Board of Directors
Bodashus Dawson, BSW
Executive Director
Bodashus Dawson is married to his incredible wife Marie and the father of two amazing boys. Bo works as a Special Project Disease Intervention Specialist (Public Health Investigator) with the Marion County Public Health Department. He has worked in the field of Public Health and Social Work for over 8 years, including roles in case management, sexual health education, disease prevention, harm-reduction, special project management and training. Bo has a passion for helping and empowering the various at risk populations he works with. Bo has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Indiana State University.
Tom Lazaraton
Treasurer
Tom Lazaraton has a background in accounting and works for the Indiana Public Retirement System.
Nathan Rush
Nate Rush is an accomplished speaker, leader, and educator. He has been Executive Director of The Bethlehem House since 2002. In his capacity, he has experience in the field and profession of addictions, mental health, and HIV/AIDS as well as training in ICAADA (Indiana Counselor Association on Alcohol & Drug Abuse Certification) and NADAC (National Alcohol & Drug Abuse Certification). As an advocate for substance abuse, HIV prevention, drugs and alcoholism, he is recognized nationally as an expert. He is called on frequently to speak on a wide range of topics at conferences nationally and internationally.
Mr. Rush received his B.S. degree in Psychology from Martin University in 2001 and received a certificate in Business Management and Accounting from Clark College in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Joel Hartsell, MPH
President
Joel Hartsell is an epidemiologist formulating statewide strategies to address disease burden in Utah. He has extensive experience working in public health with local, state, and federal organizations. Joel has also assisted in public health initiatives in India, Kenya, and Haiti. Joel aquired a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bethel College and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Indiana University School of Medicine.
Edye Edens, JD, MA, CIP
Edye Edens is a licensed attorney with an international human rights background who has worked for Indiana University since November 2008. She previously worked for numerous human rights-focused NGOs in England, Belgium, and Zambia, as well as presented twice to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, both in New York and Switzerland, all as a part of her education and dedication to international human rights. At IU, she began focusing on the role of human rights in health and has worked on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses in the Human Subject Offices, Grant Services, Clinical Research Compliance Office, Research Integrity Office, and now at the IU Simon Cancer Center as their Quality & Compliance Manager. Her experiences have focused on aiding in quality assurance and compliance matters including managing accreditations, internal auditing, regulatory oversight, offering continuing education, and managing consultation projects involving outside entities. She completed her Masters of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in International Research Ethics in 2012, and was the program manager for a National Institute of Health one year grant to aid in creating a joint international institutional review board (IRB) in conjunction with IU’s existing Moi University medical school partnership in Kenya and the IU Center for Bioethics, which has expanded her ability to assist and consult in compliance matters globally. Additionally, she teaches at IU’s McKinney School of Law and Fairbanks School of Public Health in Indianapolis, as well as continues to develop health law compliance curriculum initiated by herself and colleagues for the IU Hall Center for Law and Health.