Our Team

The Teen Health Mississippi team is a group of dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to promote the vision of Teen Health Mississippi.

Current Staff

Hope L. Crenshaw, PhD, has served as Executive Director of Teen Health Mississippi for eight years, the parent organization supporting Teen Health Arkansas. She leads strategy and growth across states, working closely with staff, boards, funders, and community partners to build youth-centered health initiatives rooted in real community needs.

Hope holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies with a specialization in Program Evaluation from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Her work focuses on designing and scaling programs at the intersection of youth health, education, workforce readiness, and systems change—especially in rural and historically under-resourced communities.

Raised in the Mississippi Delta, Hope has traveled and trained extensively throughout Arkansas, working alongside educators, healthcare providers, and community leaders in both rural and urban communities. Her experiences on both sides of the river prepare her to connect and build capacity with the local leaders pursuing healthier communities from a place of understanding and empathy.

Outside of work, Hope is energized by meaningful conversations, community-rooted spaces, and the belief that when young people are supported to thrive, whole communities rise with them. A former teacher, Hope is the trusted adult to a 14 year old and an 8 year old.

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Josh McCawley, MPH, provides issue education and advocacy for local- and state-level policies related to teen sexual and reproductive health. He provides district advocacy for the CHART abstinence-plus policy in addition to providing teacher trainings on the CHART sex education curricula, grades K-5 human growth and development education curricula, and other professional development opportunities. He also works with local communities to improve teens’ access to general health services. Josh is based in the Jackson, MS office.

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Triuna oversees program strategy, partner coordination, and training delivery, ensuring alignment with THMS’s mission to promote equity, inclusion, and youth voice. With expertise in health education, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional leadership, the Director builds partnerships with schools, community organizations, healthcare providers, and state agencies while expanding THMS’s reach to new audiences and regions. She is based in Teen Health Mississippi’s Jackson office.

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Harold Brewer, MAT, MTh, serves as Senior Director of Philanthropy for Teen Health Mississippi and Teen Health Arkansas, building relationships with funders, partners, corporations, and community stakeholders to strengthen and expand resources across both states. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in resource development, education, ministry, and community engagement, Harold’s work is rooted in service and creating opportunities for underserved communities. He holds graduate degrees in teaching and theology and is currently pursuing a doctorate in ministry with an emphasis in organizational leadership. Harold is based in Mississippi and serves both states.

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Andrea Thomas serves as Director of Communications for Teen Health Mississippi, leading the organization’s communications strategy, brand storytelling, media relations, digital content, and creative direction. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing communications and more than a decade working across nonprofit, healthcare, tourism, and community-focused communications, Andrea specializes in turning complex ideas into clear, compelling stories people can understand and act on. A creative strategist at heart, she brings together design, storytelling, and strategy to amplify the work of Teen Health Mississippi and the voices of the communities it serves. Andrea is based in the Jackson office.

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Justin ensures the strategic alignment and success of youth-centered programs. He also leads the development and implementation of digital education initiatives, creating and delivering training resources that empower young people and youth-serving adults through online platforms. His efforts focus on achieving measurable outcomes and maintaining consistency across all youth programs. He is based in the Jackson, MS, office.

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Hope Owens-Wilson serves as Teen Health Mississippi’s Training and Outreach Manager, supporting training, outreach, and community engagement efforts across the state. A graduate of the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in African American Studies, Hope brings experience in youth programming, community engagement, and leadership development. Before joining Teen Health Mississippi, they worked with the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, the ACLU of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee Film Festival, supporting young people and community-based initiatives. Hope is based in Teen Health Mississippi’s Jackson office.

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Mariaha Amos, MPH, is Director of Youth Outreach and Wellbeing, where she works with youth partners and community stakeholders to leverage resources to support mental and reproductive health for young people. Her work engages youth in healthcare via social media and on-the-ground campaigns and supports partnership with schools and community organizations. Mariaha travels throughout Mississippi to facilitate youth-friendly training to teachers, coordinators, youth, and other trusted adults. She is based in the Clarksdale, MS office.

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Iesha Hayes serves as Teen Health Mississippi’s Youth Engagement and Advocacy Manager, working closely with youth activists across the state. She advocates for the health and well-being of Mississippi youth, focusing on areas such as comprehensive sex education and mental health supports. Through her work, Iesha empowers young people to engage with their communities and equips them to hold meaningful conversations with lawmakers about the issues that matter most to youth. She is based in Teen Health Mississippi’s Jackson office.

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Board of Directors

Jacqueline Smith, Board Chair
Marni von Wilpert, Board Member
Kathryn Carroll, Board Member
Sanford Johnson, Board Member
Holly Smith, Board Member
Clay Morris, Board Member
Jermany Gray,  Board Member
Melanie Powell, Board Member