VN DPG Executive Committee 2024-2025

Chair

Alicia Henson, MS, RD

Alicia Henson is a program coordinator and education specialist for the Master of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics Program at UC Berkeley and a pediatric clinical dietitian at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland. Outside of work, she is an active volunteer involved in medical missions and nutrition education projects focused on preventing chronic kidney disease globally. She is an advocate for the celiac community and promotes plant-forward eating to support optimal health and sustainability. 

Chair Elect

Karen "Kay" Mills, MS, RD

Kay practiced law before following a fork in the road to dietetics. After a degree from Fontbonne and an internship at the St. Louis VA, she worked acute and outpatient care with SSM Health, covering almost every inpatient department. Kay also taught a senior level dietetics class on the influence of culture on food habits. After moving to the PNW, she opened a private practice. After many rewarding years, she closed shop and now sees patients at Nourish, specializing in GI and women’s health. Kay volunteers in her community, addressing local food insecurity as a food pantry lead and as an instructor for Seed to Supper classes. She also serves as a preceptor and a mentor for RD2Bs, and has volunteered with
the VN DPG for the last 6 years.

Past Chair

Ashley Lombardi, MS, RD

Ashley has worked as a dietitian in both clinical and community settings for over five years. She is currently a clinical dietitian working in long term and subacute rehab for Ocean Healthcare in her home state of New Jersey. She has served as the student coordinator for VNDPG for three years and the former Speaker Bureau Chair for VNDPG. She is excited to step into her role as Chair elect. She has worked for the NJAND for three years as the sponsorship coordinator and on the annual meeting committee. Prior to her career as a dietitian, she studied to be an anthropologist/archeologist participating in studies in Kenya, Spain, and with the Medical Examiner's Office of New York City. Her work with sanctuary primates led her to discover plant based diets and the power they have for health and longevity. Ashley loves to spend time in the forest with her daughter, traveling, and trying new and exciting vegan foods.

Secretary

Madeline is a very passionate registered and licensed dietitian nutritionist and the owner of Planta Nutrition Rx, a bilingual nutrition private practice dedicated to all kinds of nutrition services for the bilingual population. Madeline has been plant-based for over six years and loves teaching her patients everything about plants. She also works as a Bilingual Community Dietitian at Wellness House, a non-profit organization that helps people and families affected by cancer. Madeline has volunteered for Vegetarian Nutrition DPG for over three years as social media chair and is now looking forward to her new role as secretary. She completed her master’s degree in nutrition and Dietetics at Loyola University in Chicago, IL, where she lives with her husband and goldendoodle named Kiwi. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring nature and new plant-based restaurants. Madeline also loves to travel to Puerto Rico to visit her family and enjoy the warm weather and food.

Treasurer

Jean Sellars, MBA, RDN

Jean is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with 34 years of experience in healthcare. She holds a BA in Dietetics from The College of Saint Scholastica & earned an MBA with highest honors from the University of Phoenix. In her career, Jean has excelled in clinical care, patient meal services, & nutrition management across various healthcare settings. Currently, Jean serves as the Assistant Vice President of Nutritional Services at Loma Linda University Health, managing inpatient & outpatient services, retail, catering, & vending. Additionally, Jean teaches at Loma Linda University. In 2016, she was inducted into the Delta Mu Delta International Business Honor Society.

House of Delegates

Lindsay Rectenwald Schmitz MS, RD, LDN

Lindsay is the owner of Live Smarter Nutrition & Wellness. She specializes in weight management, gastrointestinal disorders, plant-forward eating, disease prevention, wellness and educating consumers about pure, safe, alternative personal and home care choices.

Lindsay also provides telehealth nutrition counseling to patients via the Nourish app and serves the local community at an Federally Qualified Health Center.

Lindsay formerly held positions as a bariatric dietitian at West Penn Hospital (Pittsburgh, PA) and Good Samaritan Hospital (Cincinnati, OH). Lindsay also has experience in public health as a manager and lead dietitian for a Woman, Infants and Children office in Cincinnati. She has held leadership positions in both the Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania chapters of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and currently serves on the public policy committee of the Weight Management DPG as the OAC liaison. 

Lindsay graduated from The University of Dayton (OH) and received her Master’s in Sports Nutrition from The University of Aberdeen (Scotland).

Member Services Chair

Kathleen Law, MS, RDN, LDN, CPT

Kathleen Law is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a master's degree in nutritional sciences and a desire to spread plant-based nutrition education. She holds multiple certifications, including NASM personal training. In her work and personal lives, she fuses evidence-based practice with a holistic mindset. She currently works clinically with subacute rehab and long-term care patients at a facility in central New Jersey, as well as with patients via telehealth. In her free time, Kathleen loves to cook vegan meals and desserts, wander in nature, and spend time with her family & friends. 

Nominating Committee Chair

Brooke Starkoff, PhD, RDN, FAND

Brooke Starkoff is a registered dietitian, clinical Associate Professor in Health Sciences, and exercise physiologist for the Preventive Cardiology Clinic at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Their niche lies in exercise physiology and sports nutrition with a focus on plant-based nutrition. Brooke has a passion for and commitment to health equity and is on a mission to create inclusive spaces where everyone can access top-tier healthcare and nutrition services. Brooke enjoys being outside with their wife and son.

Nominating Committee Chair-Elect

Susmita Sandan, PhD, MS, RDN, LD

Dr. Sadana explores perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs in the Asian Indian population in the US about health, cancer, and diabetes. Susmita Sadana transitioned from the Humanities to studying Nutrition and Medical Dietetics, inspired by her experience winning the “South Asian Genetic Lottery” (T2D, Hyperlipidemia). Her research interests focus on diabetes education and understanding how specific foods and dietary patterns affect postprandial blood sugars. She is the author of the cookbook, "The Healthy Diabetic: Delicious Vegetarian Cooking for the Whole Family."

Appointed VN DPG Committee Members

You can contact your leaders using the Academy's Leadership Directory. Click here for the Leadership Directory User Guide.

State Coordinator Co-Chairs
Ashley Lombardi, MS, RD
Sheetal Parikh, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND

Speaker's Bureau Chair
Rebekah Brown, RD

Student Member Co- Chairs
Jackie Allen
Susan "Tootie" Deerr, BS

Newsletter Editor
AnnaMarie Rodriguez, RDN,LD, FAND

Newsletter Staff
Alexa Pizzarello, RD
Blair Persyn, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC

Communication Chair
Lesley Schatz MPH, RD, LDN 

VN Happenings Coordinator
Lesley Schatz MPH, RD, LDN

Newsletter Reviewers
Catherine Conway, MS, RD, CDN, CDE
Debbie Lucus, RD, MS, CDE
Hollie Gelberg, PhD, RD
Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
Sudha Raj, PhD, RD
Jen Nguyen, RDN
Alicia Henson, MS, RD 

RD Resource Chair
AnnaMarie Rodriguez, RD, LD, FAND

RD Resource Committee

Policy and Advocacy Chair 
Justine Violet Meyer, MPH, RD, CSG

Sponsorship Chair
Alison Ozgur MAT, MHS, RDN, DipACLM

Social Media Chair
Vacant

Awards Chair 
Catherine Conway, MS, RDN, CDCES, CDN

Research Chair
Katie Ellison, PhD, RDN, LDN

Research Committee
Reya Andrews, MS, CN
Dyan Young, DA, AD
Miranda Wall Van Blarcum, DC, MS
Susan "Tootie" Deerr, BS

Webinar Chair
Sara Tamsukhin, PhD, MS, RD, LD

Webinar Asst. 
Tiffany Bruno, MS, RDN

Diversity Liaison
Jen Nguyen, RDN
Parul Kharod, MS, RD, LDN
Alisa Clark 

Network Rep. to VRG
Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Volunteer Coordinator
Vacant

Website & Discussion Board Coordinator
Karenna Genzlinger

DPG Manager/Administrator
Carla Jamison