Participating Students
Hissa Alsudairy
My name is Hissa Alsudairy, I am an international honor student from Saudi Arabia. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Family & Consumer Sciences with a double option in Nutrition and Dietetics, Food Science. I am the president of the Student Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and editor for The Betty Newsletter. I was a teacher’s assistant for FCS 380 Foundations and Research Methods last fall, and I am currently the teacher’s assistant for RTM 350 Play and Human Potential and FCS 426 Issues of Contemporary and Future Families. All of which, intrigued my interest in teaching.
My interest and passion in nutrition began when I was a child when witnessing my father’s struggle with diabetes. I was very determined to help him, and spent many hours researching about his condition. I eventually stumbled upon the nutrition field and fell in love with its concept. In addition, with the acquired knowledge of how important exercise and proper nutrition is on disease prevention, I was able to help my father in controlling his diabetes. I realized how critical nutrition is for anyone when preventing disease or when aiding preexisting health complications. I have a passion for helping people in anyway possible especially through health education. I look forward to applying to a dietetic internship in order to become a registered dietitian and to pursue a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics. I am very excited to be apart of the Peer Nutrition Counseling Lactation Education program and very interested in aquiring a licence in lactation consultation. Ultimately, I would love to bring the field of nutrition back to my country and teach at university level. Furthermore, I am very eager to get involved with the health ministry in Saudi Arabia in order to implement important public health policies that are greatly lacking.
I am very grateful for having this opportunity to study abroad in order to receive a highly exceptional education in nutrition and dietetics at california state university northridge. I am so fortunate to have such amazing professors and classmates throughout the program and they will be forever cherished.
Rocio Avila
Rocio Avila is a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Science with an emphasis in Nutrition and Dietetics. She teaches Nutrition and Physical Activity workshops to high school students in the San Fernando Valley and Greater Los Angeles through a program called Peer Health Exchange. She also provides Nutrition presentations to a women's group and is currently doing Peer Nutrition Counseling at Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles.
Rocio grew up in Los Angeles, CA in a community that lacked health education. Her interest in nutrition began when she got an appendectomy 3 years ago. After meeting with a Dietitian and realizing how food habits effect a persons health, she was inspired to one day become a Community Dietitian. She believes that a healthy lifestyle begins with prevention and proper nutrition at an early age. This is why she is honored in working with the Lactation Education Program and USDA to promote breastfeeding at Providence Holy Cross Hospital. With the increased rate of obesity in children, and her mothers recent diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes, Rocio's goal is to work with mothers and children from disadvantaged backgrounds to provide the health education needed to promote healthy living.
Holly Erdogan
From a young age, Holly Erdogan has had interest in Nutrition and helping people. As her passion for Nutrition grew she decided to pursue higher education to learn more and to begin expressing her love for people by helping them nutritionally. This led her from the small town of Owasso, Oklahoma to California State University, Northridge where she is finishing up her degree in Nutrition and pursuing her career as a Dietitian. Holly is actively involved in the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association, volunteers in the Dietary office at West Hills Hospital and now is honored and privileged to be a part of the Peer Nutrition Counseling-Lactation Education program. Through this program she has learned how vital Breastfeeding and Lactation education is to mothers, infants and the health and future of our society. She is excited to combine both breastfeeding and nutrition as she is approaching her future in helping people lead healthier lives.
Jocceline Hernandez
Jocceline Hernandez was raised to eat well–balanced, nutrition-packed meals with her family. Upon enrolling at CSUN as a double option in Nutrition/Dietetics, and Food Science (NDFS), she quickly realized that not many people have the same exposure growing up - and her passion to promote the importance of nutrition blossomed. NDFS has been the best pathway to pursue her passion and push awareness in this field. She currently holds an officer position as a Coordinating Council Representative for the Student Association and Food Science organization, and will be competing in CSUN’s version of Iron Chef called, “Iron Matador” cooking kid-friendly dishes.
She has a vast range of experience in promoting nutrition to different populations by volunteering at the Veterans Affairs Hospital serving the geriatric community, interning at CSUN’s Children’s Lab School, and currently volunteering as a diet aid at Mission Community Hospital for the general community. Being part of the Peer Nutrition Counseling-Lactation Education grant will now expose her to newborns and continue her quest to provide nutrition education along with promoting breastfeeding to mothers. She plans to utilize these experiences to serve under-represented communities, or those with limited access to resources that promote healthy living. Ultimately, she will become a Registered Dietitian and pursue a Master’s degree in either Public Health or Nutrition. Upon graduating in May 2011, she will continue to participate in programs that support and raise awareness for on the importance of nutrition.
Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera is a candidate for the Bachelor of Science in Family Consumer Sciences with an option in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science and a minor in Chicana/o Studies. It was seeing some of her family member's health impacted by poor eating habits caused by lack of nutritional knowledge that ignited the interest in Nutrition for Carolina. Carolina’s interests in the health field as well as working in underserved communities are what have led her to pursue a career that will better serve these communities. Currently, Carolina serves as Historian in the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association at CSUN as well as an Alive and Well Peer Educator at the Living Well Lounge, a satellite of the Klotz Student Health Center. She is currently working as a Dietitian Assistant at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys.
Carolina aspires to become a Registered Dietitian and, later, obtain a Masters in Public Health. It is her passion for nutrition and public health and the deficit of this knowledge in the underserved communities that have inspired her to want teach in the community and in educational settings. She plans on combining her interest in Food Science and Sustainability to help organize community and backyard gardens, helping the community to become more involved and interested in their food and their health.
The USDA Grant's Peer Nutrition Counseling - Lactation Education course has both the nutrition counseling and the chance to work with underserved communities that Carolina will use as a Registered Dietitian working in the community. The program has taught her the importance of the lifelong nutritional and health benefits that breastfeeding offers, which has become a main focus in the information she would like to pass on to the community.
Stephanie Riley
Stephanie Riley has been a student at CSUN since Spring 2008, majoring in Dietetics. She is a member of the Family Consumer Science Honor Society, Kappa Omicron Nu, and student member of the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association. In spring 2010, she competed in Iron Matador, a student cooking competition, and will be graduating fall 2011.
Stephanie plans to be a registered dietitian, specializing in pediatrics. Participating in the USDA Grant's Peer Nutrition Counseling - Lactation Education program is helping her gain experience not only in a hospital setting, but as lactation educator.
Luisa Sabogal
Luisa Sabogal’s journey towards becoming a Registered Dietitian began at the California State University, Northridge. During her Junior year, she became an active member of the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association where she participated in various events and volunteered at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Dietetic Department. Currently, Luisa works as a Dietitian’s Assistant at All Saints Healthcare. After graduating, Luisa plans on entering a combined Dietetic Internship and Master’s program.
Combatting childhood obesity remains the ultimate career goal for Luisa. The USDA Grant’s Peer Nutrition Counseling – Lactation Education program has allowed her to broaden her knowledge base as well as working with a more diverse community. The breastfeeding and lactation work she will do for the program will serve as a basis to combat childhood obesity in her career.
Elizabeth Vaccaro
Elizabeth Vacarro is a candidate for the Bachelor of Science in the Family Consumer Sciences department, with an emphasis in Nutrition. She transferred from Moorpark College, where she began attending after a long and productive career as a paralegal.
Currently, Elizabeth works for the Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Northridge Campus as a Nutrition Assistant and she also volunteers for the Veteran’s Administration, Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center.
As part of the USDA Grant’s Peer Nutrition Counseling – Lactation Education program, she plans on using her bilingual skills to help the Hispanic community. Once she obtains her license to practice as a Registered Dietitian, she plans on entering the Clinical Nutrition field to work with the Hispanic community; teaching them health eating habits to combat obesity.
Xochitl Valdivia
Xochitl Valdivia is currently working on her Bachelor's Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a double option in Nutrition/ Dietetics and Food Science. Xochitl's thirst for knowledge and understanding drives her to keep learning of her surroundings with a curiosity,respect and admiration for different cultures. In the near future, she plans on applying for a Dietetic Internship in order to become a Registered Dietitian to gain experience in the fields of community nutrition and medical nutrition therapy. As a lifelong learner, she also plans to attend a Master's Food Science program to contribute ideas for healthier food product development. Ultimately, Xochitl aims to work towards a Doctorate Degree in Community Health Sciences or Global Health Sciences in order to help improve the overall wellbeing in the world's impoverished communities through education, research and promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Chanel Villanueva
Chanel Villanueva’s journey towards becoming a Registered Dietitian began at California State University, Northridge where her interest in health and her appetite to help others led her to pursue a degree in nutrition. Currently, Chanel is a publicity officer for CSUN’s Student Dietetic & Food Science Association and volunteer for the Ventura County Public Health Department’s Childhood Obesity Prevention Program. She works as a diet aide for Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center and is a competitor in CSUN’s Nutrition College Bowl.
Upon graduation in May 2011, Chanel hopes to have been accepted into a dietetic internship where she can continue her journey in dietetics. In the future, Chanel aspires to work as a clinical dietitian specializing in diabetes management and renal nutrition and plans on achieving a master’s degree in nutrition to enable her to teach nutrition at a college level.
Chanel’s participation in the USDA Grant’s Peer Nutrition Counseling-Lactation Education Program is helping her gain valuable counseling experience, is broadening her knowledge of breastfeeding and its benefits and is providing her with experience in working with diverse populations.
Silvia Juarez Viveros
Silvia Juarez Viveros is currently an undergraduate student at California State University, Northridge. She is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition and Food Science. As a member of the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association, Silvia has volunteered at events such as the Nutrition College Bowl, Dietetic Internship Symposium and the Iron Matador Competition. She is also currently a volunteer for the Veteran’s Administration, Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center. After graduation, Silvia will continue to work hard to become a Registered Dietitian. She plans to work as a clinical dietitian before reaching out to work with the Hispanic community. One of her other goals includes earning a Master’s degree in nutrition, food science or environmental health. Finally, because one of her special interests includes diabetes, she plans to specialize and become a Certified Diabetes Educator.
The Peer Nutrition Counseling program with emphasis on lactation education is helping Silvia achieve her career goals. Working with the community and helping the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) population and other low-income families is one of Silvia’s passions. This program is providing her the opportunity to explore the community aspect of nutrition as well as allowing her to interact and help people who need this education the most. Silvia would like to provide diabetes education workshops free of charge and this program is allowing her to practice and improve her teaching skills especially through the experience she is gaining in the breastfeeding education aspect of this grant. Lastly, this program is helping Silvia develop and grow professionally by allowing her to strengthen her communication skills.
