The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is pleased to announce its incoming Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. This year, NACDD’s Representative Members elected a new President-Elect, Secretary, and three At Large Directors. The new term begins October 1, 2026.
Teresa Aseret-Manygoats will transition from President-Elect to Board President. Aseret-Manygoats is the Bureau Chief, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion at the Arizona Department of Health Services and has more than 25 years of experience working in public health.
Lea Susan Ojamaa, Deputy Director for the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, has completed her term as Board President and will now serve as Past President.
“We are deeply grateful to Lea Susan for her generosity in serving two full terms as President to provide continuity and support during a challenging time for the Association and public health as a whole. We are in a better place because of her strategic direction and stewardship and look forward to her continued guidance as Past President,” said Jeanne Alongi, NACDD Interim Chief Executive Officer. “We are also appreciative of Teresa for serving two terms as President-Elect and are thrilled to have her as our next President. As a longtime member of the Board, Teresa has helped shape the Association through thoughtful leadership and unwavering dedication to our mission and our Members. Her experience, perspective, and collaborative spirit will be tremendous assets as she begins her term, and we are excited for the opportunities ahead.”
Margaret Chaykin, Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program Manager and Chronic Disease EBI Coordinator at the Washington State Department of Health, was elected to serve as President-Elect and Kimberly McDonald, Chief of Chronic Disease and Injury at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services was elected Secretary. Both Chaykin and McDonald currently serve as At Large Directors. Khatidja Dawood, Director of the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division at Minnesota Department of Health, will continue in her role as Treasurer.
Three new At Large Directors were elected:
Tara Hylton
Bureau Chief, Chronic Disease Prevention, Florida Department of Health
Edolem Ikerdeu
Executive Director, Palau Community Health Center, Ministry of Health and Human Services
Tenneh Turner Warren
Chief, Office of Chronic Disease & Population Health, Arizona Department of Health Services
These newly elected leaders represent will help guide NACDD’s strategic priorities, strengthen member engagement, and support efforts to prevent chronic diseases and promote healthier communities.
Secretary Nancy Sutton (Rhode Island) and At Large Director Barbara Wallace (New York) will complete their terms on Sept. 30, 2026. Former At Large Directors Jill Myers Geadelmann (Iowa) and Felisa Wilson Simpson (Mississippi) stepped down from their positions earlier this year. David Hoffman, who served on the Board for more than 25 years, most recently as an Emeritus and chair of NACDD’s Legislative and Policy Committee, also stepped down earlier this year. NACDD is grateful for their service and contributions to advancing chronic disease prevention and health promotion.
“We are pleased to welcome our three new Board members,” said Alongi. “They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from across the public health field, and we are grateful they have chosen to serve in new leadership roles. We are equally grateful to our departing Board Members for the time and energy they have given to NACDD. Their leadership and commitment have made a meaningful difference, and we appreciate all they have done to support the Association and our Members.”
The full 2026-2027 Board of Directors roster:
Officers
- President: Teresa Aseret-Manygoats, Arizona
- President-Elect: Margaret Chaykin, Washington
- Past President: Lea Susan Ojamaa, Massachusetts
- Treasurer: Khatidja Dawood, Minnesota
- Secretary: Kimberly McDonald, North Carolina
At Large Directors
- Allen Christensen, Washington
- Lainey Faulkner, Kansas
- Sophia Hines, Michigan
- Tara Hylton, Florida
- Edolem Ikerdeu, Republic of Palau
- Ashley Arezou Minaei, Alaska
- Kia Toodle, Georgia
- Tenneh Turner Warren, Arizona