Board Election

2021 CPSDA Board of Directors Election

Read a Q&A of each candidate's professional experience and CPSDA involvement listed below.

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Vote for five (5) candidates

Voting will close at midnight (PST) on Thursday, March 25, 2021.

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Amy Culp, RD, CSSD, LD, CEDRD

Describe your current employment as a sport/performance RD:
I'm in my 9th year working as a full time Sports RD at the University of Texas as the Assistant Athletics Director for Performance Nutrition & Clinical Wellness.

How many years have you been a sports/performance RD?
I have been a sports RD for 20 years.

Have you held other positions as an RD? If yes, what positions have you held?
Yes, I have worked as a dietitian in other capacities than sports.

sCULPture Nutrition & Fitness, LLC, 10/02-Present, Owner/Partner
Started my private practice as part-time work on the side and turned it into my full time job until I accepted the position at UT in 2012. In this role, I served as a consultant Sports RD at UT for 5 years. -Specialized in sports nutrition and eating disorders/disordered eating. Currently employ a CPSDA member as a consultant!

The University of Texas Health Promotion Resource Center, 4/05-6/06, Health Education Coordinator/Registered Dietitian
Provided nutrition therapy and education for the University of Texas students through individual consultations, outreach, and group education. Specialized in medical nutrition therapy, sports nutrition (club sports), eating disorders.

Texas Department of State Health Services, 1/04-4/05, Nutrition Education Consultant
Planned, developed, revised, and evaluated the Texas Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) nutrition programming, materials, activities, and initiatives. -Developed and managed the "WIC High Risk Project," which provided RDs in WIC clinics with tools and guidelines to provide counseling to WIC high risk participants.

Outreach Health Services/WIC Program, 11/02-1/04, Assistant Director
Managed 8 WIC clinics with 15 employees and 4000 WIC participants Kaiser Permanente Medical Center

8/01-8/02, Per Diem Inpatient & Outpatient Dietitian
Assessed nutritional needs and provided individualized care for clinical patient.

How many years have you been a CPSDA professional member? How many Annual Conferences have you attended?
I have been a CPSDA member for 12 years and have attended 12 conferences.

What other professional development opportunities hosted by CPSDA have you participated in?
As a board member, have had the opportunity to attend and present at the Advanced Practice Workshop, and hosted at UT in 2018 Attended Business Leadership Workshop in 2019. In my board role, I coordinated, presented at, and attended Boot Camp and have been a SNIP host/mentor (4 times)

Please describe your current involvement with the CPSDA:
Service on board of directors: 2015-2017, Annual Conference & Events Chair 2017-2018, Professional Development & Student Programming Chair. During my time in this role, we added a requirement for SNIP hosts to provide a set of competencies SNIP Fellows to complete 2019, Vice-President 2020, President Prior to that, I served on a committee for writing job descriptions for collegiate sports RDs. This project changed over time, and has culminated in a paper being published later this year.

Are there any other leadership roles which you have held outside of CPSDA which have prepared you for a role on the Board of Directors?
Serve as the director for our program at UT, building the program over time and leading our team of Sports RDs. Built a private practice over time, employeeing consultant Sports RDs. Serve as a mentor internally at UT as part of our mentor program. Serve on the Collegiate Athletics Talent & Professional Leadership Training Council at UT. Completed the Sports Management Institute. Served on the annual conference planning committee for SCAN and served as editor for PULSE Notables. Served as the Texas Dietetic Association Liaison to Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians. Served on various committees with the Austin Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. Served as president of the Student Nutrition Organization at San Diego State University.

Please describe why you should be selected as a potential CPSDA Board Member:
I consider it an honor to have been given the opportunity to use my passion to serve on the Board of Directors for the past 6 years. This past year, and my first year as President, I have grown and learned so much, and have led our organization through unprecedented times. We have pivoted to a completely virtual life, yet have maintained programming for our members to ensure relevancy, application, and community. I had the opportunity to lead the organization as we begin to address the topic of diversity, equity and inclusivity in our profession. We are dedicated to being action oriented in this area, and have formed the DEI committee who have been pivotal for us this year, and I'm committed to continue growth and action for our organization. After surveying our members and leading board calls with the survey results in hand, we have added member benefits that are timely and applicable, such as the CPSDA Elevate Toolkit, monthly office hours for members, increased offerings for student members, targeted educational content, and a partnership with Women Leaders in College Sports. I had the opportunity to contribute to and edit the CPSDA Elevate Toolkit - a tool and resource for Sports RDs of all levels of experience that will change the way they lead and practice - it's a toolkit that brings CPSDA's vision & mission to life. I was recently asked what I want 2021 to bring, and my answer was clarity. I have a clear vision of how to lead our organization forward. A vision made clear through listening, learning, and growing. Every time I read the vision, mission, and values for CPSDA, I am inspired - inspired by how far our profession has come, and an awareness of where we still need to go. I would love your vote of support so that I can continue to serve in this role for our organization and members.

Matthew Frakes, PhD, RD, CSCS

Describe your current employment as a sport/performance RD:
I am currently the Sports Dietitian for the University of Louisville, where I primarily oversee Men's and Women's Basketball, Lacrosse, Volleyball, and Softball. I am also responsible for developing the concussion policy within the sports nutrition department; lead in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the sports nutrition department; and the director of nutrition operations for the Kueber Center (Men's and Women's Basketball, and Lacrosse).

How many years have you been a sport/performance RD?
I have been a sports RD for 5 years.

Have you held other positions as an RD? If yes, what positions have you held?
Yes. Owner, Sports Dietitian & Performance Coach for Private Practice (Superior Nutrition & Performance, LLC): collaborated with athletic trainers and performance coaches to improve athletic performance for NFL, MLB, NBA, and NCAA athletes; designed and implemented individualized nutrition plans, consultations, and meal prep services for athletes transitioning to the NFL, MLB, and NBA settings.
Nutrition Program Coordinator for Life Time Fitness: responsible for developing and leading the nutrition program for the club; developed nutrition education; and managed & mentored the nutrition coaches for the club.
Nutrition & Physical Education Coordinator for Children's Hunger Alliance: created and distributed nutrition & physical education material, taught and developed online webinars and classroom training for childcare providers for the Ohio Healthy Program, and created statewide annual training for childcare providers within the state of Ohio.
Weight Management Clinic and Outpatient Dietitian for Mary-Rutan Hospital: lead medical nutrition therapy to patients scheduled for outpatient services and the weight management clinic.
Wellness Coordinator for HealthWorks: collaborated with healthcare team members to conduct biometric health screenings and consultations for contracted organizations and companies; health coach for wellness programs and developed health coaching events.

How many years have you been a CPSDA professional member? How many Annual Conferences have you attended?
I have been a member for 3 years and have attended 1 Annual Conference.

What other professional development opportunities hosted by CPSDA have you participated in?
2017 CPSDA Sports Nutrition Boot Camp, 2020 CPSDA Advanced Practice Workshop, 2020 Utility of DXA in Treating Athletes with Low Energy Availability and Eating Disorders webinar.

Please describe your current involvement with the CPSDA.
2020-2021 - CPSDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: assisted in the development of action items for cross-cultural engagement; development of criteria for the CPSDA DEI Internship Scholarship; and collaboration and engagement with BIPOC sports nutrition students and practitioners.

2020-2021 - CPSDA Scholarship and Awards Committee: volunteered for the review and selection of the top candidates for the CPSDA Athlete of the Year award & scholarships.

Are there any other leadership roles which you have held outside of CPSDA which have prepared you for a role on the Board of Directors?
Associate Director of Athletic Performance for Sports Nutrition Education, University of Louisiana-Lafayette: lead and managed full-time staff, dietetic interns, and student workers; created a department manual with Associate Director of Athletic Performance for Sports Nutrition Collaboration; created sports nutrition education, directed and managed sports nutrition department budget & catered snack budget of $2,000,000; Created and managed @RaginCajunsFuel Instagram for sports nutrition education The Merge Virtual Internship Program Mentor: educated and developed nutrition for sports performance modules for strength & conditioning students virtual mentorship program Diversify Dietetics Mentorship Program Mentor: mentored entry-level BIPOC sports dietitian Black Coaches & Staff Association, University of Louisville Athletics – Co-leadership role.

Please describe why you should be selected as a potential CPSDA Board Member.
Facing the adversity in my personal life and upbringing, I never saw myself being a first-generation college graduate and being the only member in my immediate family who has accomplished getting their bachelor’s, master's, and doctorate. CPSDA has provided me with the tools, resources, and community to improve personally, and as a practitioner as I improve my leadership skills and navigate how I can positively impact the field. This organization has done an incredible job challenging me and surrounding me with individuals that push me to improve regularly. As I reflect on my involvement, the organization has provided me with: a mentor who is a fellow member of the Board of Directors, Beth Wolfgram, from the CPSDA Advanced Practice Workshop that has shown me the definition of what it means to be a great mentor and lead by example; continued friendships that have become fruitful from the CPSDA Boot Camp where we connect and hold each other accountable on our professional goals and balancing a healthy personal life; and has allowed me to enhance representation, opportunities, and connection for future BIPOC practitioners in sports nutrition by volunteering for the newly developed CPSDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. To return the investment that CPSDA has given me in the advancement and growth of my career, I am dedicated to giving back and further advancing our field and organization by applying to serve on the Board of Directors.
The mission of the organization “to create leaders who elevate the profession of Sports Nutrition through ethical, science-based, cutting-edge care” is what I strive for as I continue to educate myself and place myself in new challenges that force me to improve as a practitioner and leader. Within the CPSDA DEI committee, we envisioned the empowerment of the organization dedicating action within their departments and surrounding communities by working through “12 Action Items to Promote Cross-Cultural Engagement”, and we helped gather the eligibility requirements and criteria for the CPSDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dietetic Internship Scholarship that will provide an opportunity for a BIPOC dietetic student to become a Sports Dietitian and improve representation in our field for the athletes we care for.
Since becoming a sports dietitian in March 2016, I made uncomfortable but rewarding decisions to try and live out the mission of CPSDA in my own decisions. From Fall 2016 to Spring 2017, I developed a course for my community called “V.E.T. Eating: Vital Education Through Eating Nutrition Module” in the Southside of Columbus, OH that educated children ages 9-13 on the importance of sound nutrition practices by showing them how to cook cost-effective meals the children and their families are familiar with. That summer I had to make a tough decision to pursue my Ph.D. in Sports Nutrition at the University of Mississippi, where this decision was the catalyst to give me experience as a Team Dietitian for Baseball, Track & Field, and Men’s & Women’s Golf while conducting my research on the “Impact of Dietary Intake on Concussion Recovery in Division I Collegiate Athletes”. This research has led me to invite presentations that hopefully will provide other sports dietitians the tools and information to change how they support concussion recovery for the athletes they care for. Since these experiences, I have volunteered to mentor future practitioners and current professionals by being a mentor for the “Diversify Dietetics Mentorship Program” where I mentor fellow entry-level BIPOC sports dietitian, “The Merge Virtual Internship” where I helped mentor and a virtual internship experience during the COVID-19 pandemic to young strength & conditioning students and serve in a co-leadership role for the “Black Coaches & Staff Association” at the University of Louisville where we provide resources, professional development, and communication amongst our Black staff members in the Athletics Department.

Jana Heitmeyer, MEd, RD, LD, CSCS, SCCC

Describe your current employment as a sport/performance RD:
I am currently the Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Georgia.

How many years have you been a sport/performance RD?
I have been a sports RD for 10 years.

Have you held other positions as an RD? If yes, what positions have you held?
Yes. I was the Director of Sports Nutrition at University of Missouri from 2007-2015 and the Director of Sports Nutrition at Baylor University from 2015-2017.

How many years have you been a CPSDA professional member? How many Annual Conferences have you attended?
I have been a member for 12 years and have attended 11 Annual Conference.

What other professional development opportunities hosted by CPSDA have you participated in?
Business Leadership Workshop 2019 and 2020, Women's Leaders in College Sports Webinars, Advanced Practice Workshop 2020.

Please describe your current involvement with the CPSDA.
I am currently serving in my second year as the conference chair as a member of the board.

Are there any other leadership roles which you have held outside of CPSDA which have prepared you for a role on the Board of Directors?
I have been a Director at three major universities and currently oversee a staff of 4 at the University of Georgia. I am also currently a member of the University of Georgia Athletics staff council.

Please describe why you should be selected as a potential CPSDA Board Member.
I started my career in college sports as a strength and conditioning coach. Although I always had an interest in nutrition, I’d never heard of dietetics and was unfamiliar with the process of becoming a dietitian. The first exposure I had to sports nutrition was when I was hired into a full-time strength and conditioning position that oversaw the “nutrition product” in the weight room. It wasn’t until I met a group of sports dietitians at a conference that I knew I needed to get a dietetics degree if I was serious about pursuing my passion. When I initially applied for the dietetics program, the academic department was hesitant to admit me because they did not believe that sports nutrition was an actual career path. The field of sports nutrition has expanded significantly since then, with new job opportunities in a variety of athletic disciplines.
CPSDA is a community. We are a group of people who want our athletes to succeed. The members of CPSDA are happy and eager to share what is working for them so that others may reap the same benefits. Even more, it is a community of people willing to offer advice, an ear, and encouragement. Though a professional organization, CPSDA is glued together by the friendships created and maintained throughout the years.
My passion is for CPSDA to be a safe space, community, and more to all of our members. I want to continue to find ways to increase inclusiveness amongst our membership. CPSDA already works to ensure we are an informed membership with access to support and resources to help us navigate any situation in which we find ourselves. Sports nutrition as a job/career is ever-evolving, and it is a hard, time-consuming job. I want to help continue to find ways to keep people in our profession. To give people chances that may come from a non-traditional career path or background. To demonstrate we can achieve success in our career while maintaining life balance. I want our members to feel supported by our organization and to know that as the field changes, CPSDA will continue to meet their needs.

Beth (Miller) McCall, MS, RD, LD, CSSD

Describe your current employment as a sport/performance RD:
I currently serve as the Director of Sports Nutrition for Duke University. I came to Duke in May 2017 to begin the first-ever Sports Nutrition Department within Duke Athletics. In my current role, I am responsible for planning, developing, implementing, evaluating and managing all clinical and performance nutrition needs for all 27 of our Varsity teams. I oversee a staff that consists of 2 full-time dietitians, one sports nutrition fellow, one Gatorade SNIP fellow, and numerous dietetic interns and student volunteers. I am the founder of our Eating Disorder Interdisciplinary Team (EDIT) through which we evaluate, develop and implement our high risk screening and treatment process, develop prevention programming, and collaborate as a team effort in the care of our athletes with eating disorders and other high risk conditions. I am also founding member of the Integrative Performance Excellence Group (IPEG).
In addition to my full-time role with Duke, I am the owner of Purposeful Fueling L.L.C., a private performance nutrition and yoga practice. Through Purposeful Fueling I work with elite level athletes in the post-collegiate setting, providing one-on-one performance nutrition counseling and private yoga sessions for sport performance

How many years have you been a sport/performance RD?
I have been a sports RD for 7 years.

Have you held other positions as an RD? If yes, what positions have you held?
Yes. UCLA Director of Sports Nutrition – prior to coming to Duke, I served as the Director of Sports Nutrition for UCLA Athletics, overseeing the nutrition operations for all 24 Varsity Sports.

How many years have you been a CPSDA professional member? How many Annual Conferences have you attended?
I have been a member for 7 years and have attended 10 Annual Conference.

What other professional development opportunities hosted by CPSDA have you participated in?
• 2019-20 & 2020-21 Gatorade SNIP Kickoff – (presenter for the 2020-21 Kickoff)
• Attendee to the 2019 Inaugural CPSDA Business Leadership Workshop.
• Hosted the 2018 CPSDA Boot Camp on our campus at Duke.
• Invited Attendee to the 2016 Advanced Practice Workshop in Colorado Springs
• Participate in several webinars hosted by CPSDA and CPSDA sponsors
• Participate in various social media efforts for the CPSDA.
• Participate in various focus groups for CPSDA Sponsors.
• Boot Camp Attendee in 2013 and 2015.

Please describe your current involvement with the CPSDA.
• Current Scholarship and Awards Committee Chair (2020-21)
• Current Conference Committee Member (2020-21)
• Current CPSDA Gatorade SNIP Fellowship Mentor (2020-21 Class)
• Official Reviewer for the CPSDA Elevate Membership Toolkit, Collegiate Edition
• 2019-20 CPSDA Scholarships and Awards Committee Member
• 2019-20 Mentor for the CPSDA Gatorade SNIP Fellowship Program
• Contribute to various social media efforts for the CPSDA.

Are there any other leadership roles which you have held outside of CPSDA which have prepared you for a role on the Board of Directors?
• Founder and current leader for the Eating Disorder Interdisciplinary Team (EDIT) for Duke Athletics
• Founding board member for the Duke Integrative Performance Excellence Group
• Co-developer and leader of Duke Body First – a peer-led workshop series designed for female-student athlete empowerment, health and overall well-being.
• Next Step Raleigh Paralysis Recovery Center volunteer, leading nutrition workshops and fundraising efforts
• Various leadership roles within my church community.

Please describe why you should be selected as a potential CPSDA Board Member.
My devotion to the CPSDA and passion for its continued growth runs very deep, as I have been an active member since its second year as a chartered organization. I did not know a single person at the beginning of my first conference, yet I left feeling like I had a new family. Without the CPSDA and its dedicated leaders whom I have had the privilege to call mentors and colleagues, my career would not be where it is today. For this reason, I have a strong desire to give back by serving on the Board of Directors. I am committed to the continued growth of our profession, as well as the individual growth of every professional and student member of the organization. I have held many volunteer roles within CPSDA throughout the past 9 years, allowing me to learn about many aspects of the organization through different lenses. Throughout my career as a sports RD and as a student, I have worked within four different collegiate athletic departments, which has given me a vast understanding of some of the varying needs from institution to institution. In my current role at Duke University, I have had the opportunity to build a brand new department from the ground up at a NCAA Division 1 Power 5 Conference school. Additionally, I am the leader of our Eating Disorder Interdisciplinary Team and serve as a founding board member for our Integrative Performance Excellence Group.
I have a passion for mentorship and leadership that I am confident will serve the CPSDA membership community well. While attending my very first conference as a student, I met a board member who sat down with me and said “how can I help you get to where you want your career to go?” I was absolutely awe-struck by her willingness to help me amidst her already busy career and family life. Having this first mentor in my life was a true launching point for my career and I will forever be grateful to her. Due to that pivotal mentor/mentee relationship, I made it my mission as a professional to always give back to students and young professionals. I have had the privilege to be a preceptor for a number of dietetic interns and student volunteers, including two CPSDA Gatorade SNIP Fellows, and would be delighted to have the opportunity to serve CPSDA as a mentor on a greater scale. I aim to build a positive environment for those who I work with by leading by example, and I fully intend to do the same for the CPSDA membership should I be elected to serve on the Board of Directors. I am confident that my background experiences, my 9 years of involvement with the CPSDA, as well as my personal drive for success make me a suitable candidate to serve on the CPSDA Board of Directors. I look forward to the opportunity to serve this amazing community and continue to carry forward the torch of professional growth, individual development, and ultimately FUELING VICTORY within the CPSDA Community.

Diana Nguyen, MS, RD, LD, CSSD

Describe your current employment as a sport/performance RD:
I am currently a full-time Tactical Performance Dietitian Contractor through KBR for USASOC.

How many years have you been a sport/performance RD?
I have been a sports RD for 12 years.

Have you held other positions as an RD? If yes, what positions have you held?
Yes, Ihave held other positions as an RD.
2010 - 2014 - Assistant Director for Performance Nutrition at Texas A&M University
2015 - 2020 - Director of Sports Nutrition - NC State University
2019 - Present - Owner, Nguyen With Nutrition LLC
2020 - Present - Special Operations Performance Nutritionist - Contractor

How many years have you been a CPSDA professional member? How many Annual Conferences have you attended?
I have been a member for 12 years and have attended 12 Annual Conference.

What other professional development opportunities hosted by CPSDA have you participated in?
I have not participated in any additional professional development courses hosted by CPSDA outside of the annual conference.

Please describe your current involvement with the CPSDA.
I have mentored a SNIP fellow during the 2018-2019 school year and participated on the conference committee for two years. I was also a speaker at the 2018 CPSDA Boot Camp at Duke University.

Are there any other leadership roles which you have held outside of CPSDA which have prepared you for a role on the Board of Directors?
My career path has prepared me for the responsibilities that come with being a member of the Board of Directors.

Please describe why you should be selected as a potential CPSDA Board Member.
Since the formation of CPSDA in 2009, I have been an active member and advocate for our profession. Most recently, I have served on the Conference Committee for the past two years, mentored a SNIP Fellow from 2018-2019, and presented at the CPSDA Boot Camp in 2018 at Duke University. When I attended the very first CPSDA conference I was a wide-eyed Graduate Assistant. Twelve years and 3 job transitions later my passion and my desire to advocate for our profession has only grown. In 2010 I was hired as the Assistant Director of Performance Nutrition at Texas A&M right after graduate school. I spent an incredible 4.5 years there before accepting the position as Director of Sports Nutrition for NC State. There, I was able to build the Sports Nutrition Department right after the NCAA feeding rules relaxed and allowed dietitians to fuel athletes properly. After spending 5 years overseeing the program at NC State, I was ready for my next challenge, which came in 2020 when I accepted a job as a Tactical Performance Dietitian Contracted with KBR to work for USASOC. It has been quite the journey and each step has taught me something new and allowed me to grow into the practitioner I am today. When I was a student, the field of sports nutrition looked a lot different than it does now. As times change and our field grows, it is my mission to empower my fellow sports dietitians, and advocate and educate for our profession. CPSDA plays a huge role in educating, advocating, and supporting Sports/Performance Dietitians in their various career paths and I look forward to the opportunity to bring my vision and drive to the Board of Directors. I believe that my knowledge and perspective make me the right candidate to represent our CPSDA family on the Board of Directors. My goal in becoming a member of the Board of Directors is to continue to give our CPSDA members a voice, support, resources, career advice, and a commitment to excellence. It would be an honor to be able to represent our members on the Board of Directors.

Brett Singer, MS, RD, CSSD, LD

Describe your current employment as a sport/performance RD:
Sports Dietitian for Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute and Contract Dietitian for Houston Dynamo FC.

How many years have you been a sport/performance RD?
I have been a sports RD for 8 years.

Have you held other positions as an RD? If yes, what positions have you held?
Yes. I was a clinical dietitian for Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center for 2+ years prior to transitioning into my role with Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute. I was also an adjunct professor at University of Houston within their Master of Athletic Training program.

How many years have you been a CPSDA professional member? How many Annual Conferences have you attended?
I have been a member for 6 years and have attended 4 Annual Conference.

What other professional development opportunities hosted by CPSDA have you participated in?
SNIP Orientation 2017 and 2019, Advanced Practice Workshop 2020 and Boot Camp 2020, 2021

Please describe your current involvement with the CPSDA.
I am currently finishing up my first two year term on the Board of Directors as the Secretary and Membership Chair. Within my role on the board, my main responsibilities have been:
Boot Camp - Organize speakers and update presentations/topics to better fit the needs of students and young professionals.
Membership Survey - Updated, organized and managed our first membership survey since 2017. We then collected this data and presented it to the BOD in order to help inform our future direction as an organization. We will continue to reference back to these surveys throughout the next few years. Prior to the survey, we completed weekly membership calls checking in with members from across the organization to ask for their feedback.
Elections/Nominating Committee: Worked with nominating committee to propose a bylaw amendment to update minimum experience for BOD and better define the role of the nominating committee. This was then proposed to CPSDA Professional Membership for a vote.
Webinars - I have helped moderate webinars periodically throughout the year.
In addition to my primary role on the BOD - other areas in which I help contribute are:
- Providing topic and speaker ideas for future webinars
- Helping summarize existing research for evaluation of prospective partners
Prior to my time on the Board of Directors:
- I served on the conference committee in 2019, and spoke at the annual conference in 2017 and 2018.
- I served as a SNIP Mentor in 2017 and 2019.
- I also spoke at American Society for Nutrition (ASN) in 2019 and American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Annual Conference (AMSSM) in 2019 on behalf of CPSDA.

Are there any other leadership roles which you have held outside of CPSDA which have prepared you for a role on the Board of Directors?
Outside of CPSDA - my colleagues and I at Memorial Hermann created and managed a local sports nutrition conference in 2018 and 2019 which had attendees and speakers from across the state of Texas. We developed the concept, reached out to prospective attendees from across the state, found speakers and topics, and organized all the other details which come with hosting a conference. We had great success the first two years and are hopeful to continue post-pandemic. This has been a unique leadership challenge for my colleagues and I.

Please describe why you should be selected as a potential CPSDA Board Member.
CPSDA has been incredibly influential within my career. It has been immensely helpful in expanding my network and developing my understanding of sports nutrition.
Serving as a preceptor for dietetic interns and then eventually as a SNIP Mentor helped formulate my passion for student and professional development. My goal as a member of CPSDA and the Board of Directors are to serve any way I can to help our profession to continue to advance.
I believe my passion for teaching and reading research have been influential on the BOD as we work to find new ways to help elevate the profession of sports nutrition. We continue to offer more and more webinars for our membership. We've updated, improved, and raised the level of content within our annual boot camp. At the request of our members, we've provided new forms of education on mentorship and leadership.
I am hopeful to utilize my strengths to continue to support CPSDA any way I can.

Ema Thake, MS, RD, CSSD

Describe your current employment as a sport/performance RD:
I am currently employed at the University of Washington in my sixth year as the Director of Performance Nutrition. I manage a team of dietitians, fueling managers, and intern/graduate students to provide exemplary care to our student athletes. I am responsible for managing the nutrition budget, leading collaborations between medical and performance staffs with our department, and continuing to lead the nutrition department with a growth mindset.

How many years have you been a sport/performance RD?
I have been a sports RD for 8 years.

Have you held other positions as an RD? If yes, what positions have you held?
Yes. From 2013-2014, I held a position as an inpatient oncology dietitian at USC Keck Medical Center. I covered the oncology floor each day and worked with physicians and the rest of the care team to deliver medical nutrition therapy to cancer patients. From 2014-2015, I worked at Intermountain Healthcare and began the Sports and Wellness nutrition program within that outpatient clinic. I was the first sports dietitian in a role there and provided medical nutrition therapy to corporate clients as well as worked closely with a sleep apnea clinic providing weight management and weight loss counseling.

How many years have you been a CPSDA professional member? How many Annual Conferences have you attended?
I have been a member for 7 years and have attended 8 Annual Conferences.

What other professional development opportunities hosted by CPSDA have you participated in?
2014 - Bootcamp
2015 - Advanced Practice Workshop
2018 - Conference Planning Committee
2020 - Leadership Workshop
2020 - Selected as SNIP host site
2021 - Selected to interview as a SNIP host site

Please describe your current involvement with the CPSDA.
I have been fortunate to be involved in CPDSDA in various areas throughout the years I have been with the organization. On multiple occasions, I have taken time to mentor and work with students on resume skills and interview preparation. In 2018, I worked with the committee to plan the conference in 2018, learning about the in's and out's of the involvement of our vendors, speakers, guests, and administrators. In 2020, I was chosen to host a SNIP fellow. I have had a great experience with our current fellow and am grateful to have been selected again for the 2021 year!

Are there any other leadership roles which you have held outside of CPSDA which have prepared you for a role on the Board of Directors?
For the last four years, I have served on the PAC12 Health and Wellness Committee as the dietitian representative for the conference. In addition to sitting on the committee as the dietitian spokesperson, I have helped plan the conference and sat on that committee.

Please describe why you should be selected as a potential CPSDA Board Member.
As I was preparing to walk across the stage and receive my Master’s degree in Sports Nutrition from the University of Utah, I remember asking the question “ok, now what? Where do I go from here, how do I get the jobs, how do I network?” I reached out to someone I had spent the previous year in school with and asked him “how did you get that job??” His response was, “the only place you need to look is CPSDA.” That message changed my career.
The mission of the CPSDA is to create leaders who elevate the profession of Sports Nutrition through ethical, science-based, cutting-edge care. In order to do that, you need leaders on the board that know where we have come from. I have spent 8 years attending conferences and becoming integrated in the organization, first as a student networking for that first job, and now as a veteran member that is passionate about the growth and advocacy of our profession as sports RD’s.
I believe that in order to provide cutting-edge care, a dietitian needs to understand where the profession has come from, have the passion to continually grow and change. They need to have made mistakes of their own, and most importantly, has to have learned from them. I am a sports dietitian that has learned tough lessons, proved resilient in challenging professional and personal situations, and has maintained a growth mindset, with my primary goal to be to provide the most up to date evidence-based care and education to athlete’s and aspiring sports dietitians alike.
As a sports dietitian, I have held leadership positions at the PAC12 conference level, working with the Health and Wellness Committee as the dietitian representative for the conference. I have been a part of the conference planning committee for the past four years and have enjoyed planning educations sessions and nutrition speakers.
I believe that one of my greatest strengths as a dietitian comes from the lessons learned from various experiences in my professional career. I practice work-life integration and having a growth mindset as I approach each day. I look forward to the opportunity to represent all members of the CPSDA, and to advocate for the ever-changing role that the sports dietitian holds. I commit to being consistent and giving honest feedback, being a transparent partner in business, and to dedicating time to develop and teach young and new dietitians that are enthusiastic about the field of sports nutrition and all that it will evolve into.

Liz Wluka, MS, RD, CSSD, LD

Describe your current employment as a sport/performance RD:
I am currently the Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Connecticut. I am responsible for planning, developing, and implementing all performance nutrition services provided to all 24 teams. I am the first full-time sports dietitian hired by the athletics department in 2017.

How many years have you been a sport/performance RD?
I have been a sports RD for 4.5 years.

Have you held other positions as an RD? If yes, what positions have you held?
Yes. I completed the Gatorade Sports Nutrition Program (SNIP) at UNC- Chapel Hill from 2016-2017. After completing SNIP I was hired shortly after as the Director of Sports Nutrition at UConn in my first full-time position.

How many years have you been a CPSDA professional member? How many Annual Conferences have you attended?
I have been a member for 4.5 years and have attended 5 Annual Conferences.

What other professional development opportunities hosted by CPSDA have you participated in?
I attended the CPSDA Boot Camp in 2016, the Advanced Practice Workshop in 2017 and 2018 and the Inaugural Business Leadership Workshop in 2019. I have also attended all webinars provided by Women’s Leaders Performance Institute.

Please describe your current involvement with the CPSDA.
As the first CPSDA Student Committee Advisor, I have been able to work with our student committee to deliver a variety of new resources to our student members and support their future needs as sports dietitians. In the past 6 months, the student committee and I have added 2 additional committee members, created forums (“Opportunities in Sports Nutrition” and “ How to Ace the Interview”), organized newsletters, as well as added student resources to the CPSDA website, including; books, podcasts, newsletters and more. In addition, we have created a survey to better understand who makes up our student members and what their needs are. I find this role pivotal as our student members are the future of our organization and need our guidance and mentorship during this time.
This past January I spoke at the virtual CPSDA Boot Camp on the topic “How to Get your Foot in the Door” to inspire students to create their own opportunities and network during these challenging times. At the 2019 CPSDA Annual Conference I presented on the topic “ Sports RD 101: Keys to your First Experience.” I talked about “what I wish I knew” during the interview process when looking for my first job and shared insights behind my personal experience to provide guidance to students and early professionals on interview strategies. During the CPSDA conference in 2018 I had the opportunity to present on behalf of Gatorade and shared my SNIP experience to further encourage student members and early dietitians looking to get into the field. During the virtual CPSDA Annual Conference in 2020, I organized the virtual career center, connecting 25+ students and early professionals with mentors in our field for resume and cover letter review and advice via zoom calls.

Are there any other leadership roles which you have held outside of CPSDA which have prepared you for a role on the Board of Directors?
As the first-full time Director of Sports Nutrition at UConn, I have created and implemented nutrition services available to all student athletes.

Please describe why you should be selected as a potential CPSDA Board Member.
I attribute my entire career thus far to CPSDA and I want to give back and inspire the next generation of sports dietitians. In the past 5 years I have been fortunate to attend all of the CPSDA workshops (2016 Boot Camp, 2017 and 2018 Advanced Practice Workshops, and the 2019 Inaugural Business Leadership Workshop). I am the first CPSDA Student Committee Advisor, which has been an incredible experience. Mentoring our student members as they prepare for their future as sports dietitians has been an honor. As a proud SNIP alumni, I understand the goals of this fellowship program to support and lead our future sports dietitians. With my experience, I can provide a unique and insightful perspective to enhance CPSDA opportunities for our current and future members.
This past August I created the Sports RD Snippets podcast, where I interview sports dietitians across the country that share advice, insights, and rewards of the profession, “snippets” of their own career path to becoming a Sports RD. The goal of my podcast is to inspire and influence students that want to become sports dietitians and for current dietitians to learn more about their colleagues. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many students were challenged with gaining hands-on experience. This created a need for stories and experiences from veteran and experienced sports dietitians to encourage and educate them during this time. As an experienced member within the CPSDA community, I knew I had a unique opportunity to bring our student, qualified, experienced and veterans members together. Currently the podcast has over 9,000 downloads in less than 6 months and 350+ listeners each week. What makes this podcast special is that “Sports RD Snippets” would be nothing without its guests. We are inspiring each other and it has been an incredible experience to share other sports dietitian’s stories in hopes to “cheer” on any student or early professional that may need inspiration during this time to fuel their future. The role that the podcast plays (hopefully in your life) is the exact way I hope to represent the Board of Directors and bridge the gap between veteran and early sports dietitians.
As Generation Z moves up in the field, I feel a responsibility to bring us all together. We have to find a way to utilize each other’s expertise to help better our profession and unify our community as sports dietitians. By bridging that gap, we can bring our vision, mission and values together as we move our profession forward in the next decade and elevate the field of sports nutrition.