We're now in Phase II of the Mountain West Hub! Read more here
Community Navigators
Community Navigators are trusted members of the Mountain West Hub team who live and work in the communities they serve. They are your local point of contact throughout the study and are here to make participating as easy and comfortable as possible.
They recruit participants, conduct home visits, help set up DIY air cleaners, and guide participants through each step of the study. They also collect health and indoor air quality data to help researchers better understand how cleaner indoor air can improve health.
West Denver Team
Tiffany Pippin
Tiffany is stoked to be working as a Community Navigator for the Mountain West Hub. A 10-year Denver resident, she's spent most of her career in community-based Adult Education, working as a program director and instructor. She currently teaches literacy and numeracy classes at the Women's Bean Project and also works as an independent educational consultant. Tiffany is especially excited about this project because she loves connecting with the community and contributing to work that advances education and improves health outcomes. Outside of work, you'll find her cheering on Denver Summit FC, playing soccer, or reading as much fiction as she can get through.
Amelia Tenne
Amelia is a communications professional with more than 15 years of experience helping people navigate complex systems related to healthcare, housing, workforce development, and public services. Her interest in public health comes from a belief that people deserve clear information, compassionate support, and systems that meet them where they are. As a Community Navigator, she is excited to support community-based research and connect directly with participants in ways that build trust and improve health outcomes.
San Luis Valley Team
Chris Hendricks, RN
Chris Hendricks, RN teaches nursing at Trinidad State College. He has been in health care for 30 years as an EMT, paramedic, nurse, and Air Force Flight Nurse. He has two grown kids and loves to spend time hiking the dunes in Sand Dunes National Park.
Nicole V Langley, MA
Nicole V. Langley, M.A., partners with businesses, nonprofits, communities, and government agencies across the San Luis Valley to develop culturally grounded education, training, and resource strategies that strengthen local resilience. She founded Tierra Nueva Language and Learning Center to expand English language learning opportunities and improve ESL instruction. Through Transforma Research & Design, LLC, she has helped secure more than $13 million for engineering, scientific, water management, and agricultural infrastructure projects across Colorado.
Suzie Marlow
Angie Mestas
Remy Olson
A native to Hawaii, I've lived worldwide and had careers in IT, education, food, regenerative farming, and now massage therapy since 2020. The healing waters of the SLV made their first impression upon me as a tourist in 2017. Volunteering summers guiding the bat hikes at Valley View Hot Springs led to moving here in 2019. My passions are barefooting, ultimate frisbee, and time with my family. I work at the Elephant Cloud Market and have a thriving massage therapy practice. Fun fact: my ecotoxicology capstone project in college was measuring historic atmospheric lead levels using lichen (they store atmospheric lead in concentric rings!) and corresponding blood-lead levels in inner city Cleveland. Looking forward to meeting some of you!
Jazmyn Preyer
I’m Jazmyn, a community navigator who lives in La Jara. Originally from California, I moved here to help care for my grandparents! My 6yo son and I live in a tiny house with our two kitties on the front lawn of my grandparents' house, and just look after my Gran now; she's 88, and has lived in the Valley all her life. I'm a nursing student at Trinidad State in Alamosa, and I plan to work in a float pool once graduating and truly decide what field of nursing I want to go into. My passions include community, books, outdoor adventures, and family.
Julie Stempko
Nicky Thesty
Hello, my name is Nickie Thetsy. I have been writing my vegetarian superfood cookbook that focuses on health and wellness. I enjoy watching our SLV sunset, the snowy Blanca peak, and foraging. I try to keep our valley clean and protect our wildlife of the vegetations and animals.
Anna Lee Vargas
Anna Lee Vargas is a sixth-generation San Luis Valley native from Manassa, Colorado. She serves as Project Manager for the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, Lead Recruiter for the Colorado School of Public Health in the San Luis Valley, and co-leads the Legacy Lands Working Group under the America the Beautiful for All Coalition. With more than a decade of experience in community organizing, advocacy, and project management, Anna Lee is passionate about protecting the land, water, and people of the San Luis Valley. Her greatest pride is being a mom to her daughter. Anna Lee is proud of her professional accomplishments but considers her greatest accomplishment as being a mama to her wonderful daughter.
Ruby Vigil