about us

 

What is it really like to be a young person in America?

 

Policymakers, school boards, community leaders, and the media talk a lot about young people and make laws on behalf of young people, without ever asking what youth really think. MyVoice was created to give young people an effective way to share their real-time thoughts and opinions on the issues that matter most in their lives.

Many young people feel like their voices aren’t heard by the people shaping their schools, communities, and country.  With MyVoice, young people across the United States can sound off on issues that matter today, in our weekly, text message-based polls. We chose text messaging as the way to hear from young people because this fits so easily with their day-to-day lives. Do you know anyone that doesn’t text? Responses are quickly analyzed so they can be shared with the policy makers, public agencies, and community groups that are making decisions that impact young people’s lives.

The goal of MyVoice is to lift up the voices and experiences of today’s youth in ways that help local and national leaders create more youth-friendly policies and programs!

Our Team

Tammy Chang

Tammy Chang

MyVoice Director

Tammy Chang is a family doctor and researcher with a passion for helping young people stay healthy. Her research uses text messaging and social media to understand what young people think is important. Her favorite food is ice cream and she loves to dance!

Marika Waselewski

Marika Waselewski

MyVoice Project Manager

Marika Waselewski is a research program manager with a background in Biomedical Engineering and Public Health. Her research interests are in use of technology to improve public health outcomes and quality of care. In her free time Marika enjoys cheering on Michigan sports, laughing non-stop with her friends, and being active!

Xochitl Amaro

Xochitl Amaro

Xochitl Amaro is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is interested in Public Health. She joined the MyVoice team in 2019, and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field working with youth. In her spare time, Xochitl enjoys playing with her dog Kane, watching movies, and baking.

Sam Chusiano, MPH, CLC

Sam Chusiano, MPH, CLC

Sam Chuisano (she/her) is a Research Specialist in the Department of Family Medicine. After completing her masters degree in public health nutrition,  Sam focused on increasing access to high-quality lactation support and reproductive care. More recently, Sam has worked as the program manager for MYHealth, a research training program  for high school students that aims to increase representation of historically excluded groups in research. In her free time, Sam loves to spend time outside or snuggling with her dog, Lily.

Melissa DeJonckheere

Melissa DeJonckheere

Melissa DeJonckheere is a researcher in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on adolescent health and chronic conditions, like diabetes. She also is Director of MYHealth, a research training program for high school students in Southeast Michigan.

Carson Downer

Carson Downer

Carson Downer is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan. He hopes to major in Public Policy with a minor in Political Science and Law, Justice, and Social Change. He has been a student researcher with MyVoice since 2023. In his spare time, Carson enjoys playing hockey, going on trips, and hanging out with friends.

Katie Foug

Katie Foug

Katie Foug is a medical student at the University of Michigan who aspires to become an OBGYN. She is interested in issues of sexual and reproductive healthcare and the connection between climate change and health. In her free time, you’ll find her playing or watching soccer!

Aamina Hussain

Aamina Hussain

Aamina Hussain is an undergraduate student in the BSI program at the University of Michigan’s School of Information, majoring in UX Design. Aamina is passionate about crafting accessible, equitable design experiences that unite people.

Kendrin Sonneville

Kendrin Sonneville

Kendrin Sonneville is a Registered Dietitian and researcher at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her research focuses on adolescent nutrition, and preventing eating disorders. She has experience working with large adolescent cohort studies.

VG Vinod Vydiswaran

VG Vinod Vydiswaran

VG Vinod Vydiswaran is a computer scientist in the Department of Learning Health Sciences at University of Michigan. He has expertise analyzing health related data posted on social media. He is also one of a few national experts in natural language processing of online health data, or the automated analysis of online information.

Clara Wolff

Clara Wolff

Clara Wolff is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan. She is majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and has been involved as a student researcher with MyVoice since 2021. In her free time Clara enjoys skiing, listening to music, and staying active.

Alumni

ChiChi Amanze
Caleb Arthur, MD
Mikayla Barry
Caroline Bartholomew
Claire Chang
Kiren Chaudhry
Matt Dunn
Matt Davis
Nathan Elder
Jayde Frederick
Ruben Furst
Alice Guo
Vinaya Gogineni
Stephen Gorga, MD
Tim Guetterman
Victoria Guzman

Nicole Hadler
Aspen Hanson
Kelsey Herbert
Caroline Hogan, MD
Omar Ilyas
Sarosh Irani
Noa Kim
Karissa Koomen
Laura Kruger, MD
Sunghee Lee
Kerrie Leonard
Anish Mandala
Michelle Moniz
N’Dea Moore-Petinak
Lauren Nichols
Jack Nawrocki
Elena Padley
Cathy Park
Missy Plegue
Keagan Pratt
Maggie Riley
Kelsey Rose
Jane Schmid
Alison Schulte
Rick Schulte
Arianna Strome
Park Szachta
Alex Waselewski, MD
Sam Schuiteman
Kate Siroky
Tamara Terraza
Megha Uberoi
Christopher Whitlock
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