Committees

In order to plan the various NOBIDAN activities, professional development opportunities, and events, NOBIDAN has several committees that we invite NOBIDAN members to volunteer and join. See below for more information about each committee as well as the bios of each committee chair. If interested in joining a committee, please email the committee chairs directly.  Contribute and enhance your skills and talents with NOBIDAN today!

Nominating Committee

Minerva Haugabrooks, PhD, RDN, LDN
Nominating Committee Chair

I am Minerva Haugabrooks PhD, RDN, LDN.  I serve as an Associate Professor of Health and Nutrition in Central Florida. I have thirty plus years of experience in education. Prior to this I worked as a Clinical and Community Dietitian. As an Associate Professor in my field I work with curriculum development, build online course content, implement and deliver virtual courses, and foster strong student engagement. My focus in nutrition and dietetics has been to strengthen my involvement with  on women’s and mature adult nutrition education. My classroom experience helps me deliver uncomplicated nutrition education to the underserved, underrepresented and those plagued with health inequities.

In my current position I serve on the Institutional Assessment and Effectiveness committee. I am an executive committee member for Public Health community Nutrition DPG, a volunteer board member with Parsons Community Circle, and with my local church. I spent many years as a consultant and I am familiar with the varied needs of my community working with community groups at the local health department in Sumter, Lake and Orange counties. I earned PhD in public health as a means to serve my community with more purpose and focus.

Robin B. Nwankwo, MPH, RDN, CDE
Nominating Committee Member

As a 30 year community and research dietitian diabetes educator, I have worked on NIH funded and foundation-funded grants exploring peer leader, diabetes education and support. I have co-authored book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles to contribute to the nutrition, nursing, pharmacy and diabetes education profession, emphasizing the empowerment approach to self-management of chronic disease management and outpatient eating disorders support.

House of Delegates (HOD) Representative

Patricia Brathwaite - Woerdings, EDD, MPH, RD, LD, FAND

MIG HOD Representative

Patricia Brathwaite, also known as Dr. Pat is a bilingual nutrition expert. Her passion and specialties are education and nephrology.  She works as a renal dietitian and is an adjunct faculty member of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. One of her daily responsibilities is to use the knowledge and experience gained over the years, to help others understand how imperative nutrition is to a healthy life. Knowledge is power and she decided to break the vicious circle of paucity of the knowledge about nutrition, as often as she can. 

Dr. Pat made it one of her priorities to be active within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and volunteers within organizations that can help support her passion. Elected to be on the Board of Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) for 4 years, has provided her with the unique opportunity to help improve the education of future dietitians.  For two years Dr. Pat served as the Delegate- at- Large for ACEND in the House of Delegates.  In addition she served as the President of the Miami Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2016-2017).  As the Chair of the Nominating Committee for NOBIDAN (2014-2015) together with the committee members, she was able to create a slate of candidates to be placed in the Academy national elections, resulting in a very strong Executive Committee.  The combination of nutrition and education provides her the opportunity to lead, inspire, encourage and empower. 

Communications 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, RD
Communications Committee Chair

Nijya Noble has a passion for all things Fitness & Nutrition! Nijya is the owner of NK
Fitness and Nutrition, LLC, where she is a private practice Registered Dietitian and fitness
instructor. Nijya has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training from Bowling Green
State University and a Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity from The
University of Southern California. Nijya was previously the staff dietitian at Meta (Facebook)
and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Nijya leads out in a CDC approved
virtual diabetes prevention program to help prevent the increase rates of diabetes within the
community. Nijya has a social media community with over 30 thousand followers where she
shares healthy recipes and nutrition tips. Nijya leads out in community nutrition and wellness
programs and is the communications chair for the National Organization of Blacks in Dietetics
and Nutrition. Nijya loves helping her clients reach their nutrition and fitness goals!

Diymond Walker

Student Liaison/Newsletter Editor

Diymond is a first-generation student with a goal to become a registered dietitian. After becoming a registered dietitian, Diymond would like to continue her education by as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutritional Sciences from California State University Fresno (Fresno State). She is currently enrolled in a Master of Science program and dietetic internship at Fresno State.

Diymond completed more than 250 hours of volunteering as an undergraduate. She spent her weekends volunteering with local food banks to distribute food to her community in Fresno, California. She served as treasurer for Fresno State’s Student Nutrition Dietetic Association. She also coordinated a student-run program called Bulldogs in the Grocery Store (BIGS). BIGS provides free nutrition education to the community through grocery tours. Diymond expanded BIGS by recruiting students who could give tours in multiple languages, reflecting the diverse population of  Fresno. Diymond also helped secure a $500,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program grant was awarded to Fresno State’s nutrition department to research the effect a comprehensive nutrition intervention has students at risk of nutrition-related diseases.

Diymond also has 4 years of food service and clinical nutrition experience. She worked as a dietary aide at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, CA. She also worked under sports dietitians at Fresno State Athletics.  Diymond has been a student liaison and newsletter editor for NOBIDAN since 2023. She was a recipient of NOBIDAN’s 2023 Dr. Evelyn Crayton Scholarship and a recipient of the 2023 NOBIDAN ACEND Foundation Scholarship.  In her free time, Diymond enjoys crocheting, painting, cooking, roller-skating, and taking care of her plants.

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 Nourish and was Past- Chair of NOBIDAN 2020-2021.  Denine runs a private practice Integrative & Functional Nutritional and Wellness business called Living Healthy - www.livinghealthy1.org in Douglasville, Georgia. Her focus within her practice is to provide a holistic cultural nutrition approach programs that assist women of color in the age ranges of 40 and up that are going through peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause.

She also owns her passion business called Living Healthy Skincare www.livinghealthyskincare.com where she creates homemade natural botanical blend soaps and skincare products for clients and she also provides nutrition-to-skin consultations using an integrative and functional approach to help find the root cause of clients' skin issues and deliver lasting treatment results.

Ms. Rogers is 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 two young active dogs-  Black Lab/German Shepherd Mix -  Little Dee, and Plott Hound – Cane, loves to do her daily yoga in the mornings, cooking/creating vegan meals, traveling the world, enjoys gardening in her back yard and gets excited with  playing her flute for fun on the weekends!

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.

Ashya (Asia) Trotter Walden, RD, LD, CDCES
Mentoring Committee Chair

Ashya (Asia) Trotter Walden is a Registered Dietitian who specializes in helping people with diabetes live a full life. She started her nutrition career in Deerfield Beach, Florida where she worked as a Nutrition Consultant. From there she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Keiser University. Prior to this, she had completed a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Ashford University.

She moved on to start her dietetics career at Marion General Hospital, where she served as the outpatient and home health dietitian. In 2018, Ashya moved into a new role as an outpatient dietitian for the Ohio Health Physician Group. She added to her professional experience by gaining her Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist credential in 2019. She continues to work for the Care Management Team at Ohio Health, as the Diabetes Program Coordinator. In April of 2020, Ashya founded her private practice, Fresh Essence LLC, where her goal remains to offer attainable nutrition therapy to those who need it most. Outside of work Ashya is a wife and mother , who enjoys spending time with family, singing, dancing and reading to continue her personal growth. As is happy to offer her hand in supporting NOBIDAN as the Mentorship Chair so that new and coming dietitians can experience success in their careers as she has.

Dr. Jennings RD Exam Study Group

Tornia Anderson Moore, RDN
Dr. Jennings RD Exam Study Group Lead

Tornia is a weight management dietitian and brings Caribbean flavor through festive energy. A Trinidad & Tobago native residing in Maryland and completed her Dietetic Internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). She earned her BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and graduated top of her class in 2019.  

Tornia has served on the Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as President, Public Relations Officer, and Treasurer at UDC. She engaged in the community through health-related internships at the Edward C. Mazique Parent Child Care Center, the Department of Health, and volunteered at the Washington Senior Wellness Center in Washington DC. She is also a published author in the American Journal of Undergraduate Research and represented her college in the Urban Agricultural Symposium and the next Farm Bill in 2016.

Tornia appeared as a guest on the UDC community Youtube channel to discuss making healthy choices, and on a local radio station in Brooklyn NYC. This certified personal trainer is a foodie at heart, loves to create in the kitchen, and a passionate salsa dancer. 

Diversity Liaison

Jill White, EdD, RD, LDN
Diversity Liaison

Jill White is Associate Professor Emeritus at Dominican University, where she continues to teach online and administrate a Head Start Nutrition Grant with the City of Chicago. Her clinical experiences as a Pediatric Dietitian centered around the South Side of Chicago where she began her academic career precepting students from Chicago internships, including Malcolm X College Dietetic Technology Program. Her research and dissertation work, framed in Critical Race Theory, has centered around increasing people of color in Dietetics. She initiated a Coordinated Program at Dominican, Cultural Diversity in Child Nutrition and piloted the first Independent Supervised Practice Program (ISPP) in collaboration with Alabama State Extension. She continues to advocate and speak nationally and internationally, and is on the Coordinating and Editorial Board for the Journal of Critical Dietetics and is current Past President of World Critical Dietetics. Her current graduate and undergraduate courses address Food, Diversity and Social Justice. She also serves as Diversity Liaison of the MIG National Organization of Blacks in Nutrition and Dietetics (NOBIDAN).

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 using The Academy’s Leadership Directory.

Jen Cadenhead, PhD, MS, MPHIL, RD
Research Committee Co-Chair

Dr. Jen Cadenhead, a behavioral and nutrition research scientist, studies the interplay between diet quality, ultra-processed food consumption and nutrition security with health outcomes. She is a Research Assistant Professor and Executive Director at the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education and Policy in the Program in Nutrition at Teacher College, Columbia University. Her work at the Tisch Food Center utilizes large databases and qualitative methods to study the impact of federal and local government food policies on children’s health and nutrition security. Prior to joining Teachers College, she spent over a dozen years as an actuarial consultant utilizing large databases to predict liabilities and assets for pension plans and has spent more than 20 years volunteering in the community with an emphasis on providing nutrition education and more access to gardening in schools and food pantries. She received her B.S. degree in mathematics and sociology from Duke University. She obtained clinical training at a variety of institutions including New York Presbyterian Hospital and research training at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. Her masters and doctoral studies were focused on behavioral nutrition in public health nutrition and nutritional epidemiology, from Teachers College, Columbia University. 

Historian

Rojean Williams, MS, RD
Historian

Rojean serves as Wellness Consultant for Hebni Nutrition Consultants Inc. and health educator for the federal government. Rojean has well over 30 years of professional training and experience in promoting and implementing health and wellness to various populations all over the country. Believing in the power to change, Rojean encourages individuals to focus on their personal concepts and beliefs towards healthy living.

Rojean earned a B.S. in Food Science/Human Nutrition from the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida in 1983. Ms. Williams obtained her Masters in Nutrition and Dietetic Service at Florida International University In Miami, Florida in 1984.

Public Policy Committee

Patricia Lynch, PhD, RD, LDN
Public Policy Committee Chair

Patricia Lynch is Associate Professor and Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics at the Virginia State University where she works collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research, outreach, and educational environment focusing on nutrition and health disparities in underserved populations.  Dr. Lynch has taught Nutrition and Food Science for more than 15 years at several institutions (Meredith College in Raleigh, NC; North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC; Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson, NC; North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC.; Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA). She has participated on more than 10 thesis committees and several research grants over $1.2 million.  Her work experience encompasses positions in food corporations such as Miller Brewing Company, Kraft Foods, Sara Lee Bakeries, and Ball Corporation. She has spent more than 10 years in the Long Term/Acute Care industry. Dr. Lynch has also worked in the Nutrition Programs at the State level and as a Renal Dietitian at Fresenius Kidney Care.  Dr. Lynch completed her Doctorate in Nutrition from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Her research and outreach continues to focus on community nutrition interventions to alleviate health disparities.  She completed her M.S. degree in Food and Nutritional Science from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC where her research involved lipid oxidation in food products.  She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, National Kidney Foundation, North Carolina Council on Renal Nutrition, American Public Health Association, and National Organization of Blacks in Dietetics and Nutrition and has participated in numerous seminars, health fairs, and conference presentations.

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.