Making Health Happen

Nicole Williams, MPH, PMP, Director of Special Projects, Council on Education for Public Health 

Nicole joined CEPH in 2010 and served as an executive assistant, accreditation coordinator, and accreditation specialist before assuming her current role. During her years at CEPH, Nicole assisted in the development and implementation of standalone baccalaureate program accreditation. In 2019, Nicole planned and managed CEPH’s first Accreditation & Education Forum.

Additionally, Nicole represents CEPH by presenting at national conferences including the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health Undergraduate Summit, Society for Public Health Education annual meeting and Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors conferences.

Nicole received her Master of Public Health degree in health policy from George Washington University (GWU). As part of her degree program, she completed an internship with the Emergency Medical Services Research Center at Children’s National Health System. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from GWU. Before joining CEPH, Nicole served as an accreditation assistant at the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Additionally, Nicole holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential from the Project Management Institute.

In her free time, Nicole enjoys exploring DC by bicycle and serves as a reading and writing tutor with For Love of Children DC.

Miguel A. Perez, PhD, Professor, Fresno State

Dr. Miguel A. Perez's work focuses on cultural competence and prevention of diabetes and adolescent health. He has received four Fulbright awards and also conducted research in Colombia, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, South Africa, Peru, Chile, and Mexico.

Dr. Perez has received over 40 awards including the Professional Service Award from the American Association of Health Educators and a Certificate of Recognition for Distinguished Accomplishments from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Dr. Perez holds honorary academic appointments at the Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic and in the School of Medicine at the Universidad Ricardo Palma in Peru.

GinaMarie Piane, MPH, DrPH, CHES, MA Counseling Psychology, National University

Gina Piane is an internationally recognized expert in the field of public health. Her 40-year career in public health began with the Cook County Department of Public Health near Chicago, Illinois, where she emerged as a leader in community and patient education. Her academic career includes tenured-faculty positions with Northern Illinois University and California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Piane came to National University in March 2009 to lead the development of the Master of Public Health program which enrolled its first students in March 2010. She was hired as the Chair of the Department of Community Health.

Dr. Piane’s research throughout the years has focused on health behavior in minority and international communities. She has developed programs that helped African American elderly patients to control their blood pressure and to help pregnant women with diabetes through a safe pregnancy. Her public health research has included investigations of drinking and smoking among college students and best practices in public health education. Currently she is investigating Evidence-Based Public Health seeking to find community-level interventions that will prevent many of the half million deaths of women in childbirth throughout the world. Dr. Piane received a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach and conduct research in Nigeria in 2016.

Gina Piane has been often recognized for her teaching excellence. She has been lauded for incorporating active and experiential learning into her classrooms and for mentoring students to improve their writing. Dr. Piane has led student groups on educational tours of the health systems of India, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Cambodia, Cuba, Peru, Uganda and Panama.