Meet the Team

MA | Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension

Jessica is the Principal Investigator for OneOp’s Building Communities team, supporting military families through promoting collaborative leadership and systems thinking. Co-host of Practicing Connection, Jessica holds a BA from UW-Green Bay and an MA from Gonzaga, and is dedicated to fostering resourceful, well-connected communities.

MS, RDN, LD | Program Coordinator

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Bethany is the Nutrition and Wellness Program Coordinator for OneOp.  She works to provide professional development for Registered Dietitians, Extension Educators and other public health providers serving military families. She received a MS in Nutrition Science from Purdue University, and a BS in Dietetics from the University of Illinois.

PhD, RDN, LDN | Principal Investigator

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Kristen DiFilippo serves as Principal Investigator for OneOp’s Nutrition and Wellness team. She is an Associate Teaching Professor in Health and Kinesiology at the University of Illinois. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Dr. DiFilippo’s research focuses on enhancing nutrition education and promoting behavior change to prevent chronic disease.

PhD, LMFT | Principal Investigator

East Carolina University

Kayla Fitzke is the Family Relationships & Communication Principal Investigator. She is also an Associate Professor in the Human Development and Family Science Department at East Carolina University. Her work promotes resilience among military families. Kayla earned a BS from Virginia Tech and PhD from Florida State University.

PhD, CFLE | Principal Investigator

University of Kentucky

Nichole Huff is the Personal Finance Principal Investigator for OneOp. Dr. Huff is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Kentucky. Her work focuses on improving financial well-being and resiliency. Dr. Huff earned a BA from the University of North Carolina and PhD from the University of Kentucky.

MS | Principal Investigator

Virginia Tech

Kalin is a Program Development Specialist and Co-Principal Investigator with Military Community Advocacy. In this role, she collaborates with subject matter experts to create professional development for those serving military families. Kalin holds a MS in Sociology and a BFA in Communications from Valdosta State University.

MS | Program Coordinator 

University of Kentucky

Kristen Jowers is an Extension Specialist with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. As a Program Coordinator for OneOp, Kristen uses her background in marriage and family therapy, project management, and community engagement to support the coordination of resources for service providers and military families.

PhD, LMHC, LPC, NCC | Program Coordinator

University of Arizona

Jon Parker is the Employment and Transitions Program Coordinator. He holds a PhD in Youth Development and Family Sciences. Recently, he spearheaded a professional development series for Extension agents serving rural veterans and their families. His research focuses on nature-based mental health interventions for underserved populations.

PhD | Principal Investigator

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Amber B. Ray serves as Principal Investigator for Military-Connected Children and Youth. She is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Ray’s research focuses on developing effective writing instruction for students with disabilities and supporting school staff through evidence-based professional development.

PhD | Principal Investigator

University of Arizona

Jennifer Rea is the Employment and Transitions Principal Investigator. She is also an Assistant Professor of Practice in Human Development and Family Science at the University of Arizona. Her work focuses on employment, career development, and workforce transitions among military spouses, transitioning service members, and veterans.

Program Coordinator

University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension

Erin Carlson Rivera is the Building Communities Program Coordinator for OneOp. She serves as co-producer of the Practicing Connection podcast while coordinating other projects that focus on building connections and equipping individuals to help their communities thrive. Erin earned her BA in communication from the University of Wisconsin – Steven’s Point.

MS | Program Coordinator

East Carolina University

Kim serves as the Family Relationships & Communication Program Coordinator. With over 25 years in higher education, she has extensive experience supporting service members and families through research, innovation, and a commitment to access and opportunity. Kim holds degrees in Business Education and Technology Management.

MS | National Project Leader

North Dakota State University

Bob Bertsch is the National Project Leader and Co-Principal Investigator. Bertsch, an Extension Specialist at North Dakota State University, has been an integral part of OneOp since 2011. He oversees strategic initiatives to enhance OneOp’s ability to support military family service providers and strengthen the Military Family Readiness System.

MS, PMP | Director of Programming

Virginia Tech

Molly provides strategic oversight for cross-disciplinary professional development serving military families. Since 2011, she has shaped innovative programming. She advances OneOp’s mission by leading the annual Academy. She holds degrees from Appalachian State University and North Carolina State University.

PhD | Director of Evaluation

Auburn University

Dr. Hlavaty is responsible for leading OneOp’s programming evaluation efforts to measure the impact of our programming. Utilizing mixed-methods approaches, She provides data-driven insights that inform strategic decision-making and drives continuous improvement. She earned her PhD in Human Development and Family Science from Auburn University.

MFT | Continuing Education Manager

Virginia Tech

Jason is the Continuing Education Manager for OneOp and Co-Principal Investigator with Military Community Advocacy. Jason serves as the lead for continuing education efforts as well as collaborates with professionals on programming topics that support work with military families. Jason earned his BS and MFT from Valdosta State University.

PhD, CFLE | National Project Director

Auburn University

Dr. Kostelecky is the National Project Director and Principal Investigator for OneOp. He is also an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Auburn University. Kyle has been with the project since its inception. He enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren, international travel with his wife, Michele, and hanging out with his students.

Communications Manager

Auburn University

Maggie Lucas serves as the Communications Manager for OneOp. She leads the organization’s website and ensures learners can easily access both on-demand and live learning opportunities. Maggie incorporates OneOp’s mission and vision throughout all programming while prioritizing accessibility for all content from beginning to end.

MS | Programming Manager

Auburn University

Amy Smith serves as the Programming Manager for OneOp. She coaches team members to design and deliver engaging webinars and manages the technical production process. Amy holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Industrial and a second master’s in Organizational Psychology.

MBA, PMP | Director of Communications

Auburn University

As Communications Director, Joyce leads marketing, communications, and PR strategy. She brings years of experience driving growth through roles in operations, strategic initiatives, and stakeholder relations. Her expertise includes project management, marketing, and building partnerships across military, industry, and academic sectors.