Special Election Candidates

The NEP DPG is running a special election to fill two vacant nominating committee member positions. Please take a moment to cast your vote in this election. We have two candidates running to fill the position; please review their bios and cast your vote by clicking here.

Jessica Lehmann, MS, RDN

Personal Statement -What are your goals if you are elected, why are you running, why should people vote for you, etc) .

I would like to serve in the NEPDPG as a member of the Nominating Committee in order to support our professional community. As a Registered Dietitian who works as an educator, I believe that my focus on providing inclusive and evidence-based nutrition information, my professional training, and my experience in mentoring and community service would make me a strong candidate for this position.  I have taught courses in nutrition and health communication, health behavior change theory, food science, human nutrition, and evidence-based research. My goals, if I were to be elected, are to expand our membership and increase engagement.     

Awards -name and date of each (list):

Outstanding Dietitian (Arizona) 2023, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 

Professor of Impact Award, May 2023 and December 2023, from individual students 

Wesleyan University Service Award, May 2022, Wesleyan University 

 

Volunteer Experience:

Arizona State University Service: 

• Serve on the Catalyst Grant Subcommittee of the Committee for Campus Inclusion, evaluating grant applications from ASU faculty, staff and students for programs and events that promote inclusion on campus  – January 2024 – present 

• Served on the search committee and participated in interviewing candidates and recommending finalists for the Director of Inclusion and Culture in the Office of Human Resources for ASU, July – September 2023   [8 hours]

• Member of the Education Committee on the Arizona State University Art Museum Board,  Duties involve participating in fundraising events to fund the educational mission of the museum, volunteering for educational events hosted by the Museum in the community or on site, creating collaborations between the Museum and the College of Health Solutions, and attending quarterly planning meetings. January 2023 – present.  Attended biweekly 1-hour meetings Sept. - October and helped to plan, promote, and execute a fundraiser/short film festival on November 3, 2023 attended by 100 intergenerational community members in the Valley and which raised $5,000: December 2022 – present  [15 hours/year]

• Faculty advisor of CULTIVATE Gardening Club  at the Downtown Phoenix Campus (with faculty advisors Tina Shepard, MS, RD and Master Gardener and Simin Levinson, MS, RD), October 2020 – present. [2-4 hours/semester]

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted in Reader’s Digest, “If You Don’t Eat Sweet Potatoes Every Day, This Might Convince You to Start”   March 23, 2023

• Served as the Co-Chair of the Committee for Campus Inclusion, Downtown Phoenix Campus, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the University Committee for Campus Inclusion (a core committee of the University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence), June 2021 – June 2022. Co-led monthly meetings (1 hour each) to update the Downtown CCI members about University initiatives and activities related to inclusion across the campuses, to plan events such as the Diversity and the Media webinar with the Walter Cronkite School (spring 2022) and SafeZone trainings at the Downtown Phoenix Campus, to facilitate communication among members about inclusion-related programming in the Colleges, Schools and Units at the Downtown Phoenix Campus, and to address members’  concerns related to inclusion at the Downtown Phoenix Campus. 

• Served as a member of the Committee for Campus Inclusion, Downtown Phoenix Campus, July 2019 – present. Attended monthly meetings (1-hour each) to discuss event programming, to learn about student perspectives on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and share inclusion-related initiatives among the Colleges. 

• Media Contact, Interviewed by Dr. Swapna Reddy about stress eating on  Arizona PBS’s “Break It Down” https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR39mKA-T7Cre6y4e43YwFsH8qtm6okJshRk9ON8En6EFNapST3EM0H7Y6E&v=bB34uhXf6MI&feature=youtu.be  November 16,  2020.

• Brainstormed and collaborated with other ASU faculty members at the Food Entrepreneurship Planning Meeting (ASU Office of Entrepreneurship + Innovation), January 11, 2020.

• Media Contact. Interviewed and quoted in the City Sun Times. “World Hunger on the Rise — Causes, Consequences and Solutions.” https://news.citysuntimes.com/2019/12/07/world-hunger-on-the-rise-causes-consequences-and-solutions/, December 7, 2019.

• Media Contact, Interviewed and quoted in Popular Science. https://www.popsci.com/how-to-conquer-your-fear-of-the-kitchen/, June 25, 2019.

• Media Contact, FOX 10 News Arizona Morning segment, “2019 Diet Trends”, January 15, 2019  

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted in Arizona State Press, “ASU Health Solutions faculty innovate to inform”, November 2018

• CHS Liaison with HEALab (Health Entrepreneurship Accelerator Lab) Steering Committee, 2017- present 

• CHS/Nutrition Liaison with Prepped (food business entrepreneur coaching program, ASU E+I Office), 2017 – present 

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted on SheKnows.com: “Experts Weigh in on the Fast Metabolism Diet” by Elaina Verhoff, updated February 2018

• Media Contact, KTAR 92.3 video and radio interview, “New Year, New Diet, Here’s How Parents Can Stay Healthy in 2018”, January 2018.  

• Media Contact, KTAR 92.3 video and radio interview, “Tips for Eating Healthy this Holiday Season”, November 2017.  

• Media Contact, KTAR 92.3 video and radio interview, “Busy Parents Need a Plan if They Want to Eat Healthy”, October 2017. 

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted in Arcadia News article, “Try these orange, lemon and grapefruit recipes”, March 2017

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted in Arizona State Press, “Veganism growing in popularity among ASU students, Phoenix Valley residents”, February 2017

• Media Contact, FOX 10 News Arizona Morning segment, “Spice Up Your Life”, February 2017 

• Media Contact, FOX 10 News Arizona Morning segment, “Low Sugar Lifestyle”, January 2017 

• Media Contact, FOX 10 News Arizona Morning segment, “Conventional vs. Organic”, May 2016

• Media Contact, FOX 10 News Arizona Morning segment, “Pesticides in Produce: Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen”,  April 2016

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted in the Arizona Republic: “Oh Sugar!” by Gremlyn Waddell, August 2015 

• Media Contact, FOX 10 News Arizona Morning segment, “Foods to Blast Belly Fat”, July 2015

• Media Contact, FOX 10 News Arizona Morning segment, “Alkaline Diet”, May 2015 

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted in NPR affiliate/KJZZ radio segment and website: Mmm…Bacon Festival Coming to the Valley – February 2015

• Media Contact, FOX 10 News Arizona Morning segment, “Creative Bento Box Lunch Ideas For Kids”, September 2014

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted in the Downtown Devil: “Devilishly Healthy: A nutrition and fitness guide for preserving the health of your college body” by Wafa Shahid. August 2014

• Media Contact, interviewed and quoted in Arizona Republic - “Here’s to Looking Good at 50, 60, and Beyond” by Connie Sexton: March 2014

• Media Contact, Interviewed for SheKnows.com: “Essential Vitamins for Families” by Christy Pogorelac , January 2014

Community Service:

• Prepared dinner for homeless youth and young adults at a group home, Home Base Youth Services – December 11, 2023 [2 hours]

• Participated in a Saturday welcome for local Syrian and Burmese refugee families with the Welcome to America Project, December 2, 2023. [4 hours]

• Class Notes Co-Secretary, Wesleyan University.  Duties involve soliciting and curating updates from members of the Class of 1997 for the Wesleyan Magazine, published quarterly. 2017 – present. [3-8 hours per year]  

• Tended the garden (planted, watered, created beds) at the St. Vincent de Paul Mesa Urban Farm with the Central District, Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – November 4, 2023. [3 hours]

• Participated in the St. Mary’s weekly food distribution session to the participants/patients in the “Food is Medicine” research study (ASU, Adelante and Mayo Clinic) at Adelante West, May 26, June 16, August 25, 2023.[5.5 hours]

• Packed food for distribution to food-insecure Arizonans with faculty and students from the College of Health Solutions – Paz de Cristo, December 22, 2022.  [3 hours] 

• Packed food for distribution to food-insecure Arizonans - St. Mary’s Food Bank, December 19, 2022. 3 hours. 

• Tended the garden (weeded) at the St. Vincent de Paul Urban Farm with the Central District, Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – November 12, 2022. [2 hours]

• Tended the garden (spread mulch, weeded, watered) at the International Rescue Committee New Roots Community Garden/CamelBackyard with HPEN – February 12, 2022. [3 hours]

  • 25th Year Reunion Planning Committee, Wesleyan University. 2021 – 2022. 

• Nominating Committee, Parents Association, Phoenix Country Day School, 2021 – 2022.

• Tended the garden (shoveled wood chips) at the International Rescue Committee New Roots Community Garden/CamelBackyard with HPEN – November 20, 2021. [3 hours]

• Prepared and presented a 90-minute interactive talk about nutrition and digestion with a hands-on activity simulating mechanical and chemical digestion to 10 2nd Grade Students & 2 2nd Grade Teachers at Desert View Learning Center, May 15, 2021. [3 hours]

• Prepared and presented a 45-minute talk about nutrition on Zoom to 135 5th Grade Students & 5 5th Grade Teachers at Hopi Elementary School, April 28, 2021. “Fueling Up for 5th Grade…and Beyond!”.  https://youtu.be/XYLWEH-lcXw  [8 hours]

• Tended the garden (hoed, prepared beds, planted) and sorted out the fertilizer into small bags at the NATIVE Health “Keep Phoenix Beautiful” Pierson Community Garden – February 2021. [3 hours]

• Packed food for distribution to food-insecure Arizonans - St. Mary’s Food Bank, January 2021.[3 hours]

• Cared for children at dinner served to families in need - St. Vincent de Paul, December 2019. [3 hours]

• Served dinner to families in need and cleaned up afterwards - UMOM, Helpings Restaurant, October 2019. [2 hours]

• Packed food to be delivered to food-insecure households - St. Mary’s Food Bank, May 2019. [3 hours]

• Taught in-person cooking and nutrition classes to Kindergarten – 4th Grade Students, Desert View Learning Center, 2011 to 2019. [3 hours each class, 1 class per year]

Nominee Commitments

By submitting your information to run in the DPG/MIG special election for the upcoming term, you agree to the following:

  • I support Academy's/CDR's vision, mission, principles and philosophy (www.eatright.org/strategicplan or https://www.cdrnet.org/about).

  • I will not divulge information discussed during the nomination process.

  • I will not disclose names of potential nominees and/or selected candidates for any position until after the slate is approved and posted on the Academy website after the December selection meeting.

  • I acknowledge that a decision to decline a nomination is not public information and will not be disclosed.

  • I understand that an individual serving in a nationally elected Academy/DPG/MIG/or CDR position is not eligible to be considered for the national Academy/DPG/MIG/or CDR ballot where terms of service would overlap.

  • If selected for the national Academy/CDR ballot I will abide by the Campaign Rules, which include the Code of Ethics.

  • I declare to the best of my knowledge, that the information I provide on this form is true, correct, complete, and accurate.

  • Failure to honor these statements may result in the withdrawal of my name from the nomination process.

  • I agree to disclose any companies, organizations or enterprises for the past year from which I receive compensation or with which I have an ongoing relationship and which are relevant to the group(s) for which I am a nominee.

Catherine Howard, MS, RDN, CDCES

Many of my personal values align with my work, such as ongoing learning, striving for my best health, contributing positively to the lives of others and making an impact within my community. My career as a dietitian has allowed me to be of service to patients and clients in a way that's very meaningful and fulfilling. When I'm not working, I love cycling, long walks, yoga, cooking, and traveling.

Personal Statement -What are your goals if you are elected, why are you running, why should people vote for you, etc) .

I am running for the nominating committee to get more involved in NEP DPG activities and encourage others to do the same. I look forward to engaging with new members.

Volunteer Experience:

Academy volunteer experience:

Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Board Secretary, starting June 2024

Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Board Secretary, June 2021- present

California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Public Policy team, November 2017 - December 2019

Nominee Commitments

By submitting your information to run in the DPG/MIG special election for the upcoming term, you agree to the following:

  • I support Academy's/CDR's vision, mission, principles and philosophy (www.eatright.org/strategicplan or https://www.cdrnet.org/about).

  • I will not divulge information discussed during the nomination process.

  • I will not disclose names of potential nominees and/or selected candidates for any position until after the slate is approved and posted on the Academy website after the December selection meeting.

  • I acknowledge that a decision to decline a nomination is not public information and will not be disclosed.

  • I understand that an individual serving in a nationally elected Academy/DPG/MIG/or CDR position is not eligible to be considered for the national Academy/DPG/MIG/or CDR ballot where terms of service would overlap.

  • If selected for the national Academy/CDR ballot I will abide by the Campaign Rules, which include the Code of Ethics.

  • I declare to the best of my knowledge, that the information I provide on this form is true, correct, complete, and accurate.

  • Failure to honor these statements may result in the withdrawal of my name from the nomination process.

  • I agree to disclose any companies, organizations or enterprises for the past year from which I receive compensation or with which I have an ongoing relationship and which are relevant to the group(s) for which I am a nominee.