April 10, 2025
W
e’re beyond excited to introduce the newest member of the Healthy Teen Network team, Randa Dean, MPH (she/they), who joins us as Associate Director of Innovation and Research!
Randa brings over 20 years of experience as an equity-focused public health and nonprofit leader. Throughout her career, she has designed, developed, and managed innovative educational programs with and for youth, always with an eye toward lasting, equity-centered change. Whether building curriculum, leading teams, or rethinking systems, Randa is driven by a clear purpose: to help create a world where every young person has access to inclusive, high-quality, and affirming sexuality education.
I love the idea of helping to translate research into practical, usable tools for people trying to implement high quality, accessible, inclusive sexuality education.
In her new role, Randa will draw on her expertise to help translate research into practical, usable tools for professionals working with young people. “I love the idea of helping to translate research into practical, usable tools for people trying to implement high quality, accessible, inclusive sexuality education,” she shared. That spirit of applied innovation is exactly what makes Randa such a great fit for our team.
Before joining us, Randa spent over 16 years at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, where she served as Vice President of Education and Training. There, she set the strategic vision for education programs across the state, led a large team, managed an $8 million departmental budget, and developed community-driven initiatives rooted in equity and access. In 2022, she launched her own consulting business, sharing her skills in strategic planning, curriculum development, facilitation, and people-centered leadership with a wide range of social justice organizations.
Randa’s work is grounded in systems-thinking, human-centered design, universal design for learning, and trauma-informed care. She holds an MPH from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, with a specialty in Sexuality and Health, and a BA in anthropology and sociology from Fordham University. She’s also implemented public health programs internationally, making her perspective both global and deeply community-centered.
When asked what drew her to Healthy Teen Network, Randa said, “Healthy Teen Network has done an incredible job staying relevant and innovative when it comes to the sex ed space. I’ve followed your work since the first conference I attended, many (many) years ago!” Now that she’s part of the team, she’s ready to dig in and co-create solutions that work on the ground.
I think if we could do away with racial injustice, we’d have better health outcomes for young people and communities.
If she had a magic wand and could improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes in any way? “I think if we could do away with racial injustice, we’d have better health outcomes for young people and communities.” That vision is at the heart of her work—and ours.
Outside of work, Randa is a creative spirit with a love for nature and the messiness of making things. She’s into wheel-thrown pottery and enjoys the balance of creativity, patience, and imperfection that comes with shaping clay. “You have to get comfortable with making lots of mistakes and not getting too attached to an idea—or a pot!” she says. She also loves being outdoors (especially among trees), reading, traveling, planning trips, and cozying up with her kid, her cat, and a good book.
Please join us in giving Randa a warm welcome—we’re so glad she’s here!
Photo Credit: MARIA LIN KIM
