None at this time.
Board of Directors
Julie Kennel
President
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.
Carol Gorbach-Melchioris
President Elect
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.
Tiana Montella
Past President
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.
Michaela Norris
Secretary
Erin Ogden
Treasurer
Erin Ogden is a Registered Dietitian and Federal Policy Associate at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a D.C.-based nonprofit advocating for a healthier, safer food system. Her policy portfolio covers federal child nutrition programs and she has been advocating for sound nutrition policy since her first Academy affiliate role, serving as the Greater Cleveland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Policy Chair for 4 terms. Her MS and BS, both in Nutrition, are from Case Western Reserve University and Miami University, respectively. Erin has served as a preceptor for multiple dietetic internships and received the 2024 Ohio Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year award. In addition to her passion for advocacy, Erin enjoys exploring Ohio's state parks and learning new languages.
Anna Gest
Chair, Council on Professional Issues (CPI)
Anna Gest, MS, RDN, LD has a background in clinical nutrition, outpatient counseling, and community-based education. She currently serves as the Manager of Nutrition Education Programs for the Ohio Beef Council, where she leads evidence-based initiatives to engage consumers and health professionals in understanding the role of high-quality protein in a healthy diet. Anna earned her Master of Science in Nutrition and completed her dietetic internship at Kent State University, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from The Ohio State University. In addition to her work with the Ohio Beef Council, Anna sees clients and provides community nutrition presentations through Lorain County Community College’s wellness program. Anna is passionate about mentoring future dietitians and advancing the profession through collaboration and practical, science-based communication. She volunteers with the Lorain County 4-H program, where her interest in nutrition first began. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and helping her husband and son care for cattle on their family farm.
Anna Busenburg
Chair Elect, Council on Professional Issues (CPI)
Michelle Palumbo
Delegate 2025-2028
Sharon Doughten
Delegate 2026-2029
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.
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.
Susmita Sadana
Culture and Community Chair
Crystal Seals
Akron District President
Crystal Seals RDN, LD, CDCES is currently employed by Sodexo Inc. as a Clinical Nutrition Manager who works at a prominent hospital system in Cleveland, Ohio. Crystal is an alumni of Youngstown State University where she obtained her BS in Nutrition and Dietetics. She is also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and has a Certificate of Training in Pediatric and Adult Weight Management from CDR. Crystal is the proprietor of a private practice (Diet No Diet Nutrition Counseling) where she provides telehealth medical nutrition therapy with a focus on weight management and diabetes.
Crystal lives in the Cleveland, Ohio area and enjoys visiting beaches, nature, music, travel and spending quality time with loved ones.
Audrey Hemmer
Cincinnati District President
Madeline Bals
Cleveland District President
Cameron Stauffer
Columbus 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.
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
Julie Kennel
Chair
Awards & Scholarships Committee
Susmita Sadana
Chair
Community and Culture Committee
Christine Zachrich
Chair
Council on Professional Issues 2025-2026
Anna Gest
Chair Elect
Council on Professional Issues 2026-2027
Mary-Jon Ludy
Chair
Delegates
Erin Ogden
Chair
Finance Committee
Pat McKnight
State Policy CoRepresentative
Legislation Committee
Cynthia Blocksom
State Policy CoRepresentative
Legislation Committee
TBD
Chair
Membership Committee
Lorna Fuller
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.
