AND-STL Executive Committee

Learn more about your 2025-2026 Executive Committee as well as what each position does in AND-STL!

We are always looking for members interested in leadership! Please consider nominating yourself for the next election.

  • Paulina Shetty, MS, RDN, DipACLM, FACLM serves as Chair for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics-St Louis, Senior Advisor for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and as a Nutrition Professor for Johnson County Community College. Her experience spans working in clinical, fitness, public health, academic, and non-profit settings. She received her Bachelor of Science in Medical Dietetics from the University of Missouri, Master of Science in Nutrition and Physical Performance from Saint Louis University, became certified in lifestyle medicine in 2018, and was recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (FACLM) in 2024. She is passionate about sharing the hope of lifestyle medicine to treat and reverse chronic disease as well as restore health for providers, professionals in training, the general public, and friends and family. She resides in Chesterfield, MO with her husband and two boys (ages 5 and 2). She enjoys connecting with fellow dietitians, yoga, occasional horseback riding, and trying new recipes-- or better yet, new restaurants and new foods.

    Goals:

    • Expand the reach of STL-AND, serving valuable engagement, networking, connection, education, and opportunities to and with local dietitians to support one another, the field of dietetics, and our St. Louis community

  • Chair. The Chair serves for one (1) year. Functions of the Chair:

    • Serves as the chair of AND-STL and its Executive Committee.

    • Schedule all board and member meetings throughout the year, including any speaking engagements for continuing education to members. 

    • Has the general powers of supervision and active management of AND-STL.

    • Presides over meetings of the Executive Committee and/or members.

    • Appoints the chair(s) and members of any special committee(s) of the District and defines the reporting mechanism and function of the special committee(s) to the Executive Committee. Examples of such special committees include but are not limited to: Career Guidance, Legislation/Public Policy, Social Media, Website, National Nutrition Month, and Internal Policy Review 

    • Moves into the Past Chair position in the subsequent membership year

  • Position Available! Please reach out to andstlchair@gmail.com

  • Chair-elect. The Chair-elect serves for one (1) year. Functions of the Chair-elect:

    • Serves as a member of the Executive Committee.

    • Performs the functions of the office of Chair in the Chair's absence or when the Chair is unable to perform the functions of the Chair as determined by the Executive Committee.

    • Appoints the chairs and members of all standing committees to serve during the Chair-elect's term as Chair.

    • Prepares the program of work for the term of office as Chair.

    • Moves into the Chair position in the subsequent membership year

    • Performs other duties as specified in the current job description or as designated by the Executive Committee.

  • Current Job Title: Clinical Dietitian I (CVR/PCU & NICU)

    Education: Bachelor’s in Dietetics - FBU (2022); Master’s in Health Advancement & Promotion - FBU (2022)

    About Me: Dietitian since December 2023. Experience working in leadership, wellness, and community outreach. Currently working as an entry-level dietitian at Missouri Baptist. Long-term goals are to become certified as a nutrition support specialist and transition to pediatrics. Passion for advocacy and the special-needs community and accessible nutrition for all. Previous volunteer work includes Friends of Kids with Cancer, Operation Food Search, in St. Louis Area Foodbank. Single mother to my 7-year-old daughter, Lily. Recently purchased a farm to raise our own animals and grow our own food. In my free time, I like to partake in traditional weightlifting, sing karaoke, attend concerts, and try new restaurants.

    Goals:

    • I’m looking forward to connecting with likeminded individuals, continuing our work of providing resources and education to those in our field and also those in need, and bringing awareness to our profession.

  • Treasurer. The Treasurer serves for two (2) years. Functions of the Treasurer:

    • Serves as a member of the Executive Committee.

    • Advises the Executive Committee in the preparation of the annual budget of AND-STL, approves the collection and disbursement of all monies, and authorizes contracts and service agreements.

    • Monitors accounts that are used by AND-STL to send and receive funds, such as bank accounts and payment processing applications

    • Reports the financial status of AND-STL to District members annually.

    • Performs other duties as specified in the current job description or as designated by the Executive Committee.

  • Selena is an outpatient dietitian with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) serving Veterans to best support their nutrition needs in a variety of areas including, but not limited to: diabetes, obesity, and malnutrition. New to the dietetics field, Selena completed her undergraduate degree at Fontbonne in 2019 and finished her internship with the VA in 2020.

    Selena holds a passion for helping to address food insecurity with previous volunteer opportunities with area food outreach organizations.

    As a second career professional and non-traditional student, Selena also holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from San Diego State University and has 15 years experience working in social services, supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities.

    When not at work, Selena enjoys spending time with her husband and three year old daughter.

    Goals:

    • Connect with nutrition professionals to build upon resources and skills to strengthen the profession.

    • Network with area dietitians and interns in the St. Louis area.

  • Corresponding Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary serves for two (2) years. Functions of the Corresponding Secretary:

    • Maintain records of member names, contacts and pertinent professional information as needed.

    • Issue the call for all meetings of the Academy of St. Louis, as directed by the President, at least ten days before the meeting date.

    • In coordination with the Nominating Committee, provide instructions, biographical information on candidates and official ballot to each voting member of the Academy of St. Louis. Once results of the election are received, shall promptly notify the membership of results.

    • Issue dues announcements to the membership and to all Academy members residing in the geographic area served by the Academy of St Louis. 

    • Verify Academy membership of prospective members.

    • Send out electronic messages to membership and manage Email communications.

    • Arrange to welcome members at regular meetings and make it possible for new members and visitors to be introduced. Connect members with appropriate board members if unable to answer proposed questions.

    • Performs other duties as specified in the current job description or as designated by the Executive Committee.

  • I am a dietitian at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital where I work with both inpatient and outpatient populations. I completed both my undergraduate, graduate, and dietetic internship coursework at Saint Louis University. While finishing my graduate degree in the summer of 2024, I started working as a diet tech at Cardinal Glennon before transition to my current role as a registered dietitian after passing the RD exam in the fall of 2024. As a new dietitian, my interests are wide within the pediatric field, however, I have been enjoying my work with committees to address food insecurity and improved procedure outcomes within Cardinal Glennon. Outside of work I enjoy trips to the farmers market, baking, and learning how to care for my new raised garden bed!

    Goals:

    • Provide accurate and timely communication to AND-STL and its subscribers.

    • Network with other dietitians and expand my knowledge of their specialties/roles.

  • Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary serves for two (2) years. Functions of the Recording Secretary:

    • Be responsible for taking minutes at each meeting and having the minutes for all proceedings of the Executive Committee and Board meetings recorded in a document to be kept for that purpose; be responsible for making minutes available to the appropriate group.

    • Assist in filing reports of the Officers and Chairs as needed.

    • Email out to board members at least one week prior to the board meeting to collect all agenda items.

    • Within two business days after meetings, the Recording Secretary shall send out the minutes to all board members.

    • Performs other duties as specified in the current job description or as designated by the Executive Committee.

  • Martha is an Assistant Professor at Saint Louis University, serving in both the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics and the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Her clinical work in both dietetics and speech pathology spans diverse settings, including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, public schools, and pediatric outpatient clinics. Her teaching and research focus on preparing future RDNs and SLPs to collaborate effectively in addressing complex needs in individuals from a variety of backgrounds and abilities. Martha is grateful to be a part of the AND-STL community and appreciates all the amazing RDNs, DTRs, and students within the organization!

    Goals:

    • Connect RDNs in STL to promote the profession and advance our community's health and wellbeing

  • The Nominating Committee will consist of three (3) elected members and the Past Chair. The Chair of the Nominating Committee is the candidate who received the majority of the ballots cast. The Nominating Committee is responsible for:

    • Preparing an official ballot or single slate annually.

    • Ensuring that the nominees meet the formal eligibility requirements of office and are personally and professionally qualified to effectively represent and further the interests of the District.

    • Presenting at least two candidates if holding a contested election for:

      • The office of Chair-elect

      • The office of Corresponding Secretary, in alternating years

      • The office of Recording Secretary, in alternating years

      • The office of Treasurer, in alternating years

      • Each vacancy on the Nominating Committee

        In the event a tie vote occurs in the Nominating Committee activities, further discussion should ensue. If the tie persists, the Nominating Committee Chair will break the tie.

    • Preparing a slate of one candidate for each office listed above if presenting a single slate

    • Submitting the final nominations to the Executive Committee for information and for dissemination to the AND-STLmembership electronically and/or in print prior to the voting process. 

    • Receiving petitions for additional candidates to the ballot/slate

  • Alexis received her Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Dietetics and Nutrition & Exercise Physiology from the University of Missouri. She currently serves as the Director or Nutrition at McCallum Place Eating Disorder Treatment Center, where she leads the nutrition department and works with patients across all levels of care, helping them build a better relationship with food and exercise.

    Goals:

    • Network consistently throughout the year to find candidates and maintain relationships/communication with them.

    • Assist in the maintenance of proper board composition by working to find qualified candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and practice areas to fill board positions as needed.

    • Have a fun and productive year! :)

  • The Nominating Committee will consist of three (3) elected members and the Past Chair. The Chair of the Nominating Committee is the candidate who received the majority of the ballots cast. The Nominating Committee is responsible for:

    • Preparing an official ballot or single slate annually.

    • Ensuring that the nominees meet the formal eligibility requirements of office and are personally and professionally qualified to effectively represent and further the interests of the District.

    • Presenting at least two candidates if holding a contested election for:

      • The office of Chair-elect

      • The office of Corresponding Secretary, in alternating years

      • The office of Recording Secretary, in alternating years

      • The office of Treasurer, in alternating years

      • Each vacancy on the Nominating Committee

        In the event a tie vote occurs in the Nominating Committee activities, further discussion should ensue. If the tie persists, the Nominating Committee Chair will break the tie.

    • Preparing a slate of one candidate for each office listed above if presenting a single slate

    • Submitting the final nominations to the Executive Committee for information and for dissemination to the AND-STLmembership electronically and/or in print prior to the voting process. 

    • Receiving petitions for additional candidates to the ballot/slate

Appointed Positions

  • Helen is a nutrition clinical coordinator and assistant professor at Logan University. She oversees the students in the MS Applied Nutrition and Dietetics Program and delivers courses for Supervised Experiential Learning. She previously worked at Stanford Health Care for a decade, specializing in oncology and nutrition support. Helen completed a DPD at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and interned at West Virginia University Hospitals. In her free time, Helen loves to do jigsaw puzzles leisurely and competitively, listen to audiobooks and podcasts, play board games, make quilts, hike, and attend St. Louis CITY SC games.

    Goals:

    • Create career exploration opportunities.

    • Support aspiring dietitians.

    • Provide practical career tools.

  • Career Guidance Chair:

    • Plan and coordinate all Career Guidance activities, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.

  • Maggie is a dietitian and diabetes educator working as a cardiometabolic educator at Novo Nordisk. She’s worn a few hats in her career—Clinical Dietitian, Clinical Nutrition/Patient Services Manager, and private practice nutrition coach. No matter the role, her passion has always been the same: helping people navigate their health in a way that works for them while recognizing the bigger systemic barriers at play. She also loves teaming up with other healthcare pros and knows that real change happens when we work together.

    Maggie earned her degree from Missouri State University in Springfield and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

    When she’s not talking nutrition, you can find her hanging out with her husband and dog, running, lifting heavy things, dancing while cooking, or birdwatching (because nature rules).

    Goals:

    • Build strong connections with local dietitians—because policy change is more fun with friends.

    • Make the messy world of politics easier to digest, so dietitians can take action for patients struggling with access to care and food.

    • Make sure dietitians are recognized as the nutrition experts.

  • Legislation and Public Policy Committee

    • Composition. The Legislation and Public Policy Committee shall consist of the appointed Chair and up to one other member. The Chair shall agree to serve as a member of the Missouri Academy’s Public Policy Panel as needed.

    • Functions:

      • Inform the membership of any legislative statements, policies, and positions of concern to members of the Academy by submitting to the Corresponding Secretary through the proper form to be sent out in the next e-blast.

      • Solicit individual member response when requested by the Legislative Network Coordinator or the Missouri Academy’s Public Policy Coordinator. Encourage individual response.

      • Direct application and selection process annually for Public Policy Workshop, if able to offer scholarship(s) to attend.

  • I worked as a Clinical Dietitian for 6 years before transitioning into a role in quality. During my time as a dietitian, I worked throughout several hospitals and on different floors before spending most of my time on surgical ICU. I currently work as a Quality / Risk Coordinator for The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis. I am looking forward to continue connecting with other RD's in the St. Louis area!

    Goals:

    • Encourage networking and collaboration in the dietetics profession

    • Increasing intradisciplinary communication within the St. Louis dietetics community

  • National Nutrition Month (NNM) Committee

    • Composition. The NNM Committee shall include the appointed Chair and Co-Chair and such members of the Academy of St. Louis they wish to appoint.

    • Functions: Plan all NNM activities subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

  • Rachael earned her Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University (EIU). While completing her schooling, Rachael served as the Nutrition Education Coordinator for EIU.

    After finishing her internship, Rachael started her career at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, IL working in the ICU and oncology floor. She representation nutrition services by serving on several committees. She continued her career by transitioning to SSM Health. She worked in behavioral health prior to becoming the Lead Dietitian at St. Joseph-St. Charles. In that role, Rachael continues to drive change and leads her team in developing best practices for patient care.

    Rachael has a passion for helping others develop and realize their dream job. She has worked with over 20 students both in her professional job and through AND-STL.

    This is her third year serving as the social media chair. Through this position, she continues to work with students while tapping into her creative side to promote the dietetics field within the St. Louis community and beyond.

    Goals:

    • Continue to build and expand our reach on our social media channels.

    • Launch the student ambassador program.

    • Design a brand guide to unify our voice through various communication streams.

  • Social Media Committee

    • Composition. The Social Media committee shall consist of the appointed Chair and such members of the Academy of St. Louis as the Chair may wish to appoint.

    • Functions: Plan all social media and publicity activities subject to the approval of the Executive Board; direct coordination of such with newsletter.

  • Vacant - could be you!

  • Continuing Education Coordinator. Appointed by the Chair for one (1) year. May be reappointed. Functions of the Continuing Education Coordinator: 

    • Contact presenters with request for CEU approval materials / coordination.

      Once adequate information is obtained, submit for CEU approval. 

      Maintain record of attendees to CEU event / webinar.

      Once CEU credit is approved, finalize and distribute CEU certificate to relevant attendees.

      Coordinate speaker honorariums and other expenses with Treasurer 

      Create and distribute continuing education forms to the membership. 

      Maintain records of CE attendance for 7 years following the activity.

  • Marielle has been a clinical dietitian for 10 years, mostly in the hospital setting. She attended Fontbonne for her undergrad nutrition degree, University of Louisiana, Lafayette for her internship, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in healthcare administration at Webster University.

    Marielle currently works at Missouri Baptist Medical Center on the Advanced Cardiac Care floor. She has a special interested in interdisciplinary collaboration and working on projects to improve care quality and efficiency.

    Marielle has 2 cats and 1 husband. She enjoys weightlifting, crafting, sewing, drawing/painting, and playing video games.

    Goals:

    • Continue to improve the partnership and collaboration between MOAND and AND-STL.

    • Create consistent, transparent, and efficient internal processes for AND-STL

    • Support the Chair and Chair-Elect in planning for the future

  • Past Chair. The Past Chair serves for one (1) year. Functions of the Past Chair:

    • Serves as a member of the Executive Committee.

    • Serves as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Nominating Committee.

    • Performs other duties as specified in the current job description or as designated by the Executive Committee.