Instructors and Coaches

Our dedicated instructors and coaches bring expertise in transportation and public health, guiding participants through program content, providing personalized support, and fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Laura Sandt, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Research Strategy and Implementation, UNC Highway Safety Research Center

Dr. Laura Sandt specializes in integrating public health with transportation safety, leading projects that focus on community health, injury prevention, and active transportation. She leads research and develops resources, including a research roadmap for transportation and public health. Laura earned her Ph.D. in epidemiology with a focus on injury prevention and holds an M.R.P. in transportation and land use. In 2023, she was appointed co-director at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center, where she leads research strategy and implementation. As part of the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, Laura leads learning module instruction and supports coaching sessions.

Elyse Keefe, MPH, MSW
Road Safety Project Coordinator, Road Traffic Injury, UNC Injury Prevention Research Center

Elyse Keefe focuses on developing, researching, and implementing community-based road safety initiatives, with a specialization in injury prevention and systems thinking approaches. She serves as the Road Safety Project Coordinator at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center, supporting Vision Zero coalition and capacity building efforts under the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program. Elyse Keefe holds master’s degrees in public health and social work. In the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, she instructs learning modules and supports coaching sessions.

Katie Harmon, Ph.D., MPH
Senior Health Sciences Researcher, UNC Highway Safety Research Center

Dr. Katie Harmon applies epidemiologic methods for the prevention of traffic injuries, including those involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and older adults. Her recent research explores the safety impacts of emerging transportation modes like e-scooters and e-bikes, using advanced data science techniques such as data linkage to better understand traffic safety outcomes and other public health issues. Katie earned her Ph.D. in epidemiology, focusing on injury prevention, and holds an M.P.H. in epidemiology and environmental and occupational health. In the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, Katie serves as a coach, helping participants apply concepts to practice.

Shannen Johnson, MA, CHES
Junior Research Associate, UNC Highway Safety Research Center

Shannen Johnson focuses on program evaluation, occupant protection, as well as teen and older driver safety. Before joining HSRC in 2023, she worked as a Population Health Specialist at Duke Health, supporting education and training for care managers. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) with a master’s degree in health education and health promotion. Her background also includes work in the implementation of prevention strategies and programs across various health topics and populations. In the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, Shannen serves as a coach, helping participants apply concepts to practice.

Bevan Kirley, MS
Senior Research Associate and Associate Director for Behavioral Sciences Research, UNC Highway Safety Research Center

Bevan Kirley focuses on the behavioral aspects of transportation safety, with expertise in occupant protection, motorcyclist safety, and young driver programs. She leads and contributes to studies examining safety interventions and driver behaviors, including evaluations of statewide motorcycle safety programs and child passenger safety initiatives. Bevan is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and supports community outreach and education efforts. She has served in leadership roles with the Transportation Research Board, including as Chair of the Young Members Council. Bevan holds a master’s degree in epidemiology and preventive medicine. As part of the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, Bevan serves as a coach, helping participants apply concepts to practice.

Becky Naumann, Ph.D., MPH
Senior Health Sciences Researcher, UNC Affiliate

Dr. Becky Naumann is an injury epidemiologist with two decades of experience in transportation safety and injury prevention research and practice. She earned her Master of Science in Public Health from Emory University and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Becky spent six years as an epidemiologist on the CDC’s Transportation Safety Team and five years as an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UNC-Chapel Hill. In that role, she co-led a statewide technical assistance hub supporting community coalitions engaged in Vision Zero and Safe System planning and implementation. She later served as Associate Chief of Science in the Applied Sciences Branch within CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention, where she provided scientific guidance across a range of research and programmatic initiatives in injury prevention. As part of the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, Becky serves as a coach, helping participants apply concepts to practice.

Elizabeth Pinyan, MSPH, CHES
Junior Research Associate, UNC Highway Safety Research Center

Elizabeth Pinyan focuses on integrating behavioral insights into transportation systems to support safety across the lifespan. Her work is grounded in a public health approach and informed by principles of health communication, design thinking, and community-centered engagement. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and holds a MSPH in Health Education and Health Communication. Elizabeth is also a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and CarFit Event Coordinator. As part of the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, Elizabeth serves as a coach, helping participants apply concepts to practice.

Nancy Pullen-Seufert, MPH
Senior Research Associate, UNC Highway Safety Research Center
Director, National Center for Safe Routes to School

Nancy Pullen-Seufert specializes in pedestrian and bicycle safety, focusing on active transportation for children and teens. With a background in public health and injury prevention, she directs the National Center for Safe Routes to School, leading efforts to develop strategies for children’s pedestrian safety and fostering support and engagement with city, state, and Federal agencies, as well as foundations. Much of her work has focused on building capacity among transportation, public health, and other professionals through training development, fostering peer networks, demonstration site projects, and evaluation. Nancy served as project manager for the development and implementation of the multidisciplinary Safe Routes to School National Course, overseeing the training of 150 instructors. Nancy holds an M.P.H and a bachelor’s degree in community health education. In the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, Nancy serves as a coach, helping participants apply concepts to practice.

Yuni Tang, Ph.D., MPH
Postdoctoral Research Associate, UNC Highway Safety Research Center

Dr. Yuni Tang focuses on traffic injury prevention through the use of epidemiologic surveillance and data analysis methods. Her research explores risk factors contributing to alcohol- and drug-impaired driving, especially among younger populations. Yuni holds a doctorate in epidemiology from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in public health from Ohio State University, and a medical degree from Hebei Medical University in China. She has received multiple student research awards, including two Traffic Safety Scholar recognitions. In the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, Yuni serves as a coach, helping participants apply concepts to practice.

Nandi Taylor, Ph.D., MPH
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

Dr. Nandi Taylor focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to injury prevention and public health by integrating social, spatial, and injury epidemiology. Her research explores fundamental causes of transportation injury outcomes to lead towards holistic solutions. She leads research on the relationship between land use, housing policy, transportation outcomes, including a national study linking historical community investments to modern-day pedestrian fatalities. Nandi completed a public health fellowship at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and holds an M.P.H in behavioral health and a Ph.D. in epidemiology. In the Transportation-Public Health Leadership Program, she instructs learning modules and supports coaching sessions.