Healthy Aging Leadership

Chair
Jacob Mey, PhD, RD

Jake is an Assistant Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He runs the Mitochondrial Energetics and Nutrient Utilization (MENU) Lab, where he uses clinical-translational research approaches to understand how diet (our “MENU”) affects the way cells use energy and how that, in turn, impacts human health and disease. His driving passion is to elevate the dietetic profession and to expand the reach of evidence-based nutrition information to the public.

Past Chair
Kim Duhon, MS, RD, LDN

Kim Duhon, MS, RDN, LDN works with older adults to help them live with dignity in their community with PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in Lafayette, LA. She graduated with her Bachelor’s from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and obtained her Master’s from Louisiana Tech University. She has worked in food service management and clinical nutrition. She is an active member with the local (ANDA) and state (LAND) affiliations.

Chair Elect
Shaynee Roper, DCN, MEd, RD, LD, FAND

Shaynee works in Home Health/Hospice part-time, and am the Director of the Nutrition Clinic and full time Professor at North Carolina Central University

Treasurer
Aaron Smith, PhD, RD

Aaron Smith, PhD, RD, is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS. Aaron's research interests lie at the intersection of skeletal muscle, nutrition, and cognition. Specifically, his research investigates the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation on skeletal muscle function and cognition in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Secretary
Mary Ellen Camire, PhD, CFS

Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D., CFS has been a faculty member in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Maine since 1989. Her doctoral training in Nutrition and Food Sciences was completed at Texas Woman's University. Mary Ellen teaches undergraduate and graduate classes on nutrition and aging and conducts research on food insecurity among older adults and food technologies to improve food acceptance, especially among persons with dysphagia.

Delegate
Maureen Janowski, RDN, CSG, LDN, FAND

Maureen Janowski recently retired after working over 40 years with the same company!  For the 10 years before retirement, she was the Corporate Director, Malnutrition Program with Morrison Healthcare. Prior to that she had spent over 30 years working exclusively with older adults in the CCRC and Skilled Care environment.  Maureen has a passion for nutrition and wellness for older adults. She has published many articles as well as presented at many professional conferences on the topics of Nutrition and Wellness for Older Adults and malnutrition.   Maureen is a Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition and also a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Membership Director
Emily Schilling, RD, LDN, CDCES

Emily is the Nutrition Manager for Upham’s PACE, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly in Boston. Emily has spent over a decade working with older adults in nursing homes and community settings. Additionally, Emily works as a diabetes educator through various virtual platforms. Professional interests include therapeutic cooking, innovations in diabetes care, and equitable food access. 

Communications Director
Sofia Sanchez, PhD, MBA, RD

Sofia Sanchez, PhD, MBA, RD is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Kinesiology at the Indiana University School of Public Health. She was previously a Community Health Specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System SNAP-Ed at Auburn University, a USDA-funded program that offers nutrition education and policy, systems, and environmental changes for SNAP-eligible communities. In her spare time she enjoys coffee and hiking.

Sponsorship Director
Rikki Rabbin, MS, RDN, LDN

Rikki Rabbin, MS, RDN, LDN works with at a PACE program, helping senior citizens stay in their own homes and remain independent through end of life. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s combined master's and dietetic internship in 2016. Professional interests include food safety, labeling, and the intersection of business and food.

Professional Development Director
Lexie Jacobs, MS, RD, LDN

Lexie lives in Lutherville-Timonium, MD and works at Autumn Lake Healthcare. She has cared for older adults in the skilled nursing home/long-term care setting since 2019. Additionally, Lexie works as a bariatric dietitian with GIBNC. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science from McDaniel College and her Masters of Science from Texas Tech University. When Lexie isn't working, she enjoys swimming, reading, playing with her cat (Winston), and spending time with family and friends.

Nominating Committee Chair
Victoria Opalka, MS, RDN, CSG, CDN

Long-term care dietitian since August 2020 providing nutrition services for older adults and their care-partners. Victoria completed her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science, the Dietetic Internship Program and a Master of Science in Applied Nutrition all at Russell Sage College. Victoria is a Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition and an Adjunct Professor at Russell Sage teaching graduate-level Sports Nutrition. Victoria plans to enroll in a DCN program within the next three years.

Nominating Committee Chair Elect
Emily Johnston, PhD, MPH, RDN, CDCES

Emily A. Johnston, PhD, MPH, RDN, CDCES, is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Her work focuses on strategies to improve understanding of diet disease relationships. She holds degrees in nutrition and dietetics (BS, RD, UNC Greensboro), health education and behavioral sciences (MPH, Rutgers University), and nutritional sciences (PhD, Penn State). She has practiced as a Registered Dietitian and provided nutrition and diabetes self-management education in inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. Johnston has written and evaluated a nutrition curriculum for medical students and has taught culinary medicine to physicians, trainees and medical students. She has authored 23 peer-reviewed publications and has received funding from the American Heart Association, NASA, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Research Centers Collaborative Network. She is currently engaged in research on lifestyle interventions for diabetes risk reduction among older adults.

Nominating Committee 
Erica Ceska, MS, RDN, LD/N

Erica Ceska, a seasoned Registered Dietitian with experience in acute and long-term care, founded Nautical Nutrition after her own health journey with food allergies. She is committed to assisting others in managing their health conditions and achieving wellness objectives through tailored nutrition. Erica is empathetic to the difficulties of coping with severe allergies and autoimmune disorders and is devoted to guiding individuals through the healing process.

Policy and Advocacy Leader
Katherine Bechdol, MS, RDN, CSG, LD

Kat (she/they) is the Senior Manager, Area Clinical Support for Sodexo in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions. She completed the coordinated program at Georgia State university in 2019 and has worked in PA/LTC ever since. Dietetics is Kat's second career after working as an environmental consultant. Professional interests include improving the life and dignity of those living in LTC communities, advocating for the dietetics community, and helping families understand the aging process.

Newsletter Editor in Chief
Kellie Kirschbaum, MS, RDN, LDN

Kellie Kirschbaum, MS, RDN, LDN, graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2022 with a Master's degree in clinical dietetics. Kellie currently works as a nutrition care manager in a memory care nursing home in Joliet, IL. She has professional background in food regulations, long-term care, acute care hospitals, menu planning and menu development, and older adult nutrition. Kellie's hobbies include hiking, traveling, and going to music concerts. 

Student Executive Committee Member
Chesley Ferris

Chesley Ferris, MPH, is a graduate student and dietetic intern at the University of Maine. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Maine and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Southern Maine.

Prior to returning to school, Chesley served as the Manager of Geriatrics at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center, where she supervised both inpatient and outpatient programming.