Students and Physical Education Instructor
Omaha Public Schools
Omaha, NE
08.1999 - 05.2004
- Oversee all non-education programs that are administered to students (athletics, clubs/organizations, etc.)
- Discipline of all 9th graders
- Attend weekly administrative meetings
- Attend monthly District administrative meetings
- Develop, and maintain all aspects of corporate partnerships and activities in the School District and community outreach
- Developed relationships with external organizations to create opportunities for students' professional growth.
- Created an environment that fosters open dialogue between various stakeholders regarding issues impacting the campus community.
- Maintained organized records to document student behaviors, interventions, and outcomes.
Middle School Health and Physical Education Instructor/ Coach
Lincoln Public Schools
Lincoln, NE
08.1995 - 05.1999
- Reporting to the Director of Physical Education and Principal of Charles Culler Middle School
- Providing content development that is both teacher-focused and student-focused
- Maintaining a healthy learning environment for the students in both the classroom as well as instruction
- Following professional practices consistent with school policies in working with students, students’ records, parents, and colleagues
- Demonstrating accurate, up-to-date knowledge of content
- Implementing designated curriculum
- Work as a positive and collaborative member of the Athletic Program to foster the primary goals of Culler Middle School and the Athletic Program
Education
Bachelor of Science - Education
University of Nebraska- Lincoln
Lincoln, NEMasters in Educational Leadership -
Doane College
Crete, NESkills
- Health policy development
- Public health education
- Policy advocacy
- Data interpretation
- Qualitative research
- Healthcare systems
- Health promotion
- Behavioral interventions
- Quantitative research
- Health communication
- Chronic disease management
- Public speaking
- Mental health promotion
- Community outreach
- Health education curriculum
- Adult learning theory
- Facilitator and trainer
Affiliations
- The Society for State Directors of Health and Physical Education
- American School Health Association (ASHA)
- National Staff Development Council (NSDC)
Certification
- Nebraska Standard Administrative Certificate, 2004
- Secondary Principal Endorsement 7-12, 2004
- Kansas Standard Teaching Certificate, 2003
- Physical Education K-12, 2003
- Health Education 7-12, 2003
- Nebraska Standard Teaching Certificate, 1994
- Physical Education K-12, 1994
- Health Education 7-12, 1994
- Coaching Endorsement 7-12, 1994
Research and Publications
- The Role of Professional Development and Technical Assistance in Supporting Implementation of COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in K-12 Schools, Skelton-Wilson, Syreeta PhD, MPA, Lee, Sarah PhD, MPH, Potts, Jessica MPH, Chung, Chloe MPH, Pitt-Barnes, Seraphine PhD, Fahrenbruch, Melissa MEd, Ogunyankin, Forest MPH, Keener Mast, Dana PhD, 11/2024
- Using Health Education to Address Student Physical Activity and Nutrition: Evidence and Implications to Advance Practice, Sarah M. Lee PhD, Leigh E. Szucs PhD CHES, Emily Young MPH, MSEd, Melissa Fahrenbruch MEd, 09/2023
- MMWR, COVID-19 Stats: Reporting by students aged 13-21 years of observed mask wearing by fellow students attending in-person classes, by school setting and activity — United States, Wences Arvelo, MD, Melissa Fahrenbruch, MED, Marisa Hast, PhD, Richard Puddy PhD, 10/2020
References
Available upon request
Professional Presentations
- Presented numerous presentations, webinars, keynote speeches, and conference sessions on strategic, programmatic, and content-specific topics at the local, state, and national levels on school health-related topics, public health promotion, and adult learning theory
- Designed and delivered over 100 training workshops, presentations, and learning modules using a range of training aids, and online microlearning
Timeline
Lead Public Health Advisor- Program Development and Services Branch, Professional Development Team, Division of Adolescent and School Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
09.2008 - Current
Health Education Specialist (Project Officer), GS-13
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
09.2006 - 09.2008
Director, Coordinated School Health Program
Kansas State Department of Education
08.2004 - 09.2006
Dean of Students and Physical Education Instructor
Omaha Public Schools
08.1999 - 05.2004
Middle School Health and Physical Education Instructor/ Coach
Lincoln Public Schools
08.1995 - 05.1999
- Nebraska Standard Administrative Certificate, 2004
- Secondary Principal Endorsement 7-12, 2004
- Kansas Standard Teaching Certificate, 2003
- Physical Education K-12, 2003
- Health Education 7-12, 2003
- Nebraska Standard Teaching Certificate, 1994
- Physical Education K-12, 1994
- Health Education 7-12, 1994
- Coaching Endorsement 7-12, 1994
Bachelor of Science - Education
University of Nebraska- Lincoln
Masters in Educational Leadership -
Doane College
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