Meet Our Staff

Michelle Goode, MPH, CHES (she/her/hers)

Michelle goode- person smiling wearing a red sweater.

Director, Center for Health Promotion

I started working for Ithaca College CHP in Fall 2021. Before joining the Ithaca College family my previous professional roles were in an Office of Health Promotion at another institution and a non-profit agency for substance use concerns. I have my Master’s in Public Health degree (Boston University) and a BS in Health Science & Exercise Physiology (The College at Brockport, SUNY). I chose my career path in College Health Promotion and Prevention work after my incredible experience as a Peer Educator at Brockport – where we strived to, “make health contagious!”

My professional areas of expertise include sexual health, prosocial bystander intervention, substance use, and interpersonal violence prevention work. Although these are my areas of expertise, I have done work on a variety of additional wellness topics and strive to keep learning! I am passionate about college wellness and working with students and colleagues to weave wellness into the fabric of the campus community.

In personal time I enjoy spending time with my cats, family, and friends, reading, amateur couponing, crafting and board games!  

Kayla Katsman, MPH (she/her/hers)

Kayla Katsman- Person smiling

Health Promotion Specialist, Center for Health Promotion

I started working for Ithaca College in August of 2024. My interest in health promotion started in my undergrad when I was a peer educator for the Health and Wellness Prevention office at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. After graduating with my BS in Community Health, I worked in several non-profits providing drug and alcohol education to high school, middle school, and elementary school students. After working with community collations, I realized how much I loved working with college students, and I decided to go back to school and get my Master's in Public Health to work in higher education. I started at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and was able to have a graduate assistantship in the wellness promotion office. I gained incredible valuable skills that I apply to this job every day.

I am passionate about well-being and the different facets it entails. I am a public health nerd have studied the effects drugs and alcohol can have on your body and mental health during both my undergrad and graduate careers. I adapted the T-break Guide to be West Chester-specific during my GA role.

My partner and I moved up to Ithaca from Montgomery County Pennsylvania, where we both lived. We have 3 cats and 2 dogs and love taking them on walks and hikes during the weekends. I am a big foodie and love to try new places and different cuisines. I am also an avid reader (Sarah J. Mass is my favorite) and love listening to true-crime podcasts.

Brandi Riker, BA (she/her/hers)

Churro, a red fish

Administrative Assistant

BA in English Lit from Elmira College

Student Medical Leave Coordinator

Food Pantry volunteer

Avid reader

Girl Scout volunteer

Born and raised in Ithaca

Yen Wu, MMH (she/her/hers)

Yen Wu- Person smiling

Social Work Graduate Intern

I jumped into the Health Promotion Office at Ithaca College as a Social Work intern, fueled by a strong passion for mental health and making campus life better. My nearly ten-year stint in the global hospitality sector gave me a solid foundation in management and taught me the importance of building warm, inclusive spaces—skills I now bring to campus. I have also spent time working with college students as an assistant program director for camps, which opened my eyes to the unique challenges and triumphs of guiding young adults.


Outside of my internship, I serve as a fellow with the New York State Public Health Corps (NYSPHC) where I am deeply involved in public health initiatives in Schuyler County. This includes everything from conducting detailed Community Health Assessments (CHA) to developing impactful Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) that cater to the needs of the community by focusing on the broader social determinants of health.


When I am not working or volunteering, I am probably hanging out at thecasual Middle Eastern restaurant that I run with my husband in the Ithaca Commons. We are known for our delicious Malawach wraps made with local ingredients—and our energetic 4-year-old daughter might just be the one ringing your order up at the register! And for a bit of fun, I am a regular participant in Disney half marathons, combining my love for fitness with the enchantment of Disney!


Education:

  • Master of Social Work (MSW)’25 | Binghamton University
  • Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH)’19 | Cornell University
  • B.A in Hospitality Management with Honors’14 | Glion Institute of Higher Education
From Left to Right: Kayla Katsman, Yen Wu, Michelle Goode- People smiling