AIDS United is powered by a dedicated team of public health professionals, advocates, and policy experts, guided by the communities we serve.
Marcus A. Wilson (he/him) is the Senior Director, Community Engagement and Patient Advocacy, U.S. Virology at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Marcus has enthusiastically contributed to ending the HIV epidemic and improving health equity globally for more than two decades. His work with national advocacy organizations has protected patient and physician choice, increased equity in healthcare, and improved access to life-saving therapies.
An active member of the LGBTQ+ community, Marcus has served on the boards of AIDS Foundation Chicago and the Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus, and currently serves on the board of ONYX. A native of Detroit, MI, he currently resides in Orlando, FL with his partner, Steven.
Katherine is the national product lead for HIV and hepatitis testing performed by Quest Diagnostics. She is passionate about patient outcomes and early diagnosis by amplifying screening recommendations for all adults, and her work with community health centers and pharmacy organizations focuses on eliminating barriers to testing and care for underserved and minority populations.
With over 20 years at Quest Diagnostics, Katherine was instrumental in bringing forward a new testing menu to support patients taking PrEP, removing gender distinctions and tailoring testing to each patient's journey. She volunteers with Literacy NRV as an English language tutor, holds a B.S. in Biology from Radford University, and lives in Radford, Virginia with her husband and two sons.
Dr. Torruella earned his doctorate in social-personality psychology at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 2010. He was a NIDA-funded Behavioral Science Training pre- and post-doctoral fellow from 2007 to 2011 at the National Development Research Institute in New York City.
He has presented his research at several conferences, published articles, and serves on the board of New York Harm Reduction Educators. He is currently Executive Director of Intercambios Puerto Rico, a community-based organization that offers harm reduction services and engages in pro-drug-user advocacy in eastern Puerto Rico.
Tyler TerMeer, PhD, joined San Francisco AIDS Foundation as CEO in February 2022. He is responsible for setting the organization's strategic priorities, ensuring programmatic and operational excellence, and developing relationships with funders, civic leaders and partner organizations. He came to SFAF with nearly 18 years of experience in HIV and AIDS policy, advocacy, and nonprofit management.
Previously he served as CEO of Cascade AIDS Project, where he oversaw a merger with Our House of Portland, expanded the organization to seven offices across two states, and launched Prism Health for LGBTQ+ primary and mental health care. He is currently co-chair of the AIDS United Public Policy Council. In 2012 he was honored by the White House as one of the "Nation's Emerging LGBTQ+ Leaders." He holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University.
Born and raised in Miami, Dr. Suarez is a licensed psychologist who provides care at the intersections of mental health, HIV, and substance use disorders. Educated and trained in Seattle in health psychology, he now serves as an attending psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Miami/Jackson Health Systems.
He is one of the co-founders of the first legal needle exchange program in Florida (IDEA SSP) and has published manuscripts on HIV outbreak detection and response. He provides street medicine services to those experiencing homelessness through a partnership with Camillus House. He considers himself a social architect who builds invisible bridges that connect people to care, and is a father of two girls.
Before initiating Venita Ray Consulting, Venita served as co-executive director of the Positive Women's Network-USA (PWN-USA), a national membership organization for women living with HIV, from 2019-2022. She also served as public policy manager for Legacy, a federally qualified health center in Houston, TX, where she monitored HIV-related health policy and managed an advocacy training program for people living with HIV.
In 2016, Venita led a citywide effort to end the HIV epidemic in Houston and drafted the Roadmap to Ending the HIV Epidemic in Houston. She has led anti-criminalization efforts in Texas. Diagnosed with HIV in 2003, Venita is deeply committed to equity, racial justice, and the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in all decisions that impact the community.
Aryah Lester, a nationally awarded author, speaker and educator, is a woman of trans experience from New York living in Washington, D.C. Lester is an advisory board member of Unity Coalition and national board chair of STARR — the nation's first transgender organization, founded by Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson.
Lester founded Trans-Miami while sustaining the work of her organization, the National Alliance of Transgender Advocates and Leaders. She is a guest lecturer at universities and a consultant with government agencies including the departments of Justice and Homeland Security. She was recently inducted into the national Trans100 list and currently serves as the deputy director of Transgender Strategy Center.
Bill Keeton is the Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer for Vivent Health, where he has dedicated 15 years to the pursuit of health and social justice for people affected by HIV. He is responsible for the organization's public policy advocacy, external relations, and public-sector grant writing supporting health care and prevention operations across four states.
Bill has organized and led efforts to enhance the local, state and federal government response to the HIV, opioid and STI syndemics, with an emphasis on the Ryan White and 340B Programs. He has been appointed to the Wisconsin Public Health Council since 2012, having been elected Chair twice by his peers. He lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin with his three children.
Carie Harter (she/her) serves as Senior Director and Team Leader for ViiV Healthcare's Government Relations and Advocacy team. Carie has worked ten years on federal and state legislative and regulatory efforts across the United States to promote health equity and protect patient access to HIV medications. She works tirelessly to positively influence the environment for people with HIV and those who could benefit from PrEP, and is passionate about reducing stigma and discrimination.
Carie was key to ViiV's launch of the US Business Action to End HIV. Prior to joining ViiV, she spent ten years in healthcare consulting, advocacy, and government relations, and eight years in marketing for the Walt Disney Co. and Procter & Gamble. She earned a B.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University and lives in Nashville with her two children.
Cecilia Chung, Senior Director of Strategic Projects at Transgender Law Center, is a Health Commissioner of San Francisco and an internationally recognized human rights leader who advocates for HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment access, LGBT equality, and social justice. An immigrant from Hong Kong, Cecilia arrived in San Francisco in 1984.
Over the past 25 years she has broken ground in many ways — the first transgender woman and first Asian to lead the board of San Francisco Pride, the first transgender woman and first person living openly with HIV to chair the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, and a founding producer of Trans March. In 2013 she was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, and in 2015 launched Positively Trans, a leadership development project for trans leaders of color living with HIV. As an Asian transgender woman living with HIV, she is dedicated to ending stigma, discrimination, and violence in all communities.
Raymond serves as Controller on the AIDS United Operations Team, spearheading the strategic alignment of mission with finances. He guides AU's financial activities through leveraging technology, staff financial trainings, and cross-organization partnership. Raymond has a long history of nonprofit financial experience serving Head Start, Healthy Start, and the Boys and Girls Club, and has served on several boards and national advisory committees. His most important roles are husband and father of two.
Joseph Stango is a program manager working on the Using Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve the Health Outcomes Among People Living with HIV initiative (E2i). He joined AIDS United in early 2018 and is particularly passionate about programs that serve and encourage resiliency in people living through sexual trauma. Outside of AIDS United, Joseph enjoys boxing, watching old Japanese movies, and reading poetry.
Katelyn Mason, MPH (she/they) is a Capacity Building Specialist with AIDS United. Katelyn has worked in capacity building for three years and in HIV prevention for seven years. They assist with the development of virtual and in-person events to help capacity-build HIV prevention organizations on status neutrality, program integration, structural interventions, and more in the Midwest.
Her prior work includes time as an HIV Prevention Specialist and Treatment Coordinator at nonprofits in both Lexington, KY and St. Louis, MO. She received an MPH in Health Behavior and a certificate in Biostatistics from the University of Kentucky.
Christopher Walker is a highly motivated public health professional based in Dallas, TX, with a Master of Science in Public Health from UT Health Science Center and a B.A. from the University of Memphis. He is passionate about bridging gaps between scientific research and marginalized communities in efforts to combat the HIV epidemic. His expertise lies in capacity building, community engagement, and innovative programming, having served as a Community Engagement Manager and consultant for organizations such as the CDC and ViiV Healthcare.
Alfrédo D. Smith (he/him/his) is a resident of Detroit, MI with 15 years of developing, implementing, and strengthening programs that enhance the lives of individuals living with and impacted by HIV. A natural-born leader, Smith has organized many social justice efforts and works to progress the narrative of HIV culture, empowering communities to resist and overcome oppressive systems.
Angel Gomez (she/her) is a program manager with AIDS United, born and raised in rural Northern California. She has held many positions in community organizations ranging from food justice and environmental activism to harm reduction, and co-founded the Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition in Butte County, CA. She also helped build opioid programs serving native communities across five rural counties. Outside of work, Angel rescues hard-to-adopt dogs and cats and enjoys concerts and music festivals.
Jesús Villalobos comes to AIDS United with experience in HIV prevention research and implementation. A strong believer in self-actualization through self-care and self-work, his favorite quote is: "Reputation is what people think of you, character is what you are, and integrity is doing the right thing when no one else is looking."
Aiden Sanchez, a native of Montgomery County, MD, currently resides in Washington, D.C. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Maryland. Enthusiastic about addressing health disparities in the United States, Aiden serves as a Program Associate within the 2iS team. In his spare time he enjoys reading fantasy novels and dancing with friends.
Vienna Mbagaya's experience spans over a decade of supporting public and private organizations at the global, federal, state, and community levels. Her expertise includes infectious disease epidemiology, behavioral health surveillance, clinical research coordination, and program evaluation, with research in HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, malaria, reproductive health, and social behavioral health. She holds a master's in Epidemiology & Biostatistics from George Washington University and a bachelor's in Biology from Boston College.
Bishar Jenkins, Jr. is a Black and queer health equity strategist, policy leader, and progressive faith-informed advocate with over seven years of experience advancing public health. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers, a Master of Public Policy from Brandeis, and a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale.
Bishar began his public health career as a summer fellow at AIDS United and served as a 2020-2022 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Health Fellow. As Senior Manager of Government Relations he shapes federal policy engagement and strategy. A native of Trenton, New Jersey, Bishar is passionate about supporting Black and queer youth.
Joseph White is a digital organizing strategist, storyteller, and multi-disciplinary artist whose work fuses political vision with creative force. An actor, director, playwright, and recording artist, he brings a narrative precision shaped by theatre, music, and community engagement to every project he leads.
A philosophical thinker with a deep love of science, civic life, and the cosmos, he is driven by a mission to build more just, resilient systems and to tell stories that shift culture. Grounded in faith, sharpened by craft, and guided by a commitment to human dignity, Joseph uses art, advocacy, and imagination to challenge power, uplift everyday people, and move audiences toward understanding and change.
othompson-clayborn@aidsunited.org
Obrenka G. Thompson-Clayborn prides herself on being a public health professional with a true passion for health equity strategies, grassroots capacity building and cultural humility. A Decatur, AL native, Obrenka received her Bachelor's degree in African American Studies from the University of Alabama, Birmingham and her Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Memphis.
While taking a Health Disparities course, Obrenka was introduced to inequities in maternal child health; once both of her parents were diagnosed with preventable cancers her senior year, she knew public health prevention work would be her purpose. She has been called to public health and HIV prevention for one simple reason: the people. A self-described "talkative introvert," she loves socializing and helping her community, and enjoys books by Black authors and cooking competitions.
Sophia Obregon is a recent graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in neuroscience and a minor in community engagement and social change. Obregon hails from Miami, Florida, and was raised in San Diego, California.
Throughout her undergraduate years, Obregon demonstrated her leadership abilities as one of the heads of a feminist newsmagazine club, and garnered valuable experience working with various nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles. Her summer internship with Health Career Connection solidified her passion for public health. Looking ahead, Obregon aspires to pursue a master's degree in public health focused on the intersection between public health and social justice.
Judith May is the senior administrative assistant at AIDS United, providing high-level administrative support and facilitating cross-departmental communication. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Judith's hometown inspired her interest in population health and justice-centered solutions to health disparities. She previously served five years at the Black Women's Health Imperative in Washington, DC. She enjoys cooking, dancing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Jacobi Hunter-Wright serves as a program manager of capacity building for the Strengthening Integrated Approaches in the Midwest Initiative. Prior to joining AIDS United, Jacobi provided program management and evaluation within CBOs in the South, specifically for CDC and state projects based in Texas. His research interests are rooted in addressing health disparities within various focus populations, education, HIV, and creating innovative dissemination practices to involve every level of public health in prevention and care.
Jacobi has lived in Texas for the past 7 years and previously resided in Atlanta. He earned his Master of Arts in English from Clark Atlanta University in 2015 and graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. He is pursuing a PhD in English with an emphasis on Composition and Rhetoric at Texas A&M Commerce University. In his free time Jacobi enjoys working out and exploring new restaurants, music, and books.
Gabriel Glissmeyer, MPH (he/him) is the Program Manager of the Transgender Leadership Institute, joining with over a decade of experience in LGBTQ+ health, policy advocacy, and health equity at local, national, and international levels. He holds a B.A. in Exercise Science from Augsburg University and an MPH from Utah State University.
Fueled by his own experiences navigating healthcare systems, Gabriel is deeply committed to reducing health disparities, especially for transgender people of color. He resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Born in Washington, D.C., Carli Gray (she/her) is a program manager at AIDS United who leads the strategy behind the Melanated Movement portfolio. Her passion for cultural development and fostering sustainable resources for individuals impacted by HIV began within her own family. She holds a bachelor's in art history from Lycoming College and is pursuing a master's in arts and cultural management. In her off hours she enjoys lounging with her dog and exploring art museums.
Laura Gerson, CHES (they/them and she/her), is the Capacity Building Coordinator for AIDS United, with a background in public health, gender equity, community engagement and health education. A Certified Health Education Specialist, they are passionate about inclusive, community-level health education centering the most marginalized populations. Laura is a graduate of American University. Outside work, they enjoy DC music venues, baking bread, and their two cats, Tribble and Ro.
Mackenzie Flynn (she/her) serves as the policy and annual conference manager at AIDS United. Before joining, she had more than three years of experience in public health and social justice, serving on various campaigns and as an intern at several health organizations in the Washington, D.C. area and her home of South Florida. She holds a B.A. in political science from George Washington University with minors in public health and sustainability.
Daemon Donigan started in public health around 15 years ago as a volunteer HIV/STI tester, counselor and PrEP navigator in Denver, CO. Throughout his career he has worked in HIV/STI prevention for the Colorado AIDS Project, as a sexual health educator and program manager at a Federally Qualified Health Center, and as a CBA/PTC Specialist for the Midwest Region at Washington University in St. Louis. He is passionate about addressing the stigma, bias, and systemic racism affecting marginalized communities' access to sexual healthcare.
Hannah Norris (she/hers) is an experienced program manager passionate about community-driven solutions to improve health and well-being. She has managed a number of multi-year grantmaking initiatives and developed effective program and grants management processes.
In prior roles at AIDS United she managed multiple HRSA cooperative agreements focused on evidence-informed interventions to improve health outcomes among people living with HIV. Hannah holds a master's in public health from George Washington University.
After running a successful international public relations, advertising and marketing company for nearly 20 years, Louis Tharp became a social entrepreneur in 1999, co-founding CreakyJoints, the digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide. In 2007 CreakyJoints became part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), which he co-founded and now serves as Executive Director, focusing on health policy, advocacy, research, education and patient support across chronic disease.
In 2005 he became the first out gay coach at the U.S. Military Academy, where he coached the West Point Triathlon team. A graduate of Butler University, he served in the Indiana National Guard and has held numerous board and civic roles, including an appointment in the Obama administration on the Army Education Advisory Committee.
Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Ph.D., a 1986 alumna of Fayetteville State University, is the 17th National President of The Links, Incorporated — one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women committed to enriching and sustaining the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.
She has a broad background in public health with expertise in minority health, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, health disparities, and behavioral health, and over 30 years of applied health research, evaluation, and technical assistance experience. Dr. Leonard earned a PhD in Psychology from Howard University and a master's from North Carolina Central University.
Dr. Jirair Ratevosian (he/him) is an Associate Research Scientist at Yale University and holds appointments at the Duke Global Health Institute and the Center for Strategic International Studies. With over two decades of experience spanning public service, non-profit work, the private sector, and diplomacy, he has a distinguished track record of advancing global health and human rights initiatives.
From 2021-2023, he served as Acting Chief of Staff and Health Equity Advisor to Ambassador John Nkengasong at the U.S. State Department. Previously he was Corporate Social Responsibility Director for Gilead Sciences, Legislative Director to U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and Deputy Director at amfAR. He holds a doctoral degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an M.P.H. from Boston University, and a B.S. from UCLA.
June Gipson, PhD is the President/CEO of My Brother's Keeper, Inc. in Ridgeland, MS — a leading provider of HIV care in the South. Dr. Gipson has worked in the public health arena for over 14 years, implementing an array of community-oriented programs focused on improving the health and wellness of minority communities.
Most recently, she expanded her service into the clinical arena with the establishment of Mississippi's first LGBTI primary healthcare clinic, Open Arms Healthcare Center. Dr. Gipson holds a bachelor's in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master's in Education Administration from William Carey College, an Education Leadership specialist degree, and a PhD in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University.
Dr. Eugene McCray began his career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1983 as an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service in the Epidemic Intelligence Service. He was instrumental in CDC's HIV prevention efforts from the early years of the epidemic, expanding surveillance and leading multiple investigations documenting occupational transmission of HIV in health care workers.
In 2000, McCray became director of the Global AIDS Program, leading the establishment of CDC HIV programs in 25 countries and helping implement the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. In 2014 he became director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the CDC, guiding the domestic HIV prevention response until his retirement in 2020.
Recognized globally as an expert in HIV/AIDS and TB, McCray received the PHS Distinguished Service Medal in 2004 and the CDC's William C. Watson Medal of Excellence in 2007.
Drew Gibson, MSW, is the Director of Advocacy at AIDS United. A nationally renowned harm reduction and HIV policy expert with more than a decade of experience working in and advocating for organizations who serve people living with HIV and people who use drugs, Gibson leads a wide range of federal, state, and local efforts to increase funding for and access to HIV and harm reduction programs throughout the United States.
Alicia Downes serves as the director of federal programs. She received her Master of Social Work from the University of Kansas and has almost 10 years of experience in mental health. Alicia began work in the HIV field almost 20 years ago as a Ryan White Case Manager.
She has experience managing federal grants from SAMHSA, CDC, HRSA, and private foundations, and previously served as the Midwest AIDS Education and Training Center of Missouri Site and Peer Program Manager. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she enjoys cheering on her sons at track and swimming events and walking her dog.
Miguel A. Ayala is a strategic communications leader driven by a lifelong commitment to breaking down barriers, expanding opportunity, and correcting systemic injustices. For nearly two decades, he has used storytelling, policy expertise, and media strategy to elevate the voices of marginalized communities. He has served as Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications to Congressman Steven Horsford, Communications Director for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Nevada Communications Director for Hillary for America, and Deputy Director of Communications at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Miguel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from DePaul University and remains steadfast in his mission to advance narratives that open doors, tear down inequities, and drive lasting change.
Leslie McGorman (she/her) serves as the senior director of policy and strategy at AIDS United, joining with 20 years of health-policy experience ranging from state legislative affairs to nonprofit consulting, most recently from a trade association representing frontline HIV clinicians.
She has significant political experience on both the coordinated and independent-expenditure side of campaigns, and previously served as a longtime federal lobbyist focused on reproductive rights. She is motivated by her belief that health care is a human right, and holds a master's in public policy from California State University, Sacramento.
Mr. Kiley has over thirty years of professional experience working in Washington, DC. He played key operational leadership roles for the 1996 Democratic National Convention and the Democratic National Committee, and was appointed Deputy Assistant to the President for Management and Administration at the White House during the Clinton Administration.
In 2008 Kiley helped lead the Obama transition team and then served as Assistant to the President for Management and Administration at the White House from 2009 to 2013. He later served as COO for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Radio Free Asia. A proud graduate of Texas Christian University, Kiley resides with his husband, Jamie Coley, in Chevy Chase, MD.
Dr. Athena Cross (she/her) is a health care leader with over 15 years' experience leading market access initiatives, insurance contracting, health care reimbursement, public policy and health care strategy in the public and private sectors. She specializes in improving the public health care delivery system and has led several initiatives to improve access to reproductive and women's health services.
In 2016, Cross created Cross Health Care Solutions, a consulting firm focused on addressing inequities in health. Cross is a public health doctoral candidate at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and aligns her work with her commitment to addressing inequities in health for marginalized people.
Carl Baloney Jr. is a dedicated advocate for health equity and social justice, committed to advancing policies that improve the lives of disenfranchised communities, particularly in the Deep South. As a Black gay man from the region, he brings both personal experience and professional expertise to his work. Above all, he is a proud father of two.
Baloney's career began in the U.S. House of Representatives as a staffer for then-Congressman Charlie Melancon of Louisiana. He later joined Planned Parenthood Federation of America as Senior Manager of Legislative Affairs, and in 2015 transitioned to AIDS United to lead its federal advocacy efforts.
With nearly a decade at AIDS United, Baloney played a pivotal role in developing the AIDS United Roadmap to Federal Action to End the HIV Epidemic. Under his leadership, the Public Policy Council doubled in size and AIDSWatch was modernized.
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