Frances Gourdet
MPH Candidate · Researcher · Lifestyle Educator · Coach
"Facilitating reconnection with who you were born to be: Whole in body, mind, and spirit."
"Facilitating reconnection with who you were born to be: Whole in body, mind, and spirit."
Work With MeA life of service
I am a first-generation college graduate and MPH candidate at East Stroudsburg University, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Psychology in 2025. My academic journey, spanning decades and multiple institutions, reflects a lifelong commitment to understanding people and supporting communities.
My work sits at the intersection of psychology, public health, and wholistic wellness. After 21 years as a technology specialist at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York, I redirected my career toward what has always been my deepest calling: helping people heal and thrive, especially those in underserved communities.
As a Haitian Creole speaker with deep roots in the Pocono Mountains' Haitian community, my capstone research focuses on health disparities facing Haitian adults in rural versus urban settings. This work aims to generate real policy impact and lay the foundation for a culturally tailored community health program.
I am also an advanced, trauma-informed, wellness coach trained under the late Dr. Melanie Salmon, MB BCh, a John Maxwell leadership trainer, and Health Ministries Coordinator for three Seventh-day Adventist churches in the Pocono District. All expressions of the same conviction: that wellness begins with the individual and belongs to the whole community.
Where practice meets purpose
- Created and proposed this position to expand health programming across the district
- Assisted in the coordination of LIGHT Ministry's Home Medical Missionary Training and healthful cooking classes
- Collaborated on community wellness initiatives across multiple congregations
- Guided students through statistical analysis and research methodology
- Led weekly review sessions to reinforce material and prepare for exams
- Designed youth educational content and delivered health presentations on laws of health such as: Sleep, hydration, exercise, and caffeine
- Advised on ministry programs to foster youth leadership and engagement
Built on lifelong learning
- Mental Health First Aid — National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Advanced Trauma-Informed Wellness Coach, trained under the late Dr. Melanie Salmon, MB BCh
- Health Coach — Institute for Integrative Nutrition, NY
- IIN Coaching Intensive Practicum
- Auto-Immune Recovery Coach — Med Missionary
- AHEAD MAP Coach
- In progress: NBHWC Board Certification, Natural Health Coach, Brain Health Coach
- John Maxwell Group Leadership (2-year program)
- Taught Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership to two cohorts
- VP Logistics, Columbia Union ASI Ministries (2022–2025)
- VP Communications, Columbia Union ASI Ministries (2025–Present)
Contributing to the scholarly conversation
Miranda, J.F., Gourdet, F., Hall, S., Lyon, A., Miller, C., Morrison, R., France, H., & Wagge, J.R. "Learning Psychological Science through Replication: A Student's Perspective." Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA, 2026), Chicago, IL. (Attended Thursday–Friday; fielded questions on CREP)
Representing CREP at the 2026 Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago
Tools for impact
- Mental health support & crisis intervention
- Cross-cultural counseling
- Mind-Body Coaching
- Group facilitation
- Introductory SPSS experience (quantitative data)
- Survey instrument review & assessment
- Literature review
- Microsoft Office Suite
- English — Fluent
- Haitian Creole — Proficient
- French — Beginner
- Public speaking & leadership training
- Program coordination
- Health ministry coordination
- Youth mentorship & education
Let's connect
Whether you are interested in community health collaboration, coaching, research partnerships, or simply want to connect, I would love to hear from you.
Schedule a Conversation