Directors

Bec McDorman, MS, RDN, LD, FAND (Communications Director) Bec received her Master’s in Agriculture at Cal Poly Pomona, while simultaneously completing the Didactic Program in Dietetics. She completed her dietetic internship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. She currently works for NANA Management Services as the Regional Registered Dietitian in Anchorage, AK with her cats Paisley Blue, Eerie and Igor.


Justine Karduck, PhD, RDN, LDN, CDCES (Member Services Director) is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Justine directs a top-ranked accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics, whose graduates achieve a 100% first-year pass rate on the national CDR Registered Dietitian Certification Exam. As a former clinical dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist, she utilizes many years of experience in the field to train future dietitians. The focus of her Ph.D. was on the role of health apps in glycemic control and dietary-related outcomes in patients with diabetes and obesity. Outside of work, Justine enjoys chasing her twin boys around to all of their sporting activities and hiking with her two German Shepherds, Hazel and Axl.


Katie Fann, MS, RDN, LD, CSOWM, CDCES  (Professional Development Director) Katie is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes care and education specialist, and certified specialist in obesity and weight management.  She received her masters in medical nutrition from Saint Louis University where she also completed her dietetic internship. She has been working with patients with diabetes, weight management and general nutrition for over 10 years. She currently is an Obesity Educator with Novo Nordisk, helping decrease obesity bias and increase the treatment of obesity. She previously was a practice manager of a medical weight management program that she helped design and stand up and registered dietitian specializing in bariatrics and obesity medicine. When she is not at work, she is at home with her husband and three kids.


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Sarah T. Henes, PhD, RD, LD (Research Director) Sarah's current research includes: The FoodMASTER initiative (PI: Dr. Melanie Duffrin, Northern Illinois University). Teaches math and science through food and nutrition, with a focus on underserved youth. As State Coordinator for EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) Sarah's work focuses on both adult and youth nutrition programming and curricula for low income families, collaborating with other Extension and Department colleagues (i.e. SNAP-Ed, 4H), and developing a variety of community partnerships throughout the state of Georgia for nutrition, health, and wellness.

Connie Diekman, M.Ed., RD, CSSD, LD, FADA, FAND (Network Director) is a Food and Nutrition Consultant in St. Louis, Missouri. A Former President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a former chair of the American Heart Association – Missouri affiliate. She is a Former Chair of the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group, a subunit of the Academy. A former television and radio nutrition reporter Diekman is quoted regularly by the media on nutrition issues. Diekman is the author of two books.