About Us

Jenna LeComte-Hinely, PhD

Dr. LeComte-Hinely oversees and conducts a wide range of research and evaluation services, including program evaluation, needs assessments, and representative community health assessments.  Prior to becoming CEO of HARC, Dr. LeComte-Hinely held the role of Director of Research and Evaluation for two years.

Dr. LeComte-Hinely obtained her doctorate from Portland State University in the field of Applied Psychology.  Her expertise is in the area of Occupational Health Psychology, which aims to keep workers healthy, happy, and productive.  Dr. LeComte-Hinely has been conducting research for more than 18 years, studying a wide range of topics including health, well-being, work-life balance, supportive supervision in the workplace, green business, professional network development, gender discrimination, leadership, and informal science education.

Prior to joining HARC, Dr. LeComte-Hinely worked in the research and evaluation field at the Center for Work-Family Stress, Safety, and Health; the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI); and the University of Redlands.

In 2019, Dr. LeComte-Hinely was named one of the top 50 “influencers” in the Coachella Valley by Palm Springs Life and was included in Desert Charities News’ “Women in Philanthropy” issue honoring the industry leaders and influencers. In 2018, Dr. LeComte-Hinely was named one of Palm Springs Life’s “40 Under Forty”, as well as one of Desert Charities News’ “Women Who Inspire Us”. Jenna also serves on the Board of Trustees of Borrego Health, one of the largest federally qualified health centers in the United States, and is an affiliated member of the Center for Health Disparities at UC Riverside. She is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor in UC Riverside’s School of Medicine with the Division of Clinical Sciences in Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health.

Casey Leier, PhD

Dr. Cassaundra Leier is a researcher with more than 16 years of experience in research and data analysis. She holds a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from California State University of San Bernardino and a doctorate in organizational communication from Arizona State University. Dr. Leier has conducted research related to negotiation, individual well-being, and workplace practices that foster positivity and creativity.

Prior to working for HARC, Dr. Leier worked at Arizona State University teaching courses on a variety of different topics, including leadership, conflict and negotiation, and advanced research methods.

One of the most critical health topics, according to Dr. Leier, is our connection to other people and living a fulfilling social life. Dr. Leier also co-hosts a radio show on CSUSB radio called “Life in the Balance.”

Daniel Polk, PhD

Daniel Polk is a researcher who focuses on social equity and environmental health. He earned a bachelor’s in history from UC Riverside and a doctorate in cultural anthropology from Princeton University. He has carried out work in the United States and Latin America, with experience in archival, statistical, and ethnographic research.

Prior to joining HARC, Dr. Polk served as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University, where studied the social impacts of water policy in Mexico and California.

Dr. Polk is especially interested in how community health outcomes can be improved through multiracial working-class solidarity.

Nichole Long, PhD candidate

Nichole Long (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in Positive Organizational Psychology at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) with a rich academic and professional background in organizational behavior, industrial-organizational psychology, and positive psychology. Her areas of expertise include designing, implementing, and evaluating social interventions to promote positive human development and enhance organizational and program effectiveness.

Nichole’s research is influenced by her extensive experience as an Education-Training Manager in the United States Air Force and her roles in other diverse organizational settings. Her research interests focus on understanding gender dynamics, culture, and well-being within various community and organizational contexts. She is particularly dedicated to exploring how these factors impact community health outcomes and contribute to fostering inclusive and equitable environments.

Her work is bolstered by her evaluation skills, including program evaluation, needs assessment, and impact analysis. She is proficient in statistical methods such as regression analysis, structural equation modeling, and multivariate analysis, which she uses to assess the effectiveness of social interventions and organizational practices. Additionally, Nichole has a robust qualitative research background, utilizing grounded theory to uncover emerging trends and gain deeper insights into complex social phenomena.

Theresa Sama

Theresa Sama is the Administrative Manager at HARC, Inc. Theresa manages the overall general daily office operations, as well as scheduling meetings to contract and insurance compliance, computer support, payroll and accounts payable/receivable. Also, Theresa provides creative and professional design work for many of HARC’s reports and special projects. In addition, Theresa has completed the Nonprofit Management Certification Program from the University California Riverside.

Prior to HARC, Theresa worked at UCLA from 1995 – 2007, where she formatted grant applications, manuscripts for journal submission, reports, brochures, and designed PowerPoint presentations. She also worked closely with the computer support team and managed several websites, while serving administrative needs for the Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine.