funny baby eating healthy food on kitchen

About the Board

The WIC Community Innovation and Outreach (WIC CIAO) Project Advisory Board reflects the diversity of communities served by WIC and supplements the disciplines and expertise of the Project Team. Advisory Board members have demonstrated deep expertise in sectors complementary to the Project Team, including research, advocacy, childcare, communications, community organizing, healthcare, nutrition/dietetics, philanthropy, racial justice, rural communities, WIC technology, and WIC administration. 

The Advisory Board includes individuals from a variety of backgrounds and combines the expertise of nationally recognized experts on WIC innovation and outreach with that of current and former WIC participants.

Meet The Board

Headshot of Doctor Carolyn Barnes

Dr. Carolyn Barnes, PhD

Assistant Professor
Duke University

Headshot of Toni Bolton

Toni Bolton

Recovery Specialist and Advisor,
Advocates for Children of New Jersey

Whitney Carlson

Whitney Carlson

Senior Manager,
National WIC Association Recruitment & Retention Campaign

Headshot of Laura Conklin

Laura Conklin, MPH

Director, Community Health Initiatives
American Academy of Pediatrics

Headshot of Robert Ferguson

Robert Ferguson, MPH

Chief Policy Officer
Jewish Healthcare Foundation

Headshot of Nicole Garro

Nicole Garro, MPH

Director, Early Childhood
Health Programs
Child Care Aware of America

Headshot of Julie Hampton-Lyon

Julie Hampton-Lyon, RDN, LD

Registered Dietitian

Headshot of doctor Kanika Harris

Dr. Kanika Harris, PhD, MPH

Director of Maternal and Child Health
Black Women's Health Imperative

Headshot of Alice Lenihan

Alice Lenihan, MPH, RD, LDN

Former Branch Head for
Nutrition Services
North Carolina Division of Public Health

Sandy Martini Cropped

Sandy Martini

VP/COO
Native Agriculture Financial Services

Headshot of Misha Marvel

Misha Marvel, MSW

Manager, Early Childhood Nutrition Policy & Engagement
Hunger Solutions New York

Headshot of Cheri Nemec

Cheri Nemec, RDN, CD, CLS, IBC

WIC Program Director, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.
Chair, National Indian and Native American WIC Coalition (NINAWC)

Headshot of Dr. Angela Odoms-Young

Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, PhD

Associate Professor and Director of the Food and Nutrition Education in Communities Program (FNEC) and New York State Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University

Tina Sherman headshot

Tina Sherman

Senior Campaign Director
MomsRising

Headshot of Diane Sullivan, Founder of Equitable Spaces

Diane Sullivan

Co-Founder
Equitable Spaces