Tracy L. Oliver, Ph.D., RDN, LDN (Chair) is an Associate Professor in the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at Villanova University. Tracy has over 16 years of experience in the field of dietetics, including nine years of classroom teaching experience in areas of nutrition science, advanced metabolism, and nutrition education. Her expertise lies in weight management when she found herself fascinated with behavioral weight management for obesity when she worked at The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Weight and Eating Disorders and Temple University’s Center for Obesity Research and Education. She is presently researching weight bias and weight sensitivity in nursing students to combat obesity stigma. She is also involved in research addressing food insecurity and healthy eating and food access through the “Community Cooks” program which provides nutrition education within an emergency food pantry.

She earned her B.S. in Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh, and both her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees are from Temple University in the field of Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology. Tracy has served on the WM DPG’s leadership team for the past nine years in various roles including Weight Management in the News Coordinator, CPEU newsletter Editor, and Chair-Elect.

Rebecca S. Reeves, DrPH, RDN, FAND (Chair Elect) completed her MPH and DrPH degrees from the University of Texas School of Public Health. She retired from Baylor College of Medicine where she conducted clinical trials in nutrition and behavioral medicine at the Behavioral Medicine Research Center. She has over 50 publications in these areas.

In 2001 Dr. Reeves founded the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group. She is a former AND President and Speaker of the House of Delegate. She received the Medallion award in 2001.

Connie Diekman, M.Ed., RD, CSSD, LD, FADA, FAND (Past Chair) is a Food and Nutrition Consultant in St. Louis, Missouri. A Former President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a former chair of the American Heart Association – Missouri affiliate. She is immediate Past Chair of the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group, a subunit of the Academy.

A former television and radio nutrition reporter Diekman is quoted regularly by the media on nutrition issues. Diekman is the author of two books.

Molly Wangsgaard, MS, RDN, LD, NSCA-CPT, CHWC (Secretary), is a wellness coordinator at a corporate health center, dietitian for a concierge medical group, counsels patients for bariatric surgery, and works in private practice. Prior to these positions, Molly worked at Vanderbilt University Hospital, Jenny Craig and Curves Jenny Craig, and Cooper Clinic. In addition to being a dietitian, Molly is a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and wellness coach.

Emily Burchins, MS, RDN, LDN (Treasurer) is a clinical dietitian at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC. Emily completed a Dietetic Internship and Master of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition at East Tennessee State University. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods from Appalachian State University. Emily has been a volunteer with WM DPG for eight years and previously held the position of Newsletter Editor from 2016-2018.

Kristen Smith, MS, RDN, LD (Nominating Chair) is currently the Bariatric Surgery Coordinator for Piedmont Atlanta hospital. She has spent the past decade working with weight management and bariatric surgery patients. Kristen often completes media interviews and is currently a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her previous roles with the WM DPG include Sponsorship Director and Treasurer.

Eileen Ford, MS, RDN, FAND (Delegate) is currently the Program Manager for the Nutrition and Growth Lab and the Infant Growth and Microbiome Study at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia managing research on childhood growth and risk factors in childhood obesity. Previously, Eileen served as nutrition faculty at Drexel University and The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Eileen’s previous roles with WM DPG include Chair, Secretary, Nominating Director and Research Committee.

Laura Martin, MS, RD, CD, CPT (Communications Director) is a Healthy Lifestyle Coach and Dietitian at the Cummins LiveWell Center. She is a proud Boilermaker and developed a record keeping app for her Master's project through Louisiana Tech University. She loves technology and how she can use technology to connect and empower dietitians. In her spare time, Laura likes to be involved with her community with her husband, Jacob. She also love to visit the farmer's market with her Newfoundland, Tonks.

Mary Gray Hutchison, MPH, RD, LDN (Member Services Director) holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mary Gray has also received her certificate of training in Adult Weight Management and has over 10 years of experience. She serves as lead dietician and program co-coordinator for UNC REX Bariatric Specialists, one of the leading bariatric practices in DS surgery on the east coast of the US. Ms. Hutchison pioneered the practice’s standards of nutrition regimen, education.

Catherine M. Champagne, PhD, RDN, LDN, FADA, FAND, FTOS, FAHA (Professional Development Director)is Chief, Nutritional Epidemiology at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. A long standing member of the Acadamy, her interests are women and children’s health, child nutrition, diets for weight loss and chronic disease, and nutritional assessment of diverse populations. One of her significant achievements was the final design of the DASH and DASH-Sodium diets. She has been involved in many NIH funded trials and receives funding for child nutrition and military nutrition research.

Sarah T. Henes, PhD, RD, LD (Research Director).  Current Research Projects: 1.The FoodMASTER initiative, Deep South Network (NIH SEPA grant). Teaching math and science concepts with food and nutrition/STEM programming with Metro Atlanta Boys and Girls Club (Mableton, GA). 2.Nutrition4Kids (Atlanta, GA). Program development of clinical/community based weight management program for low income families/children. Sarah also does nutrition counseling for worksite wellness and weight management.

Nina Crowley, PhD, RDN, LD (Policy and Advocacy Leader) is a passionate advocate for patient-centered care and appropriate treatment for people with obesity. She leads the interdisciplinary metabolic and bariatric surgery team at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. Nina serves as our Policy and Advocacy Leader. She loves getting dietitians involved in making change through public policy and is excited about the WMDPG RDN role on the State Advocacy Representative (STAR) program for access to care for obesity treatment.

Laura Bartee, MS, RD, LD (Newsletter Editor) is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian in the state of Texas. Laura began working with the Weight Management Matters newsletter in 2014 as an author and enjoys contributing her time to this valuable member resource and benefit. She has been working in various capacities in weight management practice for over 6 years. In her personal life she enjoys reading, indoor cycling, and is obsessed with dogs.

Lisa S. Paige, MBA, RDN, CSOWM (Associate Newsletter Editor) serves rural western Colorado in primary, home, and long-term care settings. She previously enjoyed a 25-year career in IT and continues to use those skills as a part-time clinical informaticist. A true life-long learner, Lisa attended the University of AZ, Northern AZ University, University of Northern CO, and University College at DU. She loves to ski, hike, bike, and fly fish.

Christina Scott, RD, LD, CDE (Assistant Newsletter Editor) is currently serving as the Assistant Newsletter Editor and has been actively involved in the DPG since 2011. She previously served in a variety of roles, including Assistant Webinar Editor and Symposium Director. Christina is also a Certified Diabetes Educator. She has been an RD since 2005, has spent the past 9 yrs working in bariatrics, weight management and is currently working in diabetes. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Felicia Steger, MS, RD (Physical Activity Newsletter Section Editor) is Program Coordinator at the Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management and PhD Candidate at KU Medical Center. She earned her BS and MS in Dietetics & Exercise Science at Iowa State. Her professional interests relate to enhancing the effectiveness and implementation of lifestyle modification programs to prevent and treat chronic diseases, to expand accessibility to quality behavioral interventions, and to advance the field of dietetics through nutrition research.

Annette Langan, MS, RD, CSOWM, LDN (Bariatric Section Editor) is a Clinical Nutrition Specialist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center, where she counsels patients in weight management, with a special focus on group nutrition counseling and bariatric surgery. She attended undergrad at Boston University, completed her Dietetic Internship at Simmons University, and completed a Masters at Rutgers University. In her free time, Annette enjoys singing, ballet, and writing for her website, A Sprig of Time.

Carol Bradley, PhD, RDN, BCBA, LD, FAND (Coaching Section Editor) holds a MA degree in Nutrition a PhD in School and Behavioral Psychology. Carol currently serves as a behavior analyst and works with intellectually disabled individuals who are medically fragile. She has served in a variety of positions as a registered and licensed dietitian, and multiple board positions for the Texas Affiliate and committee positions for Weight Management and Behavioral Health DPGs. Carol was 2018 Texas Distinguished Dietitian.

Katy MacQueen, MS RD CSOWM LDN (Bariatric Section Editor) graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics. She earned a M.S. in Nutrition from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and completed her dietetic internship at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA.  She has the Level 1 and Level 2 Certificates of Training in Adult Weight Management and is a Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM).

She has held volunteer positions with the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group and the Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Katy also serves on the Editorial Board for Obesity Surgery, a peer-reviewed medical journal. Katy has been a speaker at the Bariatric Summit, the New England Bariatric Dietitian Conference, and the Massachusetts Annual Nutrition Conference and Expo.

Katherine Arlinghaus, MS, RDN, LD (Pediatric Section Editor) is currently a doctoral candidate in the Obesity Studies Program at the University of Houston and works part time for a private nutrition practice. Her primary research focus is the behavioral prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. She is interested in investigating how pediatric obesity interventions can be improved to better address health disparities.

Amy Habeck, MS, RDN, CDN (EML Coordinator) is a bariatric and weight loss dietitian in at outpatient setting at Advanced Surgeons in Hawthorne, New York. Her work involves counseling patients before and after weight loss surgery. Amy has completed both the level 1 and level 2 Certificates of Training in Adult Weight Management in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

Amy completed her undergraduate degree at Michigan State University, her dietetic internship at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, and her Masters at Eastern Michigan University. Her past experience includes nutrition support of bone marrow transplant patients, pharmaceutical sales and online education instruction. She has presented several abstracts at the annual meetings of the American Dietetic Association (currently the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and the American Society for Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition.

Alefiya Faizullabhoy, MS, RD, CDE, CDN (Webinar Chair) has more than 14 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian and has been a Certified Diabetes Educator since the past 10 years. Alefiya has experience in the pediatric as also the pregnancy population. Currently, she works in a busy Endocrinology outpatient practice in a large New York based Health system. Her work with adults is focused on weight management in patients with pre diabetes and diabetes. Alefiya is passionate about promoting healthy food choices and disease prevention. She also teaches nutrition and diabetes wellness classes, precepts dietetic interns and allied health professionals interested in obtaining their CDE credentials. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling and dabbling in home renovation projects.

Bec McDorman, MS, RDN (Bariatric Subunit Chair) pursued dietetics after having weight loss surgery in 2010. She completed her masters at Cal Poly Pomona & her internship at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She is a frequent contributor for ObesityHelp.com & has presented at OH’s national conferences. In 2018, she won Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year for WSAND, as well as the Trombley Region Clinical Excellence Award. She currently works as Clinical Nutrition Manager at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, CA.

Patricia Novak, MPH, RD, CLE, LD (Pediatric Subunit Chair) has over 30 years experience working with pediatric eating and feeding concerns. Her weight management work has focused on children with chronic illness and neuro-developmental disabilities including creating a weight control program for children with autism spectrum disorders. She has worked in both hospital and community based programs and is currently employed as a consultant and as part of a research group at the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin.

Julie Schwartz, MS, RDN, CSOWM, CSSD, LD, NBC-HWC, cEP (Coaching and Wellness Subunit Chair) is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach and owner of Balanced Nutrition Coach. She has over 25 years of experience guiding individuals, groups, and companies in healthy lifestyle and wellness initiatives to live their best lives. Julie has held numerous leadership roles within the WM DPG including Newsletter Editor, Treasurer, Chair-Elect, Chair and Past-Chair, and Delegate to the HOD. Julie also serves on the CDR for Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management exam workgroup.

Amy Habeck, MS, RDN, CDN (Quick Guide Resource Co-Coordinator) is a bariatric and weight loss dietitian in at outpatient setting at Advanced Surgeons in Hawthorne, New York. Her work involves counseling patients before and after weight loss surgery. Amy has completed both the level 1 and level 2 Certificates of Training in Adult Weight Management in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Amy completed her undergraduate degree at Michigan State University, her dietetic internship at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, and her Masters at Eastern Michigan University. Her past experience includes nutrition support of bone marrow transplant patients, pharmaceutical sales and online education instruction. She has presented several abstracts at the annual meetings of the American Dietetic Association (currently the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and the American Society for Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition.

Nadea Minet, MS, RDN, LDN (Promotions Resource Co-Coordinator) has working in the field of Bariatrics for 9 years, and I love connecting with professionals and patients alike. I actively participate in providing education to the patients and serving in the community at various health and wellness events and conferences across the country. It’s my mission to make a healthy lifestyle something fun, enjoyable, and maintainable.

Shelly Summar, MSEd, RD, LD (Newsletter CPEU Editor) serves as the manager of Weighing In, a program at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, working to lead community collaboration to support healthy lifestyles. She has over 25 years of experience treating children and families for nutrition related issues. She received her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from Kansas State University and her Masters in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kansas. She also completed a Certificate of Training in Childhood & Adol Weight Management.

Monisha Panda, MD, RD, CSR, LDN (Newsletter Assistant CPEU Editor) earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been a Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition since 2013 and her passion for helping patients with kidney disease led her to to pursue a medical degree in hopes of becoming a nephrologist. She recently graduated from the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine.

Juliet Mancino, MS, RDN, CDE, CCRC, FAND (WM in the News Editor) is currently Research Review Analyst for the University of Pittsburgh Human Research Protection Office. 25+ years experience in clinical trials of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease as interventionist, project and/or clinical trial coordinator.

Jordyn Forsyth, MS, RD, CDE, CSOWM (Sponsorship Relations Coordinator) is the MOVE! Weight Management Coordinator at the VA in Houston, TX. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Nutrition Sciences from Baylor University and her Master's degree in Nutrition from Texas Woman's University.

Meghann C. Talkington, RDN, LDN, CWP (Sponsorship Relations Assistant Coordinator) is a clinical dietitian at Memorial Hospital (BJC Healthcare) in Belleville/Shiloh, IL. Meghann completed her Dietetic Internship through the University of Delaware and her Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Meghann is also a Certified Wellness Practitioner through the National Wellness Institute. Meghann's passion is achieving a healthy lifestyle through sustainable/environmentally friendly practice.

Stephanie Bassett MPH, RD, LD, CPH (Student Services Coordinator) is a registered dietitian with over 14 years of culinary and dietetics experience. She started her career in a long-term care facility and transitioned into an inpatient clinical management role. Her goal is to help others improve their lives with sound and relatable nutrition recommendations. She serves as the State Regulatory Specialist on the Arkansas AND and is active within the Weight Management and Public Health and Community Nutrition DPGs.

Katie Lambert MS, RDN, LD, CSOWM, CDE (Member Recruitment and Retention Coordinator) is currently the dietitian and program coordinator/manager at Mercy Clinic Weight and Wellness, a medical weight management program, in Saint Louis Missouri. She also is the owner of Step Forward Nutrition & Wellness LLC. She has over 6 years of experience with nutritional counseling in weight loss and weight management, diabetes management, GI nutrition management, and general health and wellness. In her free time, Katie likes to spend with her dog Lucy

Renell Cronk, RDN, LD (Member Survey Coordinator) is the Director of Nutrition Services at a private practice that does counseling for patients going through bariatric surgery and for weight loss. Prior to this position, Renell worked at Natural Grocers as a Regional Nutrition Manager. In addition to being a dietitian, Renell hobbies include cooking, running and spoiling her two puppies (Velvet and Tucker).

Anne Mathews, PhD, RDN (Obesity Week Coordinator) is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department in Gainesville, FL. In this position, Anne teaches in the Dietetics and Nutritional Science programs and conducts research regarding health behaviors related to weight management and diet quality. Over the years, Anne has served the Weight Management DPG in several positions including Chair, Treasurer, and Nominating Committee Director.

Hollie Raynor, PhD, RD, LDN (Academy Alliance Representative) is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and the Interim Assistant Dean of Research in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee. She holds a MS in Public Health Nutrition and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. She conducts research in lifestyle interventions for pediatric and adult weight management and has published over 125 peer-reviewed articles.

Barbara J. Ivens, MS, RDN, FADA, FAND (Volunteer Coordinator) is Principal, Nutrition Information Exchange with a background in building multi-dimensional professional and consumer nutrition programs that promote healthful choices and balanced nutrition.

Barbara has served as chair of the Academy's Foundation and chair of the Commission on Dietetic Registration. She has been a Weight Management DPG member since 2008.

Catherine Metzgar, PhD, RD (Nominating Committee Assistant Director) is a Clinical Team Lead and Health Coach at Virta in San Francisco, CA. At Virta, Catherine provides remote patient care while also managing a small team of health coaches. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where her work focused on determinants of weight gain prevention in young and mid-life adult women. Outside of work, Catherine is navigating (new) motherhood and enjoys traveling and exploring with her husband and daughter.

Courtney Luecking, MPH, MS, RDN (Awards and Honors Coordinator) is a doctoral candidate in the Nutrition Department at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her graduate research assistant role, she provides nutrition expertise to the Children’s Healthy Weight Research. Courtney has volunteered for state and local Academy affiliates in various capacities. As a result, Courtney has been honored as an Emerging Dietetic Leader in North Carolina.

Amy Habeck, MS, RDN, CDN (Resource Co-Coordinator Quick Guides) is a bariatric and weight loss dietitian in at outpatient setting at Advanced Surgeons in Hawthorne, New York. Her work involves counseling patients before and after weight loss surgery. Amy has completed both the level 1 and level 2 Certificates of Training in Adult Weight Management in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

Amy completed her undergraduate degree at Michigan State University, her dietetic internship at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, and her Masters at Eastern Michigan University. Her past experience includes nutrition support of bone marrow transplant patients, pharmaceutical sales and online education instruction. She has presented several abstracts at the annual meetings of the American Dietetic Association (currently the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and the American Society for Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition.

Nadea Minet, MS, RDN, LD (Resource Co-Coordinator Promotions) has been working in the field of Bariatrics for 9 years, and loves connecting with professionals and patients alike. She actively participate in providing education to the patients and serving in the community at various health and wellness events and conferences across the country. It’s her mission to make a healthy lifestyle something fun, enjoyable, and maintainable.

Alexandra Thompson, RDN, CSOWM (Reimbursement Coordinator) is a clinical dietitian at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. She utilizes her past experience working with patients who have pursued bariatric surgery to advocate for policy and legislation that affects coverage and payment for essential obesity health services.

Alex received her Bachelors of Science degree from Michigan State University and completed her dietetic internship at University of Virginia Health System.