Leadership

Chair

Iliana Guerra, MS, RD, LD, CDCES

Iliana is a first-generation Mexican American, who calls the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, her hometown. She earned a BS in Dietetics and MS in Health Care Administration, both from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In her current role as Senior Diabetes Educator for Novo Nordisk, she leads multiple cross-collaborative Population Health Initiatives within various health systems and physician groups in South Texas. Prior to joining NNI, Iliana was a Clinical/NICU/Critical Care Dietitian, with Nutrition Support and Pediatric Nutrition specialty certifications. She also led the Clinical Nutrition Team, where she pioneered various clinical CQI initiatives including Malnutrition Screening, Critical Care Nutrition Support Protocols, Diabetes Management Protocols and helped to establish outpatient DM Center. But what she is most proud of is her volunteer work within her community and professional organizations. Apart from serving on the Board of Directors for the Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association, Iliana is also the Director of Camp ENERGY, a summer camp for kids with Type 1 DM.  She holds leadership positions with the Texas Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and Latinos & Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition (LAHIDAN). Apart from her advocacy work for LAHIDAN, she also serves on the ADCES Advocacy Committee.

Chair-Elect

Marianella Herrera Cuenca, MD PhD

Marianella Herrera is an MD from Venezuela, currently based in Framingham, MA. She holds a PhD in Human Nutrition and is an Associate Professor at Central University of Venezuela, an adjunct professor at Simmons University, and a Full-Time Temporary Assistant Professor at Framingham State University in the USA. Marianella also works in humanitarian management and has received numerous awards, including the “Trinko Award" from LAHIDAN in 2022. She is a correspondent member of the Venezuelan National Academy of Medicine and a principal investigator of the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS). Dr. Herrera has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and continues her teaching and research work in the USA, Latin America, and her native Venezuela. She enjoys cooking, swimming, learning languages, and reading a good book. Marianella is married and has four grown "kids" who inspire her to travel frequently to visit them in Madrid, Spain, and Minneapolis, USA.

Past Chair

Secretary

Gabriela "Gabby" Puche MS, RDN, LD

Gabriela "Gabby" Puche is originally from Venezuela but was raised in Dallas, TX. Gabby obtained her BS from Texas Woman's University and completed her MS/DI at Oklahoma State University. She is a holistic and integrative dietitian living in Tulsa, OK working virtually for a corporate wellness company "HUSK" formerly known as Global Fit Inc. She does virtual 1:1 counseling and group presentations to various populations as Gabby accumulates her hours to sit for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam. Gabby is certified in Mindfulness and is currently completing Yoga Teacher Training. She has 2 cats, lots of plant babies, and an awesome fiance.

Treasurer

Cindy Kanarek-Culver, MS, RD

Cindy Kanarek Culver, MS, RDN, LD is the Director of School Nutrition for Marietta City Schools (GA). She has 23 years of experience in school nutrition. She is the current Diversity Liaison Chair for the School Nutrition Services Dietetic Practice Group and the Georgia Affiliate Liaison for the School Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. Cindy received her BSFCS from the University of Georgia, completed her dietetic internship from the University of Northern Colorado, earned a Master of Health Sciences from the University of Alabama, and is a current student pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership in Business at Anderson University. Cindy is a native Spanish speaker who was born in Managua, Nicaragua and grew up in Miami, Florida.

Committee Chair

Areli Gutierrez, MS, RD, LD

Committee Chair-Elect

Luis Gonzalez, MS, RDN

Luis Gonzalez, MS, RDN is an Account Manager at Eat Well Global, a strategy and communication agency in the food and health industries. Prior to this role, Luis spent years in the long-term care setting working in clinical and food service management roles.

Luis received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics from Florida International University, and completed a Graduate Certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. 

Luis is active in the dietetics profession and is a Past Chair of the Latinos and Hispanics in Nutrition and Dietetics MIG, as well as a member of Cultures of Gender and Age, Food and Culinary Professionals, Nutrition Informatics, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

HOD Delegate

Maria Virginia Tijerina-Walls, PhD, MS, LD, NC

María Virginia is a Mexican dietitian with over 25 years of experience. She received a Ph.D. in Management and Public Policy from The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and a Master of Science in Nutrition from The University of Oklahoma. Also, she completed a Specialization in Comprehensive Evaluation of Social Development Programs at the National Institute of Public Health in México. She earned a BS in Nutrition from The Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL). She is the former Communication Manager of the Mexican Observatory of Noncommunicable Diseases (OMENT) in Mexico and the founder and director of Nutrien Nutrition & Health, a food and nutrition consulting agency. She has been a professor at several prestigious universities at the undergraduate and graduate levels in Mexico, including UANL and Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. She was President of the International Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (IAAND), Country Representative of Mexico, and Country Representative Chair from the same organization. She was LAHIDAN Nominating Committee-Chai, LAHIDAN Chair, and currently, she is the LAHIDAN Delegate at the Academy´s House of Delegates 2022-2025. In 2015, she was honored with the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award from IAAND and the Excellence in Professional Development Award by The Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon. She is an international speaker and her main research interests are public health nutrition and food nutrition policy as well as childhood obesity prevention.

Sponsorship Committee Chair

Sandra D. Castellano, RD/LDN

Sandra is a registered and licensed dietitian who has worked in a variety of setting such as clinical nutrition, food service management, wellness and as well as an entrepreneur. She graduated from Miami Dade College with an Associate degree in Arts where she found her passion for nutrition, and she continued to get her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University. Sandra is currently the Clinical Nutrition Manager with Aramark and is the co-founders of Nutrition Consultants on Demand, an online practice that provides bilingual nutrition expertise in a variety of services and settings focusing on our Hispanic communities.

Sandra was born in Chile and moved with her parents and brothers to US as a teenager. She now lives in sunny South Florida with her family. She has been actively involved and volunteered in her church ministries, local non-profit organizations as well in her local professional groups in various positions. In her free time, Sandra enjoys cooking, baking, swimming and walks on the beach with her husband. Also, she enjoys travelling with her family to experience the beauty of each destination and taste all the delicious meals around the world.

Committee Chair

Kathleen Castrejon, RD, LDN

Kathleen (Kathy) is a first-generation Mexican-American Registered and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. She is currently working with the eating disorder patient population and anyone wanting to have a better relationship with food and their body at a private practice in Chicago, IL. With an Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size Approach, Kathy strives to help her clients have a healthier relationship with food and reach optimal health. Kathy is very passionate about encouraging her clients to eat traditional foods.

On her free time Kathy  enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and Kathy  trying new foods specifically mariscos!

Kathy received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Dominican University, located in River Forest, IL, in 2018. She completed her Dietetic Internship through the University of Chicago Ingalls Memorial Hospital in 2019.

Website Coordinator 

Lorena Martinez, MS 

Lorena Martinez holds a master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. With a keen interest in community nutrition, Lorena advocates for disease prevention through lifestyle and dietary changes. Her experience spans across the United States to Africa, where she has worked tirelessly to identify and tackle barriers hindering access to adequate nutrition. Lorena's unique blend of skills includes business management, leadership, community outreach, and food service management.

Through her work, Lorena aims to bridge the gap between communities and their access to adequate nutrition. Her overarching mission is to utilize her specialized knowledge and experiences to inspire healthier communities and champion nutrition as a basic human right. In every initiative she undertakes, Lorena is guided by the belief that informed dietary choices and sustainable lifestyle changes can make a significant impact on public health.

Outside her professional commitments, Lorena enjoys traveling, working out, spending time with family, and being a foodie.

Newsletter Editor

Erica Guerrero

Assistant Newsletter Editor 

Annie Rojas, MPH, RD

Social Media Coordinator 

Erica Nunez Perez

E-Blast Coordinator 

Chelsea Navarro, BS Student

Chelsea Navarro is an undergraduate dietetics student at Kansas State University. Originally from the sunny coast of California, she now lives in the city of trees, Boise. Diagnosed with Cushing's Disease in 2019, she now advocates for disease prevention through education on diet and lifestyle. This led her to change careers. She went back to school to earn her Associate of Science in Public Health and Health Science and is now working on her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Human Nutrition. Her goal is to become a registered dietitian, specializing in metabolic disorders and diabetes. In her free time, she volunteers at Meals on Wheels assembling freezer meals, and as a graphic designer for many organizations. 

Discussion Board Coordinator 

Gabriela Vaca-Flores, RD CLEC

Committee Chair

Erika Garcia-Villatoro PhD

Erika completed her doctoral studies in Nutrition at Texas A&M University where she investigated the role of dietary compounds capable to activate nuclear receptors such as the estrogen and the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, to reduce colon inflammation and colorectal cancer. She is currently completing her supervised practice to become a Registered Dietitian (RDN) by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in the United States. After completing her dietetic internship, Erika will pursue a career in clinical research and healthcare. She strives to be an active member of the community by supporting the resolution of current and long-standing nutrition challenges through public policy, advocacy, and research.

Mentorship Committee Coordinator 

Committee Chair

Ramiro Saavedra, MS RD CSR LD

Ramiro is a board-certified renal dietitian with over 12 years of experience in clinical nutrition, higher education, and leadership. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in nutrition and additional graduate-level training in behavioral science and adolescent medicine. It was in dialysis that Ramiro found his passion and love of nutrition. Ramiro currently works as a manager for a large hospital system and as an adjunct faculty in a dietetics program. Ramiro spoke at two national conferences last year on renal nutrition-related topics. Ramiro is known for his passion in educating dietitians and dietetic students in clinical nutrition and motivational interviewing. When not at work, Ramiro enjoys traveling, gardening, lifting at the gym, and cooking some delicious authentic Mexican food.

Committee Chair

Valentina Paez, MS Student

Valentina is a first-generation immigrant, originally from Colombia. She has received her BS in Dietetics from the University of Florida and is currently pursuing her MS in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Georgia with an emphasis in sports nutrition, dietary supplementation, and pediatrics. During this degree, she assists Dr. Sina Gallo in research on vitamin D inadequacy in infants and mothers, which coincides with her thesis focusing on the vitamin D status of predominantly low-income Hispanic infants. Her passion for aiding underprivileged communities can be seen not only through her engagement with the Hispanic communities in Athens, but also as far away as Ghana, where she has been involved in a service-learning and volunteer program, assisting the hospitals and communities in malnutrition. This enthusiasm can be attributed to her family-oriented personality and the struggles she has borne first-hand witness to from her experiences coming from Colombia to the United States.

On top of currently pursuing her official RD certification through the KADDI internship program, she spends her time researching the latest supplementation trends for a supplements company and is a teacher’s assistant for the micronutrients course at UGA. And even amongst all of this, she still relishes the opportunity to volunteer her time with the sports teams at UGA to help athletes understand the benefits and risks of dietary supplementation. She has proven to be indefatigable and insistent on pursuing her dreams of traveling the world to experience the numerous ways different cultures prepare their food and leaving her impact on the nutrition practices among the communities that do not have the knowledge or access that most are used to. 

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access (IDEA) Liaison

Ingrid Soto, MS RDN CPT

Ingrid Soto, an accomplished entrepreneur, mentor, and CEO of MyRDguide LLC, firmly believes in every student's potential to succeed on the RD exam. She is confident that with the right support system, success is not only possible but inevitable. Ingrid’s commitment to helping others is rooted in her own journey of overcoming multiple failures on the RD exam. During her time at the University of Connecticut, she was actively involved in the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC) Mentorship program, where she experienced firsthand the value of a nurturing environment for personal and professional growth. Driven by a desire to extend this support to a wider audience, Ingrid has dedicated the past six years to mentoring and tutoring thousands of dietetics students. Her compassionate nature is evident in the strong, enduring relationships she has built with her students.

Policy Advocacy Leader

Andie Lee Gonzalez, PhD, MPH, RDN, LD, FAND

Dr. Andie Lee Gonzalez is a native to South Texas. Currently, she is a Pediatric Medical Science Liaison for Abbott Nutrition. As a first-generation Latina college student, she was accepted to Michigan State University through the College Assistant Migrant Program where she received her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. She then completed her Dietetic internship rotation program and her Master’s in Public Health from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She then completed her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2018 and in 2019 completed a certificate in Business Analytics from Michigan State University. Through her experiences Andie has developed a strong purpose and passion for public health, community, and nutrition. In addition, she is a PRN Registered Dietitian at Complete Nutrition Solutions and teaches at South Texas College department of Medical and Health Services Management.

In her spare time, her joy is spending time with her husband Ricardo, daughter Aolani, son Arturo, and extended family. She is a highly motivated Latina who values family, hard work, and serving others.