Co-Chair: Ericka Reid, Ph.D., M.Ed., NIEHS

Ericka Reid, Ph.D., directs the NIEHS Office of Science Education & Diversity (OSED). The Office supports the Institute's diversity efforts to ensure the provision of opportunity and access to information that allows a greater understanding of environmental health science, career possibilities, and related educational preparation and training. She holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology from Georgia State University, as well as a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has served as a co-chair of the NC WoCRN since 2016.

Co-Chair: Sharonda LeBlanc, Ph.D., NCSU

Sharonda LeBlanc, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at NC State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science from UNC Charlotte in 2012. Her current research focuses on understanding the molecular details of essential biological pathways using single molecule fluorescence techniques. She is also interested in exploring biological sensing applications with quantum dots. She has served as a co-chair for the NC WoCRN since 2015.

Mercedes Arana, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Fellows' Career Development, NIEHS

Mercedes Arana, Ph.D., was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She attended Florida State University as an undergraduate and headed back to Miami for Graduate School, earning a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.  She joined NIEHS in 2004 as an IRTA postdoctoral fellow, in the same lab group transitioned to a biologist role.

In 2023, she joined the Office of Fellows’ Career Development (OFCD) her journey has come full circle. In a new role as director, she works across the many stakeholders’ aisles to foster a collaborative spirit and contributing to the myriads of opportunities for the fellows’ career advancements, ensuring that fellows gain training experiences, such that each is poised for independence regardless of career choice. She relishes the opportunities to mentor and guide, to advocate for and support the professional development of all fellows and students.

Treva Bunch
Staff Assistant, Office of Science Education & Diversity, NIEHS

Treva Bunch is a Staff Assistant for the Office of Science Education and Diversity. She has worked at NIEHS  in the administrative field for the past 16 years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from North Carolina Central University in 2008.

Darlene Dixon, Ph.D.
Acting Chief, Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, NIEHS

Darlene Dixon received her D.V.M. degree from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine and a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology-Pathology from Michigan State University. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the Laboratory Animal Research Center, The Rockefeller University. She is certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathology and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Toxicologic Pathology (IATP).

Dixon is a Senior Investigator and Pathologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health in the Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) and is currently serving as Acting Chief of the Mechanistic Toxicology Branch. Her laboratory has focused on women’s health issues addressing the role of environmental exposures, growth factors, and hormone receptor signaling in the pathogenesis of diseases affecting the female reproductive tract, in particular uterine fibroids. She has served as President of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (2022-2023) and is currently a member of the Executive Committee as Past-President.

Kelsey Fuller
Research Proposal Specialist, NC State University

As a Research Proposal Specialist, Kelsey assists NC State Proposal Developers with the preparation of multidisciplinary proposals for external funding agencies. Prior to joining the PDU, she served as a Pre-Award Consultant for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in which she assisted faculty members in the preparation of proposals submitted to federal and industry partners. Kelsey received a B.A. in International Affairs and Religious Studies from James Madison University. In her free time, she likes to hike in nature and brew specialty coffees.

Angela King-Herbert, D.V.M.
Head of the Comparative Medicine Group, NIEHS

Angela King-Herbert, D.V.M., is currently Head of the Comparative Medicine Group in the Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). She received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University and completed her residency in laboratory animal medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at NCSU. King-Herbert joined NIEHS in 2004, authored several manuscripts and book chapters, served on many scientific organizations, and has mentored many veterinary students, veterinarians, and laboratory animal medicine residents.

King-Herbert currently serves as the Past President of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) and is the Attending Veterinarian for the 2024 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention.

Ajaya F. Jonas
Director of Global Programs, NC State University

Ajaya Francis Jonas joined North Carolina State University’s College of Education in February 2018 and currently serves as the Director of for Global Programs. She is responsible for the integration and development of the college’s global efforts with its teaching, research and innovation initiatives. She represents the college on the International Operations Council and is a member of NAFSA, Association of International Educators.

Joan Packenham, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Human Research and Community Engagement, NIEHS

Joan Packenham, Ph.D., is the Director of the NIEHS Office of Human Research and Community Engagement in the Clinical Research Branch, at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). She is founder and Chair of the Women’s Health Awareness (WHA) Women’s Wellness conference, Program Director for the NIEHS Women’s Environmental Health and Community Engagement Initiative, and Principal Investigator of the Women’s Health Awareness Community Resiliency, Environmental Action, and Collaborations for Health (REACH) Equity Clinical Study.

Packenham has an extensive scientific career in the Intramural and Extramural Divisions of NIEHS, with over 20 years of experience in clinical research serving as a regulatory expert in human research protections, a health scientist and scientific lead on the NIH Disaster Research and Response team to improve national health resiliency. Her research interests focus on addressing environmental health disparities in underserved populations of women.

Packenham graduated Magna Cum Laude from North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She received her Ph.D. in experimental pathology with a concentration in molecular and cellular pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Packenham, a native of Durham N.C., is a member of the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and serves as chair of the Physical and Mental Health committee.

Veronica Godfrey Robinson
Biologist, Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, NIEHS

Robinson currently works in the Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Reproductive Toxicology Laboratory. Before this position, for 19 years, she was a Contract Officer Representative for an Analytical Chemistry Lab in what is now called the Division of Translational Toxicology. For seven years, she worked as a biologist in the Laboratory of Pulmonary and Pathobiology and the Laboratory of Pharmacology & Chemistry.

She is a member of various Diversity and Inclusion committees, President of Raleigh Durham Area Chapter Blacks In Government, a mentor to students in the lab, and a representative of the Assembly of Laboratory Scientists at NIEHS.

Jamila Simpson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for College Success and Well-Being for the College of Sciences, NC State University

Jamila Simpson, PhD., is the Associate Dean for College Success and Well-Being for the College of Sciences at NC State. In 2000, she received her B.S. in Meteorology, making her the first African American female to receive this degree from NC State. She continued her education at NC State to earn her M.S. and Ph.D. in Science Education. Simpson's work centers on the recruitment, retention, and success of students, faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars. In 2017, she received the Morehead Medal of Science from UNC-Chapel Hill's Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, and in 2022, she was recognized by Governor Roy Cooper as one of North Carolina's African American STEM leaders.

Sheridan Smith
Research Technician, NC State University

Sheridan Smith is a Research Technician in the LeBlanc Physics lab investigating proteins involved in DNA mismatch repair. She is also the Outreach Coordinator developing initiatives focused on STEM engagement for high-school students. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences with cross-disciplinary interests in Psychology and Sociology from NC State University in 2023.