Meet the Health Promotion Staff

Health Promotion

The UHS Health Promotion team promotes a campus environment that supports the ability to thrive physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially.

jennifer guerra

Jennifer Guerra

Health Educator

Jen is a certified holistic health coach & educator. She holds an MA in Health Education from John F. Kennedy and a BS in Business Marketing from Chapman University as well as a coaching certification from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City.

Her passions include being outdoors, dancing, holistic health, meditation, stress management and helping others discover sustainable ways to live balanced, healthy and passionate lives. 

Prior to becoming a health coach for UC Berkeley students, Jen served Berkeley employees through the Be Well at Work Program and the WorkStrong program for four years.

“As you think, so shall you be.” - Wayne Dyer

Cathy Kodama

Cathy Kodama, MPH

Director, Health Promotion

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Grant-writing | Organizational development | Public health strategies

Cathy Kodama came to UC Berkeley as an open-minded but (mostly) inexperienced freshman in 1973. Being in, and at, Berkeley was a life-changing experience that she's still experiencing. Cathy was pre-law, but in her sophomore year, she fell into being a peer educator in women's health and never looked back.  

Cathy had her first full-time job at UHS in Medical Records. From there, she hopscotched to the Health Education unit, to graduate school in public health, to various community volunteer projects, and back to Health Education (now called Health Promotion) at UHS. Cathy is a baby boomer, UC Berkeley alum, health educator, and firm believer in health, happiness, equality, and social action. She is a third-generation Japanese-American with all the cultural richness and assimilation experiences that come along with that. Cathy has been involved in numerous regional and national organizations, including serving as President of the Pacific Coast College Health Association and on the board of the American College Health Association.

Cathy's passionate interests are 1) the role of drugs in society, 2) sexuality and relationships, and 3) some TV shows. Her particular abilities tend to be daydreaming (in the professional world we call it "visioning") and administrative work. She loves talking about life with students, whose perspectives are so enlightening and inspiring.

"Be happy. It's one way of being wise." (Colette)
"Life is either a great adventure or nothing." (Helen Keller) 

A Health Educator is Pictured

Lauren Magdaleno, MPH, CHES

Health Educator

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Health Worker Program | Exercise is Medicine

Lauren joined the UHS Contact Tracing Team in late 2021 and transitioned as a Health Educator in 2022. Lauren Magdaleno spent the previous year doing COVID-related work with San Diego State University’s Health Promotion Department. In 2016, she received her BA in Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Redlands and in 2020, she received her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion & Behavioral Science from San Diego State University.  

Robin Mills

Robin Mills, MA

Health Educator

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Sexual Health Education Program | Health Coaching | Black Student Health

Robin Mills joined UHS as a Health Educator in 2008. She received her BA in Psychology from Mills College (2001) and her MA in Human Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State University (2007). Robin sees clients for sexuality/sexual health issues including relationships and communication, sexual health/birth control education, and sexuality concerns and issues.

"Life is sexually transmitted..." (RD Laing)  

Dylan Pugh

Health Educator

Dylan Pugh (he/him/his) is the Alcohol and Other Drugs Health Educator. Dylan received his Masters in Public Health from the University of Washington, and his BS in Health Education from SF State University. Dylan has worked in various roles as a health educator at SF State, the University of Kansas, various non-profits, and the Washington State Department of Health. Dylan has worked with BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities, and with people who use substances. Dylan is a certified abortion, birth, and postpartum doula specifically working with queer and trans families. He is interested in applying health equity and anti-racist policies to address health inequities.