Hilltoppers Who Help

The challenges of health care systems didn’t stop during the global COVID-19 pandemic. In his work as a Clinical Quality Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Nursing graduate Chris Kramer (’08) has faced those challenges head on as he has continued his work to reduce hospital-acquired infections, help eliminate waste in the system and make patient care more efficient and effective. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught Speech-Language Pathologist Tanner Wilson ('16, '19) to "keep the main thing, the main thing" as she strives to be positive, flexible, available and willing to adapt to new things to serve the patients she loves.

C. Jacob Hodges (’17) of Nashville, Tenn., is an Associate Financial Advisor at Premier Private Wealth, working each day to assist multiple generations of families in maintaining and growing resources to foster financial independence.  

On the surface, Spencer Allen (’15, ’18) of Bowling Green, Ky., may look like a typical young academic, as he teaches classes in Criminology and Introduction to Criminal Justice. However, Spencer has an alter ego as the “The Mask Guy,” the formerly “Anonymous Mask Guy” at WKU.

Kate Xu (’13) of Baltimore, Md., is a Clinical Nurse with the Hematology/Oncology Inpatient Unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center. As a bedside oncology nurse, she works with physicians and specialists as part of an interdisciplinary team to administer chemotherapy and radiation therapy. 

Jordan Webb (’17) of Nashville, Tenn., says the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed her to be more creative with communication. 

Alayna Milby (’14) of Franklin, Ky., is the Director of Community Engagement with Hope Harbor, Inc. in Bowling Green. Along with providing support and information to survivors of sexual violence, her normal work duties include engagement and outreach to the south central Kentucky community through fundraising, events, volunteerism, social media and their therapeutic garden with a specific focus on underserved populations.

Dr. Natasha DeJarnett (’04), Interim Associate Director of Program and Partnership Development at the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and Professional Lecturer for George Washington University (GW), is encouraging healthy workplace environments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In his role as Associate Dean of the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus, Todd R. Cheever, M.D. (’87) of Bowling Green, Ky., oversees every aspect of the first four-year regional medical campus in the state of Kentucky.

Leyda Becker (’01) of Bowling Green, Ky., is the International Communities Liaison with the City of Bowling Green. She coordinates the City’s role in communicating and working effectively with the diverse communities represented in Bowling Green, and she serves as an advocate for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals who may seek City services.

Lesley Duke (’16, ’18) of Bowling Green, Ky., is a Social Worker with the Medical Center at Bowling Green. Amid the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, she’s provided social work services for patients who are a part of the Medical Center’s COVID unit.

During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, WKU junior Brooke Mahanna from Radcliff, Ky., has faced many changes and challenges in her role as a Nursing Assistant at Hardin Memorial Hospital. 

Amid the challenges of the pandemic, teachers and administrators have met challenges they never expected. Amanda Walker (’03) is the School Counselor at Gateview Elementary in Portland, Tenn., and her husband, Stephen Walker (’03), is Assistant Principal at Rucker-Stewart Middle School in Gallatin, Tenn.

To aid in the COVID-19 fight, Robb McMahan ('91) and his wife, Lisa, have transitioned a portion of their gel mat industrial facility to manufacture much-needed equipment for front-line medical workers.

Samuel “Cass” Kidwell of Campbellsville, Ky., is a WKU junior majoring in Criminology and Military Leadership. Currently, he’s also serving full-time as Specialist Kidwell with the Kentucky Army National Guard.

Charlie Rhea ('15, L) has worked for the Kentucky Department for Public Health as an Epidemiologist with the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program since July 2018. However, since the beginning of March, his responsibilities have shifted to assisting the Reportable Disease Section and the COVID-19 response team.

By day, Jennifer Crume ('92, '02) serves as Principal at College View Middle School, a job that comes with its own set of challenges in these days of remote instruction. But she is also donating her time and talents to help those on the front lines of health care.