Oregon Board Info

Learn more about our 2023-24 Executive Board members!

Sandy Jablonka,
RD, LD
President

Sandy is currently a QA Engineer for Computrition and enjoys working at the intersection of technology and dietetics. She is a member of the Academy's Interoperbility and Standards Committee working to represent dietetics across healthcare data systems. Sandy is originally from New York where she earned a BS in Computer Science from Cornell University. She became a second career dietitian by completing New York University's DPD and an internship through Sodexo. Outside of work, Sandy enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and baking.

Amy Frasieur,
MS, RD, LD
Past President 

Amy has been a Registered Dietitian for nearly 20 years, working in multiple settings including clinical, renal, outpatient, foodservice and higher education. Amy currently works at Oregon State University's Student Health Services as Director of Health Equity & Wellness as well as managing clinical nutrition services. Her framework for both roles is informed by a social justice and relational lens. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and long walks/wanders.



Taylor Kayfes, RD
President Elect

Taylor is an inpatient RD at Salem Health Hospital. She completed her undergraduate degree at Oregon State University in 2015 and her dietetic internship with Oregon Health and Science University in 2017. Taylor has a strong passion working as an inpatient dietitian and helping patients maintain or improve their nutrition status during their hospitalization. In her spare time, Taylor enjoys playing in the outdoors and spending time with her friends, family and her miniature dachshund Macy.

Catherine Howard,
MS, RDN
Secretary

 

Catherine Howard is a RD health coach supporting busy professionals as they heal their relationship with food and their body. She supports participants as they develop skills related to mindfulness-based stress management, intuitive eating, and evidence-based practices for developing new habits. Outside of work you'll find Catherine curating Spotify playlists, cooking, baking, hiking, cycling with her husband, thrift store shopping or enjoying local food and drinks in the Pacific Northwest.

Meredith Kleinhenz,
RDN, CSG, LD
Treasurer

Meredith is an Operations Supervisor for three PACE clinics - Program for All-inclusive Care of the Elderly in Portland. She enjoys getting to use her attention-to-detail-dietitian brain to support the interdisciplinary team that cares for frail elders. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have 2 teenagers.


Whitney Ellersick,
MS, RD
Delegate

Whitney is the Nutrition Services Senior Director at Portland Public Schools, where for 15 years she has led a team in serving millions of meals each year in Oregon’s largest school district. Whitney’s expertise includes food service management and local, farm to school procurement. Whitney is dedicated to changing the perception and eliminating the stigma of school meals, by ensuring all students have access to high quality, nutrient rich foods.



Director, Communications & Publications

 Lewis is the Nutrition Director for the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition council, and brings a decade of combined clinical, health system, and community-based nutrition experience to his role on the Oregon Board. He’s passionate about bridging connections between dietetics thought leaders and food systems stakeholders, and believes that equitable access to nutrient-dense foods is paramount to help Oregon communities thrive. Lewis also serves as a Preceptor for the OSU and OHSU dietetic internship programs.

Ansley Hill, RDN, LD
Director, Policy and Advocacy

Kathleen Hahn, MS, RD, LD
Director, Member Services

Kathleen is a clinical outpatient dietitian at Providence Hospital in Portland where she works with a wide variety of conditions. She recently completed her Master’s in Food Systems and Society at OHSU. She is passionate about understanding how gender inequity impacts health and the role of dietitians, and feels strongly that dietitians can be a crucial part of addressing social justice issues. Kathleen enjoys reading, writing, hiking, watching sunsets, and making delicious food. 



Kate Spurgin,
RDN LD 
Nominating Chair

 

Kate is an outpatient dietitian at Providence Health & Services. After a ten-year communications career, she followed her fascination with nutrition and long-term goal of becoming a dietitian. She completed her undergraduate degree through Oregon State University and Eastern Michigan University’s distance coordinated program. Kate embraces Health at Every Size and an all-foods-fit approach. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, birding, kayaking, arts and crafts, and just about anything that makes her laugh.

Antoinette Kruger,
MS, RD, LD
Nominating Committee

Antoinette is a clinical inpatient dietitian at Providence Health & Services. She strives to individualize therapeutic diets based on each patient’s medical, cultural, and physical conditions. Antoinette advocates for her patients to have nourishing, adequate nutrition during and after their hospital stay. She has a passion for working with sustainable food systems, food insecurity and nutrition support. In her free time, Antoinette enjoys hiking, camping, roller blading, kayaking, traveling, and experimenting in the kitchen!

Danielle Knight,
MHA, RDN, LD
Nominating Committee

Dani works as an inpatient clinical RD at Salem Health Hospital, and is excited to be working towards a specialty in oncology nutrition. Dani completed her dietetic internship at the Oregon Health and Science University in 2019 and loves sharing her passion for nutrition. Dani enjoys precepting, and teaching dietetic interns in her current role; and in her free time, Dani loves to rollerblade, travel, play kickball, hike, bike and spend time in the sun.


Katie Dodd,
MS, RD, CSG, FAND
Business Development Director

 

Katie is a geriatric dietitian, writer, speaker, consultant, mentor, and leader. Katie is the founder of The Geriatric Dietitian blog and Dietitian Side Hustle podcast. She is lives in Medford, OR and is mom to Gavin and Emily.



Laura Perdue,
MPH, RDN
Public Policy Coordinator

Laura is a public health dietitian with a focus on nutrition security. Currently, she works with WIC at the state agency level as a trainer. Laura’s interest in public policy began when she was a graduate student, and she’s been involved in the Academy’s policy and advocacy initiatives ever since. Prior to moving to Oregon, Laura was the Public Policy Coordinator for Minnesota, and a member of the Academy’s Legislative and Public Policy Committee.

Jenny Jackson,
PhD, MS, RDN, CHWC
Diversity Liasion

Jenny is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Dietetic Internship Programs at Oregon State University (OSU). Jenny completed her graduate degree programs at OSU, including a Masters of Science in Nutrition and PhD in Public Health, Health Promotion and Health Behavior. She is also a Certified Health and Well-being Coach. Jenny’s research interests include food security and the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity behaviors across the lifespan. Her current projects address food insecurity among U.S. college students.

Neilann Horner,
PhD, MPH, RD
State Policy Specialist

 

 

Grace Clark-Hibbs, MDA, RDN LD
Newsletter Editor

Grace has been an RD for over 7 years, starting her career in school foodservice. Currently she’s working for two virtual private practices, specializing in addressing digestive issues from a functional health perspective. She and her husband have a passion for traveling abroad and experiencing other cultures, trying new foods and restaurants everywhere they go. In her free time she enjoys cooking, photography, snuggling her orange tabby, Tony, and listening to true crime podcasts.

 

Jessica Robertson, RDN
Awards & Scholarship Chair

 
Jessica is an outpatient dietitian at OSU’s Student Health Services. After completing Biology and Dietetics degrees at the University of Victoria and McGill University, she worked acute care, residential care and outpatient settings in Victoria, BC. She is passionate about helping students nourish themselves in a way that embraces their overall health and well-being. She enjoys dancing, mountain biking and being active outdoors with friends and family in both Oregon and British Columbia.

 

Janet Mann, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Services Payment Specialist

Janet is retired and most recently had a Private Nutritional Counseling business in Oregon City from 2002-2020. She was a one-person office as provider, biller, and manager. Simultaneously, she worked with Providence as an on-call RD and Outpatient RD for 8 years, and previously as Multnomah Co WIC on-call Nutritionist, and nutrition and dietary operation consultant for 18 years in nursing homes and small healthcare facilities.

Caitlin Carr, MS, RD, LD
Consumer Protection Coordinator

Caitlin Carr is an outpatient RD in the Portland area where she counsels patients on various conditions. She received her undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition from Colorado State University and her Master’s of Science in Nutrition from Oregon State University. She appreciates working closely with patients managing diabetes to feel competent and confident in their management plan. Outside of work Caitlin spends her time with friends and family.

 

Divya Garg, MPH, RD
State Policy Representative

Divya Garg, a licensed registered dietitian in Oregon, earned her nutrition degree and master’s in public health from the University of Washington in Seattle. She is deeply committed to food justice, food security, and embraces a Health at Every Size approach. Before moving to Portland, Divya interned and volunteered in Seattle and San Francisco with organizations like Northwest Harvest, Public Health King County, and Foodwise Kids. She has mentored with Diversify Dietetics and served two and a half years on the board at the Sauvie Island Center, a land-based food and farming program for children.