Project Team
Wrenetha A. Julion, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
Project Co-Director
Professor & Associate Dean
Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing
Rush University College of Nursing
Phone: (312) 942-6272
Email: Wrenetha_A_Julion@rush.edu
Project Co-Director
Professor of Public Health
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Phone: 414-227-4490
Email: paulf@uwm.edu
Fanny Y. López Benítez, MPP
Research Project Manager
Rush University College of Nursing
Phone: 773-661-7246
Email: Fanny_Y_LopezBenitez@rush.edu
Fanny is a formerly undocumented, Mexican immigrant woman who collaborates with oppressed communities and allies to create inclusive and equitable spaces and practices that help us achieve our long-term, collective healing, transformation, and liberation. She has extensive experience with project management, community-based participatory research, community organizing, teaching popular education, mentoring and storytelling. While she was undocumented, Fanny earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with minors in Spanish and Women & Gender Studies from Dominican University and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Fanny loves reading, running, watching comedy shows and solving puzzles. She lives in a multigenerational home with her husband David, their two kiddos (David and Leo) and grandparents Felix and Leonor.
Kaija L. Zusevics, PhD, MPH, CHES
Research Project Evaluator
Center for Urban Population Health
Associate Researcher
Email: kaija@uwm.edu
Kaija’s work includes conducting community-engaged research and evaluation projects in southeastern Wisconsin, participating in coalitions and community initiatives to improve health outcomes among diverse populations, and teaching public health students. Kaija has several areas of focus, including improving maternal and child health, gun violence prevention, and implementation science in educational contexts. Kaija uses a community engagement approach as she works with community, non-profit, and governmental agencies to understand and seek to solve complex social and health challenges. Kaija has a young daughter with her husband Josh. They enjoy long walks, lots of reading, and playing with their dog and three cats.
Carolina Cormack Orellana, MSW
Behavioral Health Parenting Specialist
Email: corellana@eriefamilyhealth.org
Carolina (Caro) Cormack Orellana is from Bellflower, California and has worked in communities throughout Chicago since 2015. She earned her Bachelors in Classics and Creative Writing at Bucknell University in 2015 as well as her Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2021. Prior to attending graduate school she worked in college access and LGBTQ+ youth programming. She is currently a Research Associate at the University of Illinois-Chicago and is co-writing a study about the college experiences of Latinx immigrant-origin young adults who have been in the foster care system. Outside of work, Caro enjoys embroidering, spending time by the lake, and taking care of her cats Mija and Paprika. She is so excited to work with couples who choose to participate in the FIPC program!
Jasmine Maldonado, MPH
Associate Researcher
Email: maldonaj@uwm.edu
Jasmine is from Vernon Hills and has lived in Illinois her whole life. She moved to Chicago when she attended the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Jasmine received her Bachelors in Sociology and minored in Latin American and Latino Studies. She graduated from UIC in 2017 and then worked at Erie Family Health Center-Evanston as an AmeriCorps Health Educator/Women’s Health Promoter. She recently received her Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from UIC. Jasmine is passionate about working with pregnant patients and working with minority communities.
In her free time, Jasmine enjoys traveling and learning about the places she visits. She likes listening to music and watching movies. She also enjoys playing tennis and likes being outdoors.
Iniko M. Ceaser
Assistant Researcher
Email: ceaser@uwm.edu
I was born and raised in Chicago, and I have lived in Hyde Park my whole life. I received my undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. In college I majored in Biology and minored in African and African American Studies. I am currently in my gap year before attending medical school to become an obstetrician-gynecologist. I am spending my gap year pursuing my passion of providing maternal and paternal healthcare through working with FIPC.
Shontasia Henderson
Research Project Coordinator
Email: Shontasia_z_henderson@rush.edu
Shontasia is grew up on the west side of Chicago and has spent majority of her life in Illinois. Prior to joining the FIPC team she received her Bachelors in psychology with a concentration in developmental from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). While there she worked closely with adolescents as a research assistant to understand how parent practices affect children’s motivation. During her time at UIUC, she also worked as a legal assistant to help serve underserved communities. She‘s hoping to continue combining her love of helping adolescent and minority populations at FIPC. However, when she is not working she is catching the next flight out of town to enjoy new foods and cultures or rollerblading.
