Leadership

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.

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.

Aida Miles, EdD, MMSc, RDN, LD, CSP, FAND

Aida Miles, is associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Alabama (UAB) School of Medicine, in the Division of Adolescent Medicine. She is also the director of the UAB Leadership Education in Pediatric Nutrition Program and faculty in the UAB Leadership Education in Adolescent Health. Aida has been in academia since 2008, first at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, and at the University of Tennessee’s Nutrition Department. At the University of Minnesota Aida was the Director of the Coordinated MPH-RD program, faculty in the Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Health Nutrition and in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities training grants. In Tennessee Aida was Clinical Assistant Professor and supervised students in a federally qualified health care clinic in addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses. Aida’s pediatric nutrition expertise has focused primarily on child and adolescent obesity and feeding problems in children with special needs. Aida worked as a pediatric dietitian for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Marcus Autism Center between 1992 and 2008. Since 2009 has served as a consultant for pediatric feeding disorders clinics. Aida has held many leadership roles within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, including being past-chair of the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group and past-chair of the Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition (LAHIDAN) Nominating Committee. She was a member of the Academy’s Board of Directors, and Speaker of their House of Delegates between 2014 and 2017. Most recently, Aida has served as a leader in the Academy’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2017-2021), the Academy’s Policy and Advocacy Committee (2019-2022), and the Weight Management Practice Group’s Awards and Honors Committee (2020-2022). Aida is the current Editor in Chief of the Academy’s Pediatric Nutrition Care Manual, and is the Chair-Elect for LAHIDAN (2022-2025).

Gabriela "Gabby" Puche, MS, RDN, LD 

Gabriela “Gabby” Puche is originally from Venezuela and was raised in Dallas, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Woman’s University and completed her Master of Science and Dietetic Internship at Oklahoma State University.

Gabby is a holistic and integrative dietitian based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, currently working virtually for the corporate wellness company HUSK (formerly known as Global Fit Inc). In her role, she provides one-on-one virtual counseling and conducts group presentations for diverse populations, all while accruing the supervised experience required to sit for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam.

In addition to her nutrition expertise, Gabby is certified in Mindfulness and is completing her Yoga Teacher Training. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys caring for her two cats, tending to her collection of houseplants, and spending time with her fiancé.

·      

Matilde Ladnier, MBA, RDN, LD, FNKF

Matilde Ladnier was born in Lima, Peru, and also lived in Chile and Venezuela during her childhood. She came to the United States to study English and pursue a university education. Motivated by a love for food and the belief that health is closely linked to nutrition, she chose to major in Nutrition and Dietetics.

With over thirty years of experience as a renal dietitian, Matilde has participated in research studies, managed anemia and mineral bone disease protocols, and trained numerous new renal dietitians. In collaboration with her company’s upper management and IT department, she has worked alongside other lead RDs to develop enhanced electronic documentation protocols and programs for dietitians.

Earlier in her career, as Chair of the local Council of Renal Nutrition, Matilde contributed to the development of rules and regulations for dialysis units in Texas that defined RD responsibilities. She also managed a dialysis unit serving 120 patients, overseeing operations and coordinating with physicians, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and technicians to ensure the delivery of safe and effective care.

As a fully bilingual professional, Matilde has supported DaVita in developing and translating educational materials and has contributed to the company’s blog. In her private practice, she assists patients in slowing the progression of early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recently, she had the opportunity to present at the 2025 NKF Spring Clinical Meetings and at local events, sharing her expertise in Home Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis.

In her spare time, Matilde enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, cooking meals from scratch, and traveling whenever the opportunity arises.

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.

Areli Gutierrez, MS, RD, LD

Areli Gutierrez is a registered and licensed dietitian who has worked in nutrition and wellness in retail, government, clinical inpatient and outpatient settings. Areli received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nutritional Science from Texas A&M University and her Master’s of Science in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. She completed her dietetic internship at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston. 

Currently she works as a renal dietitian for Davita Kidney Care. Areli is committed to improving cultural competency and discusses this topic with other healthcare professionals in her podcast Food Culture Curious.

In her free time Areli loves Latin dancing, cozy mystery novels, playing with her Labradors and spending time with friends and family.

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.

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.

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.

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.

During her free time, Kathy enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and 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.

Lorena McDonald MS

Lorena McDonald 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.

Enrique Necahual Moreno, MS

Enrique completed both his undergraduate and post-graduate studies at the University of Nevada–Las Vegas under the Nutrition Sciences Department and completed his dietetic internship at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Hailing from North Las Vegas, Nevada, Enrique witnessed firsthand the negative health disparities affecting his community. With a deep love for food and a passion for nutrition, he pursued a degree in dietetics to help reduce those disparities and improve quality of life—particularly for underserved and marginalized populations.

He brings enthusiasm and a culturally diverse background to the dietetics field. He is particularly interested in community nutrition, diversifying the profession, and nutrition policy, while remaining open to the various practice areas within dietetics. One of his goals is to support and participate in DI interviews across different programs to help ensure that every potential intern receives a fair opportunity, especially those who have faced systemic disadvantages. He has advocated for interns of color to receive equitable access to DI placements and has collaborated with AND IDEA to support the recruitment of students of color in efforts to build a more diverse dietetics workforce.

Most recently, he served as a Graduate Assistant and Clinical Liaison for the UNLV dietetic interns. In this role, he facilitated and developed cultural sensitivity curriculum and instruction aimed at addressing inequities within the profession. He met individually with interns to discuss topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Enrique also serves as the Diversity Liaison for the Nevada Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NVAND) and has presented at the NVAND Annual Conference as well as the DD Summit.

In his free time, he enjoys hiking, spending time with his dogs, cooking, running, reading, and exploring local coffee shops, tea houses, and restaurants in town.

Leslie Rivera, MS, RDN

Leslie Rivera is a newly credentialed Registered Dietitian who recently earned her Master’s degree in Nutritional Science and completed her Dietetic Internship through the combined MS/DI program at California State University, Long Beach. Prior to this, she obtained a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nutritional Science from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from California State University, Fullerton.

Leslie currently serves as an intern with Athlete Meal Plan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to repurposing food to provide nutritious meals to food-insecure college athletes. She also works as a contract Registered Dietitian with ModifyHealth, a company that delivers medically tailored meals to patients managing chronic conditions.

Driven by a passion for community nutrition, Leslie is committed to addressing food insecurity and promoting health equity. Her professional goals center on helping underserved communities overcome barriers to nutrition access while providing education on chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

Maria Eugenia Rodrigues MS, RDN, CSR

Valeria Diego, BS 

VD.

Gabriela Vaca-Flores, RD CLEC

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.

Andrea Lopez, MS, RDN

Andrea is a first-generation Mexican- American dietitian located in New York City.  Andrea has dedicated the past five years to improving access to high-quality, locally sourced food for low-income children and their families through USDA Child Nutrition Programs, conducted bilingual nutrition education, and menu planning for NiaCentral Catering company in the Washington metropolitan area.

Andrea received her MS and dietetic internship experience through the inaugural Future Education Model (FEM) cohort at Long Island University (LIU). Formerly, Andrea held her Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR) credential, graduated with her undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Latin American Studies from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh., and became an accredited instructor for Food Manager Certification. 

When not consulting, Andrea is supportive of her grandparent's Mexican bakery in Brooklyn, NY. Above all, she is driven to support meaningful change by cultivating the habits that form healthy hearts and minds among children and families in the dietetics field.

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.

Anita Davila HOD Delegate 

Anita Davila. 

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.

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.