Alumni Profiles

Rachel Hayes

After completing the MPH/DIGS program in 2003, Rachel Hayes was awarded a Presidential Management Fellowship with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, where she worked in national child nutrition policy (primarily school meals) for five years.  In 2008, Rachel accepted a position as a Public Health Advisor with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.  In this role, Rachel works directly on the development and communication of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.  She has remained active in ADA, holding elected positions in the House of Delegates and the Public Health/Community Nutrition Practice Group.   

Anh-Tram Pham

Anh-Tram Pham earned her Master's degree in Public Health Nutrition at the  University of Minnesota in 2009.  While at the University of Minnesota, she  completed her Dietetic Internship.  Anh-Tram earned her Bachelor's degree in dietetics from the University in Minnesota in 2004 and has published research on whole grains in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 

Anh-Tram is a Nutrition Communicator at the General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition.  Her focus is primarily on health and nutrition communications.  Her responsibilities also include working with the General Mills Foundation and with American Dietetic Association Foundation on the Champions Grants for Healthy Kids Initiative. 

In fall of 2008, Anh-Tram was the first Sylvia Rowe Fellowship recipient at the International Food Information Council (IFIC).  Through her fellowship with IFIC in Washington, D.C., she worked on a variety of projects to communicate nutrition and food safety information to the public, academia, health professionals and other public venues.

Anh-Tram has volunteered in the community through the Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards and has visited assemblies at Twin Cities schools to celebrate, motivate and support children in their efforts to stay fit and eat healthy. 

Janelle Peralez

Janelle Peralez is a Policy Analyst for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention.  She joined the CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention in 2007 where she supported the office of the director’s policy activities on Healthy People 2010, sodium, cardiovascular disease health disparities and the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. Now she primarily focuses on sodium and hypertension.  Her first appointment at CDC in 2003 was with the Public Health Prevention Service  with  assignments in CDC’s  Division of Cancer Prevention and Control  focusing on projects  in cervical cancer disparities and  with  the policy  office  of CDC’s  Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.  Between 2004 and 2006 Janelle completed a two year field rotation for CDC at the City of Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support as the Project Coordinator for the Steps to a Healthier Minneapolis Initiative.  While with the City of Minneapolis Steps program, she coordinated the community consortium, implemented interventions and policy and system changes in the community and schools and directed the development and launch of a metropolitan wide physical activity campaign which led to the recruitment of over 7,000 residents.  Janelle holds both a bachelors of science degree in nutrition (2001) and masters of public health degree with a focus in public health nutrition (2003) from the University of Minnesota.

Samia Hamdan

Samia Hamdan, MPH, RD, Current position: Nutritionist, USDA Food and Nutrition Service;Provide nutrition training and technical assistance for USDA Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Programs; plan and implement nutrition education programs and initiatives for Intertribal Organizations participating in the USDA Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; interpret and convey rules and regulations of the Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Programs, teach, train, and promote the criteria of the HealthierUS School Challenge, My Pyramid, and U.S. Dietary Guidelines; coordinate and help develop the USDA People's Garden, a community garden partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden staffed by USDA volunteers and community members.  Previous position: Research Associate, School Nutrition Association, Alexandria, VA.  Volunteer/Professional Service: Current: Chair of the Public Health and Community Nutrition Practice Group, Adjunct Faculty/Preceptor, Case Western Reserve University M.S. in Public Health Nutrition Program. Previous volunteer experience: Treasurer, Secretary, Awards Chair of the PHCNPG; Newsletter Editor, Washington D.C. Metro Area Dietetic Association.  Honors: Chicago Federal Employee of the Year Finalist (2009), USDA Secretary Group Honor Award for Excellence (2006), PHCNPG  Outstanding Young Member of the Year (2005), University of Minnesota School of Public Health Ruth Stief Chair Award (2003).