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Strengths/Skills
Contributions and Leadership Achievements
Organization | Position | Term | Contribution |
Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition (LAHIDAN), Member Interest Group of the Academy | Chair | 2023-2024 | Leadership development of executive committee and other volunteer leaders. Re-establishment of a mentoring program that includes individual and group meetings. Establishing collaborations with other groups (National Hispanic Nurses Association, Hispanic Association of Hispanic Physicians). Advocacy within the Academy for MIG support. |
Academy Diversity Committee, now called IDEA Committee | Chair (member, Incoming Chair and Past Chair) | 2017-2021 | Along with other committee leaders, assisted the Academy's leadership with navigating the dissatisfaction expressed by members and non-members due to lack of diversity in the profession after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Assisted in organizing listening sessions and drafting an Academy IDEA Strategic Plan. Devoted 8-16 hours a week to these endeavors during the last 2 years of my term (Chair and Past Chair). |
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | Board Member and Speaker of the House of Delegates | 2014-2017 (speaker elect, speaker, past speaker) | Lead a group of 100+ delegates from affiliates, practice groups and member interest groups in examining professional issues affecting dietetics. Led and facilitated bi-annual House of Delegates meetings. Participated in decisions made by the Academy's board with organizational relevance. |
Employment
Employer | Title | Years | Location |
University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine | Associate Professor, Director of Leadership Education in Pediatric Nutrition | 2 | Birmingham, Alabama |
University of Tennessee Knoxville | Clinical Assistant Professor | 2 | Knoxville, Tennessee |
University of Minnesota School of Public Health | Director, Coordinated MPH-RD Program | 10 | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Practice Areas
Years in Practice Area:
Approximate number of years as a member of this DPG/MIG": 14
Honors and Awards
Organization | Award | Year | Contribution |
NDEP | Outstanding Educator of the Year, Coordinated Programs, Central Region | 2018 | Established a successful coordinated MPH-RD program in a city where there was significant competition for supervised practice sites. Worked closely with each student and mentored them through the 2-year rigorous process of completing an MPH and 1,200 hours of supervised practice. |
LAHIDAN | Trinko Award | 2014 | Highest honor given by LAHIDAN to a member who exhibits excellence in leadership in the profession and has made a difference in the hispanic/latinx community. |
Spectrum Community Mental Health (now Avivo) | Achieving Dream Award | 2012 | In recognition of establishing a nutrition and wellness program for participants with severe mental health disorders, led by coordinated-program students, supervised by me. |
Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group of the Academy | Outstanding Member of the Year Award | 2010 | Recognition for service to the DPG since 1997, including being Chair of the DPG in 2008-2009. |