Iqra Adde, BS,CHW (she/her)

Community Health Promotion/Health Equity Program Coordinator

iqra@ophi.org

As the health equity program coordinator, Iqra focuses on developing health focused, culturally-specific and -responsive trainings and technical assistance for early life professionals, especially those who participate in OPHI’s Right From the Start program. Through her prior roles in nonprofit organizations, Iqra has over six years of experience extending a helping hand to immigrant and refugee communities in Portland, Oregon. 

Iqra is a certified community health worker. She moved to the United States in 2013 and has called Portland home ever since. She enjoys spending time with her kids, cooking, and going for a nice hike. Iqra also enjoys traveling when she gets the chance.

Becca Brownlee, MPA

(she/her)

Team Manager

becca@ophi.org

Team Manager Becca Brownlee supports data analysts and community-based staff working in public health departments through OPHI’s Community Response Corps program. Becca has experience in policy analysis, building government capacity to partner with communities and advance health, and strategic planning facilitation. Prior to joining OPHI, Becca led community strategy development for a sustainable food system startup and managed a fundraising program at a large health system.

Becca holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of California, Berkeley and a BA in Politics from Willamette University. When Becca isn’t at work, she enjoys hiking, tackling the New York Times crossword, and cheering on her favorite college basketball teams.

Mary Gersjes (she/her) 

Financial Analyst

 mary@ophi.org

As a financial analyst with OPHI, Mary partners with program leaders to provide financial management insights, support operational decision making, and ensure award compliance. Mary's knowledge of and facility with budgets and accounting processes ensure OPHI’s programs operate smoothly and efficiently. 

Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Mary worked in the hospitality industry in various roles including sales, finance, and administrative functions. Her hospitality experience, coupled with her desire to help people, is what motivate her to deliver exceptional service to the OPHI team, funders, and partners.

Mary holds an A.A. in Hospitality Management. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family.

Kyna Harris, MBA, CHW

Right From the Start Program Director

 kyna@ophi.org

Kyna Harris directs the Right From the Start program at OPHI. She leads program strategy, develops advocacy agendas, and provides technical assistance to private and public partners that share these goals. 

Kyna’s background includes advocacy on school-age and early learning issues as well as community engagement in health systems and community health settings. She holds a Master’s of Business Administration and is a certified community health worker. Kyna serves on numerous nonprofit boards, committees, and coalitions advancing health and early childhood success, including a Head Start/Early Head Start organization, foster agency, the African American Breastfeeding Coalition of Oregon, the Children Institute's Early Learning Collaborative,  an Oregon DEQ Advisory Committee, and more. In her free time, Kyna enjoys cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

Robyn Harris, BS, CHW

Right From The Start Program Coordinator

 robyn@ophi.org

Robyn Harris is a Program Coordinator for the Right From the Start (RFTS) Program at the OPHI, where she co-leads the development of health equity-focused, culturally specific, and responsive training and technical assistance for early life professionals. With over two decades of experience in early childhood education and community health, Robyn brings a deep commitment to advancing wellness and empowerment for communities experiencing disparities in early childhood health and development.

In her role with RFTS, Robyn supports child care providers, traditional health workers, and early childhood leaders through holistic support systems that honor the lived experiences of families. Her work bridges public health, education, and community resilience, creating spaces where early life professionals can thrive and grow.

Robyn is a Certified Community Health Worker and holds a Bachelor of Science degree. She is also a proud mother of three and finds joy in traveling, listening to music, and being in the sun whenever possible.

Emily Henke, MPH (she/her)

Executive Director

 emily@ophi.org

 As OPHI’s executive director, Emily’s primary focus is guiding OPHI’s organizational strategy, people, and partnerships to achieve greater health impact. A nationally-recognized leader in cross-sector collaboration and systems change, Emily became OPHI’s executive director in 2019 after five years of service to OPHI in staff and consultant roles. She has co-founded two of OPHI’s cornerstone initiatives: The Oregon Health & Outdoors Initiative, which advances equity by connecting communities with nature; and Tracing Health, the community-based COVID-19 response program that has provided equity-focused pandemic response services to over 25 health departments and school districts on the west coast. 

Emily is a de Beaumont Foundation “40 Under 40 in Public Health” leader and a member of Portland Business Journal’s 2021 “40 Under 40” class. She holds a Master of Public Health from Portland State University and a B.A. from Lewis & Clark College. She is a mother of two young children and an accomplished musician.

Edén López, BA (he/him)

Deputy Director

 eden@ophi.org

OPHI Deputy Director Eden Lopez is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 10 years of experience in community-based organizations. At OPHI, he focuses on building the capacity of the organization, ensuring smooth operations, and supporting program staff in implementing OPHI’s strategy through innovative projects.

Eden was born in Michoacán, Mexico and migrated to the United States at five years old. Later, and despite facing numerous challenges as a first-generation college student, he excelled in higher education and earned a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Portland State University. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Eden is dedicated to giving back to his community. He uses his own experiences as an immigrant and first-generation college student to mentor and support others facing similar challenges, and is a councilor for the City of Cornelius.