ABOUT
Sharing Excitement. Sharing Ideas. Sharing Community.
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Network with fellow dietetic students & nutrition professionals and learn about the various opportunities in our field
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Attend monthly meetings & hear from featured speakers from diverse subcategories of the field (sports nutrition, clinical, workplace wellness, & more)
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Develop your leadership skills and get involved with your campus & community – we have several subcommittees in which you can explore your interests
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Receive guidance & support for the DICAS process - SNDA members get free entry to our Dietetic Internship Application Workshop!
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Access to our bimonthly newsletter - The Bite straight to your inbox
MEET THE TEAM
ADVISORS
Jennifer Stimson, MS, RD
DPD Director
Jennifer graduated from the University of Georgia with a Masters degree in Foods and Nutrition where she also completed her internship. In addition to being a registered dietitian Jennifer is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant after having worked for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for more than five years. She has a wide range of experience in nutrition from public relations work for Ketchum’s Food and Beverage Practice to providing medical nutrition therapy to patients with HIV/AIDs at San Mateo County’s Edison Clinic to managing a meal program serving over 500 children in the Head Start program. When she is not teaching she enjoys cooking, eating, gardening, traveling and taking hikes.
Dr. Gretchen George, Ph.D, RD
Associate Professor
I am passionate about prevention and empowerment. In the role of Associate Professor and Co-Program Lead of Nutrition and Dietetics at SF State, I facilitate learning in nutrition education, metabolism, community nutrition, and research design courses. In the classroom I share findings from food literacy research in food insecure students. Additionally, I include students in community-based research involving overweight youth experiencing stress (divorce, social, physical, psychological) and have begun exploring body stigma in health-related majors.
LEADERS
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JULIA NERCESSIAN
President
Hello, my name is Julia Nercessian (she/her) and I have the honor and pleasure of serving as president of SNDA!
This May I will be graduating with a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics with the plan of beginning an Entry Level Masters Program in Nursing. Learning about all things nutrition has been the essence of my life, from family to friends and now schooling. As a nurse, I plan to implement my background in nutrition by way of becoming a diabetes educator and advocating for nutrition intervention with dieticians and doctors for my patients.
Traveling, trying new food, theater, fine art and slow evenings outdoors are some things I enjoy the most in life.
YSABEL IMPERIO
Vice President
Hey y’all!! My name is Ysabel. I’m a transfer student from College of San Mateo. This is my third year of school and I’m now studying Nutrition and Dietetics (Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences) at SF State for my bachelors degree. After switching around from major to major such as Business Administration and Film, Television & Digital Media, I soon realized that Nutrition is my passion. I truly believe in eating a balanced diet and that all foods fit for a truly happy and healthy lifestyle. I’m also interested in learning more about the mind, behavior and personality as I try to empathize with people. I also truly believe in taking care of your mental health along with your physical health. And lastly, I truly believe in an active lifestyle for everyone. At the end of the day, I hope to become a Registered Dietician in the future so I can help others.
I joined Balance Beings & EDucate since I thought it would be a great idea to meet new people that share the same interest as me and for me to do something I’m passionate about. Another reason I joined Balanced Beings is because I love working with children as I would volunteer
in elementary schools during high school. I also think that it is important for children to learn the importance of nutrition when they are young as it helps stem their relationship with food when they are older. And lastly, the reason I joined EDucate is that I think it’s important to bring awareness to eating disorders.
Besides my academics, some fun facts about me are that I love to travel, hang out with friends, spend time with my family and play with my dog, guinea pigs & hamster. My hobbies include video editing and doing yoga and pilates for fun. I also love to listen to different types of
music and I am obsessed with Harry Potter, Marvel & Disney.
ERIKA LEPE
Secretary
Hello! My name is Erika Lepe. I'm a graduating senior majoring in Nutrition & Dietetics with a concentration in Foods and Community Nutrition and minoring in Public Health.
After taking a 12-year break from school, I was very nervous to come back, but after just 3 semesters and summer courses, I'm excited to say that I am in my last year. Discovering new possible avenues to continue my career journey. A true definition of it is never too late to restart.
ANNA MURRAY
Treasurer
Hi Everyone!
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My name is Anna Murray and I am currently a junior participating as a Post-Baccalaureate in the Dietetics and Nutrition program here at SFSU. Before falling in love with all things health and nutrition I received my first degree in finance and worked for an accounting firm for three years. During the pandemic I joined a nutritional challenge at my local gym. This experience was so transformative and enlightening that I decided to quit my job and pursue the RDN certification. I was astonished to learn about the surplus of misinformation and lack of education regarding nutrition in our society and hope to make this information more accessible to all ages.
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When I am not studying you can find me teaching group fitness classes at F45 San Rafael, running off to Lake Tahoe to snowboard, or curling up with my two cats and a good book. I am looking forward to this year with all of you!
SARAH ZUBERI
Website Coordinator & Newsletter Editor
Hello Everyone! My name is Sarah Zuberi and I am a graduating senior in the Nutrition and Dietetics program at San Francisco State University. I am passionate about all things nutrition and upon graduation hope to work in community nutrition in underserved or refugee communities. My interest in working in these communities was sparked by my time living in the Bay Area and realizing how inaccessible nutrition or nutritional services are in low-income and marginalized communities.
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When I'm not studying you can find me working on my clothing brand @zuberistudios, trying new food and coffee shops, hiking, working out, or spending time with my cats! Looking forward to this year with you all!
YSABEL IMPERIO
Balanced Beings Subcommittee Leader
Hey y’all!! My name is Ysabel. I’m a transfer student from College of San Mateo. This is my fourth year of school and I’m now studying Nutrition and Dietetics (Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences) at SF State for my bachelors degree. After switching around from major to major such as Business Administration and Film, Television & Digital Media, I soon realized that Nutrition is my passion. I truly believe in eating a balanced diet and that all foods fit for a truly happy and healthy lifestyle. I’m also interested in learning more about the mind, behavior and personality as I try to empathize with people. I also truly believe in taking care of your mental health along with your physical health. And lastly, I truly believe in an active lifestyle for everyone. At the end of the day, I hope to become a Registered Dietician in the future so I can help others.
I joined Balance Beings & EDucate since I thought it would be a great idea to meet new people that share the same interest as me and for me to do something I’m passionate about. Another reason I joined Balanced Beings is because I love working with children as I would volunteer
in elementary schools during high school. I also think that it is important for children to learn the importance of nutrition when they are young as it helps stem their relationship with food when they are older. And lastly, the reason I joined EDucate is that I think it’s important to bring awareness to eating disorders.
Besides my academics, some fun facts about me are that I love to travel, hang out with friends, spend time with my family and play with my dog, guinea pigs & hamster. My hobbies include video editing and doing yoga and pilates for fun. I also love to listen to different types of
music and I am obsessed with Harry Potter, Marvel & Disney.
CHRISTINA NGUYEN
Sports Nutrition Subcommittee Leader
Hii Everyone! I'm Christina Nguyen, a graduating Senior in San Francisco State's Dietetics Program. I'm looking forward to becoming a future Nurse Practitioner whose specialty is TBD. I love being active by going to the gym, going on hikes, being outdoors. I love trying new things and meeting new people so trying new foods and cooking new recipes is always fun for me!
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As the Co-Leader of Sports Nutrition I'm really looking forward to spreading information that student/non-student athletes and active people may not be aware of and becoming more aware myself of what's out there in terms of Sports Nutrition.
