2025 Divisions Candidate Bios

2025 Divisions Candidate Bios

Digital Technology in Nutrition Education & Behavior Change Chair Elect

Phrashiah Githinji, PhD

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
I bring a strong background in digital health research, particularly in leveraging digital health technologies and Ai- driven tools to promote nutrition behavior change. I also have experience leading within the DigiTech Division and a good understanding of SNEB’s culture and vision, which allows me to align efforts with the broader goals of the organization. My experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and program implementation will support the division’s efforts to bridge research, practice, and innovation.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
A key challenge is sustaining membership and active participation in our division. I would continue to strengthen cross-division collaborations—including with Research, Higher Education, and Student Divisions—to build on existing partnerships and expand opportunities for engagement. This, along with spotlighting member contributions and offering more regular, interactive programming, can help connect members across sectors and career stages in meaningful ways.

Digital Technology in Nutrition Education & Behavior Change Secretary/Treasurer

Chloe Lozano, PhD

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
I bring deep expertise in nutrition education, mHealth interventions, and culturally responsive, community-based research. My work centers on enhancing diet quality and preventing chronic disease through innovative, technology-driven approaches like PortionSize Ed—a dietary assessment and feedback app developed through a USDA/NIFA-funded project. I also have strong experience in mentoring, policy advocacy, and grant writing. As Chair of ASN’s NEBS RIS and a dedicated advocate for health equity in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, I would contribute leadership, innovation, and a strong equity lens to my division’s mission.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
One of the greatest challenges facing the division is staying responsive to technological innovation while ensuring that nutrition education remains equitable, evidence-based, and culturally relevant. As digital health tools and AI rapidly evolve, there’s a need to thoughtfully integrate these advancements into practice without losing sight of community needs and disparities in access.
To address this, I would draw on my experience developing and implementing mHealth solutions and culturally tailored programs to support the division in adopting digital tools that are accessible, effective, and grounded in community engagement. I would also advocate for stronger integration of nutrition education within public health and policy frameworks, ensuring our work remains impactful and sustainable in diverse settings.

International Nutrition Education Chair Elect

Anvi Bhakta, MA

Food & Nutrition Extension Education Chair Elect

Jody Gatewood, MS, RD, LD

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
I’ve worked within Extension for 15 years and am passionate about nutrition education. I am a team player and believe we all succeed when we collaborate together to make our impact stronger. I am organized and give 100% to the organizations I’m involved in. As past president of my state affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, I can draw from my experience in a leadership position.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
The FNEE Division struggles with awareness and engagement with the division with a limited number of people taking part in the meetings. I will help address this challenge by increasing outreach through the division newsletter and organizing networking opportunities for members to collaborate. I will also work with the division leadership team to create more interactive and tailored educational webinars and preconference events.

Higher Education Chair Elect

Jessica Soldavini, PhD, MPH, RD, LDN

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
I have been a member of SNEB for over 10 years. I have held a variety of leadership positions over the years including currently serving as the Secretary of the SNEB Higher Education Division and previously serving as the Student Representative to the SNEB Board of Directors. I also bring professional experience in areas the Division focuses on, including the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and research related to food insecurity among college students. I have experience leading groups and organizing meetings/events. I work well with others and have strong communications skills. I am passionate about the field of nutrition education and behavior and committed to supporting SNEB and the Division however I can.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
I would help to increase membership and engagement in the Higher Education division by working to promote the division and division activities more broadly. This includes reaching out to current non- members to share information on SNEB, the Higher Education Division, and Division activities such as webinars to try and raise awareness and interest in joining SNEB and getting involved with the Higher Education Division.

Higher Education Secretary/Treasurer

Susan Chen, PhD

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
As a secretary, I will continue to utilize my leadership and project management skills that I developed as the current co-chair of the Food Insecurity in Higher Education Subcommittee of the Higher Education Division. As part of the Subcommittee, I lead a group of researchers, all division members, in a project exploring basic needs and food insecurity among college students. These experiences have equipped me with the ability to effectively manage initiatives and support organizational efficiency while ensuring that the Higher Education Division meets the needs of its members.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
The Higher Education Division is one of the largest and most active divisions within SNEB. While collaborative events with other divisions do take place, there is potential to strengthen inter-division connections, both during the annual meeting and through ongoing research collaborations. As Secretary, I will actively promote increased collaboration with the Student Division to support the recruitment of students interested in academic career pathways. Additionally, I will foster continued partnerships with DigiTech and other divisions to enhance interdisciplinary engagement and knowledge-sharing across SNEB.

Nutrition Education for Children Chair Elect

Saima Hasnin, PhD, MS

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
Past 7 years, I have been actively working to improve early childhood nutrition in the United States. As a community-engaged researcher, there are several strengths that I bring to my division.

  • First, I collaborate with other national leaders and research institutes. I plan to reach out to potential presenters and create opportunities for open networking and collaboration among division members.
  • Second, I am dedicated to producing scholarly publications and creating opportunities for interdisciplinary teams to come together to apply for grants and develop programming for the childhood community.
  • Third, my professional position includes an active appointment in the public land grant university Extension system. Therefore, I also bring the knowledge and expertise of the Extension system and how we can improve attendance from Extension members in the division.
  • Fourth, because of my professional affiliations, I can encourage students to join the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) as student members and create excellent learning opportunities for future
    nutritionists and professionals.
  • Finally, being an early career researcher, I am highly motivated to excel in my professional career and build on my leadership capacities. I believe the chair-elect position in the Children Division of the SNEB workgroup will be an ideal opportunity to achieve my goals.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
The greatest challenge our division faces is increasing member engagement and providing more networking opportunities. As a member of the leadership committee, serving as treasurer/secretary for the Children’s Division workgroup since October 2024, I have observed that members often do not participate in meetings, and our networking events have low attendance. To address this, I propose the following strategies:

  • Social Media Engagement: Encourage social media posting about our meetings and highlight the upcoming meeting agenda to generate interest and awareness.
  • Student Outreach: Actively reach out to the student community and encourage their participation in our meetings, fostering a new generation of engaged members.
  • Agenda-Oriented Meetings: Arrange more agenda-oriented meetings where community partners can present their resources to academic members and vice versa, creating a platform for meaningful exchanges and collaborations.

By implementing these strategies, I believe we can significantly improve member engagement and enhance the networking opportunities within our division.

Nutrition Education for Children Secretary/Treasurer

Katelyn Young, MS

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
I would consider one of my biggest strengths to be my passion for child and maternal nutrition and dedication to the field.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
I hope to work to bring in more members to the Children’s Division by working closely with the division leadership on outreach and networking events.

Public Health Nutrition Chair Elect

Mrs. Julie Wright

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
As chair-elect of the Public Health Division of SNEB, I bring extensive leadership and management experience, having directed programs and overseen budgets for over 12 years. My expertise in health promotion and education, coupled with my skills in grant management and data analysis, ensures effective program execution. I excel in strategic planning, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement, and my bilingual abilities in English and Spanish enhance communication with diverse communities. Additionally, my proficiency with various technology tools supports efficient program management. My volunteer leadership roles demonstrate my commitment to community service and collaboration.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
Our division’s greatest challenge is growing our membership and improving communication while promoting health inclusively for all populations. To address this, I would focus on three key areas:

  • Growing Membership
    I would implement targeted outreach strategies, such as hosting networking events and creating referral programs. Engaging current members to bring friends and colleagues to events can help expand our reach.
  • Improving Communication
    Effective communication is crucial. I would develop a comprehensive communication plan that includes media strategy, message strategy, and access strategy. Leveraging technology and social media platforms will enhance our outreach efforts.
  • Promoting Inclusivity
    I would advocate for inclusive health initiatives that address the needs of diverse populations. Highlighting the tangible impact of public health on community well-being can garner broader support. By focusing on these areas, I believe we can overcome our division’s challenges and continue to make a positive impact in public health

Public Health Nutrition Secretary

Palak Gupta, PhD, MPH

What strengths would you bring to your division?

I bring a collaborative, strategic, and solutions-driven approach to public health nutrition, leveraging my experience in multi-sector partnerships, program development, and evidence-based interventions. As Co-Director of the Utah Hunger Solutions Institute and Chair of the Utah Food Security Council, I have successfully secured funding, built cross-sector collaborations, and translated research into practice. My work across academia, Extension, and nonprofit sectors gives me a well rounded perspective on food and nutrition security challenges. Additionally, my commitment to mentoring students and early-career professionals aligns with the division’s mission to cultivate future leaders in nutrition education and public health.

What is your division’s greatest challenge, and how would you help address it?

A key challenge for the division is navigating shifts in funding priorities and ensuring sustained engagement in public health nutrition efforts. As funding landscapes evolve and policy changes impact nutrition education, our division must proactively strengthen its role in evidence-based advocacy, resource mobilization, and workforce development. To address this, I would:

  • Create meaningful opportunities for early-career professionals and students to connect, grow, and contribute to the field.
  • Promote knowledge-sharing and capacity-building efforts, ensuring members have the tools and resources to drive impactful work in diverse communities.

Public Health Nutrition Treasurer

Chelsea Singleton, PhD, MPH

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
I bring 10+ years of experience as an active member of SNEB. I previously served as Chair of the Public Health Nutrition Division, which enabled me to successfully coordinate division activities (i.e., webinars, JNEB Editorials, and conference sessions). I am passionate about professional development, so I aimed to facilitate development opportunities for students and early-career members of the division during my tenure as chair. I am excited about the opportunity to continue serving my division and working effectively with other division members in the upcoming year.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
Like many other divisions, I believe the PHN Division faces engagement challenges. It can be challenging to engage the large diversity of members in division programming throughout the year. I hope to work alongside other division leaders to develop effective active engagement strategies (e.g., social media posts, digital social sessions, virtual newsletters) that will appeal to our membership.

Research Chair Elect

Dr. Beth Miller

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
I bring a strong commitment to translational research and a passion for building connections between researchers and practitioners. My background in both academic research and community-based program implementation allows me to identify opportunities for the practical application of research findings. I also have experience leading collaborative projects, organizing professional development opportunities, and mentoring early-career professionals.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
Our division’s greatest challenge is ensuring that the valuable research tools and resources we develop are accessible, engaging, and relevant to the full spectrum of SNEB members—from students to seasoned practitioners. As Vice Chair, I would support efforts like the R3 project, while also exploring new ways to disseminate research content through webinars, collaborative initiatives with other divisions, and interactive forums. By enhancing visibility and demonstrating value, we can continue to grow our membership and expand our impact.

Research Secretary/Treasurer

Dr. Sydeena Isaacs

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
I have excellent written and oral communication skills, an astute attention to detail, and a good sense of humor. I am also well organized, manage my time wisely, and follow through with commitments. I am opportunist, continuously seeking ways to network and grow both personally and professionally.
Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
The greatest challenge to me is unclear expectations/deadlines and the loss of momentum among members to accomplish our annual goals. To help address this, I will work with the division members to break down annual goals into multiple smaller goals with specific strategies and deadlines to achieve them. I will track and regularly communicate progress to date with all research division members.

Sustainable Food Systems Chair Elect

Miriam (Mim) Seidel, MS, RDM

What strength(s) would you bring to your division?
Professionally and through volunteer opportunities, I have been involved in sustainable food systems work since the early 1990’s. Relatedly, I have been a member of the DSFS since its inception, a member of its steering committee for ~ ten years and a member of SNEB for > 30 years. Thus, I bring commitment, history and sustainable food systems expertise to the division as well as respect and admiration for my colleagues on the steering committee, in DSFS, and in SNEB as a whole.

Please identify your division’s greatest challenge and how you would help address it.
The sustainable food systems challenges in this country and globally grow by the day under the current administration. The DSFS’ greatest challenge is not only to attract and retain new members, but to also empower them with the confidence and tools they need to step up, step out and stay the course as we work towards an environmentally sustainable and socially and economically just society.