Meet Our Team

Evelinn Borrayo, PhD

Associate Director

Dr. Borrayo’s research focuses on health disparities in the prevention, control, and treatment of cancer among medically underserved Latinos. Her research projects have focused on the psychological, cultural, and social factors involved in cancer prevention and control and in the treatment of lung and head-and-neck cancers among Latinas and Latinos affected by these cancers. She conducts research in both community-based and medical settings.

Cancer maps show that areas of Colorado’s Eastern Plains, Western Slope and far south have rates of cancer incidence and outcomes similar to those in Appalachia. On the other hand, the Front Range and mountain communities along the I70 corridor have cancer outcomes far better than national averages. While CU Cancer Center scientists are developing new treatments to raise the ceiling of cancer care, Dr. Evelinn Borrayo is working to ensure that underserved communities aren’t left in the basement.  Her goal with the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement is to decrease cancer disparities and make sure that everyone in Colorado has equal access to cancer prevention and treatment.

Jan Lowery, PhD, MPH

Assistant Director, Dissemination and Implementation

Dr. Jan Lowery is a cancer epidemiologist and public health practitioner with broad experience developing and implementing community-based programs in Colorado to reduce risk for cancer among medically underserved populations and those at high risk due to familial and genetic factors. She has worked closely with community partners at the state and local level to integrate best practices for cancer prevention into both public health and clinical settings and will oversee Office of Community Outreach and Engagement efforts to implement and evaluate community-based projects. She is also a faculty member in the Colorado School of Public Health.

Daniel Pacheco, MBA

Program Manager

Daniel is a native of the San Luis Valley, and has a broad background in project management with a specific emphasis on implementing statewide projects in primary care settings. Daniel’s previous experience includes the implementation of various cancer screening projects at MD Anderson Cancer Center across Texas. For the past three and a half years he served as the Project Manager for statewide projects at the Department of Family Medicine Practice Transformation Team at the University of Colorado. He now helps oversee the projects and initiatives in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement.

Carlo Caballero, LPC, CCM

Bilingual Patient Navigator

Carlo graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with his M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Case Manager. His experience includes working for the past 4 years in a federally qualified health center providing case management services to under privileged and underserved populations.

Carlo works in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement as a Bilingual Patient Navigator. His work includes assisting members in the community navigate the healthcare system and get connected with resources throughout the cancer continuum. 

Samantha Garcia

Bilingual Patient Navigator

Proudly hailing from Denver and the first in her family born in the United States, Samantha brings over 11 years of invaluable healthcare experience to her role as a nationally credentialed Bilingual Patient Navigator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. With a laser focus on dismantling systemic barriers, Samantha is dedicated to navigating patients through the complexities of the healthcare system. Her mission is to increase representation and ensure equitable access, particularly within historically underserved communities of color. Samantha's extensive experience and unwavering commitment, rooted in her Mexican heritage, make her an indispensable advocate in the pursuit of health equity.

 In her previous role as a nationally credentialed Health Educator, Samantha played a pivotal role in reproductive health education. Her expertise allowed her to guide individuals through comprehensive reproductive health curricula, ensuring a holistic approach to healthcare accessibility. Samantha's commitment to justice and equity is not just a profession but a lifelong dedication to creating a healthcare landscape that prioritizes the well-being of all individuals.

Sindy Gonzalez, MPH

Senior Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator

Sindy received her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Metropolitan State University of Denver, and then went on to get her Master of Public Health from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. Sindy has worked in translational and practice-based research for the past 3 years and has experience outreaching, engaging, and recruiting community members for various research projects. Sindy also has over 11 years of healthcare experience, having worked in both primary care and case management.

Sindy works in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement as a Bilingual Senior Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator. She helps streamline research projects, organizes an advisory panel, and partners with communities throughout the state of Colorado to provide education in early detection and cancer prevention.

Tatiana Gerena, MPH

Principal Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator

Tatiana graduated with her undergraduate degree in Chemistry and a minor in Entomology from the University of Florida. She went on to receive her Master of Public Health from the University of South Florida with concentrations in Epidemiology and Global Health.

Her career includes contributions at the state government level, where she worked as a contact tracer and case investigator, educating the public on and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Tatiana's expertise extends to roles as a health educator and case manager for a federally qualified health center in Aurora, addressing community health issues directly.

Currently serving as the Principal Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, Tatiana integrates her diverse background, education, and passion to create a positive impact. She strives to be a valuable advocate for public health and the well-being of this community as a whole.

Cydney Jardine, MPH

Data Analyst

Cydney received her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the Colorado School of Public Health at Colorado State University and earned her B.A. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at CU Boulder. Along with a background in epidemiological methods in public health, she has technical skills using R and SAS database for analysis and visualization. With the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, Cydney primarily works with cancer registry data, survey data, and EHR data, and aims to promote health equity in each step of the research process.

Lexi Lewis, MPA

Administrative Coordinator

Lexi received her Master of Public Administration and Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership from Augusta University in Augusta, GA and earned her B.A. in Mass Communication with a focus on Print Journalism and Public Relations from Georgia College & State University. Her experience includes non-profit public relations, development, graduate academic program management, event planning, and graphic design. Her skills combined with her passions have led her to work in disability advocacy, community outreach, university admissions, and multiple graduate-level academic programs.

Lexi works in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement as an Administrative Coordinator. She facilitates Community Advisory Council planning, event planning, material design, and project support.