Steering and Envisioning Committee
The Steering and Envisioning Committee (SEC) is the leadership team responsible for the ongoing administration and development of NYCNEN. There are up to ten SEC members chosen by consensus with no more than three SEC members leaving the leadership team in any year. Additional SEC members may be appointed as needed. Of the ten SEC members, one shall be the Chair, and another shall be a student member.
SEC members attend SEC and NYCNEN General Meetings, participate in annual summer retreats, plan/provide support to General Meetings, Skill-builders and other NYCNEN-sponsored events, identify and support liaison among membership and with other relevant membership organizations, Approve outside official NYCNEN correspondence (testimony, comments, support letters).
Meet our 2023-2024 team!
SEC members attend SEC and NYCNEN General Meetings, participate in annual summer retreats, plan/provide support to General Meetings, Skill-builders and other NYCNEN-sponsored events, identify and support liaison among membership and with other relevant membership organizations, Approve outside official NYCNEN correspondence (testimony, comments, support letters).
Meet our 2023-2024 team!
NOTE: THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE ENTIRE SEC 2023-2024
Rebecca Valdez (Chair)
Rebecca Valdez, MS, RDN, works with Corbin Hill Food Project, where she supports the organization's development, community engagement and strategic partnerships, and advocacy efforts. She is passionate about food systems, racial equity, and sustainability. She mentors and advises BIPOC nutrition and dietetic students through Diversify Dietetics programs and sits on the Steering and Envisioning Committee of the New York City Nutrition Education Network (NYCNEN). She earned her BS in Communications and Public Relations from Boston University and MS in Nutrition Education from Teachers College, Columbia University where she also completed her dietetic internship.
Rebecca Valdez, MS, RDN, works with Corbin Hill Food Project, where she supports the organization's development, community engagement and strategic partnerships, and advocacy efforts. She is passionate about food systems, racial equity, and sustainability. She mentors and advises BIPOC nutrition and dietetic students through Diversify Dietetics programs and sits on the Steering and Envisioning Committee of the New York City Nutrition Education Network (NYCNEN). She earned her BS in Communications and Public Relations from Boston University and MS in Nutrition Education from Teachers College, Columbia University where she also completed her dietetic internship.
Naheed Cantalupo (Administrative Coordinator)
Naheed is currently a first year student in the MS-RDN Nutrition and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Naheed received her Bachelors in Political Science and English at Tulane University. Prior to enrolling at TC, Naheed worked in the fashion industry for fifteen years. Since becoming a mother, she is interested in building a career in pregnancy, maternal, postpartum, and pediatric nutrition. This is her first year on SEC.
Naheed is currently a first year student in the MS-RDN Nutrition and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Naheed received her Bachelors in Political Science and English at Tulane University. Prior to enrolling at TC, Naheed worked in the fashion industry for fifteen years. Since becoming a mother, she is interested in building a career in pregnancy, maternal, postpartum, and pediatric nutrition. This is her first year on SEC.
Fadhylla Saballos MPH, RD, CDN, IBCLC
Fadhylla (Fa-thee-la) is the Director of Nutrition and Outreach Programs at Montefiore’s Bronx Health Collective. Fadhylla’s community nutrition experience ranges from the farmers market to NYC classrooms, facilitating nutrition workshops for the Stellar Farmers’ Market, a Program of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, breastfeeding classes as a WIC nutritionist for Public Health Solutions and cooking demos for Just Food and Children’s Aid. Fadhylla holds a MPH in Nutrition from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and a BS in Health and Nutrition from Brooklyn College. This is Fadhylla’s fourth year on SEC.
Fadhylla (Fa-thee-la) is the Director of Nutrition and Outreach Programs at Montefiore’s Bronx Health Collective. Fadhylla’s community nutrition experience ranges from the farmers market to NYC classrooms, facilitating nutrition workshops for the Stellar Farmers’ Market, a Program of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, breastfeeding classes as a WIC nutritionist for Public Health Solutions and cooking demos for Just Food and Children’s Aid. Fadhylla holds a MPH in Nutrition from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and a BS in Health and Nutrition from Brooklyn College. This is Fadhylla’s fourth year on SEC.
Deborah Johnson, MS
Deborah Johnson is a plant-based, trauma-informed Community Nutritionist with a Master of Science in Nutrition. She founded My Temple Wellness (MTW) in 2018. MTW is a holistic wellness company whose mission is to improve health education in order to alleviate, and eliminate the potential health risks among vulnerable populations through nutrition, mental health education and other wellness principles. Deborah is committed to the journey of helping people make lasting changes by adopting healthy habits for life, at their respective levels of readiness. She believes that when individuals, families, and communities are empowered with nutrition education, they generally make better decisions to increase their lifespan and live quality lives. Her goal is to increase the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and health outcomes of the communities she serves through nutrition literacy.
Deborah believes that "The body is a temple of God and we must treat it well." This belief is also the inspiration for the business name "My Temple Wellness."
Deborah Johnson is a plant-based, trauma-informed Community Nutritionist with a Master of Science in Nutrition. She founded My Temple Wellness (MTW) in 2018. MTW is a holistic wellness company whose mission is to improve health education in order to alleviate, and eliminate the potential health risks among vulnerable populations through nutrition, mental health education and other wellness principles. Deborah is committed to the journey of helping people make lasting changes by adopting healthy habits for life, at their respective levels of readiness. She believes that when individuals, families, and communities are empowered with nutrition education, they generally make better decisions to increase their lifespan and live quality lives. Her goal is to increase the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and health outcomes of the communities she serves through nutrition literacy.
Deborah believes that "The body is a temple of God and we must treat it well." This belief is also the inspiration for the business name "My Temple Wellness."
Eileen Z. Fuentes, MA
Eileen is a Health educator and community health activist. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and since then has become a fierce advocate for all patients with a focus on the most vulnerable. For six years, she led a free bilingual wellness program for patients in collaboration with the Herbert Irving Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center where she now works full-time addressing disparities in cancer care using communication and patient education strategies that are culturally appropriate. She has served on the Community Education Council, appointed by the Manhattan Borough President and was recently selected as community advocate specifically to provide the perspective and lived experience of Latinx and other underrepresented patient populations for the SWOG Cancer Research Network, which is dedicated to improving the practice of medicine and to enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors. She recently completed her graduate degree in Health Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. This is her fourth year on SEC.
Eileen is a Health educator and community health activist. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and since then has become a fierce advocate for all patients with a focus on the most vulnerable. For six years, she led a free bilingual wellness program for patients in collaboration with the Herbert Irving Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center where she now works full-time addressing disparities in cancer care using communication and patient education strategies that are culturally appropriate. She has served on the Community Education Council, appointed by the Manhattan Borough President and was recently selected as community advocate specifically to provide the perspective and lived experience of Latinx and other underrepresented patient populations for the SWOG Cancer Research Network, which is dedicated to improving the practice of medicine and to enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors. She recently completed her graduate degree in Health Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. This is her fourth year on SEC.
Jennifer Hildner, MS, RD, CDN
Jennifer is the Director of the Integrated MS-RDN Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, she is the instructor for six practicums. Previously, Jennifer worked for the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care (now part of Memorial Sloan Kettering). The Center’s mission is to provide high quality cancer care and prevention services to under-resourced populations living in Harlem and the surrounding communities. At the Center Jennifer had the wonderful opportunity to build a nutrition program that includes patient care services and community outreach. Jennifer provided nutrition counseling to patients with cancer, led nutrition workshops and food demonstrations for the community, and helped manage the Center's food pantry program which offers bags of shelf-stable food to patients who are food insecure. In addition, she led Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Food and Nutrition Services’ initiative to connect patients to food resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer received her B.A. in psychology from Stanford University and her M.S. in nutrition education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her dietetic internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. This is her third year on SEC.
Jennifer is the Director of the Integrated MS-RDN Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, she is the instructor for six practicums. Previously, Jennifer worked for the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care (now part of Memorial Sloan Kettering). The Center’s mission is to provide high quality cancer care and prevention services to under-resourced populations living in Harlem and the surrounding communities. At the Center Jennifer had the wonderful opportunity to build a nutrition program that includes patient care services and community outreach. Jennifer provided nutrition counseling to patients with cancer, led nutrition workshops and food demonstrations for the community, and helped manage the Center's food pantry program which offers bags of shelf-stable food to patients who are food insecure. In addition, she led Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Food and Nutrition Services’ initiative to connect patients to food resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer received her B.A. in psychology from Stanford University and her M.S. in nutrition education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her dietetic internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. This is her third year on SEC.
Chef Yadira Garcia
Nicole Castro RDN
Nicole is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for community nutrition. She graduated Queens College with a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2017 and completed her internship in 2019. She interned at several hospitals in the Bronx seeing firsthand food and health disparities within the city. This led her to work for underserved communities educating families in nutrition and helping close the gap with health disparities by providing nutrition services through food access programs. She has worked for the WIC Program at Wyckoff Hospital as a Nutritionist and at Elmhurst Hospital as Breastfeeding Coordinator. She enjoys offering nutrition education to families throughout pregnancy, lactation, infancy and childhood. This is Nicole’s second year in SEC.
Nicole is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for community nutrition. She graduated Queens College with a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2017 and completed her internship in 2019. She interned at several hospitals in the Bronx seeing firsthand food and health disparities within the city. This led her to work for underserved communities educating families in nutrition and helping close the gap with health disparities by providing nutrition services through food access programs. She has worked for the WIC Program at Wyckoff Hospital as a Nutritionist and at Elmhurst Hospital as Breastfeeding Coordinator. She enjoys offering nutrition education to families throughout pregnancy, lactation, infancy and childhood. This is Nicole’s second year in SEC.
Yelitza Aguilera, RDN
Yelitza Aguilera is an experienced community nutritionist, educator, researcher, and program manager, working with various community-based organizations, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the NYC Department of Education. Currently, she is a nutritionist with Montefiore. Yelitza earned her Bachelor’s in Social Science from Binghamton University and her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from Hunter College.
Before her work in nutrition, she worked in various roles within public education for 10+ years as a middle school teacher, mentor for new teachers, and in program management and operations.
Yelitza Aguilera is an experienced community nutritionist, educator, researcher, and program manager, working with various community-based organizations, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the NYC Department of Education. Currently, she is a nutritionist with Montefiore. Yelitza earned her Bachelor’s in Social Science from Binghamton University and her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from Hunter College.
Before her work in nutrition, she worked in various roles within public education for 10+ years as a middle school teacher, mentor for new teachers, and in program management and operations.
Xin Rong Yeo, MS MA
Xin Rong Yeo is a recently graduated master’s student who specialized in Nutrition Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her 1200 hours+ dietetic internship and especially enjoys nutrition counseling with patients or clients with diabetes, pre- and post-kidney transplant surgery patients, pregnant women, and geriatric population. Xin was a middle school science teacher before she changed career to pursue nutrition. Xin is also passionate in health promotion and nutrition/health education through public speaking and graphic design.
Xin Rong Yeo is a recently graduated master’s student who specialized in Nutrition Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her 1200 hours+ dietetic internship and especially enjoys nutrition counseling with patients or clients with diabetes, pre- and post-kidney transplant surgery patients, pregnant women, and geriatric population. Xin was a middle school science teacher before she changed career to pursue nutrition. Xin is also passionate in health promotion and nutrition/health education through public speaking and graphic design.
Jasmine Hormati, MS RD CDN
Jasmine Hormati, is a registered dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and founder of mendinground nutrition based in New York, New York. She specializes in disordered eating and eating disorder recovery and body image work for adults. Jasmine uses a non-diet, weight-inclusive, anti-oppressive, and intersectional approach to help her clients heal their relationship with food, their body, and reclaim their inherent worth. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Conservation and Resource Studies form University of California, Berkeley and her Master of Science in Nutrition and Public Health from Teachers College, Columbia University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, baking, and playing board games.
Jasmine Hormati, is a registered dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and founder of mendinground nutrition based in New York, New York. She specializes in disordered eating and eating disorder recovery and body image work for adults. Jasmine uses a non-diet, weight-inclusive, anti-oppressive, and intersectional approach to help her clients heal their relationship with food, their body, and reclaim their inherent worth. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Conservation and Resource Studies form University of California, Berkeley and her Master of Science in Nutrition and Public Health from Teachers College, Columbia University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, baking, and playing board games.
Carly Erskine