FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2005
FY05-14
Ovens Joins ORAU
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—Nichole M. Ovens recently joined Oak Ridge Associated Universities as a health education project manager for the Health and Safety Communication (HSC) group. She brings with her an applied background in exercise design and development in conjunction with formal training in public health promotion and education. Her research interests focus on incident management, health systems policy analysis and surge capacity as they relate to curbing the health impacts that occur during epidemics, disasters or terrorists-caused events.
“We are delighted to have Ms. Ovens join our team. Her background and experiences in public health, communications and emergency preparedness strengthens our capabilities in public health preparedness,” said HSC Manager Peggy Smith.
In her new position at ORAU, Ovens will work with the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct health communication and public health preparedness activities. Current projects include analyzing agency needs and developing strategies to enhance communication programs and capabilities.
“I am very excited about the professional and personal opportunities that coming to ORAU brings. The organization’s reputation for quality performance, ethical management and strong technical expertise across many different disciplines made me jump at the chance to interview for the position,” said Ovens. “The synergy and respect that comes from such an environment is inspiring.”
Prior to joining ORAU, Ovens was a public health specialist and the technical development manager at EG&G where she planned, coordinated, developed and organized the technical capabilities of the company’s Homeland Securities Services Division. Ovens worked as an emergency management senior analyst at Titan Corporation, as the logistics coordinator for the Corvallis-Uzhgorod Sister Cities Neighborhood Emergency Training Project, as a safety instructor at Oregon State University, and was an international health program coordinator at Mercy Corps International.
Ovens received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of Denver. She earned a master’s degree in public health promotion and education with minors in environmental health and safety and international health from Oregon State University.
She is a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers and the American Public Health Association.
ORAU is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 91 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies, and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.