Meet Our Team

Evelinn Borrayo, PhD

Associate Director

Dr. Borrayo is a Professor of the Colorado School of Public Health and Associate Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center (CU Cancer Center), at the University of Colorado |Anschutz Medical Campus (CU-Anschutz). She leads the CU Cancer Center’s  community outreach and engagement (COE) as the Director of its Office of COE. She has been honored with the CancerCure/AMC Cancer Fund Endowed Chair for Prevention and Control. Dr. Borrayo has expertise in the application of behavioral science to improve outcomes through cancer prevention, control, and survivorship interventions for communities across Colorado.  Using a community-based participatory approach, she has developed, implemented, and evaluated evidence-based and relevant initiatives to improve the health of Coloradans.  She leads numerous research studies and implementation programs in urban and rural communities. Dr. Borrayo also has expertise in the pedagogy of teaching and has over 25 years of experience teaching graduate-level courses. Dr. Borrayo is dedicated to community service and public health policy and serves as a member of the State of Colorado’s Board of Health representing Congressional District 2.

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 cancer risk and improve outcomes in the population at-large, and among those with higher cancer 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.

Jeanette Waxmonsky, PhD

Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Research

Dr. Jeanette Waxmonsky’s research focuses on the tailoring and implementation of evidence-based interventions in healthcare settings to enhance accessibility, uptake, and effectiveness. She has extensive experience in real world research focused on actively involving providers and patients in multisite research studies. Dr. Waxmonsky has held industry executive and senior management roles in health plan clinical operations, telehealth, and health technology. In her current role, Dr. Waxmonsky helps lead strategic initiatives to promote, support, and disseminate cancer research as well as facilitate partnerships with a variety of Colorado catchment area organizations, healthcare systems, and government agencies.  Dr. Waxmonsky is a faculty member in the Colorado School of Public Health with a secondary appointment in the CU School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine.

Daniel Pacheco, MBA

Program Manager

Daniel is an 11th generation native of the San Luis Valley with extensive experience in project management, particularly in implementing statewide initiatives in primary care settings. His previous work includes leading cancer screening projects at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and managing statewide projects with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado. He currently helps oversee projects and initiatives in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement.

Carlo Caballero, LPC, CCM

Bilingual Patient Navigator

Carlo holds an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Colorado Denver and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Case Manager, and Professional Patient Navigator. He has been with the University for over 10 years, with his work including roles at a Federally Qualified Health Center and the CU Cancer Center. He has provided patient navigation and case management services to a wide range of individuals and communities.

Currently, Carlo serves as the Principal Bilingual Patient Navigator in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, where he helps community members navigate the healthcare system and connect with resources across the cancer continuum. He also supervises other navigators and students in his role.

Samantha Garcia

Bilingual Patient Navigator

Proudly hailing from Denver, Samantha brings over 12 years of invaluable healthcare experience to her role as a nationally credentialed Bilingual Patient Navigator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Samantha is also credentialed as an Oncology Patient Navigator through the American Cancer Society. She is dedicated to guiding patients through the complexities of the healthcare system, ensuring fair treatment for all. Her extensive experience and unwavering commitment make her an essential part of the pursuit of improved health outcomes.

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 thorough approach to healthcare. Samantha's lifelong dedication to creating a healthcare landscape that prioritizes the well-being of all individuals is evident in her work.

Sindy Gonzalez, MPH

Senior Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator

Sindy holds an undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Grand Canyon University. With over a decade of experience in healthcare, she has worked in various roles, including primary care, laboratories, and case management. Her experience has helped her build a strong foundation in data analysis, project management, and research, with a focus in translational, practice-based research, and randomized clinical trials. She has also developed expertise in community engagement, working with many populations on research initiatives aimed at improving public health.

Currently, Sindy serves as the Principal Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. In this role, she supports research projects, writes abstracts, organizes advisory panels, and collaborates with communities across Colorado. Her work focuses on cancer prevention, early detection, and promoting cancer education, and she strives to build partnerships with healthcare organizations, government agencies, and community groups to improve health outcomes.

Sindy is committed to ongoing professional development and holds certifications in Basic Life Support, Health Coaching, and Suicide Prevention Gatekeeping. She actively participates in community-based research studies and committees, and has co-authored publications related to diabetes management and opioid use disorder treatment. Passionate about public health, Sindy works to improve health outcomes through collaborative and evidence-based approaches.

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. Her career includes contributions at the state government level, educating the public on and mitigating the spread of illness. 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 experience, education, and passion to create a positive impact. She strives to be a valuable member of the community and promote the health and well-being of this community as a whole.

Ale Soto Mendoza, MIA

Alejandra “Ale” Soto Mendoza brings 18 years of experience in the field of public administration and project management. Ale works as a Cultural and Linguistics Competency Coordinator to assist the office on projects that aim to engage different populations in Clinical Trials, as well as support the office, CU Cancer Center members, and the community-at-large with Spanish translations, literacy adaptation and cultural appropriateness of project’s protocols and research materials; Ale also supports the office in different research projects as well as community outreach and engagement activities and events.

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 services, 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.