Staff
meet the team building a culture of health
Systems for Action (S4A) is a signature research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) that studies strategies for aligning medical, social, and public health systems in ways that improve health and health equity. The National Program Office is based at the Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, under the direction of Glen Mays.
Glen P. Mays - Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Director
Glen Mays is professor and chair of the Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy in the Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. His research seeks to understand and solve coordination problems within and across public health, healthcare, and social service systems, with a focus on the health and economic implications of coordination. A graduate of Brown University, Dr. Mays earned Ph.D. and M.P.H. degrees in health policy and administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in health economics at Harvard Medical School. Prior to joining Colorado, he served on the faculty at the University of Kentucky, University of Arkansas, and Mathematica Policy Research.
Chris Lyttle - JD
Deputy Director
Mr. Lyttle is responsible for day-to-day program operations, providing strategic direction for the national program office, and coordinating with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He has worked across several sectors including non-profit, for-profit, and government at the local, state and federal level. His diverse professional background led to experience in law and public policy, with a focus on addressing social determinants of health to improve population health and overall well-being. Prior to joining Systems for Action, he served as Senior Policy Manager for the Center for Health Progress, where he advocated for health equity and community engagement in public policy, developed and ran the Legislative Equity program at the Colorado State Legislature, in addition to providing diversity and inclusion training for various stakeholders. He received his JD from Capital University Law School and a BA from Miami University.
Sara Brandspigel - MPH
Research Engagement and Translation Director
Ms. Brandspigel oversees research translation and dissemination efforts for Systems for Action, including development of research syntheses, briefs, toolkits and training sessions. She has 15 years of experience bridging research and practice in public health and non-profit organizations, with a focus on maternal and child health populations and the prevention of injuries and violence. She received her MPH from the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health and a BA from Wesleyan University.
Carrington Lott - MPH
Research Coordination and Synthesis Manager
Ms. Lott manages research coordination and communication activities including Research-in-Progress webinars, Think Tanks sessions, and email blasts. She also assists in managing intramural and extramural research activities and the development of research publications, briefs and syntheses. Prior to joining Systems for Action, she worked as a Research Assistant for the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey at the Colorado School of Public Health and as the Administrative Assistant for the Health Systems, Management and Policy Department. Ms. Lott received her MPH from the Colorado School of Public Health and BS from Mississippi State University.
