None at this time.
Board of Directors
Lorna Fuller
President
Lorna Fuller holds the position of Sr. HR/Training Manager at Sodexo, Inc. in the Greater Cleveland area. She provides HR and Training support for an extensive hospital system in Northeast OH under the supervision of a Regional Vice-President. Moreover, Lorna oversees technical training for specialized management training in Food and Environmental Services for three Vice-Presidents across the Great Lakes Regions. In her previous role, she worked as a Recruitment Manager for Sodexo's Midwest clinical needs. She was responsible for recruiting Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians Registered throughout North America and managed seven Clinical Sr. Recruiters.
Lorna has a solid educational background, having completed an A.A.S. degree from Cuyahoga Community College, a B.S. in Dietetics from the University of Akron, and an M.S. in Dietetics from Kent State University. She also holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education - Adult Continuing Education & Higher Learning from Cleveland State University. Lorna has been an active health & wellness advocate since the mid-'90s. She was the President of the Cleveland Dietetic Association and a former board member of the Ohio Board of Dietetics (OBD). She has also served as the Chair of the Council on Professional Issues (OAND) and Secretary in her past volunteer positions in dietetics. Lorna's involvement in the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics is extensive, including being a Diversity Leader and Chair of the National Organization of Blacks in Nutrition & Dietetics (NOBIDAN). She has served on the National Nominating Committee for the Academy of Nutrition and was the Delegate for Ohio (OAND) from 2020-2023. Lorna was recently recognized as the Academy's Recognized Dietitian in Business & Industry in October 2022. She is currently, President-Elect for the Ohio Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.
Tiana Montella
President Elect
Tiana Montella MS, RD, LD, CD-L, CLS is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Labor Doula and business owner of Labor and Nutrition Dietitian. She received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and completed her master’s degree and dietetic internship from Kent State University. Tiana is an experienced inpatient RD within the Intensive Care Unit and Progressive Care Unit with a focus of nutrition support. She moved to community nutrition as a Supervisor for the local WIC department.
She became interested in birth work and doula services when she felt a calling to be the solution to the black maternal mortality rates. Labor and Nutrition Dietitian was born to help women of color be empowered to advocate for their rights to have a better birth experience and provide nutrition education for mother and baby.
Tiana is a graduate of the 2022 Leadership Institute of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was the Council of Professional Issues for OAND in 2023-2024 and previously served as President of the Columbus Dietetic Association in 2021-2022. Tiana was awarded 2020 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year from OAND. Also received the 2021 Clinical Excellence Award from OSU Wexner Medical Center. Tiana just became a Certified Lactation Specialist to better help serve her clients during their breastfeeding journey.
Carrie Hamady
Past President
Carrie Hamady is a Distinguished Teacher Professor and Chair of the Department of Public and Allied Health as well as the Director of the Undergraduate Dietetics Program at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). She has an MS in Health Promotion and her EdD in Leadership Studies. Her interests are in clinical nutrition, sustainability, food insecurity, innovative teaching techniques and equity and inclusion in dietetics education, and informatics. Carrie has presented at national, state, and local conferences on a variety of topics including sports nutrition, innovative teaching techniques, DEI in dietetics education, informatics, and clinical nutrition. She won the award for best innovation in dietetics education at FNCE (2014 and 2021), the 2018 Ohio, North Central Region of NDEP Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award in the DPD Program category, the 2020 BGSU Mentoring Excellence Award, and the 2021 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success. Carrie was also an Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Recognized Dietitian of the Year in 2021. She is the President for the Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for the 2023-2024 FY. Carrie lives in northwest Ohio with her husband and has three kids. They enjoy camping and hiking.
Carol Gorbach-Melchioris
Secretary
Carol Gorbach-Melchioris is a Registered Dietitian currently working as the Corporate Manager of Food and Nutrition Services Specialty Hospitals with Select Medical. Carol received her BS in Dietetics from The University of Akron and her Masters in Education from Cleveland State University. She has worked extensively with chronic critically ill patients and has been a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician for most of her career. Carol was adjunct faculty for Cuyahoga Community College Dietetic Technology program and served as preceptor for many students over a 15 year period.
Carol lives in Northeast Ohio and enjoys traveling with her husband and adult children.
Vera Bartasavich
Treasurer
Vera Bartasavich previously served two terms as the OAND Treasurer. She took a break from the Treasurer’s position and is now back to serve as the OAND Treasurer again. Vera has found working closely with the OAND President(s) and Executive Director provides insight and ensures the present and future of the OAND organization’s financial health is secure. Vera enjoys working on the board and ensuring the OAND organization continues its stable financial strength. She is also Treasurer for the local affiliate Greater Cleveland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GCAND). As a former staff accountant and finance supervisor in the food industry, Vera developed her love for numbers along with detective skills for reviewing financial accounts. Volunteer opportunities have included auditing, revamping and suggesting changes for several non-profit organizations as their Treasurer. She holds the credential of Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR) and a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES®). Vera is in private practice where she specializes in preventive nutrition and wellness education working in a variety of settings. Currently, her focus is with people living with prediabetes and diabetes. Vera is in a mentorship program where she is gaining experience as a diabetes educator.
Patricia Becker
Chair, Council on Professional Issues (CPI)
Christine Zachrich
Chair Elect, Council on Professional Issues (CPI)
Julie Kennel
Delegate Chair, 2022-2025
Julie Kennel is an Associate Professor of Clinical Practice at The Ohio State University. Dr. Kennel received her PhD from Indiana University in Health Behavior and started her position as Program Director for the Human Nutrition Dietetic Internship at OSU prior to joining the faculty. Dr. Kennel has over 10 years of experience applying medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling in wellness and prevention settings. Her research program is dedicated to discovering new knowledge about the behavioral and environmental factors driving children and youth’s food choices and thus diet quality. She has authored or co-authored 12 peer-reviewed journal articles for projects that are supported by competitive grants from the public and private sectors. She has been elected or appointed to leadership positions in her professional organizations, such as Chair for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Council on Future Practice, Regional Director for the Academy’s Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors Council, and President of the Columbus Dietetic Association. She has also served on the board of editors for the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Mary-Jon Ludy
Delegate 2023-2026
Mary-Jon Ludy, PhD, RDN, FAND is a Professor of Food & Nutrition and Associate Dean of the Graduate College at Bowling Green State University, her undergraduate alma mater. She holds an MS from Tufts University and a PhD from Purdue University. Dr. Ludy is committed to strengthening inclusive, equitable pathways that will enable students to achieve success in the academic and professional world. Her areas of expertise include bioactive spices, college health, dietetic practice, innovative teaching, and leadership. She has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals, such as AJCN and JAND, and profiled by popular press outlets, such as the BBC, CNN, and The New York Times. Through OAND, Dr. Ludy has served as Council on Professional Issues Chair and is a Past President. She holds an appointment to the State Medical Board of Ohio’s Dietetics Advisory Council and is also an amateur photographer whose food-focused images appear on textbook covers for McGraw-Hill Education. Dr. Ludy lives in Bowling Green with her Boston native husband and two boys who all enjoy travel and discovery.
Cynthia Blocksom
State Policy Representative
Cynthia Blocksom, MEd, RDN, LD, MCHES, FAND teaches at the University of Cincinnati while devoting an extensive amount of time to advocating for the dietetic profession. She is currently the State Policy Co-Chair for OAND while also serving as the Cincinnati district’s Policy and Reimbursement Co-chair. (GCAND). Cynthia has also been instrumental on the committee which resulted in the introduction of Dietitian Licensure Compact legislation in Ohio. She is passionate about how public policy affects the health and safety of the public.
Pat McKnight
State Policy Representative Co Chair
Pat has served as OAND, State Policy Chair for more than 20 years. She is Assistant Professor, Nutrition at Mt. Carmel College of Nursing in Columbus. She is a 50 year member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Kendra Schmuck
Public Policy Coordinator
Kendra Schmuck RDN LD CDE is a registered dietitian nutritionist, licensed dietitian who is certified as a diabetes educator. She has completed her certification of training in adult weight management & Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management. She has a Bachelor of Science in dietetics with an emphasis in food service management from Bowling Green State University. She did her dietetic internship through Idaho State University. She has worked as a diabetes educator, outpatient medical nutritional therapist, clinical medical nutrition therapist, and in health promotion. She is currently employed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base as the Chief of Clinical Dietetics. In her spare time she is the public policy coordinator for the Ohio Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and the Public Policy chair for the Dayton Dietetic Association.
Alli Bokenkotter
Cincinnati District President
Elizabeth Traxler
Cleveland District President
Kylie Yike
Dayton District President
Kylie Yike, MS, RDN, CSP, LD is a pediatric dietitian at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Kylie enjoys working with infants and toddlers, specifically children with picky eating and developmental delays. Kylie received her BS in nutrition and dietetics from The University of Akron in 2010 and her MS Science in human nutrition from The University of Alabama in 2020. In her free time, Kylie likes spending time with her spouse and children, coaching swimming, and sewing.
Dema Halasa-Esper
Mahoning Valley District President
Jane Graffin
Northwest District President
Jane Graffin,MHE,RD,LD,CDCES has served as president of the Northwest District for several years. Jane is currently the Clinical Nutrition Manager/Diabetes Education Program Coordinator at Wood County Hospital in Bowling Green. Prior to this job, Jane had worked as a Dietitian/Diabetes Educator at the Endocrine and Diabetes Care Center, Diabetes Youth Services Camps and University of Toledo Medical Center in Toledo. Jane has been active in NODA and the local AADE group for over 30 plus years. She received the Member Merit Award from OAND in 2004 and 2021. In her downtime, Jane enjoys gardening as well as freezing and canning a variety of foods along with traveling/attending sports events with her husband, Von. They have two adult children, Michael, who is Deputy Athletic Director at Florida Atlantic University in Bocan Raton, Florida and Kim, who manages a DIY store in Summerville, South Carolina. Jane is the proud grandmother of two granddaughters, Eliza Graffin, age 4 and Leann Mahan, age 2. A third granddaughter is expected to arrive in August 2024.
Debbie Memmer
Stark District President
Committee Chairs
Lorna Fuller
Chair
Awards & Scholarships Committee
Tiana Montella
Chair
Council on Professional Issues 2024
Patricia Becker
Chair Elect
Council on Professional Issues
Lisa Andrews
Chair
Delegates
Vera Bartasavich
Chair
Finance Committee
Pat McKnight
State Policy CoRepresentative
Legislation Committee
Cynthia Blocksom
State Policy CoRepresentative
Legislation Committee
TBD
Chair
Membership Committee
Judy Kaplan
Chair
Nominating Committee
Amy Lewis
Co-Chair
Reimbursement & Coverage
Laura Poland
Co Chair
Reimbursement & Coverage
Michaela Norris
Chair
Social Media
Laura Poland
Chair
State Media Task Force
Staff
Jeannine Windbigler
Executive Director
Community Liaisons
None at this time.
