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 2018-2019 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 2018-2019 team!
Dina Lipkind MS, RDN, CDN (Chair)
Dina is the Director of Nutrition Services at YvY Early Childhood Center. She previously worked as a Nutrition Education Specialist for Novartis Nutrition. Dina hold a MS in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and a BS in Nutrition Science from Brooklyn College. This is Dina’s third year on SEC.
Dina is the Director of Nutrition Services at YvY Early Childhood Center. She previously worked as a Nutrition Education Specialist for Novartis Nutrition. Dina hold a MS in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and a BS in Nutrition Science from Brooklyn College. This is Dina’s third year on SEC.
Casey Luber Seiden, MS, RDN, CDN (Chair-elect)
Casey is an outpatient dietitian at two Bronx clinics of The Institute for Family Health. Prior to her work at the Institute, Casey worked extensively with the Stellar Farmers’ Market Program of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and was involved with various projects through the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education and Policy. Casey holds a MS in Nutrition and Public Health from Teachers College Columbia University and a BS in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Vermont. This is Casey’s second year on SEC.
Casey is an outpatient dietitian at two Bronx clinics of The Institute for Family Health. Prior to her work at the Institute, Casey worked extensively with the Stellar Farmers’ Market Program of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and was involved with various projects through the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education and Policy. Casey holds a MS in Nutrition and Public Health from Teachers College Columbia University and a BS in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Vermont. This is Casey’s second year on SEC.
Faith Aronowitz (Administrative Coordinator)
Faith is currently a Master's candidate in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Other experiences include working the Fueling Station at Columbia Athletics, research at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center, and writing for The Grapevine, the newsletter for her Master's program. She is also currently interning with Joy Bauer, the Health and Nutrition Expert for NBC’s Today Show. Faith holds a BA in Theatre from Muhlenberg College. This is her second year on SEC.
Faith is currently a Master's candidate in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Other experiences include working the Fueling Station at Columbia Athletics, research at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center, and writing for The Grapevine, the newsletter for her Master's program. She is also currently interning with Joy Bauer, the Health and Nutrition Expert for NBC’s Today Show. Faith holds a BA in Theatre from Muhlenberg College. This is her second year on SEC.
Juhy Ali, MS, RDN
Juhy is a community dietitian at God’s Love We Deliver, an organization that cooks and home-delivers nutritious meals for people living with severe illness. Juhy holds MS and BS degrees in Nutrition from Lehman College. This is Juhy's first year on SEC.
Juhy is a community dietitian at God’s Love We Deliver, an organization that cooks and home-delivers nutritious meals for people living with severe illness. Juhy holds MS and BS degrees in Nutrition from Lehman College. This is Juhy's first year on SEC.
Tyffanie Ammeter, MS, RDN, CDN
Tyffanie is a multidisciplinary dietitian with a special interest in the area of gastroenterology. She currently works in clinical, outpatient and research settings around New York City. Tyffanie received a M.S. in Nutrition & Public Health from Teachers College, Columbia University in May 2017 and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder. Tyffanie was the Administrative Coordinator on SEC for three years and this is her second year as a non-student SEC member.
Tyffanie is a multidisciplinary dietitian with a special interest in the area of gastroenterology. She currently works in clinical, outpatient and research settings around New York City. Tyffanie received a M.S. in Nutrition & Public Health from Teachers College, Columbia University in May 2017 and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder. Tyffanie was the Administrative Coordinator on SEC for three years and this is her second year as a non-student SEC member.
Amaka Anekwe, MS, RDN
Amaka is a Policy Analyst at the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Previously, she was a Nutrition Educator at The Food Trust in Philadelphia. Amaka holds a MS in Nutrition and Education from Columbia University and a BA in Biological Basis of Behavior from University of Pennsylvania. This is Amaka’s third year on SEC.
Amaka is a Policy Analyst at the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Previously, she was a Nutrition Educator at The Food Trust in Philadelphia. Amaka holds a MS in Nutrition and Education from Columbia University and a BA in Biological Basis of Behavior from University of Pennsylvania. This is Amaka’s third year on SEC.
Tutu Badaru, MS
Tutu is the Youth Engagement Coordinator for GrowNYC’s Greenmarket program. Her passion for food and people led her pursue a career in clinical nutrition. However, after working in the field for two years and a graduate degree later, she transitioned to focus more broadly on food policy and how it relates to food choice. At GrowNYC, she is part of a team that creates a learning environment within the Greenmarkets where students K-12 can engage with locally grown food and its growers. GrowNYC’s fun, interactive Greenmarket School Tours help children gain an understanding of farming in the North East region and how their food choices impact their bodies, their communities and their environment. This is Tutu's first year on SEC.
Tutu is the Youth Engagement Coordinator for GrowNYC’s Greenmarket program. Her passion for food and people led her pursue a career in clinical nutrition. However, after working in the field for two years and a graduate degree later, she transitioned to focus more broadly on food policy and how it relates to food choice. At GrowNYC, she is part of a team that creates a learning environment within the Greenmarkets where students K-12 can engage with locally grown food and its growers. GrowNYC’s fun, interactive Greenmarket School Tours help children gain an understanding of farming in the North East region and how their food choices impact their bodies, their communities and their environment. This is Tutu's first year on SEC.
Margaret Dunn-Carver, MS, RDN, CDN
Margaret is the Program Coordinator of Stellar Farmers' Markets Nutrition Education Program at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She previously served as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at Harlem United in New York City. Margaret holds MS and BS degrees in Nutrition & Food Sciences from the University of Vermont. This is Margaret’s third year on SEC.
Margaret is the Program Coordinator of Stellar Farmers' Markets Nutrition Education Program at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She previously served as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at Harlem United in New York City. Margaret holds MS and BS degrees in Nutrition & Food Sciences from the University of Vermont. This is Margaret’s third year on SEC.
Chef Yadira Garcia
Yadira is a trained natural-foods Chef, community activist as well as a certified Integrative Health Coach. She is now leveraging her education and previous experience as a healthy food blogger under Happy Healthy Latina, LLC. She works with several community based organizations such as: Wellness In The Schools as a Chef teaching children daily seasonal cooking classes and how to grow food in a greenhouse setting, Just Food and Children's Aid Society (CAS) and as a food justice community workshop curriculum creator and facilitator. She has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, The Chew, NY Times, NBC Latino and most recently, Yadira is the host of Healthy Cocina, an original concept by her, which is a cooking show with culturally relevant recipes inspired by her Latino heritage. This is her second year on SEC.
Yadira is a trained natural-foods Chef, community activist as well as a certified Integrative Health Coach. She is now leveraging her education and previous experience as a healthy food blogger under Happy Healthy Latina, LLC. She works with several community based organizations such as: Wellness In The Schools as a Chef teaching children daily seasonal cooking classes and how to grow food in a greenhouse setting, Just Food and Children's Aid Society (CAS) and as a food justice community workshop curriculum creator and facilitator. She has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, The Chew, NY Times, NBC Latino and most recently, Yadira is the host of Healthy Cocina, an original concept by her, which is a cooking show with culturally relevant recipes inspired by her Latino heritage. This is her second year on SEC.
Jaime McBeth, M.S., R.D.N.
Jaime has been absolutely fascinated by all things nutrition ever since she can remember. That you can put something in your mouth and it create something in your body still blows her mind. She credits her interest in food to her grandmother, the greatest cook she has ever known, and to her great-grandmother, who grew up on a farm in her native Barbados. She later realized how impressive her grandmothers’ comprehension of nutrition was while she studied to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. As a result, Jaime marries her passion for evidenced-based nutrition with her respect for culturally significant foods and remedies. She credits her time at Princeton Healthcare for her gentle approach to counseling and education, which helps her clients make necessary change with both compassion and efficacy. Jaime received her M.S. in Nutrition Education from TC, Columbia University and received her clinical training at Yale-New Haven. She currently serves as the Director of Food and Nutrition at the Fortune Society and as a facilitator of an NIH-funded study on healthy eating. This is her first year on SEC.
Jaime has been absolutely fascinated by all things nutrition ever since she can remember. That you can put something in your mouth and it create something in your body still blows her mind. She credits her interest in food to her grandmother, the greatest cook she has ever known, and to her great-grandmother, who grew up on a farm in her native Barbados. She later realized how impressive her grandmothers’ comprehension of nutrition was while she studied to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. As a result, Jaime marries her passion for evidenced-based nutrition with her respect for culturally significant foods and remedies. She credits her time at Princeton Healthcare for her gentle approach to counseling and education, which helps her clients make necessary change with both compassion and efficacy. Jaime received her M.S. in Nutrition Education from TC, Columbia University and received her clinical training at Yale-New Haven. She currently serves as the Director of Food and Nutrition at the Fortune Society and as a facilitator of an NIH-funded study on healthy eating. This is her first year on SEC.
Anna Rickards MS, RDN/CDN, CLC
Anna is a Community Nutritionist and Certified Lactation Counselor at Community Healthcare Network's Tremont Health Center in the Bronx, providing outpatient bilingual nutrition and breastfeeding counseling. Anna holds a BA in Biology from Oberlin College and a MS in Nutrition and Education from Teachers College Columbia University. She is also an active member of La Finca del Sur Community Farm and a board member of the South Bronx Farmers Market. This is Anna's first year on SEC.
Anna is a Community Nutritionist and Certified Lactation Counselor at Community Healthcare Network's Tremont Health Center in the Bronx, providing outpatient bilingual nutrition and breastfeeding counseling. Anna holds a BA in Biology from Oberlin College and a MS in Nutrition and Education from Teachers College Columbia University. She is also an active member of La Finca del Sur Community Farm and a board member of the South Bronx Farmers Market. This is Anna's first year on SEC.
Claire Uno, MLIS
Claire is the Assistant Executive Director, Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy, Teachers College Columbia University. Prior to the Center she was with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and before that served as Executive Director of Wasatch Community Gardens in Salt Lake City. Claire holds a BA in Art History from Colgate University and a Masters in Library and Information Studies from University of California, Los Angeles. This is Claire’s fourth year on SEC.
Claire is the Assistant Executive Director, Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy, Teachers College Columbia University. Prior to the Center she was with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and before that served as Executive Director of Wasatch Community Gardens in Salt Lake City. Claire holds a BA in Art History from Colgate University and a Masters in Library and Information Studies from University of California, Los Angeles. This is Claire’s fourth year on SEC.