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CDC Presidential Management Fellows
Biographical Sketches
Class of 2002
Class of 2003
Class of 2002
Cecilia W. Curry, PhD, joined the CDC OD
Office of Program Planning and Evaluation in September 2002 as a PMF. During her
first 7 months in OPPE, Cecilia worked on a variety of policy issues and
projects, including the Programs in Brief, CDC’s Faith Based Initiatives, and
the Budget Initiative. She has also composed leadership talking points and
concept papers regarding the economic effectiveness of programs and policy at
CDC. Cecilia next rotated to the National Cancer Institute’s Epidemiology and
Genetics Research Program, where she developed web-based tools to explain
training and funding mechanisms to young investigators. For the past 4 months,
she has been on rotation with the Futures Initiative at CDC, staffing the public
health research and data workgroups. Cecilia received her PhD in biomedical
engineering from Georgia Tech University, where she researched cardiac imaging
analysis methods, minored in public policy, and interned at the National Science
Foundation. She received her M.S. from Johns Hopkins, and a B.S. from Georgia
Tech. She is interested in both policy and programmatic work at CDC. Cecilia
enjoys singing and playing instruments, sewing, reading, and spending time with
her family and friends, and her golden retriever.
 any9@cdc.gov
Larry D. Smith, JD, MS, joined the CDC,
Office of the Director in the Office of Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency
Response in December 2002 as a Presidential Management Fellow. Larry completed
his first year as a PMF at the Office of Personnel Management in Washington,
D.C. Prior to his undergraduate education, Larry served in the U.S. Army for 7
years, as a Personnel Administration Specialist. Military awards include the
Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Leadership Development Ribbon.
Larry earned an Associate’s degree from Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas
(1988) and a BBA in Human Resources Management, Cum Laude from Pacific Lutheran
University, Tacoma, Washington (1991). Larry spent 7 ½ years in the banking
industry, while also completing an evening JD program at Seattle University
School of Law, Seattle, Washington (1997). In 2001, Larry earned an MS in
Organizational Behavior and Development from Georgia State University. Larry
grew up in Mississippi, and met his wife of 18 years, Vicky, while stationed in
Germany. Among his siblings, Larry has an identical twin brother, also residing
in the Atlanta area, who has yet to fill in for him at CDC. Larry enjoys
relaxing at home, watching HGTV and Lifetime Channel movies.
asi6@cdc.gov
Sara Schmit, MA, is a program analyst in the
Office of the Director’s Financial Management Office and a 2002 Presidential
Management Fellow. Sara earned her MA in Social Work from the University of
Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration in June 2002. After her
graduation, Sara counseled and advocated for refugees, primarily Iraqi, while
interning with the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees in Jordan. Sara
has worked on policy analyses for issues affecting refugees and immigrants, and
is also interested in women and children’s issues. As a member of the Health and
Human Rights Working Group, Sara has the opportunity to incorporate her interest
in refugee issues into her work at the CDC. Raised in Nebraska (Go Big Red!),
Sara earned a BA in psychology and religion from Nebraska Wesleyan University in
2000. While an undergraduate, Sara’s interest in human rights and social justice
was sparked by her involvement in a global service learning group where she had
the opportunity to work on local and national service projects, and travel
abroad for projects in the Dominican Republic, Tanzania, and Kenya. Sara, a
vegetarian, has two cats and loves to travel.
afo0@cdc.gov
VaShonia Weatherspoon, MPA, a 2002
Presidential Management Fellow, works in the National Centers for Infectious
Diseases, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Office of the Director.
VaShonia earned her BS, Magna Cum Laude, in Rehabilitation Services from
Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in December 1996. She completed
her MPA from Southern University in May 2002. During her graduate studies, she
was also employed with Louisiana Department of Social Services as a
Rehabilitation Counselor. VaShonia also completed several internships with
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, including working for the Chief
Administrator of Eastern Louisiana Mental Health Systems, and the state’s
Director of Inpatient Services. Her responsibilities included developing various
patient-tracking mechanisms and quality assurance tools, as well as reviewing
current practices and making recommendations to increase Medicaid enrollment for
the state community mental health centers’ clientele. VaShonia has been inducted
into several honor societies, including Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society
for Public Affairs and Administration in 2002. VaShonia is married to her friend
of 12 years, Rondray Smith, and they have a beautiful 1-year old daughter, Kyrei
Alexandra. VaShonia enjoys spending quality time with her family, trying new
recipes, and completing home improvement projects.
vdw8@cdc.gov
Class of 2003
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