Alumni
Board of Directors
Ken Bahl, Vice President (‘96)
Ken Bahl leverages technology, data control and an immersive employee experience to help employers deliver modern employee benefits programs to their participants and control costs at the same time. Since graduating from UNLV’s Healthcare Administration program in 1996 Ken has worked for more than twenty-five years in a variety of leadership and executive roles in third party administration, healthcare, employee benefits and technology.
As company Principal of Custom Benefit Consultants, Inc. (CBC), Ken leads dynamic teams of employee benefits professionals and technology developers to help create unique and innovative solutions for employers seeking to pair the power of data control and automated process development with targeted cost mitigation strategies. The CBC team builds customized solutions for large self-funded employers and delivers marketplace-based solutions for smaller employers to access plans and programs that are compliant, intuitive, and value-driven. Ken founded Control Source, Inc. (a licensed third party administrator) to provide administrative products and solutions to individuals, employers, insurance carriers, and other stakeholders across the spectrum of healthcare delivery.
Previously named as one of Las Vegas’ ’40 under 40’, Ken continues to involve himself in community and philanthropic activities having served as the UNLV Alumni Association President from 2014 – 2016, and currently serving on the School of Public Health Advisory Board and President Elect of the UNLV School of Public Health Alumni Board.
Glahnnia Rates, President (‘18)
Glahnnia (Rene’e) Rates is an Epidemiologist with the CDC Foundation. In this role, she works with urban and rural healthcare facilities to help prevent, track, and control the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and COVID-19 through collaborative research, investigations, and integrated health educational efforts.
An advocate, educator, and avid speaker for underserved communities, she actively works with community leaders (both locally and nationally) to help better public health efforts for underserved populations. She has planned, organized, and spearheaded numerous health equity, equality and social justice centered projects in partnership with public health organizations, companies, as well as institutions of higher learning to increase awareness and further empower her community at large.
Currently, she serves her community in various leadership roles, such as President of the UNLV School of Public Health Alumni Chapter, Vice President of the APHA Black Caucus of Health Workers, and Advisory Board Member for the Nevada Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
Patience Gbafa, Secretary (‘20)
Patience Gbafa currently serves as the secretary for the UNLV Alumni Association. She is a Disease Investigator for the State of Nevada-Office of Public Health Investigations and Epidemiology (OPHIE). As an investigator, she helps manage COVID-19 outbreaks in health facilities throughout Nevada and conducts disease investigations. She recently graduated with her Masters in Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, from UNLV in December 2020. Patience aims to serve underserved populations and make an impact in her community.
Brianna Rivera, Treasurer (‘19)
Brianna Rivera is the treasurer of the UNLV School of Public Health Alumni Chapter. She graduated from the UNLV School of Public Health in 2019 with her bachelors degree in public health. She is currently a manager on the Contact Tracing Team through the School of Public Health working directly with the Southern Nevada Health District to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Brianna is working on her Masters degree in Public Health with a concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics at the UNLV School of Public Health.
Howard Gordan, Member at Large (‘12)
Dr. Howard R.D. Gordon is a Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A native of Jamaica, West Indies, Dr. Gordon has made numerous contributions to the discipline through research, presentations, and publications. On November 29, 2012, Gordon completed his MPH degree in Environmental & Occupational Health with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Health, and research specialization in Injury Epidemiology from UNLV. Gordon’s background includes a B.Sc. in Animal & Poultry Sciences, and a M.Sc. in Agricultural Education from Tuskegee University. His doctorate is in Agricultural Science Education from Virginia Tech. His areas of interest include teaching effectiveness, career and technical education, servant leadership, quantitative research design and methodology, nutrition, and injury epidemiology. He is the founder and co-editor of the Journal of Research in Technical Careers.
Dr. Sheila Janofsky, Faculty Liaison
Sheila Janofsky is an Associate Professor-in-Residence in the School of Community Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she joined the faculty in 2014. Her research interests include food systems, policy-based approaches to childhood obesity, community-based physical activity, and active transportation, especially in children. She has authored articles in these and related areas. She is a member of the Nevada Public Health Association and American Public Health Association and teaches courses including Introduction to Public Health, Methods in Health Education, and Health Studies on Dangerous Drugs at UNLV. She received her bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and completed both her M.Ed. in Health Promotion and Ph.D. in Public Health at UNLV.
Committee Chairs
Dakota Clarke, Publicity and Marketing Chair (‘19)
Dakota Clarke currently serves as the Publicity and Marketing chair for the UNLV SPH Alumni Association. She graduated with her B.S. in Public Health from UNLV in 2019. After graduating she began working for the UNR Cooperative Extension in which she provided health and wellness programs to low-income older adults in Southern Nevada. Most recently she accepted a position with the Portland VA Research Foundation where she will be working on a study to help veterans living with Parkinson's Disease. Dakota also serves on the board for the Nevada Public Health Association, the APHA Black Caucus of Health Workers and the Parkinson's Foundation Southwest Chapter. Dakota is currently enrolled in the UNLV Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. Dakota aims to continue servicing older adult communities by improving their living environments.
Octavio Posada, Volunteer Committee Chair (‘20)
Octavio has over 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, 14 of those spent in the social work and public health fields in New York City. In that time, he experienced first-hand the lack of resources and benefits and all of the barriers and challenges minority and underserved groups face. In 2014, he relocated to Las Vegas to continue his passion and commitment to serving in various roles within the community.
As the Head of Consulting for Community Health Consulting (CHC), Octavio's efforts are focused on conducting strategic equity-driven policy research and fostering collaboration among community-based organizations, stakeholders, and elected officials. These strategies expand efforts, reach, and engagement within underserved and underrepresented communities.
CHC works with nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and county, city, and state entities to serve underrepresented and marginalized groups, including children, seniors, veterans, the differently-abled, the homeless, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
To address the unmet needs of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), Octavio joined efforts with the Office of HIV in the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. In his role as a Program Health Specialist, Octavio assists service providers state-wide who offer medical support and access to care to low-income PLWHA. Octavio's previous experience working with PLWHA includes providing Case Management and Treatment Adherence services for more than a decade in New York City.
In 2016, Octavio earned his Bachelor of Social Work degree, with a minor in Gerontology, from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. In 2020, also at UNLV, Octavio earned a Master's in Public Health degree with a Social and Behavioral Health concentration. Octavio is actively engaged with many organizations and groups addressing social services, public health, and aging. In his spare time, Octavio can be seen on the sidelines coaching youth soccer for local clubs or cycling at Red Rock Canyon.
Darin Mains, Public Health Student Association (PHSA) Committee Chair
Darin is a senior majoring in Public Health and minoring in Human Services at UNLV. He is the current president of the Public Health Student Association and he also serves as a Peer Mentor for the School of Public Health. Darin is also a Senator representing the Division of Health Sciences for CSUN. In his free time, he enjoys reading, listening to Taylor Swift, and catching up on his favorite shows like Grey's Anatomy.
April Stewart, Fundraising Committee Chair (‘05)
April Stewart has been a passionate community volunteer for over 20 years. She is currently a member with the following associations: Clark County Medical Society Alliance Board of Directors , the Southern Nevada Alumni Association of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Daughters of the American Revolution State Scholarship Chair, P.E.O. International Chapter Y, the Nevada State Medical Association Scholarship Finance Committee, OutWest Investment Club, Dress for Success Little Black Dress Club, and the Black Mountain Institute Literary Society. She earned her B. A. in Communications (’95) while working as a registered nurse and a M. Ed. in Health Education(’05). April is the past recipient of numerous Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for her volunteer work with numerous nonprofit organizations throughout the valley. She also received the Helen Pederson Award Recipient from the Kappa Kappa Gamma Southern Nevada Alumni Chapter.
Originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, April moved to Las Vegas in 1991. She is married to Paul, a critical care/pulmonary physician and is the proud mother of two daughters, Erin, 22, and Morgan,17. April loves theater, reading, travel, cooking, and going to the beach in San Diego. She is honored to serve as Member As Large on the UNLV School of Public Health Alumni Board.