Staff

Allison McMichael is the Director of Finance for TSET. Prior to coming to TSET, McMichael led finance and analysis functions for large private sector companies, public schools and state agencies. Her extensive financial background includes time as the Commercial Excellence Director for CFS Brands, the Financial Planning and Analysis Manager at OU Health, the Budget Manager for Oklahoma City Public Schools and the Director of Finance for the Oklahoma Arts Council. McMichael holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma and a bachelor’s in business administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Tessa North is the Director of Grants Management for TSET. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and master’s in sociology, both from the University of Oklahoma. North has over ten years’ experience in state grant making, grants management, and database development and implementation, having begun her public service career at the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology. Her community involvement includes serving as an impassioned volunteer and Congressional ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association – Oklahoma City chapter and being active in her children’s school.

Phone: (405) 301-2437
Email: TessaN@tset.ok.gov

Sjonna Paulson, APR, is the Director of Health Communication and Marketing and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. She is an accredited public relations counselor with more than 30 years of experience in public relations and marketing, receiving local, national and international professional awards. Paulson has been published in scientific journals, presented at national conferences and developed state and national health communication campaigns and trainings. Paulson serves as Co-chair to the Funders Alliance, is an advisory board member of the CDC Media Campaign Resource Center and is a contributor to several CDC’s Best Practices guides.

Phone: (405) 596-9399
Email: SjonnaP@tset.ok.gov

J. Lance Thomas serves as Chief of Staff for TSET. Thomas' work at TSET began in 2009 as a health communication consultant in the agency's health communication division. Before joining TSET, he held communication positions at the Department of Rehabilitation Services, Oklahoma Insurance Department, and the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Thomas holds a bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Oklahoma and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Phone: (405) 219-9400
Email: LanceT@tset.ok.gov

LaToshia Broadwater is the Administrative Officer for TSET. Before coming to TSET, LaToshia worked for the Department of Human Services in Child Welfare Services and as well as the Human Resources Division as an HR Specialist III. Broadwater served as the liaison for State Risk Management, Worker’s Compensation and the Division of Capital Assets Management. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication from the University of South Carolina Aiken.

Phone: (405) 521-3887
Email: LaToshiaB@tset.ok.gov

Kelli Brodersen is the Assistant Director of Health Communication and Marketing. Prior to joining TSET, Brodersen served in a communications role at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which administers the state’s Medicaid program. In a career that has spanned more than 25 years, she also has experience as a writer and video producer-editor in TV news promotion and educational television in both Oklahoma and Kentucky. Brodersen holds a B.A. in communication and art, from William Jewell College.

Phone: (405) 568-8568
Email: KelliB@tset.ok.gov

Samuel Carrillo is the Producer A/V Storyteller for TSET. Prior to joining TSET, he worked as a photojournalist for KOCO 5 News in Oklahoma City for two years. Before that, Carrillo was a photojournalist at Telemundo Oklahoma for a year. He is an Emmy nominated and award winning film director, cinematographer and photojournalist. Carrillo holds a bachelors in Cinematic Arts and Technology from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Sarah Carson is the Public Information Specialist for TSET. Prior to joining TSET, Carson spent 10 years in the nonprofit sector. Most recently, Carson managed grants and annual giving at Myriad Gardens Foundation. She also served as the first public policy and outreach director at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits where she helped build the advocacy and membership programs. There she also received more than 100 hours of nonprofit training. Carson holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in International Studies with a focus on political economy from the University of Oklahoma.

Phone: 405-664-0288
Email: SarahC@tset.ok.gov

Lauren Carter Ford is the Policy Manager for TSET. She most recently worked in development at the United Way of Central Oklahoma, where she coordinated the State Charitable Campaign for state employees. She previously worked in Washington D.C as a policy associate at World Food Program USA, at the U.S Department of Labor as a Presidential Appointee in legislative affairs and for U.S. Senator Mark Pryor. Ford has a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arkansas.

Phone: (405) 227-0488
Email: LaurenF@TSET.ok.gov

Amanda Cribbs is the Training Manager for TSET. She has more than 20 years in education. Her background includes serving as an educator at the Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma County Juvenile Detention Center and Douglass Mid/High School in Oklahoma City. She most recently comes from the Oklahoma State Department of Health where she was the Training Coordinator for the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion. Cribbs has a B.S in Biology from East Central University and a M.Ed. in Adult Education – Curriculum & Instruction from University of Central Oklahoma.

Jessica Davis is a Senior Program Officer at TSET.  She previously served as a Communities of Excellence Program Consultant with the Oklahoma State Department of Health. She also worked at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for nearly five years as a Prevention Services Specialist providing consulting services to Area Prevention Resource Centers and Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities, then as a Prevention Program Field Representative working with Regional Prevention Coordinators to implement alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention strategies. Davis holds a Bachelors of Science in Community Health from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Phone: (405) 437-5646
Email: JessicaD@tset.ok.gov

Chase Harvick is a Health Communication Manager for TSET. He previously served as Public Relations Specialist at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden where he was responsible for sharing Zoo news with the media and public, overseeing internal communications, creating digital content and managing community partnerships. Prior to that, he spent five years working in communications for OETA - Oklahoma PBS, where he won two Heartland Emmy awards. Harvick holds degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. He is currently a part-time student and Dean’s Scholar at Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Phone: (405) 250-2343
Email: ChaseH@tset.ok.gov

Ryan Hayden-Young, MPA, is a TSET Health Communications Consultant. Ryan has more than 10 years of professional marketing and communications experience, primarily with law firms in Oklahoma City. Prior to joining TSET, he worked in marketing across the country to help people run for public office. In that role, he spearheaded national marketing strategies and focused heavily on client retention and success. He also participated with New Leaders Council, a national leadership fellowship. Hayden-Young has a master’s degree in public administration from Bellevue University and an undergraduate degree in communication and leadership from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Dylan Jasna is a Health Communication Manager for TSET overseeing Shape Your Future and the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative public education brands. Prior to joining TSET, Jasna served as the Public Information Officer for Region 9 of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. He started as a news producer at KJRH-TV in Tulsa, where he won his first Emmy for producing a 30-minute special about Oklahoma’s Opioid Epidemic. Jasna then moved to Phoenix, AZ, to produce primetime news for sister stations CBS 5 and 3TV. He won his second Emmy in Phoenix for his breaking news coverage. He holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.

Shaun Lawrence is the Administrative Assistant for TSET. Prior to joining TSET, he worked as a debt collector manager in training and as a team lead for GC Services LP in Oklahoma City for four years. Lawrence has an extensive background in customer service, with experience in service at Xerox and US Cellular and as a night team lead at Mathis Brothers.

Sara Low is a Program Officer at TSET. Prior to joining TSET, she served as the Policy and Practice Tool Coordinator at the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Sponsored Programs Coordinator for the Gynecologic Cancers Program at Stephenson Cancer Center. Low has served as a workgroup chair with the Oklahoma Comprehensive Cancer Network and was recognized as an OU Medicine Healthcare Champion by OU Medicine and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health with a Master of Public Health and is Certified in Public Health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

Phone: (405) 437-5638
Email: SaraL@tset.ok.gov

Laura Matlock is a Program Officer for the TSET Healthy Incentive Programs. Laura has been in the public health field for over 10 years. She has experience working with individuals on behavior change, as well as health improvement efforts at the local, county and state levels. She has a Master of Science degree, with an emphasis in Health Promotions from the University of Oklahoma. Matlock was one of the first Oklahoma-based quit coaches for Free & Clear, TSET’s original contractor to operate the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.

Phone: (405) 764-4668
Email: LauraM@tset.ok.gov

Jamie McDaniel is a Program officer at TSET. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas and her Master of Science degree in Family & Child Studies from the University of Central Oklahoma. As the Grants Manager with the Association of American Indian Physicians, McDaniel collaborated with various Tribes and Tribal organizations implementing public health programs focused on diabetes, hypertension control, obesity prevention, and school wellness. She also worked with the American College of Rheumatology to help build sustainable lupus awareness.

Phone: (405) 521-3888
Email: JamieM@tset.ok.gov

Brittany Newman is the Data Management Specialist at TSET. Previously, Brittany worked as a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Goodland, KS. She was also a data archivist and quality analyst at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration while earning her Bachelor of Science in Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. Newman has also worked in several positions at childcare centers due to her passion and skills for working with children.

Jade Owen is a Program Officer at TSET. She received her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion Sciences from the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health. Owen is also a certified health education specialist and is certified in public health. She was most recently the community outreach coordinator for the Oklahoma Nutrition Information and Education Project at the OU Health Sciences Center. In this role, she planned, implemented and evaluated nutrition and physical activity interventions with a focus on low-income audiences. Owen is passionate about giving back to the community and currently serves on several nonprofit committees.

Phone: (405) 651-4289
Email: JadeO@tset.ok.gov

Kelly Parker is the Grants Manager for TSET. She started her career working in the medical field before graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Community Health and from the University of Oklahoma with a master’s in public health. Previously, she worked as a TSET grant supervisor at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority focusing on reducing smoking and obesity rates among Oklahoma Medicaid members.

Phone: (405) 496-7537
Email: KellyP@tset.ok.gov

Samantha Piñeiro is the Executive Assistant and Board Secretary for TSET.  Piñeiro has nearly thirty years of experience in public service and non-profit administration and is certified as a Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Investigator. Piñeiro comes to TSET after almost nine years with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections where she supported the Employee Rights and Relations unit and served as an administrative program officer for compliance of federal prisoner safety and wellness issues. Prior to her work in corrections, Piñeiro served as Director of Main Street Pauls Valley and of the Maysville Public Library.  

Terry Rousey is the Program Officer for Statewide and Research Grants at TSET. Before joining TSET he served as a Youth Tobacco Policy and Enforcement Specialist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Prior to that, Terry was a Program Specialist with the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health. He started his professional career in Oklahoma in various state and local positions. He has significant consulting experience and knowledge of tobacco control programs and state and local policy efforts. He has served as a representative on several National tobacco control boards. Terry has an Masters in Public Health from Walden University.

Melanie Sommers is a Grants and Contracts Associate and former administrative assistant at TSET. Prior to joining TSET, Melanie worked as the Administrative Assistant for the Eulberg Law Office in Oklahoma City. She also has a passion for child development, working as a nanny for eight years. Sommers received her bachelor’s degree in child development and a minor in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2013.

Phone: 405-521-3888
Email: MelanieS@tset.ok.gov

Kira Switzer is a Program Officer for TSET. Switzer has experience developing, facilitating, and implementing initiatives in social services and public health and worked as a project manager at the University of Oklahoma. In St. Louis, she held positions with the St. Louis Regional Health Commission; the United Way of Greater St. Louis; and the Maternal, Child, and Family Health Coalition. She also served as a consultant to the Mayor’s Office and several non-profit organizations. Switzer earned a Master of Public Health in Community Health and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from Baylor University.

James Tyree is a Health Communications Consultant at TSET. Tyree worked as a news and sports reporter for nearly 20 years before joining TSET in November 2011. He covered a variety of beats for newspapers in Wisconsin, Oregon, Illinois, Kansas City and locally at The Oklahoman, Norman Transcript and Edmond Sun. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s in journalism. Tyree is a former president of JayMac, the alumni association of OU’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Phone: (405) 595-9301
Email: JamesT@tset.ok.gov

Andrew Underkoffler is a Program Officer for TSET. He previously worked at the United Way of Central Oklahoma for five years, where he served as an AmeriCorps member in the Volunteer Center, and later as the Research and Community Initiatives Manager. At United Way, he provided strategic technical support to health and human service initiatives, in addition to creating the WayFinder Innovation Grant Program for nonprofits. He graduated from Oklahoma City University with a bachelor’s degree in justice studies, and a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership.

Phone: (405) 255-5846
Email: AndrewU@tset.ok.gov

Taylor Verkler is the Outreach Coordinator for TSET. Prior to working at TSET, she taught at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. While there, she worked as an Instructor of English, Chair of the Recruitment and Retention Committee, and Sponsor of the English Club and Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. In addition to her teaching and service duties, she worked as the Assistant Editor and Productions Manager of Westview: A Journal of Western Oklahoma. Verkler has a B.A. in Applied Liberal Arts and an M.A. in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Central Oklahoma.