Natalie joined The Center in 2026, bringing with her over a decade of experience in public health. She has held various roles throughout her career as a health educator, nutritionist, public health program representative, program manager, and senior manager of community engagement. In her role as program specialist with the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development (DRCHSD) program, she primarily focuses on community engagement and outreach initiatives.
Natalie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Puerto Rico and her master’s in public health from Kaplan University. She also holds several certifications in Building Expertise in Administration and Management, Contact Tracing, HIV testing and counseling, and Evidence Based Health.
For Natalie, one word that describes rural America is “resilient”. She’s seen this firsthand, as she learned how barriers in rural settings are often rooted in access, trust, and strength of local support systems. It was this need that drew her to rural public health in the first place: the chance to apply her community-centered approach in a new context by supporting rural communities and advancing their health and well-being.
Outside of work, Natalie enjoys cooking, crafting, sight-seeing, and visiting her family in Puerto Rico.