I’m sure we’re all familiar with the treasure trove of tools and resources on the TCEC website, but in case the “Our Team” page isn’t one you check up on often, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sophia Strohmeier-Breuning, and I’m one of TCEC’s new Evaluation Associates! 

Although this may be my first evaluation rodeo, it’s definitely not my first Davis rodeo. I earned my Master of Public Health (MPH) from UC Davis and then had the chance to continue working with the university after graduating, supporting public health education and outreach through Healthy Davis Together. 

Both experiences provided me with a deep appreciation for the Aggie community, making it an easy choice when the opportunity to join TCEC arose. Rather than try to summarize everything I’ve learned in one rambling narrative, I thought I’d share a little Q&A style snapshot of my first few weeks: what brought me here, how it's going, and how I’m navigating being new to the world of tobacco control and evaluation. 

Why TCEC? 

What drew me to TCEC wasn’t just the university and the work, it was the people. I had the previous pleasure of serving on the MPH Alumni Board with Catherine and immediately knew she was someone I’d enjoy working with again. Even before officially joining TCEC, I got the sense that this was a team that genuinely cares about what they do and has a good time doing it. I’ve always loved working in university settings because of the mix of perspectives and life experiences people bring to the table, and TCEC felt like exactly that kind of environment: smart, supportive, and not too serious to throw in a good pun or joke. 

And on a more personal note: both of my parents are lifelong smokers, so I’ve seen the grip tobacco can have even when someone wants to quit. It may have been the cool European (both parents are German) thing to do back in their day, but there’s no excuse for my own and future generations to still be victims of the tobacco industry’s influence. Joining a team that actively supports communities in building tobacco-free futures felt like exactly the right next step. 

What’s it like being new to TCEC? 

Though I’m still getting my bearings and trying to keep track of the many different acronyms, I’m realizing that coming in with a fresh set of eyes has already may actually be an asset. Because I’m new to TCEC, I have a unique perspective that allows me to sincerely ask, 

Does this make sense to someone outside the world of tobacco control and evaluation? 
Are we assuming too much background knowledge? 

My early-stage vantage point lets me catch things that might seem intuitive to seasoned members of the tobacco evaluation world but confusing to everyone else. If I stumble over a resource or process, it may signal that we might want to revisit how we’re presenting it because odds are, someone else will stumble too. That kind of feedback can be a major asset when trying to make tools and training more accessible and user-friendly.  

How has your background prepared you for this work? 

Of course, my prior experience has set me up with transferable skills that are applicable in many areas of public health, like project coordination, data analysis, communication, and community engagement. But one experience has already proven to be surprisingly useful. During my time with Healthy Davis Together, I had the opportunity to teach and develop curriculum for a graduate student researcher course. That role taught me a lot about how to foster engagement, especially in an awkward Zoom room full of blank screens and muted mics. I’ve actually already had the chance to apply that skill here at TCEC. In my first week, I was thrown into the fire (in the best way) and co-hosted a TCEC webinar, “Dissatisfaction with Satisfaction Surveys”, with Robin. It gave me a chance to reawaken those teaching and moderating muscles and reminded me that a well-timed icebreaker or light joke can go a long way in making virtual spaces feel more human and more welcoming. 

How have you been navigating the steep learning curve of tobacco control evaluation so far? 

I’m still early in my evaluation journey with TCEC, but I’m excited about what is ahead. Thankfully, (and despite the steep learning curve I was warned of during my first week) diving into the world of tobacco control and evaluation has felt a lot more doable thanks to the extensive resources available both internally through TCEC, as well as other external resources. The California Tobacco Control Evaluation Guide has been like my manual since the moment I was first invited to interview for this position.  

I’ve also come across some fantastic external resources from outside-the-box thinkers who capture the essence of evaluation through real-world examples and a healthy dose of humor, like 

• Stephanie Evergreen (Evergreen Data), who takes a cheeky approach to data visualization and reporting, weaving in plenty of real-world examples and jokes; 

• Echo Rivera, who has some great tips and tricks on making presentations engaging, interactive, and human, and  

• Chris Lysy (Freshspectrum), who uses clever and insightful comics to make reporting a little less daunting. 

These resources (and the support of my team) have made my learning curve feel less like a vertical wall and more like a steady climb. I’m so happy to be here and to be able to learn from this incredible team, supporting our partners across the state, and hopefully making evaluation just a little less intimidating for future fresh eyes.