Conference Tracks
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School and Expanded Learning (After School and Summer)
Mini-Plenary: MP 1.3: Mission Possible: Kids will eat school meals
The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated school meal standards in July 2012. Anecdotal reports suggested these changes created more food waste. Research shows that parents support the new standards and children are eating fruits and vegetables in school. There are many strategies schools can use to make improvements to meal quality and menu choices supporting children's consumption of school meals – come learn about these strategies in this session.
Please Click the Speaker names below to see their submitted biosketch.
Juliana Cohen, Research Associate, Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition
Speaker submitted biosketch
Juliana Cohen is a research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health where she received her doctorate in nutrition and a master’s degree in social and behavioral sciences with a maternal and child health concentration. Her current work focuses on innovative school-based interventions to encourage the selection and consumption of healthier foods. Dr. Cohen is currently the project director for two large school-based studies assessing diet in children.
Speaker submitted biosketch
Wendi Gosliner is a Project Scientist at the University of California. Her work focuses on developing and evaluating policy, program, and community-based interventions designed to expand opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity. She studies interventions in schools, childcare environments, WIC, and SNAP Ed programs. Gosliner has taught courses in community nutrition and nutrition policy at UC Berkeley. She received a BS in nutritional sciences from Cornell University and an MPH and DrPH from UC Berkeley. She is a registered dietitian.
Speaker submitted biosketch
Judith (Judi) Larsen works for The California Endowment a private, statewide health foundation established in 1996 to address the health needs of Californians. Her role at The Endowment focuses on improving environments to support better health for all Californians and she has worked both at the local level in San Diego, Imperial, and Orange counties, and currently works to support scaling up state wide efforts through the Health Happens in Schools campaign (part of The Endowment’s 10 year Building Healthy Communities Initiative). Judi is working to advance policies and practice for improving healthy food and beverages in schools, promoting physical activity as a critical tool for student readiness to learn and health, and accelerating the role of health as a critical component in education reform conversations in California as it relates to Local Control Funding Formula. Prior to joining The California Endowment, Judi worked on community health projects for the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine and Community Pediatrics to build strong community university partnerships and has worked with a range of community based organizations to improve health outcomes for all families (regardless of race and income). Mrs. Larsen's career has been dedicated to support changes in schools and communities to better children and families’ health and wellness outcomes-- with a specific focus on the role community members should play as active stakeholders in advancing solutions to improve their community. She is daughter of immigrants from Central America, a native Californian, and a strong proponent of California’s public education system. Judi enjoys spending time with her family and being active in her childrens’ school. She is an alumnus of San José State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, and completed her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion at San Diego State University. She has completed two certificate programs in Health Executive Leadership at University of California, San Diego and Nonprofit Management and Leadership at the University of San Diego.
Speaker submitted biosketch
Bethany is a nutrition educator at heart. Having worked in public schools, community nutrition and public health, she has supported children and families as they get off to a good start leading healthy, active lives. In her current role as a Research Associate in the Nutrition and Food Sciences Department at the University of Vermont, she has been monitoring school children’s milk consumption and using digital imaging to measure consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Moderator: Carol Chase Huegli, Associate Director, Nutrition Services Division, California Department of Education
Speaker submitted biosketch
Carol Chase Huegli, MS, RD is the Associate Director for the Nutrition Services Division at the California Department of Education. In this capacity, she is responsible for overseeing the administration of the Child Nutrition and USDA Foods Programs in California. This includes the development of policy and nutrition education and training programs. Carol joined the CDE in January 2007 after working for the California WIC program for 13.5 years and Riverside County Department of Public Health Nutrition Services for about 9 years. Carol received her Bachelor’s in Biology from the University of California, San Diego and her Master’s in Nutrition Science from the University of California, Davis. Carol is a Registered Dietitian.
Presentations/Handouts
Mini-Plenary: MP 2.3: Building a Culture of Health through Diverse Collaborations
Students, teachers and staff spend a significant amount of time at school. A culture of health at schools supports healthy behaviors for the entire school community. This session focuses on innovation and collaboration. You will hear about work being led by retired military leaders, an integrated health care system and the largest teacher union in the nation.
Please Click the Speaker names below to see their submitted biosketch.
Speaker submitted biosketch
U.S. Army Major General (Ret.) Arthur M. Bartell is a combat veteran, having served tours of duty in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Additional assignments included, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Cadet Command and Director and Chief of Staff of the Army Capabilities Integration Center, Training and Doctrine Command. General Bartell currently serves as President of the Army and Navy Academy, a college-preparatory boarding school for boys grades 7-12. He is an Executive Advisory Council member of Mission: Readiness, a nonpartisan national security organization of over 500 retired senior military leaders calling for smart investments in America’s children.
Lainie Morgan, Senior Program Coordinator, National Education Association - Healthy Futures
Speaker submitted biosketch
Lainie Morgan manages national projects to support educators and their students, including several school employee wellness initiatives and the school nutrition program "Bag the Junk". Her focal points are programs and policies that address educator health (especially stress reduction support, wellness coordinators and insurance benefits), survey research, childhood obesity, and a whole school culture of health model. Before joining NEA Healthy Futures in 2014, she ran SNAP-Ed community nutrition education programs in the Baltimore area for the University of Maryland Extension and supported low-income populations to strengthen healthy habits, which included teaching with all ages and training professionals. She has also contributed to research on community-based health programs for the American Public Health Association and micronutrient supplementation and child development with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Abroad, she has consulted with the Bhutanese Ministry of Health and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay. Lainie earned an MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and a BA from Wesleyan University. She is an active hiker, gardener and creative chef.
Speaker submitted biosketch
Sarah Threlfall is a Sr. Consultant for Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools, a national effort to improve healthy eating and physical activity in K-12 schools primarily through a focus on policy, systems, and environmental changes targeting students, staff and teachers. In that role, she manages the development and implementation of Thriving Schools by partnering closely with external organizations and Kaiser Permanente regional leadership. Prior to joining Thriving Schools, she collaborated on the expansion of HealthWorks, Kaiser Permanente's workforce health department. She received her MPH from UCLA and completed her undergraduate work at UCSD.
Moderator: Elisa Mendel, Vice President, Healthworks and Product Innovation, Kaiser Permanente
Speaker submitted biosketch
Elisa Mendel is National Vice President, HealthWorks & Product Innovation, for Kaiser Permanente. She is responsible for overseeing Kaiser Permanente’s Workforce Health portfolio, which is designed to help employers improve the health and productivity of their employees through worksite programs and interventions. This includes Kaiser On-the-Job - Kaiser Permanente’s occupational health services, multicultural marketing, and Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools initiative. She is also responsible for developing and implementing product innovations to leverage Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care delivery system. Mendel received her bachelor’s degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan.
Presentations/Handouts
WS 1.5: A “Whole” New Look at School Lunch: Perceptions Matter
Schools are under pressure to provide healthy school meals students will eat. This thought-provoking session looks at how the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM) promotes holistic changes that improve student consumption of healthy foods. A national perspective of the SLM will be highlighted along with local examples of SLM implementation. In addition to the SLM presentation, “lessons from the lunch ladies”, a school-based research project will be shared.
Please Click the Speaker names below to see their submitted biosketch.
Kathryn Hoy, Manager, Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs
Speaker submitted biosketch
Kathryn “Kate” Hoy – (Master of Food and Nutrition – BGSU 2010, RD/CDN) is the Manager of the Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs at Cornell University. She is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement, an initiative providing resources and training to over 20,000 schools across the USA. Her role with Cornell has taken her across the country to speak at conferences, to Capitol Hill where she regularly meets with government officials/policy makers, and to the table with many of the industry leaders in school wellness and childhood obesity.
Mary Podrabsky, Director of School and Community Initiatives, University of Washington-Center for Public Health Nutrition
Speaker submitted biosketch
Mary is a Registered Dietitian, serving as Clinical Instructor and Director of School and Community Initiatives at the University of Washington-Center for Public Health Nutrition. She works with partners in a variety of settings, including schools, toward the development and evaluation of policy and environmental approaches to reduce obesity. Mary received her BS in nutrition from Washington State University, completed her Dietetic Internship at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, and received her MPH from the University of Washington
Suzy Sayre, Director of Nutrition Services, El Monte High School District
Speaker submitted biosketch
Suzy Sayre currently serves as Director of Nutrition Services for El Monte Union High School District, since 2003. Suzy has over 30 years of experience in the food service industry, including restaurants, a theme park and schools. She has worked in school food service the past 22 years, starting her career at Capistrano Unified School District in 1993. Suzy likes to stay active in her association and currently is the Registration Chair for the Southern California School Nutrition Association. She is on the Advisory Panel for the Dairy Council of California and was recently named, by the Dairy Council, the inaugural Community Heath All Star. Her district along with four schools in California has been nominated for the Green Award. Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate exemplary achievement in three “pillars” including improving the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff.
Moderator: Shannan Young, Senior Project Manager, Dairy Council of California
Speaker submitted biosketch
Shannan Young earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Community Nutrition from the University of California, Davis, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and credentialed School Nutrition Specialist. She has focused her career on creating a culture of wellness in schools; first working at a large school district for 11 years and then for the California Department of Education for six years. Today, she support wellness in schools and communities throughout California as the Dairy Council of California’s Senior Project Manager.
Presentations/Handouts
WS 2.5: Creating Healthy, Vibrant Afterschool Cultures: National, State, and Local Perspectives
With 10.2 million youth in afterschool programs, out-of-school time is ideal to educate students about nutrition, ensure students “get their 60”, and build healthier communities while helping close the achievement gap. The Alliance for a Healthy Generation, New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, and Team California for Healthy Afterschool will present their models for making the healthy choice the easy choice in afterschool settings.
Please Click the Speaker names below to see their submitted biosketch.
Sue Cornell, Healthy U Director, New Jersey YMCA State Alliance
Speaker submitted biosketch
Sue is the Healthy U State Director for the NJ YMCA State Alliance. As the state wide director Sue leads the process of implementing Healthy U in 400 YMCA afterschool programs, 80 YMCA early childcare programs and 60 elementary based- coordinated school health programs. Her responsibilities include providing professional development, curriculum support, and technical support for developing wellness policy and advocating for policy change. Her role also involves identifying and collaborating with other community organization to further our reach for community health. Sue has presented at state and national conferences including; the National Afterschool Association, the NJ Association of Health PE Recreation and Dance (NJAHPERD), New Jersey School Board Association, and the New Jersey Education Association state conferences. She also sits on the NJAHPERD Executive Board, as well as the Sustainable schools for New Jersey Health & Wellness task Force, and the New Jersey School Board Association Healthy and Wellness task Force. Prior to this position she served in various executive leadership roles with the YMCA of the Greater Brandywine Valley in Chester County, PA for over 20 years. Her accomplishments included , community collaborations with city councils to restore and re-open the community pools, implementing a “learn to swim” program, and partnering to open an outreach community camp. She also led the process of bringing the Girls on the Run program to over 12 schools. She has a BS degree in Health and PE from West Chester University.
Daniel Hatcher, National Healthy Out-of-School Time Advisor, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Speaker submitted biosketch
Daniel W. Hatcher serves as National Out-of-School Time Advisor for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. At the Alliance, Daniel is responsible for managing and delivering technical assistance services and resources for out-of-school time sites as they work to achieve National Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards. Daniel has a BA in International Relations and a Masters of Public Health, both from Western Kentucky University. Daniel regularly blogs on topics relevant to healthy afterschool at https://host.healthiergeneration.org/new__notable/.
Jason Smith, Health and Wellness Director, Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center
Speaker submitted biosketch
Jason Smith currently serves as the Director of Health and Wellness for the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center. Jason has had the privilege of serving in many after school positions over the last 15 years including frontline staff, Program Manager, and Director. His passion for youth development and mentoring has given him ample opportunities to create and develop intentional meaningful programs supporting youth and their families. He is a leadership team member with the Team California for Healthy After Schools (TCHAS) initiative and participates with multiple coalitions in Sacramento. He is active in his community and is currently serving as the Board President of Courageous Connection a foster youth non-profit.
Moderator: Andrew Laufer, Education Administrator, California Department of Education
Speaker submitted biosketch
Mr. Laufer is an Education Administrator for the Student Support and Special Services Branchin the Executive Office of the California Department of Education . He has oversight responsibility for five Divisions which includes the Nutrition Services Division, the Special Education Division, the After School Division, the State Special Schools and Services Division, and the Coordinated Student Support and Adult Education Division. Mr. Laufer has worked with the Deaf Community advocating for full access to visual language for Deaf children to facilitate cognitive development and academic success. He received the Administrator of the Year Award from the California Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Presentations/Handouts
WS 3.5: Made to Move: Getting Kids Active throughout the School Day
The Institute of Medicine recommends a “Whole-of-School” approach to providing physical activity to students. This session includes evaluations of three innovative programs in elementary schools. The programs illustrate opportunities to integrate activity in school that can complement physical education, including before and after school, lunch time recess, and classroom activity breaks. Each program will share evaluation strategies and results.
Please Click the Speaker names below to see their submitted biosketch.
Speaker submitted biosketch
Dirk de Heer is currently an assistant professor in the department of physical therapy at Northern Arizona University. His educational background is in health psychology and public health. His main research is in community based cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity prevention. Most of his prior work has been conducted with underserved minority populations along the US-Mexico border. The past 2 years, he has collaborated with the Fit kids of Arizona pediatric obesity prevention and treatment program of Northern Arizona Healthcare.
Speaker submitted biosketch
I am a 3rd year student in the Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Health Behavior track) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and San Diego State University (SDSU). My background is in psychology, but I have spent the majority of my time in the program researching physical activity, the built environment and the connection with injury prevention. I study how to facilitate physical activity, including by better understanding the relationship between physical activity and neighborhood environments.
Ayano Healy, Lead Health Educator, Northern California Center for Well-Being
Speaker submitted biosketch
Ayano Healy holds a Bachelors in Health Promotion from the University of Georgia and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). For over five years, Ms. Healy has specialized in youth engagement and managed school-based health initiatives in Sonoma County for the Center for Well-Being. Her current school-based initiatives include: “Active Play Every Day”- increasing a culture of play and MVPA in K-5 students and “Project TRUE”- a youth engagement, peer-education program dedicated to tobacco, alcohol and other drug prevention.
Moderator: Jim Sallis, Distinguished Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego
Speaker submitted biosketch
James F. Sallis, Ph.D is Distinguished Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at University of California, San Diego and Director of Active Living Research, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. His research interests are promoting physical activity and understanding policy and environmental influences on physical activity, nutrition, and obesity. He has authored 600 scientific publications and is one of the world’s most cited authors in the social sciences. Time Magazine identified him as an “obesity warrior." http://sallis.ucsd.edu/
Presentations/Handouts
WS 4.5: New Local School Wellness Policy Requirements: Opportunities and Challenges for Implementation
New Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP) requirements offer opportunities and challenges for implementation. This session will highlight nationwide successes utilizing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s identified tools to support LSWP efforts, along with examples of how local communities were able to strengthen their school wellness policies.
Please Click the Speaker names below to see their submitted biosketch.
Sharon Hillidge, Wellness Resource Teacher, Chula Vista Elementary School District
Speaker submitted biosketch
Sharon Hillidge has been an educator in the Chula Vista Elementary School District for 37 years and serves as the Wellness Resource Teacher. Her responsibilities include the BMI Project, Wellness Lead, developing physical education/wellness curriculum, community collaboration, and implementing grants like Community Transformation Grant and Kaiser Thriving Schools. She has conducted numerous presentations at local, state and national conferences, and has collaborated on many publications on wellness and physical education. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from San Diego State University.
Kate McDevitt, Senior Manager, School Wellness Programs, UC San Diego School of Medicine
Speaker submitted biosketch
Kate McDevitt is the senior manager for School Wellness Programs at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Center for Community Health. Kate works with more than 6,000 students at low-income elementary schools to increase good nutrition and physical activity, while advising school districts on health and wellness improvements. She is Co-Chair of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative – Schools & After-School Domain. Kate is also an active member of the San Diego Food System Alliance and Les Dames d'Escoffier International. In 2013, Kate was named Principal Recipient of the UC San Diego Exemplary Employee of the Year Award.
Allison Nihiser, Health Scientist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Speaker submitted biosketch
Allison Nihiser, MPH is a health scientist in CDC's School Health Branch, Division of Population Health. Allison focuses on childhood obesity prevention and develops guidelines and strategies for schools to address this issue. Allison serves as the CDC liaison to USDA on local school wellness policies. Allison received her Master's degree in Public Health from Yale University and a bachelor's degree in Health and Sport Studies and a bachelor's degree in Arts from Miami University (Ohio).
Moderator: Heather Reed, Nutrition Education Consultant, Nutrition Services Division, California Department of Education
Speaker submitted biosketch
Heather Reed is a Nutrition Education Consultant with the California Department of Education (CDE). She co-chairs the California LSWP Collaborative. She was on the planning committees for the 2007 and 2009 School Wellness Conferences and 2013 and 2015 Childhood Obesity Conferences. She was formerly a public health nutritionist with California Department of Public Health, Head Start nutrition coordinator, and WIC coordinator. A Registered Dietitian, she earned a MA from San Francisco State University and a BS from University of Delaware.
Presentations/Handouts
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