Oct 8, 2021 | Board
Founder and Primary Consultant
Health Equity and Literacy Partnership Solutions
Monique Hill was previously an Associate Professor in the Department of Academic Affairs Faculty and Program Manager for Hands on Health SC for 12 years. She also served as Health Literacy and Partnership Engagement Advisor for the NNLM Region 2, at the Medical University of SC. In these roles, she applied her prior experience in social work and policy to her work in developing community-based programs, collaborating, and engaging with the community, and championing disparities directly related to social and racial injustices. She believes that while these roles are what she does, impacting lives, amplifying the voices of those often unheard and underserved, and fighting for equity are the core of who she is.
Monique has worked in the field of health literacy and community engagement for over a decade, focusing on program development and implementation in South Carolina communities. She focuses on educating and empowering the community to actively participate in their personal and family healthcare experiences.
She is currently Founder and Primary Consultant for Health Equity and Literacy Partnership Solutions (HELP Solutions) Consulting Agency. HELP Solutions partners with health organizations to develop collective partnerships with community organizations, provide technical assistance to community organizations seeking to scale health programming and work with government, corporate, and academic health organizations to develop and execute health conferences and seminars.
Monique earned her bachelor’s degree from Benedict College and a master’s in social work from Florida State University School of Social Work with a concentration in social policy and administration. Additionally, she has completed advanced public health trainings from the University of Maryland-College Park and Tufts University.
Oct 8, 2021 | Board
7th District AME Church
Young People’s Division
Dr. Ila McFadden is a retired veterinarian and Director of Young People’s & Children’s Division (YPD) at the 7th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina. As YPD Director, she played a pivotal role in partnering with Wholespire and The HYPE Project to recruit YPD HYPE teams throughout the state. A resident of Olanta, SC, Dr. McFadden is active in her community and serves as Chairperson of the Florence County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.
Oct 8, 2021 | Board
Director
Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Section
SC Department of Public Health
Lori Phillips is the director of the Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Section at the SC Department of Public Health. In this role, she and her team focus on convening key stakeholders, communicating data and best practices, and consulting with partners to improve systems that create environments that promote healthy eating and active living. She has over 20 years of experience in community-based chronic disease prevention and education at local and state levels.
Oct 8, 2021 | Board
Clemson University
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Marian Robinson is a faculty associate at Clemson University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Department, where she is also a program manager for youth development programs. At Clemson, she educates vulnerable populations on cardiovascular health initiatives, assists others in navigating healthcare systems and accessing mental health resources, provides non-profits, academia, and community members with networks, linkages, and referrals to civic and community resources, and collects community-level public health data, lends such data to academia, and creates forums, townhall meetings and fieldwork opportunities for students.
The Anderson, South Carolina native has been active in community health coalitions in the Upstate for many years. In 2021, she assisted Generation 4, a non-profit in Belton, SC, with applying for and receiving a HEAL Mini-Grant from Wholespire. They created an open play space for community use in a safe and secure environment. She also serves on a number of boards and committees, including the State 4-H Advisory Board.
Robinson received her bachelor of art degree in business and human development from Anderson University and furthered her education at Clemson University. She has received the Clemson University President’s Commission on the Status of Women-Outstanding Woman Award, Clemson University Martin Luther King Excellence in Community Service Award, and has been featured in three national magazines for “Powerful Women Making a Difference.”
Her interests include community organizing, volunteer recruitment, reading, traveling, cooking, and baking.
Oct 8, 2021 | Board
University of South Carolina
College of Information and Communications
Nick Vera, MLIS, is a Doctoral Candidate in Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina College of Information and Communications. He is passionate about holistic health and believes strongly in the mantra that prevention is better than cure. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Masters in Library and Information Sciences from the University of South Carolina.
Vera has a background in community engagement and health advocacy. In 2018, he interned at SC Thrive where he collaborated with community leaders and diverse stakeholders in the Lowcountry, striving to fortify and broaden SC Thrive’s services by integrating public libraries and telehealth professionals. He has also served as the graduate assistant for Cocky’s Reading Express, playing a pivotal role in promoting children’s literacy in Title-I schools across South Carolina.
As a doctoral candidate, Vera’s research examines the impact of social media on the sexual health information-seeking behaviors of young adults in SC. It bridges a critical gap between experts such as health practitioners and teachers – who may not provide accurate, relevant, and comprehensive sexual health information to youth – and social media sources that support health information needs but may lack critical context, quality, or accuracy. My work responds to a call within the field to connect better Library and Information Science to Public Health and to develop strategies that encourage SC young adults to navigate the digital landscape effectively and make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Ultimately, his work contributes to a holistic approach to sexual health education for young adults, recognizing the role of both traditional health practitioners and emerging digital platforms. By combining the strengths of both realms, Vera’s research aims to empower young adults with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about their sexual health, promoting overall well-being and reducing the potential risks associated with missing, inadequate, or misleading information.
Oct 8, 2021 | Board
Perkins Coie, LLP
Moses Washington, a native of Denmark, South Carolina, brings a unique perspective to the board as an alumnus of the Bamberg County HYPE team at Denmark-Olar High School. He was a standout member of the team and advocated to the South Carolina State Board of Education for healthy school food on behalf of public school students and Wholespire. Washington has been involved in Wholespire and The HYPE Project, serving as a keynote speaker and resource for various initiatives.
Washington’s experiences growing up in the Corridor of Shame and concern for the welfare of his community motivated him to create his own non-profit, the Washington Foundation. Through his foundation, he aims to increase the quality of life of those in his hometown by organizing an annual Back-to-School Bash, which provides school supplies to K-12 students.
He received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Morehouse College, a master of information sciences from North Carolina State Central University, and a doctor of law degree from North Carolina Central State University School of Law. Washington is an associate at Perkins Coie, LLP in Dallas, Texas, an international law firm practicing technology transactions and privacy law.
