Professional Development

2013 RDDA Professional Development Stipend
Recipients

Congratulations to the three RDDA members who recieved the 2013 Professional Development Stipend. Learn more about these members and their experiences below:

Professional Stpend Winner: Anna Matteson

Anna graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition & Dietetics from UNC-Greensboro and went on to receive her Master of Science in Nutrition.  As an undergraduate, she was a Community Grant Research Award finalist for her project entitled, “Evaluation of Food Security, Nutritional Outcomes and Program Satisfaction Among Food Assistance, Inc. Participants” which was also presented at the 2010 NCDA Annual Meeting.  While completing her Master’s degree, she was awarded the Public Health Student Research award from the Society for Nutrition Education’s Public Health Division for her project entitled, “Fast Food Consumption & Physical Activity Differ Across Age & Language Preference Among Low Income Children.”  After graduate school, Anna interned at the St Louis Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which had an emphasis in Recognizing and Reducing Health Disparities.  During her internship, Anna was awarded the Public Policy Workshop Scholarship from the St Louis Dietetic Association.  She published nutrition articles for a local newspaper as well as newsletters for the hospital.  Anna has an active background in public policy and community nutrition.  She has devoted her time to understanding the importance of federal and local food assistance/nutrition programs through her work with low-income populations.  She has been an instructor for programs such as Cooking Matters and School Outreach, as well as spent time interviewing low-income populations regarding the importance of the SNAP program.  Anna’s passion for policy has become evident through her participation in rallies while in college; her attendance at Legislative day in Jefferson, MO; and, her attendance at the 2012 and 2013 Public Policy Workshops.  Anna is currently expanding her professional experiences as a clinical dietitian for the North Carolina State Veteran’s Home in Fayetteville NC.  She is new to the RDDA but has been a member of the SNE-public health division (where she served as secretary and student liaison), AND, SLDA, and NCDA.

Anna's Review of 2013 PPW event:
Developing an Influential Message

Board Member Stipend Winner: Jessica Oswald

Jessica Oswald is a registered dietitian/nutritionist (RDN) with the Commission on Dietetics Registration and a licensed dietitian/nutritionist with the state of North Carolina. She completed her undergraduate education at Western Carolina University in 2006. She then attended graduate school and the dietetic internship at Meredith College, graduating from both in 2010. She currently works for the Cooperative Extension branch of NC State University and provided nutrition education programming for Alamance County and Orange County. Jessica can be reached via email at JessicaOswaldRD@gmail.com and you can follow her on twitter at @JessicaO_RD.

Jessica's Review of 2013 PPW event:
Review of AND PPW

Student Stipend Winner: Stacey Bala