Annual Meeting
We are VERY excited that ANCE will be in person this year. Please join us on Friday, March 31st at the Four Points Sheraton in Norwood for what is sure to be a great day.
If you are an exhibitor wishing to register, please go HERE:
Board of Directors
Meet our 2022-2023 Board of Directors:
Frances Parpos, RD, LDN, CDCES
President
I am honored to be serving as the President of MAND this year. My experience as President-elect allowed me to witness how dedicated our Board members are to the community of dietitians in Massachusetts and to our profession as a whole. I look forward to embarking on an exciting year ahead where hopefully we can resume our in person events and activities, and reconnect with our fellow colleagues. One of my key priorities this year is public policy and working to get dietitians the proper reimbursement they deserve. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and productive year!
Sangeeta Pradhan, M. Ed, RD, LDN, CDES
Predient-Elect
Sangeeta Pradhan, M.Ed., RD, LDN, CDCES, works as the Diabetes Program Coordinator of Charles River Medical Associates, a Physician practice group in MetroWest, MA and is currently President-Elect of the Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and immediate past Chair of the Central Massachusetts Dietetic Association. Sangeeta is a sought-after professional speaker, and a guest blogger for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ “Food and Nutrition” magazine. Sangeeta has presented talks on various topics for professional and community organizations, including the state level annual conference of the Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021. Sangeeta has been on podcasts discussing current topics such as nutrition and cognition, Intermittent fasting and circadian rhythms. * In January 2022, Sangeeta conducted a webinar on circadian rhythms and chrono-nutrition for the Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In 2019, Sangeeta presented a webinar on nutrition and cognition for “Today’s Dietitian”. She is actively involved with providing nutrition education webinars for the Greater Boston Indian community as well. An avid cook, and recipe developer, Sangeeta’s recipes have been published in the online and print version of “Food and Nutrition” magazine. Her mission in life is to get the facts pertaining to nutrition without the hype, to the common consumer and to this end, blogs on her nutrition and food blog at https://webdietitian.wordpress.com/.
Nicolette Star Maggiolo, RD, LDN
Past President
There is no denying that this past year has tested our personal and professional lives in countless ways. My awe of members in this dietetics community has only amplified, as I have witnessed so many of you come together to support one another through such trying times. Thank you, to our dietetics community, for constantly inspiring me. I hope that through this upcoming year you feel truly valued and appreciated as a member of this community. Together, I look forward to a year of creating opportunities for meaningful connection and fostering moments of career development. My sincere gratitude goes out to everyone who engages as a member of MAND, and specifically to those who selflessly dedicate their time to the Board of Directors. Cheers to a happy and healthy year ahead!
Valerie Machinist, MS, RD
Secretary
My experience with MAND, particularly as part of the Executive Committee and President, has given me great insight into the needs of the organization and how it runs. The financial piece has always been interesting to me and I love the numbers! I think it's important that our financial position reflects the vision and mission of the organization, and that we continue to use our funds and support our members to that end. Additionally, clear communication with our Board of Directors and members on our financial operations will remain an important piece of this role for me.
Tracy Wilczek, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND
Secretary-Elect
I'm excited and very much looking forward to my first Board position for MAND! As Secretary-elect I will observe and soak in all this experience has to offer. I will bring all the skills and attributes I've gathered from past leadership positions to fulfill all responsibilities of this role with integrity, clarity, and transparency. I look forward to learning more about MAND's Board and working with such a great team of RDNs
Ming Cheung, MS, RD, LDN
Treasurer
As the Treasurer-Elect, I hope to continue to strengthen the financial position of MAND so that we may better serve our members. I am excited to have the opportunity to help during these challenging times and look forward to making an impact.
Kristin Otto, MS, RD, LDN
Treasurer-Elect
As the treasurer-elect, I look forward to utilizing my business/accounting background to help optimize spend for MAND events. I hope this will help to strengthen and maintain the organization. Positioning MAND to financially thrive so members can obtain the most benefit for years to come is something I would love to accomplish.
Christine McCarthy Clark
Director of Education
Robert Dunn
Director-Elect of Education
Shennie Quintanilla, MS, RD, LDN
Director Member Communications/Public Relations
Communication is key in every relationship. My vision for communications and social media involves an engaging platform where dietitians can come together, our organization can relay messages to the community, and we create an inclusive and welcoming space for all in this modern, tech-savvy world. Follow @eatrightma on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and check out the blog Today @ MAND!
Nolan Reese, RD, LDN
Director-Elect Member Communications/Public Relations
Our profession greatly benefits from stronger networking and sharing ideas. I'm excited to help my fellow dietitians make new connections across Massachusetts. I'm looking forward to engaging our members with exciting content and building upon the network of amazing RDs in Massachusetts
Jessica Seltz, MS, RD
Director of Technology
As the director of technology I will work to keep the website up to date and informative in order to best support the MAND community. I look forward to working with the board of directors this year and supporting all my fellow RDs!
Kim Sabada, MD, RD, LDN, CDCES
Director-Elect of Technology
I am very excited to take on the role of director-elect of technology. I look forward to joining this community of dietitians and supporting the Director of Technology in keeping the MAND website up to date.
WaiLing Balsley, RDN, LDN
State Policy Representative
I would like to advocate for the Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and be the voice of nutrition and dietetic profession in the state legislation. Increase the awareness among the MAND membersof current legislative topics and policies. Empower MAND members to be familiar with the state legislation by providingreliable resources and updated information.
Sarah Karp
State Policy Representative-Elect
Allegra Egizi, MD, RDN, LDN
Socials for Success Director
As direct-elect for socials for success, my goal is to organize exciting events, strengthen relationships, and ultimately help MAND grow as an organization. I am a passionate and outgoing dietitian with a genuine love for the field and a natural inclination to lead, and I’m really looking forward to being on the Board of Directors this year!
Kelsey Dunn RD, LDN
Socials for Success Director-Elect
Networking and building relationships in our profession can lead to opportunities to both grow and learn. As socials for success director-elect, I am excited to be able to help plan events that will connect fellow dietitians and hopefully will be a memorable experience for all who join. Being a new RD myself, I look forward to this chance to bring together a group of people with the same passion of nutrition.
Susan Hazarvartian, MS, RD, LDN
Director State Professional Recruitment Coordinator (SPRC) and Diversity Liaison
Each and everyone has a unique strength and different background that makes every person special. I want to work as a team member to get all these strengths, different backgrounds, and create knowledge together to get everyone as much information as possible, to get a special bond for each person to know that they are special! Diversity is a mixed bag and having informative knowledge makes us stronger people all together!
Jamie Ekstrom
Director-Elect State Professional Recruitment Coordinator (SPRC) and Diversity Liaison
I am proud to represent MAND's IDEA and recruitment committee. Without a doubt, representation from a rich variety of cultures, ethnicities, and races in dietetics continues to lack, but it remains crucial in connecting with those we serve and work alongside. I look forward to collaborating with members of MAND to recognize and reflect on the disparities within dietetics and between dietetic professionals and the communities we serve! “Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.” - Ola Joseph
Brittany Taylor, MS, RD, LDN
Nominating Committee Chair
As a member of the Nominating Committee, I hope to assist in identifying motivated and talented dietitians across the state and encourage them to utilize their skills for MAND. I look forward to identifying new ways to get dietitians involved during this unique time of primarily virtual interactions.
Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes
Nominating Committee Chair-Elect
Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, MS, RD, CDCES, LDN, NASM-CPT is a mother, wife, co-author, health writer, recipe developer, health speaker, holistic plant-based women’s health registered dietitian who has been featured in various media outlets such as PubMed, Fox News, SELF, Insider, and Prevention. She is the founder and CEO of 360Girls&Women® at 360girlsandwomen.com - a holistic health & wellness company for girls and women and the co-founder of cultuRD™ at iamcultuRD.com – a Digital Healthcare App that connects Registered Dietitians to Clients based on cultural alignment. As Nominating Committee Chair-elect, her goal is to support the chair, learn, grow and most importantly, cast a broad net to find strong candidates in the dietetics field within MA. The field is evolving and patients’ needs are evolving and it is important how it is being represented by the academy.
Anna Bondy, MPH, RD, LDN
Public Health Liaison
As the public health liaison, I hope to build upon our existing connections to the public health community and find meaningful ways for MAND to contribute to public health policy. I also hope to create visibility for the profession of dietetics among public health groups and find new ways to collaborate.
Sarah Andrus
Public Policy Coordinator
I am excited to rejoin the role of Public Policy Coordinator. Policy is pivotal to improving nutrition care and access and I love advocating for our profession. Ready for a great year ahead!
Kristen P. Schreck, MS, RDN, LDN
Public Policy Coordinator-Elect
I am excited to become more involved in the policy side of nutrition as the Public Policy. Coordinator-Elect. As a former MAND President, I participated in the Public Policy Panel but always wanted to learn and do more to advocate for nutrition policy. As PPC-elect, I look forward to educating MAND members about the importance of public policy and I hope to engage more members in supporting the Academy’s priorities at the national level.
Ellen Lowre, RDN, LDN
Nutrition Services Payment Specialist (Formerly Director of Reimbursement)
Having spent half of my career in both private practice and as part of a hospital based outpatient nutrition practice, I know firsthand the struggles of reimbursement of nutrition services. In this position, I will advocate for Registered Dietitians to receive increased reimbursement opportunities, promote the role of the Registered Dietitian and the importance medical nutrition therapy plays in overall lifestyle changes.
Camille Finn, MS, RD, LDN
Consumer Protection Coordinator
Camille is an active member of the MAND Public Policy Panel and acts as a liaison between MAND and the Massachusetts Board of Dietitians and Nutritionists. She is excited to continue her work as the CPC this year, providing valuable resources and information on consumer protection and licensure.
Lauren Oliveira, MS
Email Liaison
As email liaison I will collect MAND announcements from all committees, board of directors, DPG and area associations in order to inform MAND members on the astounding work, upcoming events and opportunities within the dietetics community.
Dolores Wolongevicz, PhD, MS, RD, LDN
MDEF President
Lisa Lombardini, MS, RD, LDN
MDEF Past-President
I look forward to being able to provide financial assistance to aspiring and current nutrition professionals. I hope to be able to raise enough funds to provide additional scholarships to those in underrepresented communities and those with significnat financial hardships.
Alia Wahid
MSDA President
As the President of MSDA this year, I look forward to serving and collaborating with the MSDA Board, MAND, and greater community to encourage a more diverse, inclusive, and empowering environment for future nutrition and dietetic professionals. I aim to foster opportunities for learning and growth by connecting our peers and those in our community with the different tools and resources available. I plan to uphold the MSDA Constitution and continue in the tradition of providing events that offer career, internship, and education possibilities and mentorship. I am excited to work with everyone to grow the MSDA and realize our goals for the coming year!
Christina Zuniga
MSDA Vice President
Meet our MAND Staff Members!
Maureen Kelly Gonsalves, MEd, RD
MAND Director of Operations
Sarah Conca, MPA, RDN, LDN
MAND Director of Public Policy
