Kansas Drunk Driving Prevention Office

Kansas Nurse, Nov/Dec 2003

The Drunk Driving Prevention Office (KDDP), a program of the Kansas Department of Transportation is a contract KSNA was awarded after a competetive bid in 2002 and is a 4 year contract. The Kansas State Nurses Association KDDP contract with KDOT was renewed effective October 1,2003 for another year. The KSNA staff assigned to this project are profiled below.

KDDP is a statewide program providing public education, information, technical assistance, research and evaluation aimed at reducing the incidence of alcohol-related crashes.

Program Administrator

Michele Cochran Reese oversees the Kansas Drunk Driving Prevention (KDDP) Office. She is responsible for directing staff and program activities aimed at reducing the incidence of alcohol related crashes and underage drinking by educating the driving public about the dangers of drinking and driving. Reese has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communication from Kansas State University and more than 20 years of experience working with Kansas nonprofit organizations in the areas of health, culture and community service. She and her husband Kevin live near Auburn on ten acres with their collection of pets.

Program Evaluator

Cathryn Savage is Program Evaluator for programs and public awareness campaign activities of the KDDP Office. She collects data, analyzes it and produces technical reports that enable KDOT and the KDDP Office to monitor effectiveness of various drunk driving and underage drinking initiatives. She has a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Oklahoma and was most recently a Research Project Coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. Cathryn has a daughter Julian who is attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Program Specialist

Program Specialist Julie Faust works primarily with the underage drinking programs of the KDDP Office: Take A Stand for high school students, Campus BLAST for college students, and the community initiative, Care About Underage Drinking, Make the Right Call. Faust has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Kansas and has managed programs at Alien Press and Helping Hands Humane Society. She lives in Lawrence with her two dogs Ricochet and Caliber.

Office Assistant

Office Assistant Cathy Gorman handles office operations for the KDDP Office. In addition to being the pleasant voice on the telephone, Cathy processes orders for materials, provides clerical assistance for programs, and handles meeting/travel arrangements for the staff. She has worked for M-C Industries, Whelan's, and Brewster Place Retirement Community, all in Topeka. Cathy and her husband Ted are proud parents of two grown children and four grandchildren.