2022 Cincinnati Project Symposium

Denisha Porter is the first Director of the All-In Cincinnati Equity Coalition. All-In Cincinnati is a community-led racial equity coalition that seeks to co-create and implement an equity action plan to transform our tri-state community, and Porter will be the driving force leading the coalition’s work to shape that vision. Denisha received her Bachelor of Arts degree in microbiology from Miami University and her Master of Public Health degree from Wright State University.

Denisha who has served as the Director of Health Promotion and Worksite Wellness as well as the Director of the Creating Healthy Communities Coalition for the Cincinnati Health Department since 2010 has dedicated her career to public service. Importantly, Denisha worked with the United Dairy Farmers, a local chain of 210 convenience stores to carry fresh produce in food deserts. She assisted the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority in creating and implementing a smoke-free multi-unit housing policy that now protects over 13,000 residents from second hand smoke. She also developed several policies with the City of Cincinnati to promote breastfeeding (Breastfeeding Friendly Policy) and reduce smoking among teenagers (Tobacco 21 Ordinance). Denisha has successfully obtained over $2.5M in funding from local, state, and federal sources and she has implemented more than 400 location-specific policy, systems, and environmental changes in Ohio and Kentucky. 

Steve Sunderland is the Director of the Cancer Justice Network, whose goal is to help low-income individuals and minorities get early and timely screening and treatment for cancer in Cincinnati.

Aalap Bommaraju (they/them) is a sociologist with specialization in medical sociology, social movements, and the sociology of race, gender, and class. Aalap does research on the sprawling array of power relations that shape our experiences of social and biological reproduction. They have focused recently on how social movements shape institutional change in U.S. healthcare organizations and state institutions after the enactment of state and/or federal family planning policy. They identify as transfemme, queer, and South Asian.

Zoe Muzyczka, MPH (they/them) is a second-year Ph.D. track graduate student in the Sociology department at the University of Cincinnati. Before joining the Sociology department at UC, I received my master’s in Public Health from the University of Florida where I studied health inequalities. My studies particularly focused on mental health inequities for LGBTQIA+ youth. Now as a sociology graduate student, I am still interested in health inequities, however, I am focused more on systemic and structural levels of analysis rather than solely individual levels. In addition to my continued interest in LGBTQIA+ populations, I am also interested in the discipline of Fat Studies, particularly in the medicalization of fatness and how fatness is portrayed in media. My research interests and desire to focus on both fat and queer communities are greatly rooted in my personal experience as a member both.

Stef Murawsky is the Program & Policy Director for OPEN at the University of Cincinnati (UC). They earned their master’s degree in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and are a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at UC. Their research interests include medical sociology, transgender studies, the sociology of gender, queer studies, feminism, and sexuality studies. Their qualitative dissertation project explores transgender patient experiences of accessing healthcare.

Erin Kelleher is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati, with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and minor in Business Analytics. Erin currently works with Sherwin-Williams as an Environmental, Health, and Safety Specialist at a manufacturing plant, with a career focus on helping large companies build and execute plans to conform with sustainable and environmental needs.

Em Rhodes is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. Em is focusing on volunteer work with the local Sierra Club chapter where she serves on the Executive Committee and is Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Em plans to work for an environmental nonprofit in the Cincinnati area and to stay engaged with elected officials to help make Cincinnati a sustainable city.

Sydney St.Rose-Finear is a student-athlete at the University of Cincinnati and will graduate Spring 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, a minor in Geography, and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. In the fall, Sydney plans to attend Colorado State University and obtain a Master’s degree in political science with a specialization in environmental policy and politics.

Bob Hyland is an Associate Professor Educator of Rhetoric and Professional Writing in UC’s Department of English.