Texas Tech University

Covenant BodyMind Initiative

Meet the Team

Sara Dodd, Ph.D.

Director and Associate Professor, CAR

Dr. Sara Dodd became the Director of the Center for Adolescent Resiliency as of July 1, 2011. She is an assistant professor in the College of Human Sciences and is jointly appointed to Texas AgriLife Extension of the Texas A&M University as a state specialist in 4-H and Youth Development. Prior to her faculty appointment, she worked at Texas Tech as a research associate and project director for an NIH grant studying the effects of frequent work travel upon families (Dr. Anisa Zvonkovic, principal investigator). Prior to graduate studies, Dr. Dodd worked as an analyst in the IT industry and as a legislative staff member for a Texas state senator. She earned her bachelor's degree (government) from Abilene Christian University and her MBA (management) and PhD (family/consumer sciences) from Texas Tech. Dr. Dodd's research interests include leadership theory and development, adolescent health and wellness, and consumer/behavioral economics.

sara.dodd@ttu.edu

Brooke Balentine

Linn Walker RN, CWPC

Director, CBMI

Linn is a registered nurse with experience in critical care nursing as well as public health nursing, specifically school nursing, having spent thirteen years with the public school system. She is also a Certified Wellness Program Coordinator. Presently, she is Director of The Covenant BodyMind Initiative, collaboration with the Texas Tech University Center for Adolescent Resiliency and the Covenant Health System, to address the issues of weight related disorders. Linn helped write the Texas Education Agency innovative course, Comprehensive Wellness, and is a regular presenter at school staff development programs and professional conferences.

linn.walker@ttu.edu

Mandy Pham

Greg Johnston, Ph.D., LPC

Assistant Director, CBMI

Dr. Gregory D. Johnston is the Assistant Director of the Covenant BodyMind Initiative. His responsibilities include curriculum development, program delivery and grant and conference submissions. Dr. Johnston writes and presents extensively on comprehensive wellness issues, specifically in an adolescent student population. He proudly helped write the first Texas Education Agency approved wellness course in Texas education history. His research interests include wellness development in adolescents and emerging adults, as well as a holistic approach to reducing childhood obesity. Prior to working at Texas Tech University, Dr. Johnston served as a legislative assistant for a Member of Congress in Washington, D.C. His legislative responsibilities included health and education issues.

greg.johnston@ttu.edu

Debanik Das

Amy Onofre, MS, LPC-Intern

Unit Coordinator

Amy graduated from Texas Tech with a master's degree in Counseling Education. She is currently working toward her doctoral degree in Counselor Education with a focus on comprehensive wellness and adolescent development. She believes that practicing self-care is key to living a fulfilling life. The Covenant BodyMind Initiative provides the skills to begin this process.

amy.l.onofre@ttu.edu

Alex Garcia

Covenant BodyMind Initiative