Staff

Gladys Badia, MS, is an officer of research for the Mothers and Newborns Study and ECHO Study. She began working as a teenager at the age of 17 at the Center for Educational and Psychological Services (CEPS) at Teachers College, Columbia University. At age 19, she began working for the Mothers and Newborns Study at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health. She has 17 years experience in collecting and analyzing data in a community based quantitative research study. She holds a Criminology Bachelor’s Degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Criminal Justice Masters Degree from Boston University.

Diurka Diaz, MA, Senior Officer of Research, Mothers and Newborns Study is a passionate community researcher, advocate and spokes person of the Latino community. With over 25 years of experience in the health care field, Ms. Diaz combines a unique background in health care management, early childhood development and research experience. Ms. Diaz is a graduate of the City University of New York, City College and earned a Master’s degree in Human Development from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Maria de Jesus (Marichuy)  Hernandez Garcia, Fair Start Research Assistant joined the CCCEH Fair Start Study team as a Research Assistant, in February 2022. She is a recent graduate from the University of California, Davis and holds a B.S. in Community and Regional Development and a minor in Chicano/a Studies. Before joining the Center she worked in Sacramento, California  as a Community Health Leader (CHL). As a CHL, she primarily worked with the Spanish-speaking community in Yolo County and the Mexican Consulate’s Ventanilla de Salud.

Darrell Holmes, Senior Technician conducts prenatal and all home visits with the Fair Start team. A CCCEH veteran, he started his work with the Center's first study, the  Mothers and Newborns cohort. His work at the Center has taken him as far as Ghana, West Africa where he supported a team of researchers assessing air pollution from indoor stoves. In addition to his extensive support in research, he is the go-to person when it comes to Center operations, he always kindly assists in all matters, from frantic, "why can't I see my zoom meeting," to all computer set-up and management.

Kendall Kruchten joined the CCCEH as a full-time Program Coordinator in February 2024. A passionate advocate for environmental health, Kendall earned her MPH from the Environmental Health Sciences Department at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in 2022. As a student, she completed a practicum with the Center, investigating the use of children’s makeup and beauty products and strengthening her commitment to protecting vulnerable populations.

In her current role, Kendall wears many hats. As a valued member of the Center’s Steering Committee, she contributes to strategic decision-making while also spearheading the development of new resources for CCCEH investigators. She plays a critical role in managing grant proposals and manuscript submissions, ensuring the Center’s research continues to advance our understanding of how environmental factors shape children’s health.

Adriana Meade, Research Assistant joined CCCEH in June 2022 as a Study Technician, she works collecting bio-specimens and coordinating data for CREW and ECHO studies.  She is originally from Quito, Ecuador, where she earned her MD degree. During her time in medical school, she grew a passion for research. This led her to Barcelona, Spain, where she earned her Master's in Medical Clinical Research. Since then, she strives to expand her knowledge to help support those around her, including her coworkers, patients, and families. She believes service is part of her path and always tries to teach that "healthcare starts with self-care." For these reasons, she is very passionate about Zhiheng qigong and yoga.  She loves to learn new things.  She speaks three languages,  Spanish, Portuguese, and English. If you see her around, she will always give you a smile in all three languages.

Laura is a very passionate and goal-oriented person who joined the ECHO2 team in January 2024. She is enthusiastic to start her research career at the Center for Children’s Environmental Health. She is originally from Bogota, Colombia, where she studied Early Childhood Education and worked as a preschool and elementary school teacher for 6 years. Her experience as a teacher sparked her interest in the human mind and brain development. Recently graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Psychology, and currently pursuing a master’s degree in forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Laura is looking to learn and grow along with ECHO2 and the team.

Judyth (Judy) Ramirez-Carvey, BS, Project Coordinator joined the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health as a Research Assistant in1998. She is one of the original members of the research team who collaborated to recruit over 700 participants for the Mothers and Newborns Study from local OB/GYN clinics in Upper Manhattan and Harlem. In 2003, Judy left the Center to further pursue her education in professional photography and later returned to the Center in 2009. Judy is currently a project coordinator for several studies at the Center including the ECHO Crew study.

Ornela Sierra - Torres Fair Start Research Assistant is a dedicated and passionate educator and bilingual crisis counselor who transitioned into the role of Research Assistant for the Fair Start Study at Columbia Center for Children Environmental Health in September 2023. With a background as a Crisis Text-Line Counselor for the Crisis Text Line Not-for-profit organization, Ornela provided crucial crisis care to individuals through an online platform. Her experience as a Science Teacher with the Union City Board of Education further underscores her devotion to science and community outreach. Ornela's educational journey includes a Master of Science in Human Biology from the University of Saint Joseph, complemented by a certificate in emerging infectious diseases. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Peter's University, solidifying her foundation in the sciences. Ornela Sierra-Torres brings a wealth of experience, a robust educational background, and a deep commitment to advancing scientific research in her new role as a Research Assistant.

Catherine is a seasoned and detail-orientated Research Coordinator with over 11 years of experience at CCCEH. She currently works on the ECHO, Sibling-Hermanos and Fair Start Studies. Her primary responsibilities include the management of several large caseloads of study participants and is a Trainer for the ECHO Program. Additionally, she administers various psychological instruments to assess the growth and neurodevelopment of children over time. A passionate advocate for public health and children’s neurodevelopment, Catherine has a deep commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable populations through rigorous and impactful research. Prior to joining CCCEH, Catherine worked for three years at the NYU Child Study Center in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Maricela Ureño, MPH, Coordinator, Community Outreach and Translation Core, (COTC) was trained as a community organizer by legendary father and son team Fred Jr., and Fred Sr., mentor to the late Cesar Chavez. She has dedicated her lifeswork to social justice and public health programs.  She has a MPH from Columbia University Population and Family Health and has extensive experience working domestically and internationally on community based programs.  She is a former CCCEH, COTC Community Advisory and Stakeholder Board member and is committed to reducing disparities to ensure the health and well being of children and families.

Kylie Wheelock, MPH, Program Coordinator provides operational support for the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes study. Prior to joining the center, she held internships at the Environmental Protection Agency Region Two office and International Well Building Institute. She holds a BS in environmental science and technology from the University of Maryland College Park an MPH in environmental sciences from Columbia University and is currently in the DrPH program in environmental health sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.