Meet the Communities for Youth Team

Meet the dedicated folks working behind the scenes to support each region implementing a Communities for Youth Initiative!

Matt Isbell

Internships Director

Working with various organizations and across the private, nonprofit, and government sectors, Dr. Isbell consults on a range of topics all around how to make organizational processes work for their members. Whether it's how to make better decisions, collectively lead, implement ideas, or change, Dr. Isbell focuses on the communication processes that stall or stagnate organizational innovation.

Taylor Neher

Research & Evaluation Director

Dr. Taylor Neher is an assistant professor at the School of Public and Population Health at Boise State University. She is trained in community public health practice, education, and leadership. She completed her Bachelors in Health Sciences from Boise State University, Masters of Public Health from Texas A&M University and DrPH in Public Health Leadership and Communication from the University of Arkansas.

Andrea Hill

Parent & Community Engagement Coordinator

Andrea (MPH, RDN, LD) is passionate about prevention! With professional experience in community nutrition education, community engagement, and community assessments she believes that meaningful connections play a vital role in reducing barriers that impact living happy and healthy lives. It’s her professional mission to engage, educate, and empower individuals, families, and communities so that life can be well lived. In addition to her professional experience, Andrea draws upon her role as a parent of four in her efforts to help Idaho communities realize their strengths and capacity to make a difference for Idaho’s young people.

Megan Smith

Executive Director

Dr. Megan L. Smith is an Associate Professor for the School of Public & Population Health at BSU. Megan spent 6 years as a K-12 classroom teacher before pursuing her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies. Dr. Smith’s work builds across education, human development, and public health to promote positive health outcomes for youth. As founding director of Communities for Youth, Dr. Smith focuses on upstream prevention through community engaged efforts to promote youth and community health.

Meredith Spivak

Operations Manager

Meredith is currently a PhD student in the School of Public and Population Health at Boise State University. She earned her MS in Epidemiology from the University at Albany in 2018 and joined the Communities for Youth team in 2022. She is passionate about women and children's health and creating the best possible environments for children to thrive.

Anne Abbott

Director of Implementation

Dr. Anne Abbott’s research focuses on the intersection of health communication and improving youth/young adult health outcomes. She is particularly interested in mass communication interventions or intervention components that can prevent violence and self-harm; however, she applies her health communication expertise to a wide-range of topic areas.

TBD

Communications Coordinator

We are currently hiring this role! Stay Tuned!

Sydney Nickel

Initiative Coordinator &

Data Lead

Sydney Nickel recently graduated from the Boise State University Master of Public Health program. Sydney is committed to making a positive impact in Idaho, believing that meaningful relationships, data communication, and open conversations are key to strong and healthy communities.

Heidi Jaerger

Youth Engagement &

Initiative Coordinator

Heidi Jaerger is passionate about youth empowerment and connection. She recently graduated with her Bachelor's in Health Studies and plans to pursue her Masters in Public Health starting in the fall.

Ash Bell

Initiative Coordinator

Ash Bell started her work as an intern for Communities for Youth and is excited to be on the team. She serves as a board member for the American Federation for Suicide Prevention and is currently a first year student in the BSU MPH program.

Heather Terrall

PhD Graduate Assistant

Heather Terrall (MPH) is a graduate student at Boise State University in the Public Health Leadership PhD program. She received her masters in public health degree from Boise State University in 2024. She is dedicated to using data and community engagement skills to create better communities for teens in Idaho.

Reagan Wiedenfeld

Special Projects

Reagan is an undergraduate student at Boise State. She began with C4Y as an intern and has become a valued member of the team. She is committed to increasing wellbeing through youth and love engaging with teens and their communities.

Community Engagement Affiliates

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

We pride ourselves on ensuring that we have representation from across the state because its important to have lots of perspectives. Meet our core group of folks keeping us connected across the state.

Maja Ledgerwood

Northwest Nazarene

Jen Wallin-Ruschman

College of Idaho

Dr. Jen Wallin-Ruschman is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the College of Idaho and Hansberger Chair of Community Collaboration and Engagement. Jen is a Community Psychologist interested in participatory and qualitative research methodologies to foster community wellness and social change. Recently her work has centered on understanding and enhancing youth mental health in Caldwell.

Doug Rapley

College of Western Idaho