Laura Niksch (formerly Laura Jeanes) is a Registered Dietitian currently working with the Head Start Program at Neighborhood House Associations their Nutrition Coordinator. Originally from Texas, Laura moved to California just over four years ago. She completed her undergraduate degree (BS in Dietetics) at the University of Maryland, College Park. Afterward, Laura completed a combined [...]
Tina Zenzola is the Obesity Prevention Programs Director and the Interim Unit Director for the Chronic Disease and Health Equity Unit in the Public Health Services Division of HHSA. In these roles, she oversees state and federal grant-funded programs that apply a health equity lens in reducing chronic disease and obesity through policy, systems, and environmental [...]
Natalie Digate Muth, MD, MPH, RDN, FAAP is a dual board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine physician and registered dietitian. She practices general pediatrics at Children's Primary Care Medical Group where she also leads a healthy weight clinic called the W.E.L.L. Clinic. In addition, she is the Senior Advisor for Healthcare Solutions for the American Council [...]
Kim McDougal is a third generation Alaska native and admits that when her family first moved to San Diego when she was 15 years old, it "was a hard adjustment." As a child, Kim enjoyed exploring the outdoors, camping, and fishing on the weekends, so when her family relocated to Encinitas for her father's work, [...]
Dan Bennett is a Communications Director at UC San Diego Center for Community Health and a San Diego native who has worked on community-health projects for the past seven years, leading communications and messaging efforts, and helping organizations tell their story through focus on human impact, including storytelling training for organization staff. Dan spent more [...]
Paige Metz received her BS in Physical Education from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After graduation, she spent 10 years teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Exercise and Nutritional Science (ENS) at Twin Peaks Middle School (2001 California Middle School Physical Education Program of the Year). During this time, Paige was one of the first [...]
Keturah (or Ketty) Swenson completed the Didactic Program in Dietetics at San Diego State University, earning a degree in Food Science and Nutrition, and currently works as a Nutritionist for Child Development Associates (CDA). CDA is a sponsor of several federally funded social services including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Part of [...]
With a background in education and planning, Cheri was always passionate about supporting children and improving their lives. She began her career at Rady Children's Hospital as a director of Community Health (now the Center for Healthy Communities), and she has been a member of the Rady Children's Hospital team for 28 years. The Center [...]
Most COI partners know Stephanie Gioia-Beckman as Supervisor Ron Roberts' Senior Policy Advisor and a longtime supporter of the COI, but you may be surprised to learn that Stephanie never really had her sights on politics or government work. Child welfare had always been her passion, so Stephanie attended UC Santa Barbara, where she received [...]
From a young age, Katie Judd lived an active lifestyle. She was born and raised in Bonita, and recalls walking to school and horseback riding as a child. She attended college at Portland State on a volleyball scholarship, but didn't see herself being an athlete for life. She pictured herself completing a degree in health [...]
