Alison Brown is the Project Research Manager for the New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative (NJHKI) in the Institute for Food, Nutrition, & Health at Rutgers University. Alison holds a Master of Science degree in Community Nutrition from Rutgers University and is a credentialled Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Alison developed a passion for nutrition and health at a young age when she realized how much her diet affected her ability to train and perform as a competitive swimmer. In her career as a dietitian Alison has worked with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) to educate limited resource families how to make nutritious food choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles. Alison embodies the healthy lifestyle she hopes to communicate to the public. She loves to prepare and eat healthy meals with her family, grows her own vegetables and herbs in her home garden, and is an active community member at a CrossFit gym in the New Brunswick area. Alison hopes to continue to promote health equity as well as healthy lifestyles among New Jersey families through her work at NJHKI.
Dr. Erin Comollo is the Program Development Administrator for the New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative (NJHKI) in the Institute for Food, Nutrition, & Health at Rutgers University. She is a strong believer that a fitness and nutrition play a crucial role in children’s physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development. As a former classroom teacher, Erin brings over twelve years of teaching and curriculum development expertise to the initiative. Additionally, Erin is a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2 Trainer) and holds a CrossFit Kids certification. She has worked with individuals, small groups, and children to develop healthy lifestyles that focus on fitness and nutrition. Erin received an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and Fine Arts from The College of New Jersey. She completed her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Supervision with The College of New Jersey as well. Erin completed her Doctorate of Education at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education with a concentration in Teacher Leadership. Her doctoral dissertation study focused on the outcomes of introducing and implementing a teacher professional development program within a school.
Dr. Sara Elnakib is an Educator/Assistant Professor of the Department of Family & Community Health Sciences at Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Research Associate for the New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative (NJHKI). Her research focuses on the use of policy, systems, and environmental approaches to promote child health equity and environmental stewardship, primarily in school and community settings. Sara has received research funding from the EPA and Horizon Foundation to research the intersection of nutrition literacy, environmental education, and healthy eating. Her dissertation focused on food waste in the school setting and how behavioral economics can be leveraged to reduce food waste. She completed her doctoral degree in Social and Behavioral Health Science at Rutgers School of Public Health. Sara is also a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), has a Master’s of Public Health degree in Health Education and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and completed her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University.
Roger F. Grillo, MBA is the Director for Administration and Finance at the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health working with the university’s central administration, faculty, staff and students to provide an environment that stimulates learning, exploration, growth and research. Roger provides senior level planning, management, and strategic leadership for the day-to-day operations of the institute, with primary emphasis on strategic planning, fiscal planning, budget management, facilities management and maintenance, security, laboratory safety, and information technology. Roger was a driving force in the design and construction of the institute’s current home on the George H. Cook Campus. An 80,000 GSF facility home to over a 150 students, staff and faculty with an open space design for laboratory and office space. Roger is a member of the inaugural class of the Rutgers Leadership Academy. A two year program focused on development of cross-cutting leadership concepts, competencies and tools.
Christopher Gunning is a Clinical Nutritionist who works with Rutgers Student Health Services, providing medical nutrition therapy counseling to the undergraduate and graduate student population on the Rutgers — New Brunswick campus. He also works with the University’s multidisciplinary eating disorder team and oversees the Nutrition Advocates undergraduate peer education program. Christopher believes that a well-balanced diet, adequate physical activity, and proper sleep are essential for maintaining optimal health throughout all stages of life. Christopher has served in multiple leadership roles, including Region One Co-Chair (2013-2015) and Web Chair (2015-2017) for the New Jersey Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NJAND); and Professional Development Coordinator (2015-2016) and Chair (2016-2018) for the National Organization of Men in Nutrition (NOMIN). Christopher is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and has been recognized as an Outstanding Dietetics Student (2012) and Emerging Dietetics Leader (2016) by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences with a concentration in Dietetics from Rutgers University and has also begun graduate coursework towards his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
Daniel Hoffman
Co- PI, NJHKI and Director, IFNH Center for Childhood Nutrition Education & Research
848-932-0272
dhoffman@sebs.rutgers.edu
Co- PI, NJHKI and Director, IFNH Center for Childhood Nutrition Education & Research
848-932-0272
dhoffman@sebs.rutgers.edu
Daniel Hoffman is an Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University and the Director of the Center for Childhood Nutrition Education and Research who studies the long-term effects of poor growth on later health with research projects in Brazil, Mexico, and Kenya. Daniel has received research funding from the NIH, USDA, and USAID to conduct research on a number of aspects related to diet and growth and metabolism in children. Daniel is an author of numerous papers and chapters on energy metabolism, body composition, and pediatric nutrition as well as the Co-Executive Editor of Appetite and Deputy Editor of the British Journal of Nutrition. In addition, Daniel is an expert consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations where he provides advising on nutrition-related projects using stable isotopes. Daniel received his PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and completed post-doctoral training at Columbia University before joining the faculty at Rutgers in 2001.
Peggy Policastro
Nutritionist, Rutgers Dining Services and Director, IFNH Culinary Health Program
848-932-5477
peggyp@rutgers.edu
Nutritionist, Rutgers Dining Services and Director, IFNH Culinary Health Program
848-932-5477
peggyp@rutgers.edu
Dr. Peggy Policastro, RDN is the Director of Behavioral Nutrition at the IFNH. Peggy works with children and adolescents using Behavioral Economics to nudge indivuduals towards healthier food choices. Peggy believes making a healthy food choice the easiest/most salient option is the most effective way to encourage behavior change. Peggy has used the various dining facilities as living laboratories to harness behavior change. Her research findings showed that just posting a simple calorie message about sugar sweetened beverages, increased water sales by approximately 6% over seven weeks. Peggy is a Registered Dietitian who was named the 2012 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Nutrition Educator of the Year. She directs the IFNH Student Ambassador Program and was named 2018 Rutgers University Student Supervisor of the Year. Peggy also runs Health and Wellness Program at the IFNH where she works closely with Chefs to institute Menus of Change principles and is an active member of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative where she holds the position of Chair of the Academic Committee. Peggy holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies-Nutritional Science and Psychology from Rutgers University.
Faith Qualshie is the Program Coordinator for the New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative (NJHKI). As a former public school counselor, she has spent a decade providing youth and families with resources that promote academic, social, and emotional health. As an adult, Faith developed a passion for physical fitness through her involvement in competitive Olympic Weightlifting and discovered the importance of nutrition and sleep for adequate recovery and performance in her sport. She believes nutritional and physical literacies are fundamental to healthy child development and self-actualization. Faith holds a Master’s degree in Counseling from Kean University, Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer certificate. Faith is excited to be a part of NJHKI to combine her background in education and psychology with her passion for physical and nutritional health.
Arnold Rabson
Co-PI, NJHKI and Director, Child Health Institute of New Jersey
732-235-9523
rabsonab@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Co-PI, NJHKI and Director, Child Health Institute of New Jersey
732-235-9523
rabsonab@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Dr. Arnold Rabson is the Director of the Child Health Institute of New Jersey (CHINJ) and co-Principal Investigator for the NJHKI. Arnold has an M.D. from Brown University, and obtained residency training from Harvard and research training at the National Institutes of Health. Arnold has had a long and productive career as a research scientist and a scientific administrator. His research group has made major discoveries in diverse research areas such as the molecular basis of HIV/AIDS progression, altered gene regulation in cancer and fundamental pathways in growth and development. He has also served as the Deputy Director of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Senior Associate Dean for Research prior to his current position at CHINJ. Arnold is excited by the tremendous potential of the NJHKI to reveal novel biomarkers of healthy childhood growth and development and to study the fundamental pathways critical for this development.
