Nominating Committee
|
 |
Robin Nwankwo, MPH, RDN, CDCES
Nominating Committee Chair-Elect
|
|
Candace Coats, RDN, LDN
Nominating Committee Member
|
House of Delegates (HOD) Representative
|
 |
Lauren Swann
MIG HOD Representative
Lauren Swann, MS, RD, LDN, is a B2B marketing communications consultant specializing in labeling regulations compliance - seasoned with a passion for cultural foodways - to effectively deliver accurate nutrition messages where food policy, consumer trends and public health meet, intersect or collide!
Lauren loves helping folks figure out the facts about food so they can decide what's good to eat! Notable accomplishments include published writing, book co-author, media appearances, public speaking and customized presentations. She was the first African-American awarded Outstanding Entrepreneur and later elected Chair of the Nutrition Entrepreneurs practice group. Lauren owns LinkedIn’s largest Food Labeling & Advertising and Cultural Foodways groups. She holds a Bachelor of Science In Medical Dietetics from Howard University and a Master of Science in Nutrition Communications from Boston University.
|
Communication Committee
|
|
The Communication Committee is responsible for providing timely and comprehensive information to NOBIDAN members about programs, workshops, upcoming meetings, activities, governmental issues through various communication channels, including our quarterly e-newsletter, social media, and email. See below for our Communication Committee leaders.
|
 |
Nijya Noble, MS, RDN, LD
Communication Committee Chair
Nijya Noble has a passion for all things Fitness & Nutrition! Nijya is a Registered Dietitian, the owner of NK Fitness and Nutrition, LLC, and a Corporate Registered Dietitian and Wellness Coach. Nijya instructs dance and nutrition classes for fitness centers and worksite wellness programs. Nijya has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Athletic Training from Bowling Green State University and a Master’s of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity from The University of Southern California. Nijya loves helping her clients reach their nutritional and fitness goals!
|
 |
Jeremy Embola, MS, DTR
Newsletter Editor
Jeremy Embola works in food quality assurance and enjoys learning about the interactions between micronutrients and phytochemicals and their impact on health. He has a bachelors in Dietetics from California State University, Chico and a Masters in Nutritional Science with an emphasis on Food Science from California State University, Long Beach. Additionally, he holds a publication in the Journal of Food Research disseminating the polyphenolic and antioxidant properties of a native Caribbean bark beverage. In his free time, he enjoys reading autobiographies about those who have overcome adversity, learning new languages and reading the latest research findings in nutrition and food science.
|
Membership Committee
|
 |
Denine Rogers, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Membership Committee Chair
Denine Rogers is a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, has a Bachelor's Degree in Clinical Nutrition from Howard University and a Masters Degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine and a graduate certificate in Herbal Medicine at American College of Health Sciences. Ms. Rogers works full-time as a Telemedicine Nutritional Consultant with Anthem and is a Co-Chair of the Anthem e-Commerce Committee of APEX (African-American Professional Exchange). Denine runs a private practice Integrative & Functional Nutritional and Wellness business called Living Healthy - www.livinghealthy1.org Ms. Rogers is also a Georgia Volunteer Master Gardener who teaches about herbs, gardening, and nutrition to the Douglas County local communities, schools, social and civic groups and writes for the local Sentinel Douglas County Newspaper. In addition to all of Denine's passionate pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two black labs dogs.
|
Mentorship Committee
|
|
The Mentorship Committee is responsible for coordinating NOBIDAN’s mentorship program and encourages networking and collaboration among NOBIDAN members. It also works with NOBIDAN’s Executive Committee to establish relationships with colleges and universities, particularly HBCUs, to enhance diversity in the field and better support students.
|
 |
Rebecca Gills, RDN
Mentoring Chair
|
 |
April Stull, PhD, RDN, FAND
Dr. Jennings RD Exam Study Group Lead
April currently serves on the Board of Editors for the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is also a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. April is an Associate Professor and Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in the Department of Human Ecology. Prior to her position at UMES, April was an established Researcher at Pennington Biomedical Research Center (Baton Rouge, LA) for 9 years. Her research interests are botanicals, diabetes, and nutrition. She received her B.S. in nutrition/dietetics from Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA) where she also completed her dietetic internship. Then she attained a Ph.D. in nutrition science from Purdue University and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in diabetes and nutrition at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
April is originally from Stone Mountain, GA and very proud to be a “Georgia Peach”. She enjoys helping people and takes pride in being a Professor, Mentor, and Scientist. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, and spending time with family and friends. Her philosophy of life is to “never let an obstacle defeat you, but accept it as a challenge to become a stronger individual”.
|
 |
Tammie S. Brown, RDN
Dr. Jennings RD Exam Study Group Lead
Tammie S. Brown, Served in the United States Army for 20 plus years. A career spent teaching, encouraging, and motivating groups of personnel to obtain success in goal setting and accomplishment. Volunteered as a fitness instructor while still serving on active duty at Fort Hood, Tx, implemented an indoor cycling program while serving in Afghanistan 2010-2011. She has continually sought out programs and education to hone her profession of choice. Accomplished a short-term goal of certification in Personal Training, Group Fitness, and indoor cycling over the past 13 years. Fulfilling the goal daily of teaching people the importance of setting realistic short- and long-term goals through instructing, coaching, facilitating, role modeling and sound leadership. Tammie entered civilian life in 2012, she is a service-connected disabled veteran and wanted to continue to serve her community by using the skills she developed during her time in the U.S. Army. Her driven personality led her to create a unique fitness facility designed with the older adult community in mind. Tammie found that aging can either be embraced or rejected; depending on the opportunities that are afforded to those who are growing older. Tammie attend Lipscomb University and studied Nutrition to become a Registered Dietitian. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics in 2018 and went on to complete her Master of Public Health and Dietetic Internship at Samford University graduating in December 2020; this past December 2021 Tammie passed the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam and achieved her long-term goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian.
|
 |
Sharon Sweat, RDN
Dr. Jennings RD Exam Study Group Lead
|
 |
Kendra Batten, RDN
Dr. Jennings RD Exam Study Group Lead
Dietetics is my second career after practicing psychology for a number of years. I am a new RDN practicing in North Carolina. My primary interests are in disordered eating and community nutrition. I received a PhD in Nutrition in 2020 and completed my dietetic internship in 2021 from UNCG. I enjoy conducting research and finding novel ways to apply it to improve or support the lives of people of color. Additionally, I enjoy walking, yoga and Zumba as well as reading Scifi. I like to travel and have had to opportunity to travel to different countries in Europe.
I am proud to be a member of NOBIDAN as it has and continues to be instrumental in my professional development as an RDN. I am a recent participant in the RD2BE Exam Study Group and believe my participation in this awesome group prepared me to pass the CDR. The support and guidance from the exam coordinators and fellow future RDNs has been greatly appreciated. As I move into the role of RD Exam Coordinator, I am excited to be able to share my knowledge and help future RDNs take that next step in their journey!
|
Diversity Liaison
|
 |
Christina Ashe, MS
Diversity Liaison
Christina Ashe is a native of Pennsylvania who has made footprints in Richmond, Virginia, Brooklyn, New York, and has now made Washington D.C., her current home. She has acquired a bachelor's degree in Sports Marketing. Ten years of experience as a track and field athlete prepared her to coach at the collegiate level. With significant athletics experience, she acquired a personal trainer certification through The National Council of Strength and Fitness NCSF. Fitness fueled her desire to include nutrition education into her skill set, realizing food is fuel, medicine, and life. She has acquired her master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, simultaneously completing the Dietetic Program for Dietetics courses. I help individuals improve their physical wellness focusing on the importance of gut health using nutritional therapy and providing guidance to create unique habits to achieve health goals without restrictions. I help provide access to help individuals improve their health by providing an equal opportunity to acquire optimal health and advocate diversifying dietetics.
|
Research Committee
|
|
The Research Committee serves as a liaison between the Academy and NOBIDAN to track, report or disseminate pertinent information that affects the NOBIDAN membership or the public. The committee also helps to organize NOBIDAN FNCE Spotlight Sessions and assists with recruiting NOBIDAN members to submit abstracts and poster sessions to FNCE(R). The Research Committee is open to new members and new ideas. If interested in getting involved or sharing ideas, please contact the Research Committee Co-Chairs, Chauntelle Jack-Roberts, MS, RD, LDN and Loneke T. Blackman Carr, PhD, RD.
|
 |
Chauntelle Jack-Roberts, MS, RD, LDN
Research Committee Co-Chair
Chauntelle Jack-Roberts is a Clinical Dietitian residing in Maryland. She is a Trinidadian/American who relocated from Brooklyn, NY. She holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition Science, attained from Brooklyn College (CUNY). She is an alumnus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dietetic program. Her passion lies in health promotion within the Women, Maternal and Child populations, with a specific focus on enhancing breastfeeding rates and outcomes. She provides medical nutrition therapy for individuals with diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cancer, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, and other nutrition-related diseases. Chauntelle has contributed to the field of Dietetics with publications specific to prenatal epigenetics as it relates to metabolic causes of childhood obesity. She has done research with gestational diabetic mothers looking at the influence of diet as it relates to fetal birth weight. Chauntelle aspires to conduct research on diet and breast milk quality whilst completing her Ph.D. She has past experiences as a food service manager, human resource manager, research assistant, education coordinator, and lecturer. Her main goal is to be a Professor and avid lecturer while researching innovative topics within nutrition to promote the health of females in every stage of life.
|
 |
Loneke T. Blackman Carr, PhD, RD
Research Committee Co-Chair
Dr. Blackman Carr is an Assistant Professor of Community and Public Health Nutrition at the University of Connecticut and has been a registered dietitian since 2010. Her expertise is in behavioral weight control interventions with an emphasis on addressing obesity in Black women. She develops and evaluates interventions that leverage social relationships to improve weight loss and related diet and physical activity behavior change. As Co-Chair of the Research Committee for NOBIDAN she aims to bring her research training and expertise to the forefront to meet the needs and interests of the dietetic community.
|
Historian
|
|
Rojean Williams, MS, RD
Historian
|
Sponsorship Coordinator
|
 |
Bridget Harvey Elliott, MS, RD
Sponsorship Coordinator
Bridget Harvey-Elliott, Registered Dietitian, is the Director of Nutrition Services for Conejo Valley Senior Concerns, a 501c3 non-profit. In this role, Bridget oversees the Meals on Wheels program for the cities of Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park, CA, and serves as the Nutrition Site Manager for the Adult Day Care program. Bridget holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UCLA and earned her Master’s degree in Nutrition from CA State University, Northridge. Bridget has 35 years in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Her experiences include the development and implementation of computer software for use in the areas of Clinical Nutrition and Foodservice, management of the 6500 members professional organization for Registered Dietitians in California, and is a Community College Nutrition Instructor.
|