Employees

Currently, BSRI has nine full-time employees and utilizes research associates and consultants as needed to fulfill project and contractual duties. The BSRI team handles project administration and management, qualitative and quantitative analysis and design, and final reporting for funders (local, State, and Federal). BSRI also provides lead staff support and administration to grant-funded committees and advisory boards.  

We are proud to have affiliations with Universities and Colleges, serving as a preceptor for many interns studying public health and psychology. BSRI is a proud member of the following national and state-wide organizations:

  • American Evaluation Association,
  • Society for Community Research and Action (American Psychological Association, Division 27),
  • Southeast Evaluation Association,
  • Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association / Florida Behavioral Health Association, and the 
  • American Public Health Association.
They are humble and always available to answer questions. Annual client survey, 2019

BSRI also values community connection and is a member of local organizations such as:

  • Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce,
  • Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce,
  • Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade County,
  • Miami-Dade HIV/AIDS Partnership, and
  • Miami-Dade County Public School System School Health Advisory Committee.

Executive Director

Angela Mooss, Ph.D.

Dr. Angela Mooss received her PhD in Community Psychology from Georgia State University and holds a graduate certificate (CPH) in public health epidemiology. She has more than 15 years of experience in conducting research with communities, in areas such as behavioral health, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and alternatives to incarceration. She has conducted strategic planning, needs assessments, and program evaluations for agencies in Florida and throughout the United States. As Executive Director, she oversees all administrative functions for BSRI and provides lead project director and evaluation expertise across all BSRI clients. Her community participation includes being a voting member of Miami-Dade HIV/AIDS Partnership: Strategic Planning and Prevention Committees and a care coordination champion for Thriving Mind.

Contact: [email protected]

Associate Director

Megan Hartman, B.S.

Megan Hartman received her B.S. in Human and Social Development from the University of Miami and holds a graduate certificate in Evaluation Studies from the University of Wisconsin Stout. She has eight years of experience in the fields of public health, program evaluation, capacity building, and prevention science with a strong focus on community collaborations and health disparities. As a Community Psychology practitioner, she highly values the systems perspective of program implementation and social change as well as the community’s perspective in completing research and evaluation projects. This is evident from her community participation as a Co-Chair and voting member of Miami-Dade County Public School’s School Health Advisory Committee (2019-2021) and as a trauma-informed care champion for Thriving Mind. As Associate Director, she provides executive oversight on operations, strategic planning, business development, and marketing while also leading multiple healthcare, prevention, and strategic planning-related projects.

Contact: [email protected]

Senior Evaluation Associate

Zafreen Jaffery, Ed.D.

Zafreen Jaffery holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership specializing in curriculum and instruction from Portland State University. She has more than eight years of professional experience in helping practitioners and policymakers use data and research evidence to solve complex problems. She supports clients to improve access to equitable education and healthcare by contributing expertise in qualitative, mixed methods research and evaluation to help close achievement and opportunity gaps. Before joining BSRI, she spent three years with the Children’s Trust overseeing research-practice partnerships and program performance monitoring and evaluation for a multi-million early childhood development portfolio. At BSRI, she is excited to be in a position that supports her love of learning and allows her to conduct research and disseminate actionable results that can positively impact the lives of children and families. Her community participation includes sitting as Secretary of Miami-Dade County Public School’s School Health Advisory Committee (2019-2021) and is a member of the Muslim Women’s Organization of South Florida.

Contact: [email protected]

Senior Research Analyst

Alexandra Rivas, M.P.H.

Alexandra Rivas received her MPH with a concentration in epidemiology from George Mason University in 2014. She holds expertise in assessing health issues, risks and outcomes through data collection as well as conducting surveillance, analysis and research within local and state levels. As Evaluation Associate II she provides evaluation consulting, design and analysis skills across multiple BSRI projects and clients. Her community participation includes being a child welfare champion for Thriving Mind and a Guardian ad Litem volunteer advocating for the best interest of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Contact: [email protected]

Senior Research Analyst

Camillia R. Comeaux, MSPH, DrPH(c)

Camillia R. Comeaux received her MSPH from the Meharry Medical College in 2012  and is currently a DrPH(c) from the Florida A&M University, Institute of Public Health. She has 10 years of professional experience in the fields of hospital administration, public health research, and programmatic evaluation. Her expertise is in maternal and infant health disparities epidemiology and embraces the assessment of gene and environment in understanding adverse health outcomes. She completed a doctoral fellowship in Health Disparities Epidemiology at Nemours Children’s Hospital and Temple University in Philadelphia where her research contributed to several projects that examined health disparities and risk differences in major malignancies in the United States, as well as examining blood biomarkers to determine risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in minority populations. As a Senior Evaluation Associate at BSRI she provides lead staff support across grant applications and projects while contributing effective program and system designs across multiple BSRI projects.

Contact: [email protected]

Evaluation Associate

Jack Vertovec, Ph.D.

Jack Vertovec earned his PhD in 2021 in Anthropology from the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies at Florida International University. He has over nine years of experience conducting mixed-methods and community-based participatory research at the intersection of medical and economic anthropology across an array of topic areas like socioeconomic inequities/inequalities, structural conditions, income generating behaviors and opportunities, health vulnerabilities and outcomes, and the effects of broader translocal or transnational narratives on local communities. As an Evaluation Associate at BSRI, he performs applied research for community counterparts, assists on grant applications, collects and conducts qualitative data analysis, and provides evaluation support on projects.

Contact: [email protected]

Evaluation Associate

Julie Stellmann, MSPH

Julie Stellmann received her MSPH in International Health, Social and Behavioral Interventions from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in 2021. Prior to pursuing her MSPH, she worked as a nonprofit consultant, assisting nonprofit partners manage compliance, financials, and advocacy in Washington, DC. She earned her BA in Latin American Studies from the University of Virginia in 2016. Julie’s research focuses on working with Spanish-speaking communities both in the US and abroad. She has worked on a variety of public health topics, including household air pollution, maternal health, and violence against immigrants. She specializes in qualitative research in both English and Spanish. As an Evaluation Associate at Behavioral Science Research Institute, Julie assists on grant applications, collects and conducts qualitative data analysis,  and provides evaluation support on projects. 

Contact: [email protected]

Research Analyst

Regine Louis, B.S.

Regine Louis received her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. Women’s Studies in 2021 from the University of Florida. She has over 5 years of experience in social psychological research and data analytics. In her research, she has examined the issues people in marginalized communities may face and offered solutions that would maximize their overall well-being. As a Research Analyst at Behavioral Science Research Institute, Ms. Louis performs data analyses and provides insights to contextualize data on projects.

Contact: [email protected]

Office Manager / HR

Melanie Gonzalez, B.A.

Melanie Gonzalez received her B.A. in International Relations and B.A. in English from Florida International University. She is a Florida Bar Certified Paralegal and certified Translator in the English and Spanish Language. She is a notary for the State of Florida and is a freelance writer. Melanie has 6 years of professional experience in Immigration Law and Criminal Law and over 4 years of management experience. Before joining BSRI, she worked alongside defense attorneys as a Senior Paralegal and Office Manager, assisting in the preparation of Immigration applications and waivers to facilitate immigrants looking to adjust status in the United States and/or seek relief from deportation in Immigration Court. Her community participation includes involvement in presentations within the immigrant community seeking immigration legal advice and assisting her superior on pro-bono special immigrant juvenile cases assigned by the state. Melanie has a passion for helping people and is a part of the BSRI team as their Office Manager and head of HR. As the Office Manager/HR for BSRI, Melanie supports the company by maintaining the office system, procedures and operations, while also leading strategic planning-related projects.

Contact: [email protected]

Office Pups

Luna & Clover

Our loyal office dogs work diligently for pets and treats. They’re always around to listen to another team member’s story or diffuse stress, although they spend many work hours sleeping. All in a day’s work!