Our Coaches

Allen Barton (IL)

Allen Barton is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research and outreach efforts focus on family-based prevention programming, and this Strong Couples Project is one of his personal favorites. When he is not doing research or serving as a program coach, he can likely be found with his family playing or working outside.

Amber Allen (MO)

Amber Allen is an Assistant Extension Professional in Human Development and Family Science for the University of Missouri, where she serves ten counties in the Southwest Region. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Development from Missouri State University, with an emphasis on family studies. In addition, she has obtained a Master’s in Nonprofit and Civic Leadership from Drury University and has begun her Doctorate of Education studies at the University of Missouri. She also holds Missouri Advanced Prevention Specialist and Certified Family Life Educator credentials. She has been with MU Extension since October 2019 but has provided community education in Missouri for over a decade.

April Littig (IL)

April Littig provides leadership in the 4-H Youth Development program for the traditional 4-H program and youth education initiatives in Western-Central Illinois. April provides researched based educational programs to youth and adult audiences geared towards healthy lifestyles, positive youth development, protecting and appreciating our environment, and workforce preparation. She provides programs that allow youth to develop a sense of respect, belonging and mastery.

Beverly Doll (WI)

TBD

Caitlin Mathews-Smith (OH)

Caitlin Mathews-Smith is an Ohio State University Extension Educator in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), serving in Guernsey County. Caitlin provides research-based education focused on Healthy People, Healthy Finances, and Healthy Relationships. She loves to spend time with her immediate and extended family. She loves hiking, biking, gardening and landscaping, painting, and crafting

Cheri  Burcham (IL)

Cheri  Burcham is a Family Life Educator with University of Illinois Extension. She provides educational programming and resources on healthy living throughout the life span, and her primary focus has been to promote a healthier more independent older population. She has really enjoyed being a coach for the Illinois Strong Couples project and feels it has been beneficial to all are as of her work. Cheri is a huge Monarch butterfly crusader and spends a lot of time in her garden raising milkweed and also raising and tagging Monarchs.

Della Miller (MO)

Della Miller is a Field Specialist in Human Development with the University of Missouri Extension, serving counties in the south-central region of the state. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Health, and Development from Missouri State University, as well as a Family Development Credential from the University of Connecticut. With nearly 20 years of experience working with families from diverse backgrounds, Della is passionate about helping individuals succeed by providing evidence-based, research-supported information. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and spending quality time with her family.

Erin Ruggiero (OH)

Erin Ruggiero is an Ohio State University Extension Educator in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), serving in Medina County. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Development from Ashland University. She provides educational programming on child development, parenting, aging programs, managing finances, and more. When not at work, Erin enjoys spending time with her family, especially while being outside!

Hannah Zellmer (WI)

Hannah Zellmer is a Human Development & Relationships Educator at the University of Wisconsin- Division of Extension. Hannah has a strong background in parenting education, and her work focuses primarily on strengthening families by supporting resilient adults and children. She provides educational outreach that is focused on building upon families’ strengths and supports family serving agencies in Marquette County. This includes direct education with parents and families, supporting family serving agencies, building family support programs, and providing resources to individuals and families.

Judy Schmidt (IL)

Judy Schmidt is a 4-H Youth Development Educator for the University of Illinois Extension in the Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell unit. Her work focuses on 4-H youth development programming in the local metropolitan area, specifically leading positive youth development initiatives for after-school programs, community groups, 4-H clubs and other youth-serving organizations. Her areas of expertise include positive youth development principles, youth leadership, and work with teens as teachers.

Karla Belzer (IL)

Karla Belzer is a family life educator with University of Illinois Extension, serving in the northwest area of the state since 2015. Karla provides information and educational programs on healthy lifestyle decisions, effectively family communication, and management of life transitions helping people of all ages to live their best life. She is especially passionate about her work in mindfulness, trauma awareness, brain health, and the Illinois Strong Couples project. Outside her role as an educator, she enjoys spending time outside with her family and her dogs – in the garden, on hikes, and boating.

Kyleigh Brown (MO)

Kyleigh Brown is a Certified Family Life Educator.  She currently works as an Assistant Extension Professional in the area of Human Development and Family Science for the University of Missouri. Through her work, Kyleigh offers educational opportunities in the areas of aging well, family relationships, and mental wellbeing.  She is headquartered in Cass County and serves seven additional counties in the West Central. She provides professional development for individuals and organizations in communities as well at conferences from the local to national level. She earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Education and Family Studies from Missouri State University in 2016.  Kyleigh, a Pettis County native, resides in Kansas City with her husband and their two young children.

Luisa Gerasimo (WI)

Luisa is a Family Engagement and Relationships Educator with University of Wisconsin Madison – Division of Extension in Dunn County. She serves on a number of statewide teams and enjoys co-facilitating parenting classes with colleagues. Her work also focuses on locally important issues that impact families such as housing and childcare. Luisa believes that the foundation of any culture is relationships. When not at work, you can find her canoeing, walking, or gardening. 

Mary Campbell Wood (WI)

Mary Campbell Wood, UW-Madison Division of Extension Professor, believes that strong relationships are the foundation that makes healthy, happy individuals, couples, families, and communities, and helps them to thrive. She has worked to build local and statewide capacity for promoting and supporting healthy relationships for more than 30 years, as a licensed guidance counselor, educator, and faculty member.  In addition to relationship and parenting education, she has developed programs that support healing from trauma, grief and loss for adults and children, all in the context of relationships.

Michele Crawford (IL)

Michele Crawford is a Community Health Educator with University of Illinois Extension, serving Cook County. Michele provides educational programs and resources on chronic disease prevention and management, trauma informed care, mindfulness and healthy relationships. In addition to her role as an educator, Michele enjoys spending time in nature, gardening and yoga.

Missy Bablick (WI)

Missy Bablick, has worked for UW-Extension since 2010, Missy is the Human Development and Family Relationships Educator in Barron County, WI. Missy’s outreach and experience has focused around working with families providing parenting, financial, and relationship education.

Ornella Skaff (IL)

Ornella Skaff is a graduate student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Her research interests focus on preventative science, romantic relationships and parenting.

Patrice Powers-Baker (OH)

Patrice Powers-Barker is an Ohio State University Extension Educator in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), serving in Lucas County. As a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), Patrice’s role is to teach FCS to families across the lifespan, and to foster positive individual and family development for optimal growth. When not at work, Patrice loves spending time with her family, treasuring the four seasons of Northwest Ohio and appreciating the abundance of her local community.

Renee Koeing (WI)

Renee Koenig is an Educator in Human Development and Relationships with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension.  She has 25 years experience teaching life skills and supporting families facing challenges of job loss, poverty, divorce, trauma, chronic illness and death of loved ones.  Renee’s research and outreach focus on delivering parenting education in digital formats. She helps make connections for cross-sector collaborations that build resilient families and communities.

Sara Attig (IL)

Sara Attig is a Family Life Educator with University of Illinois Extension, serving Livingston, McLean, and Woodford Counties. She is dedicated to creating meaningful and supportive learning experiences that promote healthy lifestyles, mindfulness, brain health, and healthy aging. Outside of her professional role, Sara enjoys spending time with her family and St. Bernards, listening to podcasts, and learning to play the ukulele.

Tessa Hobbs-Curley (IL)

Tessa Hobbs-Curley is a Family Life Educator serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties.  Tessa believes lifelong success starts with social and emotional learning, and she centers her work around this philosophy.  She is excited to serve as a coach for the Illinois Strong Couples project, which promotes the essential skills, she has emphasized over the last 25 years.  If you don’t see her out professionally as an educator, you will see her spending time with her family attending sporting events or showing cattle.

Tracey Perry (OH)

Tracey Perry is an Ohio State University Extension educator in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), serving Vinton County. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Consumer Sciences with a focus in Family Studies from Ohio University. Tracey provides research-based education focused on Healthy People, Healthy Relationships and Healthy Finances.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and reading or listening to books.

Tracey Henegar (WI)

Tracy Henegar is a Human Development & Relationships Educator for UW-Madison, Division of Extension, primarily serving Bayfield & Douglas Counties.  With a master’s degree in Family Life Education, her community outreach includes parent education, healthy relationships, aging well, coping, stress management, QPR suicide prevention, mental health and well-being and trauma informed care, amongst others.  She has four grown children and one teen foster daughter, and when not busy with her work, she enjoys spending time with them, especially in the outdoors, hiking, camping or paddling on the water.