As a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to comprehensive sex education, we are guided by a diverse and passionate team of professionals committed to empowering young people with accurate information, skills, and resources to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Our esteemed Board of Directors brings experts from various fields, including public health, medicine, and community advocacy. With their collective knowledge and experience, they play a pivotal role in shaping Health Connected’s vision and strategic direction, ensuring that our programs are evidence-based, inclusive, and tailored to meet the unique needs of today’s youth.
Through their steadfast leadership and unwavering dedication, our board members continue to advance our mission of fostering a culture where young people can approach their sexual health with confidence, respect, and understanding. Together, we strive to create a world where young people can access comprehensive sex education, promoting healthy relationships and lifelong well-being.
Jennifer BOoker
ChairJennifer is Director of Business Operations and Strategic Program Management at Intuit where she leads a team that focuses on improving Technology operations across the company. Jennifer has had a robust career in finance, supply chain and business operations working at Johnson & Johnson, Adobe, Booz Allen Hamilton and ExxonMobil. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA in International Business and Finance from George Washington University.
Laura Garcia
Vice ChairLaura is currently leading the Learning and Development department at Visby Medical, a biotech company in San Jose focused on quick and accessible disease diagnosis. Prior to this role, she served as an Assistant Director for the Harvey Mudd College Upward Bound nonprofit program, empowering low-income, potential first-generation college students. Having personally benefited from nonprofit programs, Laura recognizes the significance and impact of initiatives like Health Connected. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Barbara and a Master’s Degree in Business Management with a concentration in Leadership and Organizational Behavior from the Claremont Graduate University – Drucker School of Management. During her free time, Laura enjoys reading, creating new recipes, and mentoring Latinas in Silicon Valley.
David Foster
SecretaryDavid is a student at Yale University studying Global Health and Political Science. He has a particular interest in applying design thinking principles to solve health care challenges. David has utilized this approach on a team creating an innovative COVID contact tracing system, at a startup fighting pharmaceutical counterfeiting, and when designing an outdoor exercise course at the Ritsona refugee camp in Greece. As a member of the LGBTQ community, David recognizes the importance of equity in health care, and he is a passionate advocate for inclusive sex education. In his free time, you can find David figure skating on the Yale rink, debating at the Yale Political Union, or working on a project at the Center for Engineering Innovation and Design.
TheA RUNYAN
TreasurerThea is an experienced public health professional with a background in childhood obesity and community health education. She co-founded Kurbo, an evidence-based online/mobile weight management program for kids, teens, and families, which was acquired by WW. Her role involves managing day-to-day operations, overseeing science and product development, and leading a coaching team supporting Kurbo’s staff of 100+ coaches in the US and Singapore. Before Kurbo, she worked as a lead behavior coach at Stanford Children’s Hospital and served as the Wellness Director for a San Francisco Bay Area school district. Thea holds a Master of Public Health degree from San Jose State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in public health from UNC Chapel Hill.
Jamie Barnett
Jamie is an advisor for and investor in high-technology startups. She has spent most of her career as a product and marketing leader in high-technology with a focus on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. She served as chief marketing officer at AppZen and Netskope, chief customer officer at Scalyr, and board director for La Comida. She also taught Strategic Communications as an adjunct lecturer in the Executive MBA program at University of San Francisco. Jamie has a bachelors from U.C. Berkeley, an MBA from Stanford University, and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional. She is a die-hard Monty Python fan with a zest for movie lines, terrible puns, and practical jokes.
Marla Becker
Marla is a seasoned public health professional with over 30 years of experience. She is the Founder and Senior Advisor on Training & Technical Assistance at the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention and also works as an independent consultant in the field of Public Health. Marla’s expertise lies in program development and evaluation, strategic planning, community engagement, grant writing, and curriculum development, with a focus on violence prevention, sexual health education, and youth development. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from UCLA and has been involved in various impactful projects and organizations throughout her career, including Youth ALIVE! and UC Berkeley’s Family Welfare Research Group.
Jennifer Fine
Coming Soon
David Garcia Ortiz
David Garcia Ortiz has worked as a science teacher for the Sequoia Union High School District for the last five years. He has taught biology, physics and environmental science as well as language development classes in the same subject areas designated for English language learners who have recently arrive to the country. Prior to coming into the classroom he worked as a coordinator for a science maker space to give access to science and engineering experiences to low-income communities and marginalized students at the middle school level.
Claudia Gil
Claudia Gil carries close to ten years of experience in the non-profit sector, specifically public health/food access. Currently, she is the Program Manager for Meals on Wheels program at The Health trust, a locally renowned public health non-profit. Aside from serving the community by day, Claudia is a dedicated traditional Aztec dancer and a doula focusing on postpartum care. Most importantly, she is the proud mother of two wonderful children.
Jessica Rosenberg
Jessica is a dedicated Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Credentialed School Nurse with over 20 years of experience in hematology/oncology, camp & school health, and primary care. Her focus is on adolescent health, patient education, advocacy, and family-centered care. She holds degrees from the University of Washington and the University of California, San Francisco, and is involved in various community health education initiatives. Outside of work, Jessica is passionate about social justice projects and enjoys hiking and volunteering at her daughters’ schools.